Category: Review

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Naked Teas Galore’s Earl Grey Matcha

Earl Grey Matcha by Naked Teas Galore
Green Tea (Matcha) / Flavoured
$14.95 for 227g ($3.25 for 25g sampler)

First Impressions

I picked up a sampler of Earl Grey Matcha when I popped into Naked Teas Galore a few months ago. I’m a fan of Earl Grey, and a fan of matcha, so would I be a fan of the combination? The sampler came in a resealable silver foil pouch. the label on the front tells me the name and ingredients, a label on the back provided me with the instructions for preparing it both hot and cold.

Earl Grey Matcha consists of organic sugar cane, organic matcha, organic flavouring and citric acid. The aroma of the powder blend is bright and citrus-y, I can see the cane sugar granules and smell the matcha base. It’s lightly grassy with a strong bergamot aroma.

Preparation

Naked Teas Galore suggests a cold preparation with the matcha in a shaker cup with ice and milk – and to shake it. The hot preparation is matcha with hot milk, and to stir. I opted to do the cold preparation. I don’t have a shaker cup, but  prepared it in a glass with cold, unsweetened soy milk. I opted to blend Earl Grey Matcha with a handheld milk frother.

First Taste

Earl Grey Matcha blends to a pale green colour, the aroma is a mix of bergamot, matcha, and soy. The taste is pleasant, I liked the Earl Grey notes, and there are grassy and vegetal notes from the matcha. I found it to be very pleasant and enjoyed the ease of mixing it up.

A Second Cup?

As this is a matcha preparation, there are no resteeps possible.

My Overall Impression

I loved Naked Teas Galore’s Earl Grey Matcha. I enjoyed the aroma of the powder, and the combined flavours of Earl Grey and matcha that made it quite pleasant to drink. I found it easy to prepare, I’m sure the hot preparation is just as easy as the cold (it certainly sounds like it is!). I loved the flavour and think it’d be a great matcha option for on-the-go or at work since it’s easy to make.

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Tea Experience: Neverland Tea Salon

Neverland Tea Salon
Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC
A Grande Adventure High Tea – $38 each

When my friend Suzanne suggested that we go for tea at Neverland Tea Salon in the Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver, of course I said yes! This tea salon is easy to get to via transit as it’s located along a major road with plenty of bus traffic (and some free street parking nearby as well!). And look at that adorable sign to signal when you’ve reached the front door.

We opted for the A Grande Adventure High Tea, which is $38 per person and includes “never-ending pots of tea”. For those not wanting to switch out teas, there is the Demi Tea ($30 per person). Neverland Tea Salon also features a Take Me To Neverland Bubbly High Tea (features the never-ending pots of tea, along with one sparkling wine, rosè, or mimosa) at $48 per person, and a Tinkerbell’s High Tea for children, at $24 each. Continue reading “Tea Experience: Neverland Tea Salon”

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Dessert by Deb’s Orange Ginger Shortbread

Orange Ginger Shortbread by Dessert by Deb
Rooibos / Flavoured
$9.00 for 50g

First Impressions

I made a purchase with Dessert by Deb, and received Orange Ginger Shortbread as a free sample as part of my loose leaf tea order. So while Deb did not ask me to review this rooibos blend, I couldn’t help but decide to share my thoughts on it.

The sample of Orange Ginger Shortbread came in a clear sealed, resealable bag. The ingredients all easily visible through the packaging, which I do like. The aroma is very strongly of orange and vanilla – which is great because I’m not a fan of rooibos. I can smell a touch of rooibos in the background, but it isn’t enough to bother me too much. Orange Ginger Shortbread consists of certified organic ingredients: fair trade rooibos, vanilla, oranges, orange peel, ginger, maple and brown sugar.

Preparation

There were no steeping instructions on the packaging or the product page online, but I treat rooibos blends the same as herbal tisanes – I steeped Orange Ginger Shortbread in 100°C (212°F) water for 5 minutes.

First Taste

Orange Ginger Shortbread steeps to a deep orange colour. I can smell the orange with a hint of ginger. For the taste, I found that the rooibos was very much in the background – which I did appreciate. I can taste orange, ginger, and vanilla. It really does remind me of the namesake of the tea, since vanilla always reminds me of baked goods. There’s a nice sweetness to the blend, and I only found a little bit of an aftertaste from the rooibos blend (just a hint of medicinal flavour).

A Second Cup?

I resteeped Orange Ginger Shortbread once, but found that the orange, ginger, and vanilla notes were considerably less compared to the initial steep and I could taste more of the rooibos. So if you’re a fan of rooibos, I’d recommend resteeping it – but if you’re not, I’d leave it to one steep only.

My Overall Impression

I liked Dessert by Deb’s Orange Ginger Shortbread. I really loved how well the rooibos blend was created, the flavours were on point with the name/inspiration. I do wish that it had a heavier ginger flavour, because I do think that would have really put it over the top. I enjoyed the orange and vanilla notes, and think that it really did remind me of shortbread with the creamy vanilla notes. For those rooibos fans, I would suggest a second steep to get more of the rooibos flavour.

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