Samurai Chai Mate - My older brother Jared, and his wife, April, sent me my favorite Christmas present. As I held the package in my hand I could smell what was inside and was very curious what they had gotten me. Loose tea never crossed my mind, but that's what it was. A bag of Teavana - Samurai Chai Mate, and a stainless steel tea infuser.
Tea comes with all you see here! Mate tea and Rooibos tea mixed together with pineapple, cinnamon, nuts.. those little, blue flower things (Any more, of course).
The infuser shown here is not
exactly the same one that I received, but it is extremely close. The infuser (like the Mate tea) is also Teavana brand and is perfect for brewing loose tea.
Water Type: Hard Tap (Lots of Minerals)
Steeping Time: 00.04.00
Steeping Heat: Reg. Boiling
Additives: 2 Teaspoons of sugar.
Initial Taste = 9.0
After-Taste = 9.0
Aroma = 9.0
Originality = 9.5
Taste Throughout = 8.5
Average = 9.0
Initial Taste: This tea has an interesting flavor. It's a tangy, fruity, slightly nutty taste with a bit of spice. A sort of mix between the fruity herbal teas you buy can buy and real tea; but those those herbal teas tend to have an overpowering fruit flavor, whereas this tea mixes tea and herb perfectly, each complimenting the other. It is very good by itself at any hour of the day.
After-Taste = The after taste did not differ noticeably from the Initial Taste.
Aroma = It smells exactly the way it tastes, which is extremely good.
Originality = I have not tasted a tea this flavorful without being cluttered before (Although, bear in mind I have not been trying teas for very long). The taste was full of everything I mentioned before, fruit, tea, spice, etc but each flavor perfectly compliments the others. This tea does not need sugar at all to be enjoyed, but a little sugar actually adds to the flavor. As always with sugar, though: Moderation.
Taste Throughout = I wish I could give this a 9.0 as well, because the taste stays just as good all the way down. Except that (since it is brewed loose tea, and because of the contents of the tea) there are a few tiny leaves and specks of loose Mate that probably will inevitably get through any infuser's mesh. This may not be a problem for some people I know who
never drink the last inch of whatever they're drinking, but I always enjoy sipping the last tea from the bottom of my cup. Something which is difficult when the last three sips are full of loose tea particles.
Other Notes: I really enjoy this tea and will try always have some around for use. Plus, brewing your own cup of tea from an infuser makes you feel awesome, ancient, like a master, and a little snobby.
Bottom Line: This is a very interesting tea that is full of flavor which never overpowers itself. Highly recommended for fans of fruity flavored teas.
Thank you, Jared and April! I love it!
"Strange how a teapot can represent, at the same time, the comforts of solitude, and the pleasures of company." ~Author Unknown
I had started the soup way before the noodles because I didn't know how long it would take to cook. So I had to put the soup on the back of the stove and let it cool until I was ready to cook the noodles, then I reheated the soup. It's possible that this cooling and reheating caused it to taste less desirable, but either way it would have been only adequate.
