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[rva]

So I had just ordered some tea, but then my parents got me some tea for Christmas.  And then I randomly got a sampler pack from someone at work who got it for X-mas but is "allergic to tea?"  Therefore, I now have at least 12 different kinds of tea.  Some of which are in some mass quantities that it will take me a year to finish which thus obviates the need for more tea and thus impacts my ability to try 25 different kinds.  But I can at least do 12... so might as well give it go.

1)  Adagio "Mandarin Green Tea"

Contains:  Green tea of unknown type, orange, cinnamon.

Smells like:  Sort of ginger-y.

Tastes like:  Not sure.  It does not taste either citrus-y or cinnamon-y, but there is definitely an extra kick to it.  The closest I can come to describing it would be minty-ginger... which isn't all that close.  It's not bad, though.  A very decent morning tea.  Really wakes up the senses, plus you get the caffeine from the green tea. 

Bonus:  I feel like you get a little leeway in mixing/steeping/drinking with this.  The extra flavor seems to help stop the tea from getting that bitter green tea taste.

[rva]

1)  Adagio "Mandarin Green" Tea- ****
2)  Adagio "Fruit Medley" Tea

Contains:  Raspberry, strawberry, hibiscus flowers, blackberry, apples, rose hips, elderberry and bilberry.

Smells like:  Strong, fruity potpourri.

Tastes like:  Strong, fruity potpourri, with an aftertaste of fruity potpourri.  Okay, it's not really as bad as all that but they need to cut down on the hibiscus.  I found it a little tart, although that could probably be fixed with the addition of a bit of sugar.  Then it would taste like perfumed, hot fruit punch... which still ain't that great.  It needs actual tea flavor of some kind.  However, if one were to serve this cold, then it would taste like fruit punch, which would be pretty good.  And if one were to mix in a bit of this with a bit of real tea of some kind and then serve it iced, you might just have yourself a really kick-ass ice tea.  Something to think about for summer.

Bonus:  I ate the fruit after I finished.  Tasted like soggy, watered-down trail mix which is precisely what it was.  But still not bad.

[rva]

1)  Adagio "Mandarin Green" Tea- ****
2)  Adagio "Fruit Medley" Tea- *** (although properly mixed and iced could probably be *****)

3)  "Chamomile lemon" from local store (actual supplier unknown)

Contains:  Chamomile, lemon rinds

Smells like:  Sour wet grass.  I've never liked the smell of dry chamomile so it probably doesn't smell as bad as I think it does. Also, I don't mind the smell of chamomile once it's brewed, because then it really is kind of wet grass isn't it?  I just don't like dried stuff that smells wet I guess.  The sour bit comes from the lemon rinds.  I was hoping it would smell a bit more citrus/lemon than straight-up sour.

Tastes like:  Weak chamomile with lemon.  You would be very upset if this were your pot stash.  I mean, not because you thought you had some weed, but you only have chamomile.  It's an analogy.  I mean there's no petals and buds here, just tiny shreds of leaves and a lot of stick/stem.  After my initial tasting, I went back and mixed up a stronger brew.  Then it was okay.   

I like the lemon rind concept because I like lemon with my chamomile, but I never have lemons.  So this solves that problem quite nicely.  Unfortunately, I also like a little honey with my chamomile and I never have that either but I guess that's my problem.  They can't exactly put honey in the tea can they?  So overall I would say I like this flavor of tea, but this is perhaps not the best source of it.

Bonus: You get what you pay for.  And I have to say this was pretty cheap for loose-leaf, semi frou-frou tea even taking into account you have to use a bit more of it.  So I guess taking into account I only drink chamomile occasionally, I'm okay with this overall.

[rva]

1)  Adagio "Mandarin Green" Tea- ****
2)  Adagio "Fruit Medley" Tea- *** (although properly mixed and iced could probably be *****)
3)  "Chamomile lemon" from local store- *** (actual supplier unknown)

4) Adagio Earl Grey Bravo

Smells like: 10 kinds of awesome.  If you like bergamot/citrus smell, this smells fantastic dried in the tin and even better in the cup.

Tastes like:  Earl Grey is kind of like coffee.  It always smells awesome, but the taste is always blander than the smell, which is kind of a let down in a way.  But also kind of not, because if coffee or Earl Grey really tasted that strong, you probably wouldn't want to drink a whole cup of it.  This particular Earl Grey seemed to have a lot more citrus zing to it than most, but I wouldn't really call it a plus or minus.  Just more citrus-y. 

Overall, I'd say this was a fairly solid cup of Earl Grey tea, but I don't see it replacing my Twinings, which is 1)  cheaper, 2) tastes just as good and 3) I consider to be the definition of Earl Grey tea just because that's what I've always had.  Like if you feel like listening to REM, you're putting on Fables or earlier.  Automatic might be a fantastic album, but that's never going to be what you think about when you feel like REM.

[Juliana]

Unfortunately, I also like a little honey with my chamomile and I never have that either but I guess that's my problem.  They can't exactly put honey in the tea can they?  So overall I would say I like this flavor of tea, but this is perhaps not the best source of it.

I don't know, couldn't they put in crystalized honey that would melt?  Like in honey type candies?

[foolsgold]

I'm not a big Earl Gray guy, but do love Harney and Son's EG.  It is also makes a pretty tasty cookie.

[rva]

I don't know, couldn't they put in crystalized honey that would melt?  Like in honey type candies?

I guess you're right.  Because if you go to a fancy tea place like Teavana they do sell crystallized sugar and honey although it's in chunks.  And regular sugar is kind of crystallized honey.  Maybe they just figure everyone likes a different amount of sugar/honey in their tea so there's no point in putting it in.

I think the thing with Earl Grey is-- like coffee- it really tastes better with creme.  But I never have creme, so I've just gotten used to drinking it without.  To the point that I now prefer it that way because I'm used so used to it.

I've never had the Harney and Son's.  I don't think any place around here sells it although some places serve it pre-made.  If I can get my hands on some I'll try it, although I'm pretty used to Tetley or Twinings as the supplier of all my British tea needs.  Which I guess would basically be breakfast and Earl Grey.




edit:  I just remembered I was shopping somewhere a few weeks ago and I saw they had PG Tips because it seemed so popular in England.  I was tempted to buy some, but then I remembered my vow never to drink PG Tips because of those stupid-ass commercials with the chimpanzees that BBC showed like once every 2 seconds.  It was one of the moments in a trip where you're all like... ahh British people aren't really so different.  You talk to them in a pub they got the some problems we do they're good peeps.  Then you see those PG Tips commercials and you're like what the shit? This commercial works?  Really?  No they are definitely foreign this place is definitely different and thank god. 

[Cockney Rebel]

edit:  I just remembered I was shopping somewhere a few weeks ago and I saw they had PG Tips because it seemed so popular in England. 

PG Tips aren't great at all. If you see Whittards English Breakfast tea that's about as a traditionally english tea as you can get IMHO

[rva]

1)  Adagio "Mandarin Green" Tea- ****
2)  Adagio "Fruit Medley" Tea- *** (although properly mixed and iced could probably be *****)
3)  "Chamomile lemon" from local store- *** (actual supplier unknown)
4)  Adagio Earl Grey Bravo - ***

5) Art of Tea Moroccan Mint

Smells like: Mint.
  
Tastes like: Mint.

That's pretty much it.  It doesn't taste like the real Moroccan thing where you boil up tea and then boil up some sugar and then serve it with some mint leaves but that would be a lot to expect.  The mint pretty much overpowers the tea, which was not really a problem considering I love mint.  

I made this at work and then went to vending machine and bought some KitKat bars.  I then dipped the KitKat bars into the tea, resulting in both a fabulous mint-chocolate candy and a fabulous mint-chocolate tea.  Soooooo tasty.

I guess the major question is whether you could just boil some cheap tea or even just water, chuck a couple mint sprigs in there and accomplish the same thing, rather than buying a special fancy mixed tea.  And I think you could, so I guess I just wasted some money.  But then, I'm also pretty lazy so maybe not.

[MissKitty]

Dude, try Harney & Son's Wedding Tea. Bliss in a cup.

[va-vacious]

I made this at work and then went to vending machine and bought some KitKat bars.  I then dipped the KitKat bars into the tea, resulting in both a fabulous mint-chocolate candy and a fabulous mint-chocolate tea.  Soooooo tasty.

Genius! 
I had a friend send me homemade peppermint tea for Christmas. I have no idea how she makes it, but it is really tasty. 

And skip the PG Tips.  It's like Lipton- you drink it because it's there.

[scuba]

Anyone want a Japanese cast iron teapot?  I bought one a few months ago but have found that I don't use it much and instead of having it sit around my house I figured I'd see if anyone here was interested.  In general I think cast iron teapots are a cool item but they are also kind of pricey.  However, for the cost you get something that's pretty much indestructible and cast iron retains heat so that your beverage stays hot for a long time.  Anyone interested send me a PM.

[VenusRoes6]

Last month ordered Adagio Teas, tried its black tea with apricot flavor for the very first time and believe me its superb!
Adagio Teas having rich and very unique and wide range of flavors. You guys can also go for it!!!