Review - Chakra Balance Tea

Since I developed the idea for this blog I've become more aware of tea and all the ways it makes its appearance. Every time I go to a store I check to see if there's a tea section. If there is, there's a good chance I'll be coming out with something. Such was the case last week. A friend recommended an online shop for oils, Moon Goddess Magick Apothecary. While perusing some interesting blends I saw that the woman made teas too. Well, tisanes, really-no Camellia sinensis here. There were many interesting names that tempted me, but looking at the ingredients I was a bit concerned if I'd actually like any. I generally don't care for floral teas, and most of the blends sounded decidedly floral and sweet. Still, I was getting two oils so decided upon a tea as well. I went with the least floral one which happened to be Chakra Balance Tea.

As I said, Chakra Balance Tea is actually a tisane, an infusion of herbs and spices. The packaging is utterly delightful; a resealable insulated bag with a gorgeous illustration, and the cherry on top was the wax seal! So what's in it? Chakra Balance Blend consists of calendula, gotu kola, lavender, ginko, red clover, dandelion root, nettle leaf, meadowsweet, chamomile and stevia.

When I opened the bag I could see the various leaves and blossoms. The aroma was grass and floral. After steeping I admit, it looked like lawn clippings!

LIQUID: The liquid is a lovely yellow with a slight greenish tinge. The aroma is floral and musty, yet pleasant. I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. It had a buttery feel at first, but finished clean. It was very lightly floral in taste and I got the flavor of mint. It was slightly malty. It was naturally sweet, but not overly so.





ICED: This tisane was just as lovely iced. It was refreshing and hit basically the same notes as well I drank it hot.

I was worried I'd find this blend too floral and sweet, but it was definitely not the case. I really enjoyed it. So, what exactly are chakras? Chakra is the Sanskrit word for wheel or disc. In a simplistic nutshell, the body has seven energy centers along the spine, running from head to toe. Each center, or chakra, correlates to different levels of consciousness, body function, color, and more. When chakras are blocked or out of alignment, energy flow is interupted and illness or other problems may occur.I don't know if my chakras were out of wack, and I don't know if this tea got them back in line. But, I found Chakra Balance Tea by Moon Goddess Magickal Apothecary to be a delightful beverage.

Be sure to check out the Etsy store Moon Goddess Magickal Apothecary to check out this and other tisanes.

Review - Keemun Mao Feng

Keemun Mao Feng is a Chinese black tea. The tea I enjoyed is a Summer 2013 from Anhui, China. It's a staple in my tea cabinet.

 KEEMUN MAO FENG

The Dry Leaf: See how the leaves are rolled? There is a warm, slightly smoky aroma here.

The Wet Leaf (After Steeping): The aroma is quite warm. I got a scent of caramel and some boiled veggies.

I actually took this photo after my third steep. 

Liquid: Isn't that a gorgeous color?! The taste is slightly smoky with dark fruit and caramel. There's a slight astringency at the finish.

Iced: Lighter in color, but still a glorious chestnut amber color.

Scent: The smokiness is there, but dark fruits hit the nose more.

Taste: The smokiness is more pronounced here, as is the astringency. While good iced, this tea loses some of the nuances of its flavor. I prefer it hot.

Davids Tea Irish Breakfast Tea Review

Karen here and today I am sharing with you my Irish Breakfast Tea Review. Today's Irish Breakfast Tea is one I purchased from Davids Tea. 

Irish Breakfast tea is a black tea from Assam India and Dimbulla Ceylon, but how did it get called Irish Breakfast tea if it is really a blend from India and Sri Lanka?  According to the History of Irish tea on arborteas.com  "The history of tea in Ireland is similar to that of England (another well known tea drinking country).  It was initially introduced to the upper class in the early 1800s and later spread to the rural and lower class in the mid 1800s.  The tea that was available to the average Irish citizen was usually of poor quality and brewed strong, therefore it was consumed with plenty of milk.  This tradition of brewing strong tea and adding milk is still prevalent today.  We at Arbor Teas describe our Irish Breakfast blend as “so strong you could stand your spoon up in it,” and that is no joke. "

Strong tea has long been the preferred  in Ireland and is usually served with milk and sugar. I however prefer what the Irish would likely call "Dishwater Tea" I like my Irish Breakfast tea, black and on the weaker side. Depending on the blend I use I may under steep the tea slightly or use less of the leaves in my pot. I do love the dark caramel color as well as the malty & spicy flavor of Irish Breakfast tea, but I don't like to "stand my spoons up in it". 

The Davids Irish Breakfast Tea is a lovely blend, not as malty as I have enjoyed in other teas but this one does have a hint of honey flavor and a lovely spicy taste that lends its self very well to my raisin scones. 

Davids tea is a loose leaf tea chain here in Canada that is found in almost every mall.  Where I live and easy for me to pop in and try so many of their wonderful blends. You can also find them on line in the USA by clicking here.

Wishing you a very Happy St. Patrick's Day tea on what would have been my parents 42 wedding anniversary. 

Thank you for joining me for this tea review today and if you would like my scone recipe, please click here to visit my blog www.acupofteaandacozymystery.com click the Recipes by Karen Mom of Three tab to see this recipe and many others. 

I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Review - Trader Joe's Organic Ginger Pear White Tea

Oftentimes I'll stop at Trader Joe's after visiting my folks. Recently, I saw a tea that intrigued me: Trader Joe's Organic Ginger Pear White Tea. I love ginger and thought pairing it with pear was a neat idea.

This tea is bagged, so I can't tell you what the leaves looked like. Sorry, not going to split the back open and look. In any case, before steeping the bag had a delightful pear aroma.

Iced: When I first saw the tea I immediately thought "Iced!" and that's how I first prepared it.  As an iced tea it was light and refreshing. The taste of pear was forefront and I really couldn't detect the ginger. There was a possible slight bite from the ginger in the aftertaste. Pear was prominent. I can see guzzling this tea down on a hot day after working in the garden.

Hot: I then made it as a regular hot tea. The aroma was quite muddled. It was somewhat spicy. The taste was more of a "tea" taste, then a bit of pear hits. Again, I couldn't really detect the ginger.

I much prefer Trader Joe's Organic Ginger Pear White Tea as an iced tea.

Review - Lapsang Souchong

Lapsang Souchong is one of those very distinctive teas you generally either love or hate. I happen to love it! One evening I was sitting with my friend Niraj and his wife in his tea studio. A customer came in and talked about using Lapsang Souchong as a dry meat rub, to impart a smoky flavor. What a great idea I thought. Then the man continued, "I can't imagine anyone actually drinking it." Niraj and Mary turned to look at me, "She does."

What exactly is Lapsang Souchong and what makes it so unique? Lapsang Souchong is a traditional smoked tea made in the Fujian Province of China by drying a robust black tea over pine wood smoke thus imparting its famous smoky flavor. There's a fascinating story as to how this ancient tea originated...but I'll leave that for another time.

I adore iced tea and generally drink iced tea over hot, even in winter. I make my iced teas using a Salton Iced Tea Maker. Therefore I will review teas in both forms, hot and iced.


Lapsang Souchong

The Dry Leaf: Strong smoky scent reminiscent of a campfire in the forest.

The Wet Leaf (After Steeping): Less strong, but still very smoky and sultry.

Liquid: Gorgeous deep amber, almost chestnut red in color.
Scent: Lightly smoky, rich, warm.
Taste: Full bodied, smoky and rich. There's a slight nuttiness and a subtle soft sweetness. Yet the finish is crisp, slightly astringent, leaving you ready for your next sip! This tea brings to mind curling up inside under a blanket with a good book on a crisp fall evening or a winter's night with the snow falling outside.

Iced: Lighter in color, but still a gorgeous amber-no real trace of the red found when served hot.

Scent: The smokiness is intensified.

Taste: The juxtaposition of heat and cold is amazing. The beverage itself is cold, but the flavor is hot smoke! Imagine an icy stream yet you jump in and it's actually a hot geyser. There is a slight astringency with a hint of menthol. It's delightfully refreshing and completely surprising!

I honestly did not think that Lapsang Souchong would make a good iced tea. I happily proved myself wrong!




In short, Lapsang Souchong is a woodsy campfire for your palette.

Tea Time Magazine, On My Table And Close To My Heart

A few years back I finally got a subscription to Tea Time Magazine. Before that I would drive to my bank exchange my Canadian Money for American Money, get in the car and take a minimum 90 minute drive to try to find it in store. I would often have to try more then three stores before I could hold it in my hands and take in the beautiful and inspiring photos. I savor each article and then re read time and time again.

The cost of the magazine is very reasonable if you live in the USA but to have it shipped internationally it gets to be quite expensive.  Currently there is a great deal on for $19.98 for your first subscription and you can do a gift subscription for $10. **Add $10 for Canada and $20 for any other country. Still it is worth the splurge and makes a fantastic gift!

What I love about the articles are the information I learn about not only tea but wonderful tea rooms, accessories, teacups, pots, kettles.  I learned of a tea shop in Southern California which I loved called
Paris in A Cup. I was so thrilled when we were on a family trip and I got to go there. The staff and owner were wonderful and the tea room was stunning.

I would have loved to spend most of the vacation in this tea room but the magic kingdom called!

They had the most decadent macarons you ever did taste! They also carried a lovely house tea called Paris Garden Tea that I fell in love with. I would have never known this small but elegant tea room was just minutes from Disneyland had it not been for this wonderful magazine.

You can check out Paris In A Cup on line by clicking here. 

I recently read an article about a woman who loved tea and her husband who secretly built her a beautiful tea room just for her and her husband to enjoy on their farm in an old barn, he worked for years in secret and she never knew. Everyone in town helped him source the items needed to make a beautiful retreat that looked like an English tea room. I cried and still tear up at the thought of that very article.

If you get a chance to find this magazine in store, pick it up, take it home and fall in love!
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a look at Tea Time Magazine. I would love for you to pop over for tea daily on my own website at www.acupofteaandacozymystery.com 

To order your own subscription to Tea Time Magazine please click here.