Tea tastings

I tried the Plantation Iced Tea recipe over the weekend, omitting the lemon grass and substituting two full cinnamon sticks for the ground cinnamon.  The cinnamon sticks were put in with 8-10 English Breakfast tea bags, then hot water was added.  I added the pineapple juice and sugar while the tea was still hot but after removing the tea bags.  It came out very nicely.

In this week's tea tastings, I tried Teavana's Strawberry Rose Champagne Oolong Tea (http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/oolong-teas/p/strawberry-rose-champagne-oolong-tea).  The dominant flavor is strawberry, with the rose appearing primarily in the scent rather than the flavor.  The tea finishes with a crisp, fizzy bite that evokes champagne.   It is better hot than iced.

I also tried Teavana's recommendation for a blend of its Youthberry and Wild Orange Blossom herbal blends.  (http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/best-tea-blends/p/youthberry-wild-orange-blossom-tea-blend).  After first experimenting with two teaspoons of each for a four-cup pot, which was far too weak, I increased the strength to four teaspoons of each for a four-cup pot.  That mix was about right.  The flavors blended very nicely, complementing each other without overshadowing each other.  The brew was fruity and multi-layered.  I have only tried it hot.  It sweetens better with the mellow sweetness of honey than with sugar.  I think it might ice well without a need for sugar.