So I was walking through Barcelona’s Barri Gotic when a lovely lady offered my a free taste testing of tea. Of course I accepted (and not just because I love tea – Barcelona is cold right now!). The only thing that gave me pause was when I heard “rooibos”, since this is not my favorite. But, I accepted as she motioned into the store and rambled on in Catalan (did you catch the pun?). Anyways, I was going to just smile and nod and move on but then it hit me…la canela, el sabor dulce, la manzana…or in other words, the cinnamon, sweetness, and apple flavors. But it didn’t taste anything like cinnamon spice or such – the flavor combination was subtle and the result was a warm, soothing, and nostaligic tasting delight.
This is a great tea for Christmas.
Problem: this is a European tea company, and the English site is under construction. But if you’re ever in Europe…check it out. Or see if there’s a similar tea at your favorite tea store!
Guess what! I’m sick. I was in Krakow recently (to see Auschwitz – see my thoughts and pics here) and the freezing temperatures killed my immune system. Add that to my already iffy sinus status and add the high smog currently covering Rome and you have a recipe for a cold.
Fortunately, a friend has a remedy.
Drum roll please….
Inside this box is health and yummy.
Tada!
It really does warm you up inside. It smells like the holidays, like fresh baked apple pie.
I put my mug of water in the microwave for 2 mins 30 seconds. I don’t recommend microwaving water – it’s always best to use a kettle – but my options are limited. Basically, bring your water to a boil. Let steep as long as you like – I just left my bag in there the whole time. Warning – make sure you use a regular size tea cup, rather than a large one (you know, the kind that doubles as a soup/cereal bowl) because the bag isn’t strong enough to flavor that much water very well. It’s a very weak tea if there’s too much water.
I’m getting my own box of this at the local grocery store. And when I return home I’m sure I’ll be able to find it since its a Lipton tea. It will be sitting right next to my Strawberry Berry tea….
Youthberry tea by Teavana is a white tea, which means it has a fine, delicate flavor. When brewed the tea has a light pink color that looks as delicate as this tea tastes. In addition to the white tea, Youthberry has acai berries, plus there are ground berries in the tea, too, and there are nice big chunks of tropical fruits.
Because I wanted to give these nice chunks of fruit and the acai berries plenty of room to swim around in the water and develop as much flavor as possible, I used a coffee press for this tea. I often use a coffee press with flavored teas instead of a tea ball or strainer because I personally think I get a more flavorful tea this way. But, your mileage may vary, so prepare your tea whatever way you want. If you want to try my coffee press trick, you can pick one up at any kitchen supply store, Target or Cost Plus/World Market. An inexpensive press starts around $19.99, but a really expensive coffee press at a specialty coffee store can be as much as $70 buckeroos.
I hope you enjoy this review, and check back tomorrow, I’m going to review another Teavana tea. This one is Wild Orange Blossom herbal tea. And then, I’m going to blend the Youthberry and the Wild Orange Blossom together for our first blended tea review!
Hope to see you then!
~Michelle
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