The Tea Scoop

Mighty Leaf "Tea Top Brew Mug" Part Two

I have mentioned, perhaps, once or twice, that I love tea gadgets.  I'm utterly fascinated at the ingenuitea of the ways people come up with to drink tea, which after all, is a basically simple concept. But at the same time, sometimes there are issues one experiences drinking tea, and someone inevitably thinks up an answer to these problems. 

At home, I drink loose leaf exclusively, unless it's for a review. But when I'm running around all over the place, I don't always have that option, so I go for whole leaf bagged tea as much as possible, such as Mighty Leaf, Two Leaves and a Bud, or Revolution. I also like to re-steep as much as possible. But when I'm out, there is simply nowhere to put a drippy teabag. What if I am in the car, for example? Or class?  There might be the option to drop it in a trash can, but that seems wasteful to me. Besides, then I don't have tea for later, unless I brought a tin with me. And what if it's a tea I'm really enjoying?  In addition, sometimes the teabag plops down in the tea along with its tag, and then I'm stuck burning my fingers to fish it out. (I really dislike tagless teabags). 

Now that I have brought the gravitea of the situation to your attention, I wanted to announce that I ended up getting my hands on Mighty Leaf's "Top Tea Brew Mug" that I wrote about recently. I'm sitting here, with Mighty Leaf's Green Tea Tropical gathered up into the little holding area built into the design of the lid. 

See, isn't it neat looking?  My mug looks exactly like the picture. I also really like that the sipping area is contoured to avoid spills.  It is a pretty well thought out design.  While the construction is double-walled stainless steel, it does conduct heat.  Meaning, this is a good thermos to warm your hands on a chilly day, but I didn't think it would stay warm for hours and hours. Boy was I wrong! It kept it steaming hot for about two hours and drinkably warm for at least another two (after that there was nothing left in the mug for me to judge).

So how about functionality? Well right away, I can say that I love that there is no worry about my teabag falling in.  The little slot holds the teabag in place until I'm ready to pull it out of hot water. I was slightly worried that the teabag would brush against my nose as I drank, but it is just out of schnozz range. The bag is lifted out of steeping range, so my green tea is not the least bit bitter. My only complaint is that there is no way to close the lid, so it is far from spill-proof, and keeps it from being a toss in the purse mug, even when empty. 

However, the convenience of this mug makes it rank much higher than many of the conventional travel mugs out there, and will definitely be getting some use here at The Tea Scoop. 

Fight Fire With Fire: Mayan Chocolate Truffle from Mighty Leaf

As I have mentioned before, many of the major tea retailers source their tea from the same wholesalers.  So occasionally, you will stumble across a scented tea that seems like it was just like another one you tried from another company.  But really, this is to your advantage, as you get to shop around for price and for a company you enjoy shopping from. 

My guess is that Mayan Chocolate Truffle from Mighty Leaf and Azteca Fire from Teavana are one and the same. However, Mighty Leaf charges $8.95 for four ounces, while Teavana charges $6 for only two ounces. Since I prefer to support Mighty Leaf in any case, it's an all around good deal.  

And now for the tea itself.

I'm not usually an herbal tisane person, and you may have noticed how picky I can be about chocolate teas. But this is one of the first chocolate teas that I enjoyed, and it was love at first sip.  I love the spiciness of the chili balanced with the sweetness of the chocolate and subtle flavor of strawberries. I'm a bit of a chocoholic to begin with, and spicy chocolate just sends me over the edge.  Knowing that I had this tea in my cabinet, waiting for a review, I couldn't pass up a bar of chocolate at Wegman's. Not just any bar of chocolate. A 55% cacao dark chocolate with Mexican ancho and chipotle chilies and ceylon cinnamon.  Just reading the box made me think of the movie Chocolat and the delicious hot chocolate that Juliette Binoche whips up for her customers. This particular bar is called "Red Fire Bar" from Vosges Haute Chocolat. It even comes with directions for "how to enjoy an exotic candy bar."  

So here comes The Tea Scoop's first ever Chocolate and Tea Tasting.  

Let's start with the chocolate while my tea cools to slightly less than scalding. 

I feel a little like Charlie Bucket pulling the candy bar out of the wrapper, only the golden ticket for me is the chocolate itself. Mmm there is just nothing like the smell of dark chocolate in the morning. The label tells me to look for a dark glossy shine to indicate good temper, which this chocolate definitely has, with just the slightest little flecks of chili. 

You can't tell by reading this, but I just took a very long pause, closing my eyes and savoring the melting chocolate on my tongue. The chocolate is cool and smooth, and then just the slightest bit of heat plays across, lingering softly.  I know, I know, I start writing about chocolate and it turns into a romance novel. And that was just the first bite.  

Now for the tea. 

The liquor is a deep gold with the scent of chocolate and chili wafting above.  Like wine, slurping the tea across the tastebuds brings out more subtle nuances of flavor, bringing the strawberry slightly more to the front. Sometimes I add a little milk and sugar for a Mexican hot chocolate type treat, but with the dark chocolate on the side, I am content to drink this as is. When paired with the chocolate bar, the chili plays out more than when the tea plays by itself. 

Please excuse me while I close my eyes, submerge myself in visions of chocolate and Johnny Depp as a gypsy. 

Mighty Leaf: Chocolate Chip Truffle

 I have consistently been impressed with the high quality of Mighty Leaf's Chocolate Truffle Collection.  They top the list of my quest for satisfying chocolate teas and the Chocolate Chip Truffle is no exception.  In addition, the CCT, seems that it would lend itself well to blending. Perhaps it is the name, perhaps it is the slight flavor of baking chips, but I find myself wanting to toss in a little rooibos vanilla, perhaps a little almond tea, with the intention of making a chocolate chip cookie tea. The first sip tasted much like a handful of baking chocolate chips, and I feel quite decadent drinking it for breakfast.  

My only warning is that, like baking cookies, timing is of the essence. This tea should only be steeped for three minutes, or the tannins will overpower the chocolate. 

Tea and cookies anyone?

Mighty Leaf: Chocolate Orange Truffle

Do you remember those orange-shaped chocolates that you would bang on the table to make it split into segments? And then the sweetness of taking a bit and having orange-flavored chocolate? I love those. Something about orange and chocolate makes one of the most amazing fruit-chocolate pairings. And when I sniffed at this tea, steeping away, those candies immediately came to mind.  Or orange-flavored English Smarties (similar to M&Ms). Taking my first sip, I was rewarded with that same flavor laced with good black tea to boot. 

We had finished dinner on the patio with friends and moved inside due to a thunderstorm. I offered tea, and Liza, a friend for many years, teased me that I had to ask.  The four of us moved to the kitchen, where Mr. Tea Scoop shook his head as the three of us explored the tea cabinet, looking at labels, opening tins, sniffing, exclaiming. You may have noticed that I have a bit of an obsession, and the tea cabinet is overflowing. At last, each person selected their tea, and I pulled out the Chocolate Orange Truffle, which I had yet to try. 

This was a wonderful after-dinner tea for conversation into the wee hours.  I had to briefly distance myself from the conversation simply to savor it, but found that once I had settled into the second cup, I could pull myself away from the chocolate covered orange and participate in the conversation once again. 

Wu Yi from Mighty Leaf

First, here's what Mighty Leaf has to say:

Wuyi Oolong tea made in China's Northern Fujian Wuyi mountains is well known for its smooth and rich body and taste. Long, beautiful twisted leaves impart a roasty aroma and produce a sweet, nuanced cup.  Like other oolongs our Wuyi oolong can be infused multiple times.

Now, here's what I have to say:

It certainly does have a roasty aroma. It is much richer than many oolongs I've tried, and the dark color of the leaves and deep red of the liquor indicate that this particular oolong appears to be more oxidized (closer to black tea than green tea) than many oolongs I have tasted.  In fact, it was so full bodied that I steeped it two separate times with new leaves, fearing that a recent steeping of Scottish Breakfast may have affected the taste. In fact, it was just a lot fuller than I expected it to be.  But do not be alarmed, this tea was delicious and I look forward to successive infusions to discover how it develops. The first infusion was much more roasty than sweet, but perhaps that sweet nuance in the description will appear in a second infusion.  So don't toss those oolong leaves after a single infusion. You're missing out!

Mighty Leaf Promises a "Spa Retreat in a Cup"

Ok, do you remember when I said I was not a huge fan of tisanes?  Well, that isn't strictly true. I love mint.  Especially peppermint.  Straight up, or maybe with a little honey. Just nice, simple, and refreshing. I love the way it is cool and hot at the same time.  Sometimes, I'll mix Irish Breakfast and peppermint together for a real treat.  So, as soon as I opened up Mighty Leaf's "Organic Detox Infusion" I took a great big whiff of minty goodness. And...basil?  Yup! 

Since I am no doctor, I can't validate any of these claims, but this is what Mighty Leaf says about their tea.

"The cleansing properties of our Organic Detox Infusion herbal tea blend relaxes the nerves, organs and membranes as dandelion targets the liver, licorice root nurtures the heart and spleen, and burdock root purifies the blood. Peppermint promotes healthy digestion and aids in soothing indigestion. Red clover and hearty herbs add anti-inflammatory qualities, calm the stomach and reduce blood sugar levels."

Sounds good to me! But, how does it taste?  Mint is always a bold flavor, and this infusion is no exception, with the trademark coolness resting in the mouth after each sip.  And yes, it has a savory taste to it. It doesn't taste like pesto exactly, but is definitely savory.  I have never had burdock by itself, but I think that is the secondary taste.  Underneath the mint, I would say this tea tastes...culinary. A strange word to use, I know.  But it tastes a little like something you would cook, which is unusual. Fruit, floral, and spiced scents are all very familiar. This tastes a little more vegetable.  Different, but definitely not displeasing. In fact, it is so intriguing that each sip follows a little more quickly as I try to decipher it. Mmmmmm.

Mighty Leaf: Chamomile Citrus (Part 3 of 3)

I know, I know, you might not even remember that there were parts 1 and 2, since the last might leaf entry was in July.  But luckily, the foil-wrapped packaging gives me time to get distracted by other tea topics and still have nice fresh tea to taste and review for your reading pleasure. 

I had barely torn a corner of the pouch when the tea introduced itself. "Hi, I'm Citrus."  She seemed very bubbly, but her friend Chamomile was no less shy, following quickly behind.  This is an herbal blend of rosehips, orange peels, chamomile flowers, lemon grass, lemon myrtle, nana mint, hibiscus flowers, citrus flowers and of course, natural flavors. Which looks remarkably similar to Teavana's "Night Night" blend.  Let's compare: "Night Night," which is now called "Tranquil Dream" also has rosehips, hibiscus, lemon grass, nana-mint, citrus peels, and orange blossoms (which seem to me to be the same as "citrus flowers." Now, there is a reason for this. Lean in close, because it's a secret. Many of these companies buy their blends from the same source.

So, why does it matter which brand you buy?  Well, price does make a difference.  Mighty Leaf charges $9.95 for a 4 ounce bag.  Teavana charges $12.00 for the same amount.  So clearly, value makes a difference here.  Also, I have said it before, and will say it again. I love the silk infusion pouches that Mighty Leaf sells.  Here you can get your cuppa to go. Much harder with straight up loose-leaf, unless you buy empty tea bags yourself. However, even those can be a pain.  So my recommendation is to buy from Mighty Leaf over Teavana, especially if ordering on-line.  

   Now, for the actual review.  The liquor is a pinkish-red color, and has a far stronger smell of chamomile than citrus.  Egyptian chamomile is a potent flavor, so if you love chamomile, you will love this tea. It follows through with a citrus finish of orange and lemon grass. The tartness of the rosehips is present throughout. However, the mint flavor is not there.  I have read that nana mint is relaxing, so it perhaps would still serve a purpose in this blend if you are drinking it for relaxation purposes. 

I do have to admit to a bias here. I enjoyed the other two teas a great deal more, simply because I prefer camellia sinesis to herbal tisanes. If you like tisanes though, I would strongly recommend this for a bold, fresh flavor.