Beverages

I have to admit, I am a loose tea lover. There is just something relaxing and luxurious about sipping on a cup of freshly steeped tea. I think of enjoying a cup of tea as taking a moment to take care of myself and feel the flavors and aroma of loose tea really stand out.  

I have written a few times about how much I enjoy a wide variety of loose teas and trying new ones. So when Plum Deluxe offered to send me some of their teas to review, I was thrilled at the opportunity. Please know, I will always provide my honest views and opinions.

Even before I received my samples to try, I was impressed with Plum Deluxe and what their company stands for. The company blends its organic, free trade loose teas by hand in small batches by hand in Portland, Oregon.  Plum Deluxe describes their company philosophy as, “All of our tea blends are organic, non–gmo, and free of chemicals and sulfites – we support local and USA farmers wherever possible and run an active philanthropy program. Our company was founded by entrepreneur Andy Hayes as a tribute to his mother, who lost a brave 6-year battle with breast cancer but never forgot to enjoy “the little things” in life.”

Peach Bellini Herbal Tea

Peach Bellini Herbal Loose Tea will surely not disappoint. This is another tea blend that you can actually see the pieces of fruit in the blend, and you can tell this difference in the taste too. This fruity and flavorful caffeine free treat would be perfect for after dinner or even an afternoon treat.

Preparation Instructions: Steep 1 tsp in 8oz boiling water 4-6 min.

Easy to Be Green Tea (Blueberry / Hibiscus)

Easy to Be Green Loose Tea is a delightful loose green tea with a hint of blueberries. I loved the fragrance, as well as the flavor. You can actually see the dried blueberries (not just a flavoring as in some other teas).

Preparation Instructions: Use 1 1/2 tsp per 16oz cup. Steep with under-boiling water (175F) for 3 minutes.

Lavender Daydream White Tea (Mango / Peach / Floral)

Lavender Daydream White Loose Tea is a light and refreshing blend. There is just enough apricot fragrance and flavor to enhance, while not overpowering the delicate white tea.

Preparation Instructions: Steep 1 tsp in 8 oz below-boiling water (175F) 3-5 min.

I highly recommend Plum Deluxe Loose Teas for their aroma, flavor and company beliefs. If you’d like to give Plum Deluxe Loose Teas a try, you may want to consider their Tea of the Month Club (a new tea will be sent to you each month) or their Monthly Tea Specials (this month there is a special is on all Earl Grey Teas).

The following is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.

I first fell in love with tea when living in The Netherlands many years ago. Throughout Europe, I experienced wonderful tea shops with drawers of amazing aromatic loose teas. When I moved back to the states this was not available readily available. When I first found Teavana Tea, this was the closest tea experience I had found to since living in Europe. I became a loyal consumer for many years. Unfortunately, Starbucks purchased Teavana and in time closed both their physical and online stores.

So when Adagio Teas contacted me and offered me a gift certificate to purchase and review my choice of teas, I jumped at the chance. I was in the market for a new go-to with a large selection of loose teas and am so happy to have given them a try.

I do prefer loose teas to the convenience of a tea bag, on most occasions. The large tea leaves are so visually appealing and seem more aromatic, or maybe I’m just a traditionalist.  I also like a wide variety of tea types so when making my selection, I selected one in each of these categories; black tea, green tea, and herbal tea.

Earl Grey Bravo

Earl Grey Bravo was my black tea selection. It is a Ceylon tea flavored with bergamot, to give a flavorful citrus taste. Earl Grey is my favorite flavored black tea and Earl Grey Bravo did not disappoint. It was wonderfully aromatic, with just enough bergamot favor to be bold without overpowering the rich black tea flavor.

Jasmine Pheonix Pearls

For my green tea, I chose Jasmine Pheonix Pearls. This is a very special and aromatic green tea. Each “pearl”, a tea leaf and bud are hand rolled into this unique shape. When steeping, the tightly rolled pearls unfold releasing a light and delicately flavored tea.

Green Rooibos Bonita

Green Rooibos Bonita was the blend I selected for my herbal tea. Herbal teas are a great decaf alternative to black and green teas. Rooibos, or red bush, is a caffeine-free tea alternative from South Africa. It is believed to have many health benefits, and is high in both minerals and antioxidants. Green Rooibos Bonita is a refreshing blend with flavors of strawberries and peach, it also smells fantastic.

All in all, I can say that I couldn’t be happier with my experience with Adagio Teas. They have a huge selection of the loose teas I really enjoy. Their packaging is well sealed for freshness, and well labeled with recommended steeping temperatures and times (this varies for each type of tea). I can’t wait to try more of their blends.

For all the former Teavana Tea fans, Adagio Teas has put together a page of recommendations just for us. I’m sure you’ll find a great Teavana alternative for your favorites here.