Teavana's Samurai Chai Mate Tea Review

The way of the warrior is strength, skill, fairness, mercy, power, energy, and balance. Our chai embodies this spirit and is mysteriously more delicious with a caffeine-rich green mate & green rooibos blend. Cinnamon, anise, cardamom, and almond are fortified with papaya and pineapple, orange, and lemongrass- all combined to face every new day full of strength and energy. SUPERFRUIT ENHANCED. CONTAINS NUTS.
Sweet and spicy infusion of cinnamon and citrus undertones.

Price: $6.20 per 2 oz/$3.10 per oz
Preparations: 1.5 tsp, 208 degrees F, 5 min.

• Pretty strong and full-bodied; not a lot of complex flavors going on, but I can definitely taste the spicy-sweet "chai" flavors as well as the mate leaves. Just a thought though, it doesn't imitate or embody all of the chai characteristics, so I would not get this just as a replacement for chai.
• I love it! It's sort of an energizing brew, and the color is quite nice too. The leaves before and after steeping smell great.
• It tastes even better with the comparatively weaker White Ayurvedic Chai combined, probably because this tea is a bit grassier and stronger; Teavana unfortunately no longer seems to be selling that blend, but mix it manually and you'll be fine.
• Very reasonable price for an excellent tea. Smells nice, tastes nice, looks nice.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Teavana's "Mango Mate Pu-erh Punch Tea" Review

 

For a taste of something sweet, spicy, and wonderfully exotic, breathe in the rich flavors of India in this sweet curry, chai, mango, passionfruit, mate, and pu-erh tea blend. Steeped with rich ripe guava, double citrus, and a touch of ginger, this invigorating and refreshing combination enlightens the senses, conjuring up the bustling markets of Agra near the Taj Mahal.
Sweet mango well balanced with spice and pu-erh.

Price: $8 per 2 oz/$4 per oz... I got this at a half-price sale however.
Preparations: 1.5 tsp, 208 degrees F, 5-6 min.

•  My first thought when I tried this out was that I wasn't sure whether or not I liked it. The tea was very different from anything I'd ever tried before; I've never drank a flavored pu-erh drink before, and the mango-curry combination made the tea more spicy than sweet. But it was potable, and like the conservative Chinese I am, I drank it all.
• The color is gorgeous; it's an orange-ish hue reminiscent of tropical fruits like mango or passionfruit. The aroma is nice too, with a hint of spice, but nothing overpowering.
• After a few weeks of drinking, I have been enjoying the flavor more and more. It's definitely not one of my absolute favorites, but it's a nice go-to for the lazy afternoons. I have not tried it iced, and I'm not sure if I want to since the flavor seems more appropriate as a hot tea.
• Honestly, I would only buy this again if it was on sale. While I liked it, I didn't feel as if it was worth $8/two oz (and if you've been to Teavana in-stores, you know that the cashiers generally tend to force you into accepting and paying more than you really want).
• I'm not sure what type of people I'd recommend this to. If you like sweet, tangy teas, you might be disappointed, unless you appreciate a different approach every once in a while.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.