Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing Special, Drink for the Caffeine, Not the Taste, September 2, 2007
***
Tazo's Awake Black Tea tastes like an ordinary black tea, maybe a little stronger than usual. If you let it brew even a little too long, it becomes bitter. Otherwise, it is fine.
The only ingredient in Awake is black tea---a blend of "black teas". Tazo does not tell you which ones. It is, of course, caffeinated.
Tazo is an interesting company that makes only super premium teas. They are socially responsible, based in Portland, and have the motto, "The Reincarnation of Tea". Tazo is owned by Starbucks. Their web site is fun and quirky, with a Zen-type focus, definitely worth checking out. It is unclear, though, from their web site, how many of their ingredients are organic or kosher, and they do use some "natural flavors" in their teas--this wording seems a little vague for a super premium tea.
On the package, Tazo writes, "a bold breakfast tea of depth and character, invigorating anytime. This eye-opening black tea blend has a full, rich character with hints of dark caramel, malt and black cherries." Well, call me crazy, but I don't taste any of this. Just plain old black tea, and a little on the bitter side at that. I'm no professional tea taster, but this seems like a bit of creative fiction writing rather than a description of the tea I drank. On their web site, Tazo describes the flavor profile of Passion as "malty, full of dense, dark cherries". Tazo describes the aroma as "burnt caramel, brown sugar"---whoa! I definitely did not taste this, not at all. Again, just very ordinary black tea.
***
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Tazo Awake, June 9, 2007
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea." -Henry James, Portrait of a Lady
This "English Breakfast" style tea is quite satisfying and has a rich flavor that is quite delicious. I'd like to say that their teas are best steeped for an extra 5-10 minutes to draw out all the delicious flavors. I use my coffee maker to make tea. Simply put the loose tea in a coffee filter or the tea bags in the coffee pot, then allow the boiling water to drip over the tea leaves.
The sensual blend of exotic spices, teas and herbs used in the TAZO teas include a mixture of the following: Black tea, green tea, hibiscus flowers, chamomile flowers, lemongrass, spearmint leaves, blackberry leaves, cinnamon, Rooibos, Gingerroot, rose hips, orange peel, rose petals, licorice root, safflowers, black pepper, lemon verbena leaves, cardamom, cloves, peppermint leaves, chicory, sarsaparilla root, lemon balm leaf, star anise and red poppy flowers.
This is a blend of black teas, but all their teas are worth trying. If you are looking for a rich black tea, then this should impress you.
~The Rebecca Review
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Teas Overall, But Tazo Disappoints, September 15, 2006
****
Tazo Assorted Black and Green Teas and Herbal Infusions includes one or two of each:
AWAKE: plain ordinary black tea, a little bitter
CALM: nice chamomile tea
CHAI BLACK TEA: an okay chai black tea with caffeine
CHINA GREEN TIPS: great green tea experience, Tazo's best, no "natural flavorings"
DECAFFEINATED CHAI: an okay chai black tea without caffeine
EARL GREY BLACK TEA: a disappointing perfumy, intense, black tea experience
LOTUS: decaf green tea with lotus flower, one of my favorite Tazo's
PASSION HERBAL INFUSION: hibiscus-y, intense, caffeine-free, and luxurious
WILD SWEET ORANGE: orange herbal tea, some complex overtones perhaps
ZEN: mild, relaxed green tea
Their ingredients include: black tea, green tea, hibiscus flowers, chamomile flowers, lemongrass, citric acid, natural flavors, spearmint leaves, blackberry leaves, cinnamon, rooibos, ginger root, rose hips, orange peel, rose petals, licorice root, safflower, black pepper, lemon verbena leaves, cardamom, cloves, peppermint leaves, chicory, sarsaparilla root, lemon balm leaf, star anise, and red poppy flowers.
Tazo is an interesting company that makes only super premium teas. They are socially responsible, based in Portland, and have the motto, "The Reincarnation of Tea". Tazo is owned by Starbucks. Their web site is fun and quirky, with a Zen-type focus, definitely worth checking out. It is unclear, though, from their web site, how many of their ingredients are organic or kosher, and they do use some "natural flavors" in their teas--this wording seems a little vague for a super premium tea. In general I'm not a big fan of tea with flavorings added, preferring the subtleness and authentic taste of the real thing.
Overall, the green teas seem good. The herbal infusions are fine. The black teas tend to turn bitter if you don't brew them very briefly...even then they have bitter overtones. Tazo's assortment, and Tazo teas in general, are fine---better than premium teas like Stash or Celestial Seasonings---but not anywhere near as good as Numi, or Aspen, or other super premium teas made with only "real" ingredients and minus all of the flavorings. I'm more used to these high quality teas, which Tazo attempts to be, but disappoints...so overall Tazo Assorted gets a 3.5 to a 4. For this review, I'm rounding up, since so many people seem to enjoy these teas, and I'm in the clear minority. If your tea experience so far is drinking commercial teas of a lower quality, no doubt Tazo's teas will appeal to you, as they are a great improvement. They have a lot of variety and many interesting tea experiences. If you don't enjoy Tazo's teas, though, know that there are many, many teas made with all real ingredients, teas that cost only a fraction more, that may be just the thing you were looking for.
****
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