The Greener Green Mate is definitely an experience, though not necessarily a good one. I brewed up the cup in a glass mug, and I was impressed with its green tinge — not something you usually see, even in green tea. I leaned in to smell, and what? What’s burning? This tea has the exact aroma of burning hay. Very smoky, and not a smell I typically associate with tea, or even with food. I made my husband come and smell, and he likened it to a bonfire. Now, this may sound pleasant to some people, but I definitely am a little wary of drinking anything that smells like burning…

The moment had arrived — it was time to actually drink the tea. The official description of the tea is “a stimulating, antioxidant-rich blend of yerba mate, green tea and lemongrass.” The taste is very similar to the smell, smoky and hay-like. Even though it was described as a green tea blend, all green tea taste is pretty much overwhelmed by the smokiness. I could not detect even a hint of lemongrass. There is a touch of sweetness, though, and no bitterness. The finish has a bit of hickory under the smoke and seems almost meaty.

This is not a tea I would recommend for drinking, but I think it would be great for marinades or for using as an ingredient in other recipes.

Next up: Orange Blossom Mate  The Orange Blossom Mate was the second tea I tried, and after the Greener Green Mate, I wasn’t expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised — this one was drinkable!

The smoky smell is still there, though definitely not as strong as in the green tea. This time, there is also a strong orange scent. I also get a whiff of something floral. The taste is pretty good as well, a little sweet with a nice orange flavor. The smoky aftertaste is definitely still there, and that did take away from my enjoyment a bit. While I did finish my cup, I don’t think I will be adding this tea to my drink line very regularly.

These teas from Guayaki were not quite my style, but the company is worth checking out. All of their teas are organic, fair trade, and sustainably grown. And mate is a great pick-me-up for those of you who need the caffeine but can’t stomach the acidity of coffee.

I am lucky enough to live near a Teavana store, which offers dozens of unique loose-leaf tea varieties. When I stopped by last week, I found a new-to-me tea that screamed “falling leaves.” Not that is tastes or smells like falling leaves… I’m not sure I could handle something like that. The tea is called Vermont Maple, and the name really says it all.

Ingredients: Vermont Maple is somewhat unique in that the main ingredient appears to be almonds. Other ingredients include apple pieces, cinnamon, and maple. Please note: these ingredients are heavier than most teas, and since Teavana sells by weight, you may end up with fewer cups than you expect.

Smell: The aroma is pretty light, with a definite woody undertone. There is also a hint of sweet maple syrup, but only a hint. I wouldn’t recognize apple or cinnamon in here if I wasn’t told to look for it.

Appearance: The tea brews a brilliant bright red, like a maraschino cherry. This is somewhat perplexing, since the dry tea is not at all colorful.

Taste: I tested the tea with no milk or sweetener. It definitely has it’s own sweetness. The first taste hits you like the bottom of the forest, not entirely pleasant, but there is a nice almond finish. Again, no hint of any spices. Vermont Maple also comes across very weak; I would recommend more than the suggested 1.5 tsp per 8 ounce cup.

Summary: This is a great tea to look at, and could be pleasant to drink if it was mulled with additional wintry spices. Otherwise, especially given it’s weakness and few cups per ounce of dry tea, I would steer clear.

My favorite tea emporium, Teavana, is doing their bit to get us all in a Christmas mood.  Their Holiday Blend tea has been put into heavy rotation at their tasting stand in the mall.  This tea is available year-round, but it’s really all about Christmas.

According to official description, Holiday Blend is ”a spicy combination of China black tea with rose petals, almond bits, citrus peels, cloves, and genuine Madagascar vanilla beans.  This tea contains nuts.”

I have a steaming cup in front of me, and the smell of cloves is the most powerful element.  There is also a hint of citrus, probably orange.  Holiday Blend is flavored black tea, and it does have a strong black tea flavor with an immediate kick of spice.  I don’t taste any rose flavor, and the almond flavor is minimal.  Each sip ends with a smooth vanilla finish.  Overall, it reminds me of a pfefferneuse cookie without the anise flavor.

Holiday Blend is a great, strong tea to keep you warm and awake through massive shopping sessions and all those Christmas specials.  Available at Teavana stores or online.

Photo from Teavana website.