Smiley 360: TAZO® Iced Tea Concentrates #Review #TazoTea

I have featured Tazo Teas on here several times and every time a new product is released, it never disappoints. It’s one of those products I will always venture and give them a try without waiting for feedback because I have become able to trust the Tazo Tea brand.

Tazo’s newest release is the Iced Tea concentrates that come in tea bag form and also in their liquid state (large carton). The Iced Teas come in several varieties to choose from:

• Iced Peachy Green
• Iced Sangria Black
• Iced Passion
• Iced Blushberry Black
• Iced Citrus Bliss
• Iced True Black
• Iced Lemongrass Green

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• The Iced Peachy Green has a nice green tea flavor, which is more towards the mellow side with the fruity notes being the focus. You have a touch of spearmint and a zing from the ginger with almost a sweet Georgia peach finish. I loved it from the first sniff because just how the blend smells will pull you in. I have tried this tea both in cold and warm because a girl sometimes can’t wait. I also love the relaxing feeling the ginger provides and the accent ingredients like the spearmint are just there to compliment and not overpower the peachy green tea party!

 

• Iced Passion is my all time favorite. I love hibiscus based teas and this little red ruby beauty not only delivers in vibrant color but also in taste. This tea I found more powerful, which is a good thing because a little goes a long way. You have a tropical fruit flair going on, so think of pineapple and oranges. Perfect for summer weather and because it’s an herbal blend, I can even enjoy a perfect cup in the hot late summer nights. You also get a nice flowery scent from the rose hips that just make the perfect bouquet with the Hibiscus!

 

• The Iced Sangria Black tea sings to my Spanish heart. Finally, a Sangria tea that has those real flavors I associate with the drink. You have the citrus flavors that go so well with the black tea’s base. Just a touch of spice from the cinnamon and again a little sweetness from an apple this time. Sweet and simple is how I describe this blend and also perfect!

 

• The Iced Blushberry Black tea is my second favorite. It’s a berry blast and you have a dark raspberry that compliments the black tea notes nicely. It’s almost like a dry wine in how it feels when you drink this blend. You then have huckleberry and strawberry. This is not your usual boring berry blend, this one has life and is so refreshing. You smell the sweetness of the fruit when it begins to brew and when cooled, you get a nice snap from the berry mix. I love it because like I mentioned it’s not the typical berries being used, and I love black teas! This one also has hibiscus but not as powerful in flavor as it is the Iced Passion blend.

 

Retail Price Point: $2.99 for the box and this item comes with 6 filter bags, where each bag provides a pitcher worth of tea. You can also opt for the concentrate and skip the brewing. I also found the Keurig Tazo cups for $11.99 and that box yields 16 k-cups. Keep note like the Sangria Black version only comes in the concentrate carton and not made in the boxed tea bags one.  I also attached a coupon link to sweeten the already great deal.

Verdict:
The Tazo teas are too good for the price point (shhhhh, don’t tell Tazo). I saw $2.99 and thought what the heck am I getting here and I just have started to hoard these teas. I drink them both hot and cold. I have a one cup brewing system and I just measure out between 1/2 a teaspoon or more if desired and it makes the perfect cup. There are days I want a lighter tea and I can dilute the amount I brew and I am set. Being able to drink these teas how I wish makes it work for me. I get bored drinking the same blends but these are so unique and a flavor all their own, that I must start and end my day the Tazo way. For the price your pocket book will be happy and your taste buds will not be disappointed. If you don’t find your flavor, blame me because I love these teas so much that the fear of them not being made (like in forever) sets in. I think once I have 50 boxes of the flavors I love, I will then leave you some 🙂

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Connect with Tazo and find your tea at:

• On-line
• Coupon
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• #TazoTea  #NewWayToTea

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Tazo Teas and Smiley360.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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HouseParty: Lavazza Taste the Passion House Party #LavAzza #Review

Lavazza has been a household name and favorite for over 100 years in Italy! That is a lot of roasted coffee beans! Once I tasted this coffee, it has been my go-to for drinking and a must for baking. Nothing intensifies chocolate notes like coffee, so like wine, you want to use the very best and Lavazza is just that.

Now, that I can find the coffee here, I have noticed new items and selections available. I was so fortunate in being able to host another party and decided with the colder days ahead, baking a Coffee Chocolate Chip cookie, which went perfectly with the coffees. Simple, quick and the bittersweet chips mixed with the semisweet ones, makes this an irresistible cookie!

First Let’s start with what LavAzza’s Taste the Passion House Party included:

• 1 Barista apron with the Lavazza logo for host
• 4 bags of Lavazza Coffee in different varieties
• Coffee Mug for host with the Lavazza Logo
• Generous Coupons for guests to save on Lavazza coffees
• Magnets shaped like a coffee mug for guests
• Coffee Cups that were just like you get from your local Coffee Shop, with even the little sleeves to go over the cups
• Fun cards and games to entertain guests, including the “Italian hand gestures” game, which we all tend to “speak”.

The LavAzza Selections:

• Gran Aroma- Medium roast, smooth & aromatic, with citrusy notes.  This is the coffee that appealed to everyone and a perfect “everyday and at any season” cup you can enjoy.

• Classico- Medium roast, rich & full-bodied, with hints of dried fruit.  This was my second favorite and most guests really enjoyed this variety.  For some the roast was a little stronger than expected but welcoming.

• Gran Selezione- Dark roast, intense and chocolaty. 100% sustainably grown coffee that comes exclusively from Rainforest Alliance™ certified farms.  My favorite and every dark roast lovers favorite! This one is just delicious and strong, but without the bitter notes.  The aftertaste is nice and just makes you crave another cup of coffee!

• Perfetto- Espresso roast, dark and velvety with a lingering caramel finish.  I’m an espresso girl and this is it without the work.  You get the strength that wakes you up and also everything you love about coffee in one cup, but just in a non-espresso size!

LavAzza Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 2/3 cup of All Vegetable Shortening
• 3 Tablespoons of Unsalted Butter (softened)
• 3 Tablespoons of any LavAzza Coffee (I brew a strong cup so I can get that intense coffee flavor. I used the Gran Selezione in this batch)
• 1 1/4 cups of Dark Brown Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of Whole Milk
• 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
• 1 Large Egg at room temperature
• 2 cups of All Purpose Flour
• 3/4 Teaspoon of Kosher Salt
• 1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
• 1 cup of mixed Chocolate Chips (I use Bittersweet & Semi-Sweet)
• Optional- you can add 1/2 cup of toasted pecans or walnuts if you desire. You can get adventurous and even add dried fruits and the Lavazza Classico variety is perfect for that combination with it’s fruity notes.

Set your oven to 375 degrees (I use convection)

Using your mixer with the beater attachment, just combine the shortening, butter, coffee and brown sugar. Beat until you have a nice creamy and fluffy consistency. Then add the milk, extract, and egg and blend well. Remember to scrape down to make sure you get a smooth batter. In a bowl combine the dry ingredients, the flour, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to your mix and blend until combined. Make sure to not over beat. Then add the chocolate chips and combine (fold) with a spatula, so the chips do not get destroyed by the beater.

To make the cookies, I like to use a large ice scream scoop and just scoop (leave in ball form) about six scoops (cookies) on a silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 14 minutes and allow the cookies to rest for about 5 minutes before moving them onto a cookie rack to cool.

The cookies will be nice and soft, plus gooey when split open to eat. Really delicious and they hold well in a covered plastic container (room at temperature) for about 3 to 4 days. You will get about 12 cookies that are medium/large in size out of this recipe.

Don’t be sad if you a one cup machine!  Fate would have it that LavAzza sent me this postcard via mail, so their great coffees come in K-cups too.

Connect with LavAzza and find your favorite cup of coffee at:

• On-line
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• Sign-up to get notifications, special promotions and offers here
• #LavAzza

I received the above product(s) free of charge from HouseParty and Lavazza.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Swaggable: Taylors of Harrogate Earl Grey Tea #Review

I have always been partial to Black Tea and to me it’s the espresso of the tea world. Like coffees, I still want the smooth taste that is bold with not a significant amount of bitterness or harsh notes that are too acidic. Taylors of Harrogate’s Earl Grey delivers just that and you got to love a classic like this version. It’s the anytime and any season cup of tea. With this tea, you will pick-up citrus notes due to the Bergamot Orange fruit essential oil added to the blend. I could not only smell the beautiful lemon notes but you can also taste them, so it’s not a tea blend that smells better than it tastes.

• Taste Test-
  I did not have to add much to my fresh cup of tea and felt that just a touch of Orange Blossom honey was enough. I skipped on the milk because I rarely ever add it to my teas but it was suggested in the instructions.  I enjoyed it and it is definitely an Earl Grey version I would prefer over most brands.

The Taylors of Harrogate tea company makes a large variety of teas and blends and some are sold loose and others are sold bagged. They also have seasonal teas that are available for a limited time and lets not forget they also have coffees. This tea exporter has been providing the U.K. with teas since 1886 and definitely is a company you can depend on to deliver excellent quality because when you have over 120 years of serving the finest teas, you sort of know what you are doing 🙂

Check out Taylors and find your cup of tea or coffee at:

• On-line– http://www.taylorsofharrogate.com/
• On-line– http://www.brandsofbritian.com
• Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/taylorsofharrogatetea
• Twitter– https://twitter.com/TaylorsCoffee

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Swaggable and Taylors of Harrogate. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.