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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iCoffee Opus Single Serve Brewer Review

Last year I had the good fortune of being offered a chance to try out Remington’s iCoffee’s SteamBrew multi-cup brewer. At the time, I thought I had found nirvana, bliss in a cup. I have used everything from a $500 German-engineered machine to a $10 French press, and nothing compared to iCoffee’s SteamBrewed cup of goodness. I did not think I would ever find anything to top it.

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I was wrong.

Because iCoffee sent me their newest creation, the Opus Single Serve Brewer. There’s a new sheriff in town, folks. And his name is Opus.

Everything I loved about the iCoffee SteamBrew machine has been miniaturized and put into Opus. It steams, spins and stirs the coffee right in the cup! Everything I dreaded about single-cup brewers was crumpled up and thrown right in the trash. Because iCoffee has the good grace and sense to include a reusable single-serve cup to add your favorite coffee, one amazingly, impossibly smooth cup at a time. The cup will accept all grinds (except maybe powder fine, I don’t grind my coffee that fine so I can’t say for certain), so you can adjust your grind to match the flavor profile and strength you desire. You want loose-leaf tea? The cup will accept any tea from any maker and flavor you desire. Or just heat one cup of water at a time and steep your bagged tea as you please. Iced coffee? Please, that’s not even a challenge. Just add ice and dial down the ounces. Don’t want to bother grinding, measuring or weighing out your coffee? iCoffee’s Opus accepts every K-Cup^®, OneCup™, RealCup™ capsule, and all private label cups. Because only an insecure, inferior machine will limit your experience to just their brand of cups. And Remington’s iCoffee Opus let’s you experience every and anything you want to taste. Opus is packing a 75 ounce water reservoir, a removable drip tray to accommodate just about any size mug or travel cup you can find. Energy saver mode, auto shut off, and a precise Dial-a-Brew system that let’s you dial in your drink size from 4 ounces all the way up to 12, one half ounce at a time. Remington Even includes a six pack of single serve coffees from Tim Horton and Marley coffees, and even an herbal tea! I think it’s the perfect machine for any household. And cleanup? Throw the used cup away, or just wash out the included (Seriously, how awesome is Remington for that?!) reusable cup!

So, let’s address the elephant in the room: How does iCoffee’s Opus stack up to the market leaders with single serve machines? Well, I could go on and on about how superior the flavor is from Opus (and believe me, it is!), and it’s still  just one person’s opinion. But why do that when Remington went to the flavor professionals at Ohio State University. Read the full report here, but with all variables being equal, iCoffee Opus beat Keurig’s best machine in every category, from aroma, to taste, to aftertaste. Spanked them, actually. In fact, almost everyone who tries iCoffee’s Opus agrees. So, then what about that website that claimed the coffee made by Opus was weaker than from another brand of brewer? Poppycock, says I. If you want a stronger brew, grind your beans a little bigger. Here’s another pro tip: Remember iCoffee Opus’s patented Dial-a-Brew system? A little trick I learned is to fill mug 4 ounces at a time. Just pop the top after you dispense your 4 ounces of love, close and repeat until full. What that does is let the grounds steep just a few more seconds each time and be super-saturated by ounce 12. I got so much flavor from my coffees and teas this way, I get to tailor my cup each time I turn it on. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you this is the best cup of coffee I’ve ever brewed at home.

iCoffee’s Opus Brewer is a treat to smell, makes treats to taste, and looks damn fine doing it too. Shiny chrome, bright blue LED lights…the only thing I miss is my iCoffee’s little tune it sung when my brew was done. It doesn’t take up the whole counter, it doesn’t suck up a bunch of electricity while idle, an it goes from cold to piping hot and ready to drink in about 5 minutes (our non-contact thermometer registered 147 degrees and climbing fresh from the brewer!). There is quite literally nothing to dislike about the iCoffee Opus. If you forced me to pick one quibble, it would be the vacuum-metalized plastic cover on the drip tray. Because it will be used so much, the chrome paint will be scratched or worn away quickly, so I may have hubby fabricate a version out of stainless steel. And that’s me being picky. I usually try not to gush over the things I test and review, but I just love this machine. I’ve used it every day since it arrived, and my teapot on the stovetop is turning green from envy. Once the belle of the ball, iCoffee’s Opus just kicked him to the curb. iCoffee’s Opus Single Serve Brewer is available exclusively at Bed, Bath & Beyond (and if you don’t get promos from them already, you really should start here now). I cannot recommend this brewer highly enough, I can’t say enough good things about Remington’s iCoffee Opus. You really owe it to yourself to try the cup of coffee Opus can make for you.

 

Connect with Remington:

• Via their website
• Via Facebook
• Via Twitter
• Via Google+
• Via Pinterest
• Via YouTube
• Buy right now from Bed, Bath & Beyond!

I received the above product free of charge from Remington.  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.

PINCHMe: Gevalia Keurig K-Cup Caramel Macchiato and Froth Pack

I just signed up to become a “PINCHer” and my first items to review arrived from Gevalia Kaffe. Included was a froth packet, which you pour into your mug before brewing, and then you just brew as you would. The flavor is Caramel Macchiato and I definitely am a fan and very familiar with the flavor.

Unfortunately, the coffee was not that great and had a bitter almost burnt smelling aroma. I thought it was my nose but it also was picked up when I tasted the coffee. The froth packet tasted very sweet and almost had a coconut flavor, which I am a fan of but it did not translate well with the flavor or the bitterness. I just was not a fan and I really tried to find the caramel notes in all this, so my first “Pinch Me” moment was not spectacular but I am eager to see what else the program has to offer. I find these programs useful because even the not so positive experiences let me know what I like and don’t enjoy, so I know what to buy and what to pass on when I’m shopping!

If you want to become a member (PINCHer) of PINCHme, please visit them at:

• Online to join- https://www.pinchme.com/samples
• Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/PINCHme
• Twitter– https://twitter.com/pinchme_now
• Instagram– http://instagram.com/pinchme_now
• YouTube– https://www.youtube.com/user/PINCHmeUS

I received the above product free of charge from PINCHme and Gevalia Kaffe.  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.

BzzAgent Green Mountain Coffee Campaign

I received my kit from BzzAgent for the Green Mountain Coffee campaign. I am a no nonsense gal when it comes to making coffee. I have tried many machines in the past and at different price points, but many have left me less thrilled and with a lighter pocket book. I use a simple French Press when I make my coffee. My press is over 20 years old, easy to clean and not having to keep up with the latest “cup” or compatible system they come up with. I can drink and make as much as I want, never having to worry about my coffee getting burned.

I decided to read about the company, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), Inc., before my product arrived to get an idea about what they carried and a little more background information. The company focuses on ethical and environmental standards when it comes to production.  They have a “higher values” system they have implemented in how they treat their employees, coffee growers, to the land’s Eco-system.  It seems to encompass a morality you do not see many manufactures/brands out there use.  Many claim but fall short once you get to see the real picture.  At first, I thought it was a gimmick used to justify the higher price point to consumers but once I read and even reviewed the evidence, Fair Trade is important and implemented in everything GMCR, Inc., does.

How does the coffee taste?  This is really what surprised me more….it’s great.  Better than the leading brand and smoother.  You get a full flavored drink by using the recommended amount and I like strong coffee.  The bitter notes are non-existent, so no masking with creamers, flavorings, and sugars are required.  I used less sugar than usual and found myself enjoying the base product, the forgotten COFFEE much more.  I actually liked tasting the coffee and this meant less calories when making a cup and a more satisfied palette.  I shared my samples with friends and handed out my coupons, to just find myself being asked for more of both.  I recommend trying this coffee and you will not only enjoy the taste but you get that extra “feel good” feeling for supporting a brand that cares about their impact not only environmentally, but also how they treat their employees.

I received all associated products at no (ZERO) charge.  I am not obligated by either company in supplying a favorable and/or unfavorable opinion.  My commitment is to supply an HONEST review and opinion.  My opinion may differ from yours, but is all my own.