Two leaves & a bud is one of my favorite tea company. The latest tea from their line that I’ve tried is Organic White Peony.

The white tea is minimally processed, gently sun-dried to preserve the mellow, smooth and savory flavor of the tea. So it’s a very light tea with a floral note.

White tea is prized for it’s high levels of antioxidant and other health promoting properties. It gets the name white tea from the silvery bud that forms along with the two leaves of the tip of the plant.

Tea Notes:

* Caffeine: LIGHT
* Top note: Smooth
* Middle Note: Robust and sweet
* Finish: Complex texture

I like how this tea never gets bitter after steeping. I can also steep it 2 or 3 times before tossing it out.

This tea is also easy to drink with any meal. A cup of White Peony is perfect for this time of year.

Comes in an eco-friendly cylinder holding 50 grams of loose tea. Makes 25 cups.

The company is also on a mission to support all Fair Trade teas. Their teas come from small farmers.

We need more small family farms and should do our best to support them. Both at home and around the world.

“Our journeys to the gardens show us time and time again that great growers deserve to be rewarded for great tea. As a result, we pay more for premium whole leaf teas, ensuring that more money makes it back to the source.” - two leaves & a bud.

I have tried to switch from green tea to white tea before, but I could never stick to it. Well, I decided since the weather is getting cooler, it’s time to try white tea again.

I found organic Peony white tea by Prince of Peace online at Vitacost.  I think it was about $5 per box of 100 individual wrapped tea bags.  This much tea should last me for a few months.

This particular tea was OK, but not something I can drink too often.  I’ts not bitter, but taste rather flat and very herbal.  I guess that’s why Peony root tea has been used as herbal remedies for ailments.

I would probably just drink this Peony white tea a few times a week. This is mainly since young white tea leaves has approximately 3 times more antioxidant than green tea. There is also less caffeine in white tea, compare to green or black tea.

I also got the Peony white tea since I think Peonies have such pretty blooms.  Red Peony photo from Wikipedia.

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I’ve been a fan of Rooibos tea for some time now. I normally get the loose needle leaf Rooibos sold in bulk at Whole Foods.  You just add 1/2 teaspoon to 1 cup of boiling water.  The red color is similiar to teas made from Loquat leaves.

Rooibos tea is categorized as herbal tea, so it’s caffeine free. The many benefits of Rea tea include the ability to soothe the body’s reaction to allergy and rashes. You can can put the tea bag under your eyes or apply to your face. Red tea also contains anti-spasmodic agents which can relieve stomach pains. Many in Asia believe it has an anti-aging effect, just like green tea.

This is one of my favorite red tea from the Yogi brand.  The other one I tried was Egyptian Licorice and it was not my cup of tea.

This one is just sweet enough on it’s own to not add any sweetener.  Ingredients of this tea include the cleansing Ayurvedic spices of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and clove.  Also includes a splash of natural peach for just the right amount of sweetness.

I usually make it the night before and pour them into glass bottles and refrigerate.  Next morning you can just grab a glass and go!

The taste reminded me of Snapple’s Peach tea made with black tea.  Except the taste is lighter.  And of course cheaper then buying bottles of Snapple.  Possibly has less sugar, if at all.  It’s the ideal tea for hot summer days.

Photo from Yogi Tea.