Today I am reviewing the Candy Cane Lane Green Tea by Celestial Seasonings.
How cute are those polar bears with their giant candy canes? I mean seriously!
This flavor is part of the Holiday Tea line and I would have reviewed it much sooner but I didn't receive it until immediately before the holidays. It was sent to me for review purposes and my only regret (aside from not having it in my hot little hands much sooner) is not having more than 2 tea bags because I would have loved to have been able to share it with my readers.
For those of you that don't know Celestial Seasonings is touted to be 100% Natural Teas. This particular version is both gluten free *WOOT!!!!* and naturally decaffeinated so it is perfect to sip just before bed with a really good book. The ingredients listed are as follows:
Peppermint (obviously), Decaffeinated Green Tea (also obvious), Orange Peel (here is where they throw in a little twist), Natural Vanilla and Mint Flavors with Other Natural Flavors (what are these mysterious other natural flavors and why do they not have to tell us what they are? What if I'm allergic to "Other Natural Flavors?!? I could die here people!!! Lives might be at stake! BUT I digress. So anyway...), Cinnamon (Yum!), Milk Thistle (??? The Magic 8 Ball says that milk thistle apparently can be good for type 2 Diabetes sufferers because it has been shown to decrease blood sugar levels by improving insulin resistance and also improve cholesterol. It can mimic estrogen in the system though so women with fibroids or endometriosis or breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer should probably avoid it.), Blackberry Leaves (Another surprising twist!), Roasted Carob (What the?!? An almost, but not quite replacement for cocoa and chocolate), Roasted Chicory and Vanilla Bean (This is where the lack of a comma throws me off. Is it Roasted Chicory and Roasted Vanilla Bean? OR is it Roasted Chicory *insert comma* and Vanilla Bean? just plain old vanilla bean? Inquiring minds want to know. BTW... roasted chicory is often used as a coffee substitute in case you were wondering.)
The instructions are to use water just at the brink of boiling over the tea bag because using slightly cooler water to brew green tea apparently results in a "smoother, more delicate flavor." (Oh NOW they want to use a comma.) Anyway, you pour the water over the tea bag, steep it for three minutes, remove the tea bag, and then add milk or sweetener according to whatever floats your green tea boat.
Upon cutting the bag open I was immediately hit with the peppermint-y fragrance which at first was much more peppermint much less candy cane, but after the first few seconds while the fragrance dissipated from the bag the candy cane fragrance settled in a bot more and it became a bit of a tug-of-war of the senses between the two. (Is that the roasted carob causing the subtle but noticeable difference between peppermint and candy cane? The more I sniff the more I think so.) Is smelling a bag filled with tea bags bad for you because I'm pretty sure I just spent 10 minutes straight huffing this fragrance and my sinuses are feeling icy cool like I wiped them down with a York Peppermint Patty. I'm not complaining. I'm just saying am I at risk of an addiction? I think maybe. I should probably get on with the steeping and drinking portion of the program just to be safe.)
By the way... this is what the tea bags look like in case you were wondering.
Upon first taste it really is more peppermint than candy cane albeit it is peppermint with a ZING. (There is that icy coolness again.) I find that with some Celestial Seasonings teas (like Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride for example) that the full flavor doesn't come out until you add some sort of sweetener. I decided to add the same thing I typically use which is a single packet of Equal. This did open up the flavor some, but I would still describe it as more of a peppermint flavor than a candy cane flavor specifically but again, it does have that added zing which you don't get from a traditional peppermint tea. Either way, it happens to be a much better peppermint/candy cane flavor than any other peppermint tea I have had to date so all in all I'd call this one a WIN. It is smooth and soothing and delicious and I'd drink loads and loads of it all winter long if given the chance.
I generally buy my Celestial Seasonings Teas at my local Target store and the price falls somewhere between about $2.50 and $3.50 for a box of 20 tea bags. I happen to know my Target store carried this exact flavor, so chances are yours does too.
For more information on the Celestial Seasonings brand in general and the many types of tea they offer go to:
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