My wife and I have been very busy in the best possible way after the birth of our son. We are extremely blessed and happy.  It was a very important time for me to take a break from blogging.

Ito En | Peach

Today, I did want to write a note about Ito En’s peach flavored RTD.  I’ve been a big fan of Ito En’s authentic and healthy ready-to-drink teas (here are some of my favorites): Oi Ocha, TEA’S TEA, and Sencha Shot

Ito En’s Peach flavored ready-to-drink tea:  This is a black tea that is sweetened with natural cane sugar.  It is not too sweet (15g sugar per fl oz).  The natural peach flavoring is well balanced and it makes the beverage very refreshing.  The black tea flavor definitely takes a back seat to the fruit flavor.  So if you are looking for a strong black tea flavor, you will not find it in this RTD.  This tea is all about fun.  It’s not nearly as serious as some of their other brands.  As a consumer, I appreciate their variety.  I’m not always in the mood for a Sencha Shot.  Sometimes I want a flavorful iced tea from a trusted brand and that is what Ito En offers.  This tea makes for a good lunch time companion.  Again, if you are looking for a serious black tea with a recognizable black tea flavor, this is not going to do it for you.

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Ito En Mango

This was really interesting for me.  The majority of the Ito En teas I’ve tried have been serious with pure and authentic strong tea flavors. You had to be an experienced tea drinker to appreciate the quality of the ready-to-drink teas they offer. Until now…this Mango flavored black tea changed all the rules.  I didn’t look at the label before taking my first drink.  Other than knowing it was mango flavored, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  When the lush mango flavors mixed with sweet natural cane sugar hit my tongue, I was pleasantly surprised.  The flavor of this tea is simple: Sweet Mango.  The tropical fruit flavor definitely out weighs the black tea in this mix.  I think this is a great addition to their line of products because it has a fun factor to it.  I could see me drinking an Oi Ocha when I’m craving a pure and unsweetened green tea. Then I can switch to this sweetened mango flavored black tea when I’m in the mood for something with a few more calories. The bottle label states that there are 50 calories & 14g sugars per 8 fl oz.  There’s no doubt that this was a good tasting beverage – if you like sweet mango flavors.  If you are looking for a strong black tea flavor, you’re not going to find it in this bottle.

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Today, I’m trying Dr. Andrew Weil for tea – Darjeeling Elemental Purity.  Dr. Andrew Weil for tea is distributed by ITO EN.  This is an individual tea bag.  The mesh tea bag came sealed in a plastic wrapper.  The wrapper appears to do an excellent job at retaining the freshness of the tea.  Since the tea bag is mesh, you could clearly see the finely cut Darjeeling black tea.  The string on the bag was very short.  Depending on the cup you use to steep the tea, it could be problematic.  I steeped the tea in water that was just below a boil.  I let the bag soak for about 2-3 minutes.  The scent from the infusion was fresh, and it gave me hope that this would not be disappointing.  I could smell a faint grape-like scent with a classic muscatel vibe that was inviting my mouth to take a sip.  Unfortunately, that’s about all of the positive things I can say about this tea.  It was lacking the powerful taste properties usually present in Darjeeling teas.  All in all, it was very bland.  The finely cut tea in the mesh tea bag does not even lend itself to presentation points.  There was nothing awful about this tea.  It smelled good, and it didn’t taste horrible.  It just fell below the standard set by so many other tea brands.

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I can’t stress enough the authentic green and white tea flavor that this beverage packs in every bottle. This is bottled tea in its purist form. I can’t stress how refreshing this bottled tea is after a hot day of work. Teas’ Tea is totally unsweetened. It comes in a sleek plastic bottle that makes it an easy on-the-go drink. I’ve blogged about a lot of bottled teas this summer; however, it’s important to note that Teas’s Tea has a very strong natural flavor. I encourage you to try it if you are new to tea. It’s an easy way to see if green and white tea will appeal to you. In simple terms, the bottle label states the green tea is from Japan and the white tea is from China. So, you’re getting the best of both worlds. The green tea wins out as the dominant flavor, but just knowing you’re getting all the antioxidants from both varieties is extra value. Years ago, I didn’t think I would ever like green tea. After trying a few varieties and realizing the health benefits, I now love the natural green tea flavor. I’ve always been a fan of white tea. This is a great beverage for anyone that thinks purified water, Vitamin C, and tea leaves is a good idea.

• Visit Teas’ Tea

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ITO EN is known for their natural tea selections. When I talked to ITO EN at the world tea expo, I was very impressed with their vision and product line. They are giving their healthy/natural products a marketing edge over the competition. Today, I’m drinking an ITO EN bottled tea from their Teas’ Tea product line. It’s made from Japanese green tea and flavored with lemongrass. The result is a very healthy, tasty, and refreshing beverage. It is really easy to drink the entire 16.9 fl oz bottle in one sitting (or standing, running, etc). It’s so smooth and flavorful. You will not be left with that “sticky-teeth” feeling that you get from sugary beverages. The lemongrass gives the green tea a light citrus kick. In addition, the beverage supplies a healthy dose of Vitamin C. Now, what really sells this product is the fact that it is unsweetened, and it has no carbs and no calories. You’ll be amazed at the natural freshness of this product. Give this a shot.

• Visit ITO EN Teas’s Tea

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It would have been impossible not to notice the ITO EN booth and product displays at this year’s World Tea Expo. Their displays were massive and impressive. I couldn’t resist wanting to try one of their canned products. One of the representatives at the show gave me a “Sencha Shot” to try. I have to say, their booth workers were very friendly and helpful. Back to the Sencha shot… the can is very inviting. As a tea fan, I really appreciated the design and style of the can. The can sort of has the vibe of a healthier version of Red Bull. More importantly, I appreciated the fact that the Japanese Green Tea and Vitamin C was packed into a steel can holding 6.4 fl. oz. The product boasts 152MG of Catechin antioxidants. This product is completely unsweetened. I love the statement on their website, “To make Sencha Shot taste like other energy drinks, add preservatives, additives, and sugar.” Very cool and very true. This can is packed with natural energy. It has a very green “veggie” flavor. If you don’t like Sencha or green tea in general, you’re going to have problems with this tea. I drink a lot of green tea, and I had to chug this one. It was truly a shot of energy. I see no need to sip this beverage. Basically, you open the tab, and slam it down. I drank it cold after doing a lot of yard work. It definitely helped me maintain my energy after a long day at work. I didn’t get to try their “DR. ANDREW WEIL for TEA” products at the show, but I do plan on trying one soon. All in all, this beverage is packed with pure energy from the Sencha and Vitamin C. If you don’t like green tea, please do not attempt this beverage. It’s awesome, but I know not everyone can stand the authentic green tea flavor.

• Visit ITO EN

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