 | "It has a heavy, strong and slightly bitter taste... this is the blend that permanently switched me from soft drinks to tea."
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Tazo Awake is THE tea. I know that seems like a bold statement, but there is an explanation. For many years, I wanted to drink tea on a regular basis. But I did not like tea enough to drink it regularly, especially hot teas. Oh, an occasional cup of Celestial Seasons Orange Spice was palatable, but not something I could drink on a regular basis. Their teas always seemed weak to me, coming from a childhood addiction to that wonderful treat, Dr. Pepper. But that all changed in January, 2007.
I was stuck at a conference in Austin, Texas during an ice storm. One morning, after very little sleep, I needed caffeine. As I perused the teas available, the wonder of marketing drew me in: Awake. I had a cup and it is well named. It brewed nice and dark and was not like the watery teas I had tried before. Since that day, I regularly drink tea and only drink Dr. Pepper on special occasions. Tazo Awake is THE tea that finally got me to switch from soft drinks.
Tazo Awake is a good basic black tea that is relatively inexpensive and a good introduction to teas. Awake is one of the teas I recommend – along with Choice Organic’s Oolong – to coffee drinkers who want to try tea. A blend of black teas, I must assume Awake has high amount of caffeine. It has a heavy, strong taste that makes it clear you are drinking more than water. Awake is one of the more bitter teas I’ve tasted, but my repertoire is limited. I keep a few packs at home and at work for those mornings when I haven’t slept enough. Unfortunately, I go through them quickly.
After drinking this tea for a while, I started reading up on tea. With all the hype about green tea, I wondered if I could find one of those that I liked. Now that would be pure Zen!
— To purchase Tazo Awake Black Tea, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
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James Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on James's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by James. |
February 4th, 2008 at 11:25 am
If you want a cheaper but as good or better version of Awake, try blending good loose-leaf versions of Assam and Ceylon teas. They are what is used to make Awake, and a better quality, cheaper “Awake” blend can be had if you buy tea from vendors and mix it yourself.
My Rating:
5/10
February 15th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Absolutely. You are almost always better off with loose leaf. You can find plenty of breakfast blends without having to blend it yourself. However, this one continues to be a ’stand by’ for me. It is a great basic, strong breakfast tea with the convenience of a teabag. I don’t drink it when I have time to make something better, but always have some on hand, with other breakfast blends, for when I am in a hurry.