Review: SpecialTeas Cinnamon Orange Spice Tea

Jan 17

Review: SpecialTeas Cinnamon Orange Spice Tea

Lea’s Teaview Snapshot

"Easy to overbrew, but if you get the steeping just right you'll end up with a fragrant and pleasant cup of tea."

Lea’s Teaview:	6/10
Other Teaviews:	Stephen gave it 5/10, Cindy gave it 6/10
Your Reviews:	Add your review »

I enjoy spiced tea of all kinds, and am always happy to try a new one. The first brew of this one wasn’t a pleasant experience. I was prepared to write a bad review, then realized I didn’t really know the appropriate steep time for it. I went to Special Teas website, and they didn’t list the steep time for this one like they do most of their other teas.

For the first cup, I did four minutes. It was very bitter and the cinnamon seemed too strong. I also couldn’t detect any orange at all. I think this tea is just temperamental, as the second time I steeped for three minutes, and it was like a completely different tea.

My second cup wasn’t bitter, and the cinnamon was much more appropriate, not overpowering at all. The cinnamon is balanced with a more subtle orange flavor. I think if the orange was too strong it wouldn’t work with the spice in the tea, they did a good job balancing the two flavors.

This tea is very fragrant, smelling only of cinnamon, and brews up a light burgundy color.

I won’t rush out to buy this tea anytime soon, but it’s an eventual repurchase for me. Just watch your steep time to ensure a pleasant, mild cup.

— To purchase SpecialTeas Cinnamon Orange Spice 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.