There was a bit of confusion when I looked for information regarding this blend on The NecessiTeas' website. The Cranberry Orange Vanilla listed was a rooibos blend with cranberries, orange pieces and vanilla flavoring. What I got as a review sample was a green tea blend with the same added ingredients. However, a green tea profile with those ingredients went by a different name - Cranberry Autumn. I decided to go with what the website called it; here are my thoughts on Cranberry Autumn. (And, wow, that sounds like the name of a 90s indie girl band.)

The one thing I give The NecessiTeas credit for over anything else is the aroma of their blends. No superlatives necessary, they're wonderful. I always feel like I'm whiffing a dessert topping with every tea I open. And it stays in line with their mission statement that all their teas are meant to be guilt free alternatives to sweet tooth sating. And, boy, do I have a sweet tooth. The aroma for this was predominately cranberry and vanilla with a citrus finish, sort of reminding me of a chocolate orange wedge dunked in Ocean Spray concentrate.

The green tea base looked as I would expect Chinese sencha to look, and I found pieces of dried orange and cranberry very visible in the fray. While it wasn't as overpowering in its desserty bang, I still had a feeling I would enjoy it. Brewing instructions on the bag echoed what I thought was appropriate for a default green tea as well; 1 tsp per 8oz, steeped for three minutes. However, they recommended the use of boiling water. I split the difference and went with 180F. It was still a green tea after all.

The liquor infused to a pale green with a mixed grassy/vanilla nose. Creaminess could be detected on the forefront, but the fruit elements held back on the aroma. I hoped that wasn't the case with taste. Thankfully, those hopes weren't dashed. It was alarmingly crisp on the forefront with a natural fruit lean from the green tea base. In the middle, a lot of the citrus elements came up to bat. The cranberry namesake only made itself faintly known at the start and toward the finish. I was okay with that, but as a result - given the name confusion - I would suggest "Citrus Berry Autumn" as a title. Sounds tropical like this blend.

— To purchase The Necessiteas Cranberry Autumn Green, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

Geoff Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Geoff's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Geoff.

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