I REALLY wanted to like this blend. Not for any noble reason or because I love 52 Teas (I do love 'em, but while some of the teas are divine, I hate the occasional few with a burning passion), but because I got two ounces of it, and I'm the only one in my house who will drink it. So I had better like it, or it's just going to get given away.

I brewed up a cup, smelled it, and decided it smells like chocolate vodka. I've had people tell me chocolate vodka is delicious, whereas I think it tastes like someone added hot chocolate mix to paint thinner. It tasted surprisingly smooth and seriously strange. There's a definitely liquor resemblance that I don't love. It's interesting, and better with some sweetener, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn't love it. The best I could think is that it was okay. I thought finally, for real this time, I am done trying chocolate teas because I am too picky and find 95% of them inedible.

Then Frank from 52 Teas suggested I try it as an iced latté. I brewed 1 teaspoon in 1/3-cup hot water, added agave nectar, then poured it in with 2/3-cup milk and some ice. Roasty, nutty, sweet, chocolately goodness. This was weird hot, but as an iced latté, it's unique and delicious. It tastes enough like coffee to resemble a "normal" latté, but it's different enough to really stand out, and there's none of the aftertaste. It's my new afternoon pick-me-up.

— To purchase 52 Teas Malted ChocoMaté, 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.

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

---