Product Review: Arizona, Southern Style Sweet Tea

Not this Thursday, but the last, actually... it was Friday, Rebecca and I were washing the laundry and after we got everything going we headed next door to the gas station for something to drink. Most of the time we get coffee, but with our new self inflicted ban on buying coffee drinks, we were looking for something different. My first reaction to this was "ooooooh!" then "oh" then "ooooooooh!" (hehe!), after realizing there were steamboats on the label. I was sold.

Well truthfully I wasn't as thrilled with the flavor as I was with the lovely label... but I think I would buy it again. I like iced tea and that's what it tasted like :D. It wasn't too sweet for me. I only wish the tea was a little stronger.

Rebi... said I was holding the can like a bottle of beer!! And me a teetotaler! I don't know where she gets ideas like that! hehe. (you should see how I react to the glare of a camera lens! :P )

And the best part of all! It was only 99 cents!

Product Review: Izze Soda Pop!

Love Izze!

It's basically sparkling juice, no sweeteners added! I think that's Mom and Dad's favorite part :P The girls just love the taste. (that sounded like a commercial LOL!). Very simple and natural ingredients, and it comes in glass bottles, neato! You can check out the flavors that are available and see all the nutritional facts on their website, izze.com.

Sparking Peach is my favorite flavor (or course!). In the photos Vi and Lib are enjoying Izze Esque Black Raspberry (esque is the lower calorie version), which they both said tasted yummy!

It's available all over the place, but I would say that the best deal I've seen is the bulk size box at Costco.

Product Review: XingTea - w/ Peach & Honey

Peach, peach, peach.

Naturally I have to compare this to my favorite peach beverage, Tazo Giant Peach, and it rates pretty good. And since I haven't found a place that I can get Tazo at in Pitt, this is a good option while I'm there.

No bitter aftertaste that so many of these kind of teas have, and it was pleasantly sweet. My Grandma Jenny, said that Tazo was too sweet for her, so if you feel the same, this might be more to your liking.

Came across this drink at Ron's in Pitt. I've never seen it any other place. They do have a website, but it appears to be under construction.

Product Review: The Republic of Tea, Ginger Peach

As I have mentioned before, I'm not fond of ginger. Why did I get some ginger peach tea then?

Well, I had a faint memory of liking this one, and it's not that bad.

The ginger is very mild, non of that bite that I dislike so much. Of course it doesn't live up to my favorite peach tea (tazo's Giant Peach), but it was nice. Chilled is best, in my opinion, and there was pretty much no bitterness.


I got this tea at the Whole Foods in KC, but it can also be purchased at
The Republic of Tea.com

Recipe Review: Russian tea

Russian tea reminds me of my childhood... *sighs dramatically* (hehe).

When I was younger it seemed like every fall we had a big tupperware container full of Russian tea mix.

There isn't a thing I would change about Russian tea. Mixing oranges and black tea is pure genius!

It is a great year round drink too, since it can be served hot or cold depending on the weather. I like it hot best :D


This recipe is from All Recipes.com

Russian Tea
1/4 cup Instant Iced Tea
1/2 cup Tang
.25 oz unsweetened Lemon Aid
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon Cloves

Mix well and store in airtight container. makes about 1 1/2 cups of mix.
Add 3 to 4 tablespoons to 1 cup hot or cold water. Stir and serve.

Allegro, Kenya Grand Cru

I'd say 4 out of 5. (I'm saving 5 for the ultimate coffee, I expect I'll know it when I sip it)

My sister, Abi, picked this one up last time she was at Whole Foods in KC.
     Sometime or another, I must have gotten a cup of this particular kind to sip while I strolled around the store, because the aroma immediately reminded me of being at Whole Foods.

It said on the package 'light roast', I usually don't like light, but this was quite nice. I'm not fond of anything too bold, but also not too mild either. Happy medium.



I prefer to have plenty of cream and a little bit of stevia with my coffee. I told Susi one time that if someone is drinking their coffee black than they are only drinking it for the caffeine. Okay, I know it's a bad idea to make sweeping generalizations like that. So I take it back.
     But are their people out there who actually like the taste of black coffee? Tolerable, maybe, but not exactly enjoyable. Okay, I know there is some who say they do. But did they start out liking it that way? Acquired taste? :P :D

St. Dalfour, Organic Golden Peach Tea

Peach. I love the smell, the taste, everything! Pie, yogurt, the fresh fruit. I love peach.

But I don't like ginger, why it's so often in peach teas, I don't know. I find that it completely over powers the peach flavor.
     I'm always on the look out for a peach tea without any ginger in it. I picked this one up at a local grocery store in the international foods section, but you can also find it various places online.

I liked this tea cold better than hot, with plenty of sweetener (sugar was preferred) and maybe a little bit of milk.
     On the box it said that if steeped too long it can get rather bitter, which I found to be true. Just a couple minute max.
     I thought the best way to enjoy this drink would be to make a larger batch and then store it in the fridge, let it get plenty cold, could be sweetened before or each glass individually. I usually don't like using ice to chill a drink, especially with the peach teas, because the flavor is rather mild, and any dilution can ruin it.