The Tao of Tea, Lavender Herbal Tea, Loose Leaf, 2.0 Ounce Tin

I ordered this after a long retail shift of work. I've recently gotten back into the work force after 15 years unable to be employed, and so as some would say, I've had to start from "the bottom," working a register to regain experience. It's not a bad job at all, and I don't look down on fellow retail people (ever, actually, before and after being employed), but I am not intimately acquainted with long days, a little anxiousness, a bit of stress during truck delivery / inventory days and sore muscles and feet. So I wanted and was craving lavender to help me unwind after work. This arrived today and came perfectly undamaged. The tin is very pretty and smooth to the touch, with a cap that slides off, and then under THAT is another little top that can be prised open to reveal a container full of HEAVEN. I mean. If lavender is your favorite scent, then, yea! HEAVEN! The instructions say to use 1 level teaspoon of lavender buds for 12 oz (or a cup and a half) of water heated to 170 ish (about the same for some green teas,) then steep for 4 minutes. The color of the water turns this wonderfully odd purple / blue with a little green to it. It smelled AMAZING while steeping. I know this, because I shoved my face over the tea the entire time and inhaled through my nose until it sounded like I was trying to do a line of lavender scented steam. The buds at the 4min mark do lose some color and absorb some water to become about twice their size. The smell after the buds have been removed (unless you want to leave the buds in, or don't have a strainer of some sort) is much milder, but no less unpleasant. It's a very flowery aroma that makes me take a deep breath in through my nose with every single sip. The first flavor to hit your mouth when the tea is right enough to sip is definitely a mouth full of pleasant, verdant greenery, not a mouthful of perfume. The second flavor much reminds of very light, floral white teas -- the lavender is there but it doesn't taste like you took a bite out of someone's bouquet. It isn't bitter to me at all, and I didn't put any sweetner of any kind. It reminds me almost too, of jasmine green tea, but a little hint of peppery-ness that for some reason I associate with lavender. I RECOMMEND THIS! And frankly? Tao of Tea has made a customer. I am EAGER to save up and try another tea from them!

So, I wasn't sure what lavender would taste like, and I'm still not sure I can describe it, except to say that it's mild and doesn't have an herbal, grassy, or bitter flavor. I drink it plain or with a tiny amount of honey, and it works for me. I'll also add my voice to what a number of other reviewers have said: You can steep and re-steep these tea leaves far more than with most teas. I have a scoop left from my previous-favorite tea. With that brand, I had to use almost a full scoop to make 18 ounces. I now use 1/4 - 1/3 of a scoop to make 68 ounces. I could probably even steep it again after that, honestly, since there's no noticeable reduction in strength, but I tend to alternate flavors, and that's the point where I have enough to last until I want to alternate. I'll definitely continue to use this tea (and this company), assuming I ever need to buy more, with how long this is lasting! Edit: To answer some earlier questions, my order came in an attractive, resealable, heavy-duty, decorated container that I originally thought was cardboard but later determined to be a lightweight metal (definitely not plastic). It has an internal lid/seal that has a small metal handle. It's a nice balance of aesthetics and environmental friendliness.

The supply that I got was super fragrant and fresh as far as dried herbs go, I plan to purchase again.

I use this lavender tea primarily to make homemade lavender syrup, and it works beautifully. The quality is excellent and the fragrance is strong and fresh — exactly what I was looking for. It’s definitely worth the buy and I’ll be repurchasing when I run out.

Not top quality. Flowers are not a vibrant color, possibly not fresh? More stems and vegetable debris than I would have expected. I'm sure harvests and batches vary in quality, but is there sufficient quality control for consistency? I've seen better lavender flowers, but it tastes good so is acceptable. This is my take on lavender tea: Personally, I don't like straight lavender tea, but it is an excellent addition to my cold brew tea blends. For example, my evening non-caffeinated tea is typically a blend of three teaspoons of decaf green tea, two teaspoons of chamomile, one teaspoon of lavender, one teaspoon of mint (spearmint or peppermint), and I sometimes toss in a hops flower. Cold brew for around 24 hours and add a little honey; makes a little over a quart. The hops gives it a slight bitterness, as it does in beer, and the lavender provides a nice balance to the chamomile. Mint makes it refreshing, and the green tea gives it the base structure.