Tao Ti: Lightly Flavoured Cold Green Tea

I've never been a real pop/soda drinker, but there are times I feel like drinking something other than water. I use to be a big ice tea drinker but lately I've found many of these to be really super sweet, almost like pop. On the other end of the spectrum, brewed ice tea can be wonderful but it's a lot of work.

Recently I tried a new cold brewed tea, Tao Ti Green Tea, which has recently made its debut in Canada (manufactured in Taiwan). So what makes this tea so unique? Well according to the manufacturer:

Tao Ti Green Tea is made with the ancient Chinese method of pan frying the tea leaves, specifically the Chinese Premier Green Tea leaves (the best tea leaves in the world)

Tao Ti Green Tea has high antioxidant levels that help free the body of toxins, is low in sugar while having no preservatives or artificial colouring and is brewed with natural ingredients creating lower BRIX (sugar) levels

Tao Ti green Tea also comes in eco-friendly, recyclable PET bottles

So a drink that might actually be beneficial to you. But how does it taste? I was able to sample all three flavours of Tao Ti Green Tea:

Honey Green Tea (aromatic green tea brewed with pure honey)
This was the first tea I tried and I loved it. It definately had that brewed tea taste. I find brewed green tea can be rather strong (or maybe it's just the way I brew it) but the subtle taste of honey cut down on any strong taste. I loved that there was no sugary after taste either.

Lemon Green Tea (green tea blended with lemon flavour)
When I first tried this tea I found closer to those main stream ice teas, it seemed much sweeter. Not particularly a favourite of mine. But when I tried it the next day (I ended up putting it back in the fridge because it just tasted to sweet for me to drink) I found the taste wasn't as strong. I think the reason I'm not a fan of the lemon is because I usually drink hot lemon tea when I have a cold. It's a mental block.

Apple Green Tea (a blend of mild green tea combined with a delicate apple fragrance)
Like the Honey Green Tea, I loved this one too. No super sugary taste or fuzzy carbonation. And a nice subtle apple taste.

I actually thought these were great after doing my workout. And because they aren't sweet you can sip them or gulp them. They're best chilled. I was a little worried about feeling a caffeine kick, especially since I don't drink that much tea anymore and these are brewed teas, but I felt nothing like that, no buzz just a nice drink.

You can find Tao Ti Green Teas in Toronto and GTA at select Metro, Food Basics, Sobey's, and Price Chopper, as well as Michael Angelos, Wal-Mart, Loblaw's, No Frills, T&T Supermarket and most Chinese supermarkets. If you're in Vancouver and area, look for Tao Ti Green Teas at participating Zellers and 7-Eleven stores, as well as IGA marketplace, Pricesmart, Save-On-Foods, London Drugs, Army & Navy, Quality Foods, Famous Foods, Superstore and T&T Supermarket.

A 500 ml bottle is expected to retail for $1.70Cdn.

* Product provided for review.

About the Author Managing Partner and Editor-in-Chief at one of the best social networking and lifestyle sites for moms, EverythingMom.com. Trying to balance life at home with my 3 kids (all under 8), while building my business, working at EverythingMom.com and developing my writing. Oh and throw a load of laundry in and a dinner that isn't burnt. Wasn't working from home suppose to be easier? Posted by Carrie Anne in food reviews on October 09, 2009 More from this author  |  Author Website Follow Carrie Anne on:  |  |  |