Currant Customer Reviews

2022-01-10 Update: The same delicious currant scent greeted me when I opened the packet. I just had enough time to press the 5min black tea button on the VelociTEA maker and squeeze in a 2-minute pull of the steeping basket before a Zoom meeting. I dropped it back in for the rest of the 3-minute steep time at 212ºF and came back later to try the first cup.

A robustly brisk black tee welcomed me back from my meeting. It mingled alongside the tangy and bright currant essence, which added a slight bit of tartness to the already bold black tea tannins. I still love the way this tea tastes, and it was a great way to slow down and spend a brief tea break after the work meeting.

2021-03-08 CommuniTEA Review:

The CommuniTEA packet for today opens to reveal a scent of bright tangy currant berries. A quick peek at the ingredients shows some raspberry leaves may be in the packet, so I steeped for the 3 minute time at 212ºF to avoid any bitterness.

The black tea is dark mahogany in color and smells faintly of currants. The flavor starts out fruity and jammy, then changes into a rich and brisk black tea followed by dry tannins. Adding some cream tones down the astringency a bit, but risks covering up the currant flavor if you add too much.

This tea is spot on with the currant flavor and smells similarly to Crème de Cassis or Brockman's Gin. It's got a satisfying Ceylon black tea base, and would probably go very well with scones and jam if only I had some on hand! This one's going on the menu if we ever host a tea party.

(3 mins @ 212ºF)

8 helpful votes

Nice berry flavor. I'm not sure that I've ever had currants on their own to be able to distinguish their flavor. Overall, the tea was bitter. It was better with a bit of sweeter.

I did get 3 steeps out of this tea. The third was just as bitter as the first.

1 helpful votes

This is one of those teas that can become bitter quick. I steep this one no longer than 2.5 mins or it can be difficult to drink. When warm there are moderate berry flavors and mild chocolate flavors that produce a nice comforting cup of tea. Added honey to help bring out the jammy currant flavors. I really prefer this tea cold though. It makes a great Arnold Palmer(60% tea/40% lemonade/vodka optional). I cold brew a double concentration and then add to lemonade. Let it sit over night for best results. Makes a wonderful tart, berry lemonade that is truly refreshing in the summer. Cheers!

9 helpful votes

I love current flavored teas so I really wanted to like this one. Unfortunately, it is incredibly bitter, even on the second steeping.

1 helpful votes

It’s warming and raspberry-esque without the sweetness. It smells really fruity but is mild on the tongue.

1 helpful votes

CommuniTEA: I enjoyed the currant flavor in this tea however the raspberry leaves brought out a bitterness I wasn't too fond of. I added 1 tsp of raw sugar along with some half and half to lighten it up a bit and it made it drinkable but not one I would go for again.

5 helpful votes

1/10/22 Update: Definitely getting a black current fragrance today from the dry ingredients and packet. Once steeped for 3 mins at 190° F, I also get hints of more black current berries than I did previously from my cup and on the finish along with fairly astringent black tea tannins. Still a very good cup of tea.

3/8/21 Review: Trying along with the CommuniTEA today: Subtle notes of red berry on the nose along with honey-tea on the nose of this tea steeped form close to 4 mins at 190° F. When I take a sip I get mainly raspberry along with slightly astringent ceylon tea notes. The fruitiness of this tea is very subtle, and not really resembling currants in my opinion, but still a very nice tea.

14 helpful votes

1/10/22 Update: Today's CommuniTEA packet yielded a nicer cup than the last time I tried this one. The tea was more flavorful and there was more berry flavor, although it still doesn't taste much like currants to me. I do love fresh currants!

A basic berry tea. The dry leaves smelled very nice, and of a sweet berry aroma. Brewed at a lower temperature the Ceylon tea didn't get too bitter. A little astringency, but a moderate body. The berry flavor doesn't taste like fresh currants, but rather an amalgam of berries. The berry flavor is fairly light.

21 helpful votes

I love a good currant tea. This iteration is yummy, but maybe not the best I've had

Not for me, too tart and bitter. Brewed at 180 for 3 mins, in an attempt to decrease the bitterness.

3 helpful votes

This yes smelt delicious in the packet. When drinking you can definitely taste the hints of berries. I think this tea would make a great iced tea.

1 helpful votes

Brewed at 180°for 2 mins to avoid the bitterness the other reviews mentioned. The black tea had a light fruity tartness without astringency. It was an enjoyable cup of tea.

27 helpful votes

This one is too astringent and bitter for my taste. I definitely think sweetener helps to tamp that down and draw out the fruit flavor, but not enough to save this sip for me. If you like berries and black tea, then maybe this will be your jam, but I’m going to have to bid it adieu! Happy Sipping!

13 helpful votes

A little bitter for me. The 2nd steep was much more drinkable. I think maybe I will steep it at a lower temp next time. The initial aroma of the leaves was wonderful.

6 helpful votes

CommuniTEA Sample: A decent tea that has a bit of fruitiness/berry flavor as you sip. It's not one of my favorites, but not bad. Just kind of a middle of the road, flavored black tea.

15 helpful votes

Tasted as a part of the Communitea
This is a tasty black tea, but I didn't get much currant flavor. I'm not unhappy with it, but I wish I could have more berry flavor in this one.

7 helpful votes

The sweetness helps cut a bit of the bitterness black tea can have. I love it, nice rich fruitiness...

10 helpful votes

This was a lovely black tea with deep berry flavors but also chocolatey notes that was very enjoyable. I loved it with a little honey and cream.

2 helpful votes

When brewing hot, even at a lower temp (195F, 3min), I really can't taste anything other than the bitterness from the black tea. I get a hint of something but I can't identify it under the astringency. With the other half of my packet I will have to try cold brewing to hopefully bring out the currant flavor.

3 helpful votes

I definitely smelled and tasted the raspberry and currant flavors in this tea. All of that played nicely with the black tea. I did steep at 195 F to reduce bitterness. Overall, nice cup of tea. Happy Sipping!

22 helpful votes

UPDATE!!! New Review! : Same no change.

Old REVIEW ' August - 5th 2013 : This flavored tea is ok, with a stale, very very slight tart, and mild berry flavor. To be very honest, the currant tea taste mostly like just ceylon black tea.

21 helpful votes

Smooth and sweet, this tea can get a bit bitter if brewed hot or long. Currant taste is just right with jam or a scone to start off the morning. It's not my favorite flavored tea, I like the brightness of raspberry or sultriness of strawberry more than this mellow, almost grapey currant. But it's just what it it claims to be: warm, cozy, and jammy. Even better with a dab of orange blossom honey.

11 helpful votes

I adore this tea! The fruity flavor is super nice and I always keep a bag of this stuff on hand!

11 helpful votes

The currant taste was amazing but I didn't like it accompanied by the black tea (would prefer green).

7 helpful votes

Nice smooth black currant tea. Nothing insanely revolutionary though

Very satisfying tea. Not too potent, but strong enough for my Earl Greyish taste. Gentle fruity flavor.

1 helpful votes

Strong currant taste, similar to some British currant teas.

This is everything I want out of a currant black tea. Black tea forward with the berry sweetness rounding all the flavors out. It has the same quality of a currant chocolate, where it just enhances the existing flavor.

3 helpful votes

good black tea flavour, but I made it according to the package directions and my own standard practice and only got a nose of currant. @adagioteas

1 helpful votes

When warm there is a strong earthiness from the black tea in the forefront of the, flavor profile, followed by a sweet juicy fruit aftertaste. Cold the fruit flavor comes more to the forefront with the black tea adding to the depth of the flavor in the background. Rich, smooth and wonderfully refreshing.

3 helpful votes

Black currant was the first flavored tea I ever had (back in the day) in teabag form, of course. A love affair was started at that time and it continues to this day. I love the deep flavor of currants and enjoyed the Adagio version. I currently have some loose black currant tea from a British tea shop but will order some of the Adagio Currant when my tin needs replenishing.

3 min steep · 212°F · 26 helpful votes

The Currant tea is mildly 'curranty'. the currant flavor could be stronger.
However I will note with that being the case, it is still a very tasteful tea, especially for iced tea which we in Texas drink by the gallon a day. I have been drinking it almost exclusively now for over a year and it still pleases me. I brew it strong (1/4 cup to 2 liters) then dilute it 1:4 with water and ice for a terrific thirst quencher.

5 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes

Loved the raisin-y taste this one had. Great compliment for a black tea

3 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes

A mellow tea with subtle fruity undertones. I wish it had a bit more kick, but this is a nice tea.

3 min steep · 200°F · 6 helpful votes

I like it as is. It wasn't tart. I'm the type that does add anything to tea. This was just right. I may just keep this one with me at work. If I order more, it will be just the samples for myself. My oldest isn't a fan of currants. I can't see my youngest drinking it. This flavor is just 'all for me!'

9 helpful votes

It was alright, but the flavor wasn't something I would enjoy. I'm sure other people would like this tea though.

The Ceylon base in this tea is pretty forward at first, with a fruitiness that started as an aftertaste for me but built up while sipping my cup. This tea is unmistakably currant-flavored, with a bright jammy sweetness and a flavor that s split between raspberries and raisins (and isn t that all a currant should be?) This is really tasty! I would love to have it with cream and sugar to make it truly desserty.

3 min steep · 200°F · 4 helpful votes

This one let me down. The currant flavor doesn't really come across.

1 helpful votes

I like this one a lot. Currant, like cream, is one of my go-to black teas, especially on a cold day. It's fruity without being overpowering and is a nice departure from an Irish Breakfast or standard Ceylon. 200, 4 minutes, black.

4 min steep · 200°F · 2 helpful votes

This is one of my favorite go to teas. You can blend it with another tea or it's great standing all on it's own.

Quite pleasant currant flavors. I would say it was my favorite of the flavored teas I purchased.

I really liked the fruity aroma when I opened the bag. The taste is good, not too fruity.

1 helpful votes

A great black tea with a zazz of mild sweetness! I like mixing it with the blueberry too.

1 helpful votes

This one let me down. The currant flavor doesn t come across very much at all :(

3 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes

I really enjoyed the robust flavor here with this cup. The tart currant flavor comes through just enough to not need any sugar but it did taste a little better with a drop of milk and the currant flavor was more rounded with it

1 helpful votes

Very nice, will get when I run out. Or just when I mext buy some more tea.

3 min steep · 212°F

Smells f a n t a st i c! Will brew soon! Gotta get through the others :)

3 min steep · 212°F

I've never tasted an actual currant so I don't know what it's supposed to taste like. It has a nice berry taste and was very refreshing cold brewed.

1 helpful votes

The scent is delightfully summery, and once brewed it is better than Tetley! The raspberry leaf does good things in there.

Not bad, smell of the tea leaves is great and the base tea has a quality taste, but I wish there were actual dried currant berries in the tea mix. Instead, it uses a flavoring which tastes weaker than other black currant teas I've had.

4 min steep · 212°F · 1 helpful votes