Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Company Description:
A vibrant, fruity, hibiscus-based herbal with a naturally sweet and surprisingly buttery finish. A limited edition holiday tea.
Taster’s Review:
Of the five teas that are included in the Winter Collection, this one is my least favorite. It’s the hibiscus. I just think that there is way too much of it in this blend, and I’m not particularly fond of hibiscus.
That being said, this tea isn’t that bad. Or, at least, not as bad as I thought it would be. The trick with this one is to not let it steep too long (because then the hibiscus becomes very thick and tart), serve it cold and to use an ample dollop of honey to sweeten it. (Or perhaps you might use this tisane to make a holiday “punch” – just add some ginger ale!)
The honey serves two purposes, really. It not only curbs some of the tartness of the hibiscus, but it also adds some definition to the overall cup. With the honey in there, I can taste the lovely apple and citrus notes.
And then there is the buttery finish. Yes, I get some tart that lingers on the tongue, but, there is also a sweet, creamy buttery taste in the finish … which nicely offsets the tartness. It’s really quite pleasant, and perhaps the one thing that keeps me sipping this tisane.
As I said, this is not my favorite tisane and probably not one that I’d buy on its own, but it is certainly not so bad that I would choose not to buy a collection just because it happens to be part of that collection. And I know that there are those people who have a greater appreciation for tart teas … this is the tea for you!
