Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
I may have mentioned last week that spring often puts me in mind of fall, which is really my favorite-est season of all. There is something magical about the leaves turning to gold and rust and carpeting the lawn, the smell of woodsmoke as people get their fireplaces going again and the autumn harvest the last of the fresh honey for the year. I tried to come up with a blend that screamed “Autumn” this week, and I think, well, I’ll let you tell me if I’ve succeeded or not.
I started with a nice caffeine-free rooibos base for that tinge of woodiness it has which I associate with leaves crackling underfeet and old trees battening down the hatches for the approaching winter. I added some fresh, organic cinnamon chips, and bits of organic vanilla beans, because what is fall without a little spice? Then I finished everything off with natural honey, vanilla and cinnamon flavors, in that order. The result is autumn in a cup, as I see it. I look forward to hearing what you think.
Taster’s Review:
I am so happy Autumn is here! Autumn is not only Frank’s “favorite-est” season of the year, it is mine too. That being said, I wasn’t as enthusiastic about trying his tea-ribute to the season. Rooibos? Not my favorite.
But I’d like to clarify that I was not enthusiastic to try this tea, but now that I have tried it, I am really liking it! I guess the old saying is true: don’t judge a book by it’s cover … err… don’t judge a tea before tasting it.
This is really quite tasty. The woody-nutty flavor of the rooibos melds with the flavors of cinnamon, vanilla and honey perfectly. The sip starts out with a zesty kick of cinnamon, with the vanilla arriving just after the cinnamon to smooth things out. The woody undertones of the rooibos are there throughout the sip, but they do not overwhelm the flavors. At the finish, the honey-esque tones emerge, and impart a sweet aftertaste that is lightly sprinkled with cinnamon.
Yes, I do think that Frank has successfully captured the essence of autumn with this blend. And as an artist, I can appreciate the many flavors of autumn as they come to life in my teacup; I liken it to watching the colors of autumn come to life as the season progresses. It is truly beautiful!
