Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: The Rabbit Hole
Tisane Description:
The tart liquor of this calming scarlet brew is sure to wake your palate and recharge your Vitamin C supplies. Great hot or iced with a touch of sweetening.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
TART! If you’re a fan of tart-tasting teas and tisanes, this one is for you.
Yes, this definitely is Zesty! This tisane is aptly named: It delivers a ZING and brews to a beautiful, deep ruby color.
Fortunately, the tart is not all that there is to this tisane. I probably wouldn’t be able to finish the cup if it were. Once my palate gets over the tart, it finds other flavors: cherry, blueberry, and even coconut! YUM!
The flavors of the cherry and blueberry are certainly enhanced by the presence of the tart hibiscus, as it not only brings out these fruits slightly sour side but also enhances their sweeter side. The hibiscus, of course, is responsible for the majority of the tartness, as well as the pretty ruby-red color and the richness to the body of this tisane. I only steeped it for five and a half minutes which allowed the hibiscus enough time to provide some body without it becoming too thick and syrupy. And as for the tart, I found that this could be dialed down a notch with the addition of a little bit of sugar. I didn’t add a whole lot – just a half a teaspoon of turbinado sugar to my jumbo-sized tea mug – but it really made a difference in the overall flavor.
Generally speaking, I’m not overly fond of tarty-tart-tart teas like this, but, somehow, I’m finding this to not be so bad. It’s actually tasty and I’m able to enjoy the cup. I think that has something to do with the fact that there is more to this than just tart, and the tartness does not completely mask the flavors of the cherry and blueberry – and especially the coconut, which adds a sweet, creamy goodness to the cup that has quickly become my favorite aspect of this tisane.
