Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teatulia
Tea Description:
Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), or “Holy Basil” is native to the Old World tropics and is cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes as well as its essential oil.
Invigorating black tea blend with a rich, full-bodied spiciness. Excellent on ice.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tasted and previously reviewed this Tulsi Infusion Black Tea from Teatulia for another blog, but when the opportunity arose for me to try it again, I took advantage of that opportunity to see how my thoughts for this tea may have changed. After all, when I first tried this tea, I was still fairly new to the herb tulsi. I had tried a few at that point, but, since then, I’ve tried a few more and my liking for tulsi has grown.
The flavor of this blend is very balanced. I can taste the tulsi and the black tea pretty evenly. The black tea is a strong, robust tea. In my previous review of this tea I mentioned that there was a “fair amount of astringency,” but, I’m not noticing a whole lot of astringency to this cup. I am not sure why that is, but I suspect that my brewing parameters are slightly different for this cup.
Over the course of the last couple of years, I’ve come to realize the importance of lowering the water temperature for teas and tisanes that contain herbs in them, because the boiling water seems to scorch the herbs and create a little bit of bitterness that I’d rather not be there. By brewing my teas and tisanes that have herbs in the blend at a temperature of 195°F rather than boiling water, I experience less of a bitter bite from my herbal infused teas – including this tea.
An unexpected side affect of this change in temperature might also be less astringency from the brewed cup of tea. This is much smoother and more delicious than I remember the tea being in the past. So, if you’ve been experiencing the same type of issue, try turning the temperature down just a bit and you might find that you’re able to enjoy the herbal blends more.
The tulsi gives this cup a warmth that is just a wee bit spicy (don’t think “chai spicy” … think savory spice) and a crisp flavor that is a little reminiscent of mint, but a more savory tasting mint than peppermint or spearmint. When united with the flavor of the black tea, I get a cup that offers a rich, earthy, savory flavor that tastes of both black tea and warm spice, and mid-sip, I’m greeted with a crisp, invigorating note.
A really good tea – I find that it soothes, calms and gently restores me, especially nice after a hectic day of holiday shopping!
