Just the Facts
*Caffeine Level: None
*Brewing Instructions: 1 teaspoon tea, 8 ounces of water. Steep 3-5 minutes.
*Aroma: cherries and roses
*Color: ruby red
*Ingredients: cherries, elderberries, rose hips, hibiscus, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries and cherry flavor.
*Description: Caffeine-free magical loose leaf tea infused with cherry and rose hips.
*Tasting Notes: cherry, sweet rose, and tart hibiscus.
The Review
High Street Owl Post is a Harry Potter Inspired monthly subscription box that frequently includes a custom blended tea amongst other handcrafted items. A friend and YouTuber I know gifted me several of the teas she received. I was so taken with the quality and flavor that I had to review them. To check out the subscription box and see the tea, please follow the link or here.
The tea company, Rosa Lee Teabag, is a fun and fictitious name inspired by the Harry Potter franchise. But, the tea is authentic flavor and quality that when brewed reminded me of a melted cherry popsicle with added layers of adult flavor. In fact, the rose petals took this sweet with a slightly tart beverage to an aromatic elixir with a wine-like finish. The aroma of the unbrewed tea reminded me of summers past on vacation in a seaside town with cozy rented cottages and quaint shops. The smell of flowering orchards with ripe succulent fruit emoted from the combination of catch-all goods, like candles, penny candy, and flowers luring us into the general store. I sniffed the pouch repeatedly hoping I could dive deeper into the memory.
Much to my chagrin the teakettle chirped and jolted me back to reality. It wasn’t long before I returned when I found myself entranced by the ruby red appearance of the hot steeped tea that darkened to bing cherry red as it steeped; evoking memories of buying cherries from the u-pick farm off the highway on our way to the cottage. I remembered making cherry lemonade for the kids on the first night and decided to do a second batch of tea using cold brewing in hopes of replicating that taste. To do this, I placed 1 1/2 teaspoons of tea in a mason jar with 8 ounces of room temperature water. I then capped the jar and placed it in the fridge overnight for at least 12 hours. The next day I strained the tea, added simple syrup, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and ice. After a vigorous shake, I took my usual spot on the porch and slowly sipped. The taste was dynamic and I couldn’t put the jar down. Each drag on the paper straw was refreshing and addictive. Now, I’m regretting having brewed the rest of this craveable tea because it’s all gone and there are more sweltering summer days to go and precious memories to induce.
Recipes
Simple Syrup
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup water (filtered preferred)
Cook over low heat in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves completely.
Cool and place in an airtight container in the fridge.
Enjoy for up to 1 month in the fridge.
Cold Brew Tea
1 ½ – 2 teaspoons of loose leaf tea or 1-2 tea bags
8 ounces of room temperature water (filtered preferred)
Place tea and water in an airtight container and place in the fridge for 6-12 hours.
Strain fully brewed tea and sweeten with simple syrup if desired.
Enjoy for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Fruit Tisane
Where to Buy: High Street Owl Post
Description
“We offer 4 different subscription plans. One time/Gift, month-to-month, 3 months, and 6 months.”
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
**received as a gift**
Snooze (Sleepy Tea)/Teapigs
Just the Facts
*Tea Type: Tisane / Herbal
*Region: Not Specified
*Caffeine Level: None
*Ingredients: sweet apple, light lavender, and chamomile.
*Description: apple sweetened tea with a flowery hint.
*Appearance: small dried chamomile and lavender buds with bits of dried apple.
*Brewing Instructions: Temp of 212*F or 100*C. Brew 3-5 minutes.
*Multiple Infusions: No
*Aroma: apples with herbs.
*Color: light champagne
*Tasting Notes: apples, lavender and chamomile.
*Availability: In stock / Sold in Temples (sachets)
The Review
I often find myself drinking herbal tea when I want to remedy an aspect of my life or health. It’s not uncommon for me to pull out a ginger or peppermint tea when a digestive ailment plagues me, and chamomile or lavender to calm. Lately, I have had difficulty regulating my sleep cycle so I was eager to try Snooze Tea by Teapigs. Before I had released the temple, the term used to describe their pyramid shaped tea bags, I had heaped upon it my desperate desire for immediate and a deep recuperative sleep. I know, I imposed sleeping pill expectations that no tea could live up to. However, what I did find was a calming chameleon in a sachet. I use the term chameleon to describe teas with tasting notes that change when a different sweetener or steeping applications is introduced.
I was unable to find the amount of water to be used for their single serve tea temples on the website or packaging. I tend to like a stronger tea which prompted me to use 6 ounces of water heated to 212F or 100C, and the steep time of 5 minutes. The color was that of light champagne and the aroma reminiscent of a farmers market in the south of France. Sweet earthy apples, warm chamomile, and heady lavender wafted from the cup. I pictured myself riding a 1950’s lavender-blue cruiser style bicycle with a wicker basket on the front packed with cheese, bread, and produce. I giggled when I pictured myself falling off the bicycle because I haven’t ridden in over 25 years; so much for that daydream and the now crushed wicker basket.
I parted the brewed tea into three 2 ounce portions and commenced with my tasting. The plain brew had a heavy herbal taste to it that left a minty-medicinal finish; odd, given that I didn’t remember mint being listed amongst the ingredients. The portion sweetened with white sugar had a pronounced pleasant floral aroma and finish. Finally, the remaining portion sweetened with clover honey brought forth an apple crispness and finish. I found both sweetened versions incredibly enjoyable.
While they did not induce sleep, they did calm my mind and spirit. I would not recommend these teas be paired with strong dishes, but they would compliment light fare such as cheese and crackers. Really, any foods where you want to add an apple or herbaceous note. Better yet, drink it alone or try it as a refreshing iced tea on those hot summer days when you want something light but thirst-quenching.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Teapigs
Description
Fancy. Sweet apple, light lavender and a flowery hint.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Birthday Cake Rooibos Herbal Tea: UNICORN VIBES/Tea Vibes
Just the Facts
Caffeine Level: None
Brewing Instructions: ½ teaspoon tea for every 6 ounces of water.
Brew 3-5 minutes (longer for iced tea). Aroma: fresh baked vanilla cake, with moments of citrus and berries.
Color: Amber Color
Ingredients: rooibos, flavors, cornflower petals, confetti sprinkles. Vegan. Description: Caffeine-free magical rooibos loose leaf tea infused with vanilla berry birthday cake and rainbow sprinkle vibes.
Tasting Notes: fresh baked birthday cake, browned butter, whipped cream, vanilla, ice cream, citrus, blueberries, blackberries, honeycomb.
The Review
Unicorn Vibes is a name that induces images of limitless whimsy and flavor-filled fun. So, while I approached the tea with the giddy enthusiasm of a ten year-old with a hula hoop in one hand and a bubble wand in the other, my adult skepticism told me to quell my inner child.
As of late, most rooibos teas with exciting names seemed to overpromise and underdeliver. I tend to like my tea on the medium-strong side so I increased the steeping time to 6 minutes. The moment the infuser hit the water a light amber hue began to emerge, deepening in tone until it became a deeper peachy amber color at the final steeping time. Initially, as the tea steeped, the aroma of vanilla gave way to a vanilla-berry scent that caused me to salivate.
I had never been this excited for a rooibos in my life! My inner child was winning, she knew this was going to be good and couldn’t wait to get her hands on it. I tried the brew without any sweetener and was astonished at the natural sweetness it exuded. I then tried the tea with regular sugar and then honey. Honey overpowered the vanilla and made it cloying. White sugar made it sweeter than it needed to be but was pleasant enough.
My favorite way was definitely au naturel since I could easily see this being great as an iced tea and a starter tea for children. I couldn’t stop drinking the tea in part because the flavor was as exceptional and unique as the name it bore. Mostly, my inner child kept goading me to have a little more as memories of childhood tea parties with friends, ice cream trucks circling the block, making cupcakes doused in sprinkles and the local candy shoppe came flooding back with each sip.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Tea Vibes
Description
UNICORN VIBES is a caffeine-free magical rooibos loose leaf tea infused with vanilla berry birthday cake and rainbow sprinkle vibes. This is such a unique tea because it’s part of our “dessert tea” line. That doesn’t mean it’s super sweet; it just means it’s naturally sweet in a subtle way.
When brewed, UNICORN VIBES is a gorgeous amber color and gives off the comforting aroma of a fresh baked vanilla cake, with moments of citrus and berries.
Steep a cup or two of this dessert tea at night time or after meals to help fight sugar cravings. The creamy finish of vanilla, berries and citrus satisfies your sweet tooth and your mind will be like “That cake was delicious!” – but guess what? – with no calories. We highly recommend this tea with a splash of milk or cream for the full “cake effect”. Enjoy!