It’s always good to have a chamomile blend or two in your tea cabinet for those when you need something extra comforting and caffeine-free. Francesca from Sicilian Tea Co. could be the perfect choice for your evening cup of tea.
Some people consider herbal teas to be medicinal, with herbs like lavender and chamomile to help combat stress. Both of these fragrant blossoms are in abundance in this blend, bringing their lovely color and shape to the dry leaf, and the lemony and floral scent of the brew.
There are also cinnamon sticks, Saint John’s Wort, and licorice root in this blend. The cinnamon adds just a hint of spicy warmth, rekindling thoughts of spiced baked goods. A touch of licorice root adds smooth sweetness to the brew. As an added bonus, licorice root can help soothe a scratchy throat, so the ingredient helps make the brew extra restorative.
I’m not sure that Saint John’s Wort adds much flavor, but the herb is rumored to help heal against depression. I’m not sure if I felt those effects or not; brewing a cup of tea is always my happy place, and helps me out of a dark mood.
This tea is all herbs and blossoms, so it’s completely caffeine-free and full of natural flavors. If the licorice root isn’t sweet or soothing enough, it wouldn’t hurt to add a dollop of honey to your mug for a little extra sugar. After brewing a cup of Francesca blend, there’s not much left to do but sit back, relax, and have a sip of tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Sicilian Tea Co.
Description:
Naturally caffeine free, this chamomile blend won’t keep you up all night like some other sleepy time treats.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lola from Sicilian Tea Company. . . .
This blend will makes you feel like singing, or humming along to your favorite pop song, comforting, pleasing, and drinkable. It’s a rooibos blend, so it’s decaf and full of feel-good antioxidants. There also warming cinnamon and a hint of relaxing lavender. Licorice root brings smooth, natural sweetness, almost fruity, like apples, which compliments the caramel tones of the red rooibos.
The rooibos is the dominant flavor, and if brewed strong, it will overwhelm the other flavors with the almost-medicine floral taste. This blend strong enough that it’s best brewed twice, for two full cups of flavor. This is a versatile tea, and can also be brewed ice with a splash of milk for a creamy, faux-caramel latte.
This is the perfect cup for when you need something sweet, easy, and comforting. Not to mention is will get the pop song stuck in your head… lalalalala Lola…
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Sicilian Tea Co.
Description:
Lola is a sweet treat that’s safe to have before bedtime. South African Red Rooibos is rich in antioxidants. Organic lavender, licorice root and cinnamon make for a yummy treat (without the guilt).
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Mary chats about Francesca from Sicilian Tea Company. . . .
I’ve been hit by the mini-plague that’s been circling my world for a few weeks, you guys. I say mini-plague because truly– it’s not all that bad compared to the stomach virus/insane flu that many close to me have had lately, but still– this cold I’m rocking? I’m not a fan of it.
And to manage it as best I can, I’ve been hopped up on vitamin C, broth-y soups, and triple the amount of tea I’m usually sipping (which is… a lot). I felt it first coming on at work the other day, so I immediately dug deep into my desk tea drawer and procured this beaut. Chamomile, cinnamon, licorice? GIMME.
This isn’t my first sip from Sicilian Tea Co., and I have to say, I can definitely see a delicious thread woven between all the blends that I’ve tried. Strong herbal presence with hearty flavors and sweet lingering licorice at the end of the sip describes well all the blends I’ve tried this far, and this one is no different.
Even with the abundant chamomile in the dry leaf, I’m getting mostly licorice with a hint of cinnamon. Which isn’t a bad thing, don’t get me wrong! I loved the naturally-sweet-hint-of-spice flavors that came through, the perfect remedy for my sniffles and sore throat. I wish I would’ve been able to detect just a touch more of the lavender and chamomile, but even then, this is definitely a blend I’ll be picking up again.
Especially if this plague sticks around any longer. Drowning sniffles in endless cups of tea is a tried-and-true home remedy, right?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Sicilian Tea Company
Description
Don’t go to bed alone. Take this cup of chamomile with you.
Naturally caffeine free, this chamomile blend won’t keep you up all night like some other sleepy time treats.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lola from Sicilian Tea Co. . . . .
*steps up to the mic*
Ahem.
Her name was Lola… she was an herbal tea…
(Wait. Those are totally the wrong lyrics.)
Okay, so we’re not in the Copacabana. But I definitely get that song stuck in my head every time I brew up a pot of this tisane. And why not? It’s sweet, a little sassy, a little spicy– just like any good Lola should be. The licorice in this one plays my favorite trick, eliminating any need for sweeteners, and it balances beautifully with the cinnamon and rooibos.
I wish I could taste the lavender more in this one, but sadly, this Lola just isn’t a very flowery gal. All that aside, this is a lovely herbal when you’re feeling something cozy and comforting with just an hint of oomph.
Barry Manilow would be proud.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Sicilian Tea Co
Description
Lola is a sweet treat that’s safe to have before bedtime. South African Red Rooibos is rich in antioxidants. Organic lavender, licorice root and cinnamon make for a yummy treat (without the guilt).
Brew at least twice to get the most out of your blend.
When brewed as directed, the large tin yields approximately 80+ servings and a small tin yields approximately 16+ servings.
Ingredients: organic and fairly trade red rooibos, organic cinnamon, organic lavender flowers, organic licorice root (to sweeten).
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lola from Sicilian Tea Company. . . . .
Lola from Sicilian Tea Company. I can’t say it’s my FAVORITE tisane but what I can tell you is that I was pleasantly surprised by the aftertaste and I’m glad I was able to have a cup for that sole purpose. I know I am working a little bit backwards here but let me tell you why…
The ingredients in Lola from Sicilian Tea Company are Red Rooibos, Cinnamon, Licorice, and Lavender. I sometimes find companies are overusing red Rooibos the last few years in often mediocre flavor combinations which leave the flavor unmemorable or just don’t seem to jive with my own personal palate. When I saw the additional ingredients within this Rooibos I thought I would give it a try – although – I’m not overly fond of licorice in teas or tisanes – and seem to be hot and cold when it comes to the use of Lavender in tisanes and teas, too!
Having said that…this tea was alright. While it wasn’t my most favorite or favorites upfront while sipping it – my delight was more in the aftertaste and the linger of it all.
All of the ingredients were blended well in this offering. Nothing was too over powering and especially when it came to the Licorice and Lavender I was thrilled that it wasn’t.
The aftertaste is what caught my attention. It lingered nicely. The cinnamon was warming – as was the Licorice. The Licorice offered a subtle sweetness but it didn’t give off a weird aftertaste either. The Lavender seemed to smooth it out and hinted at a bit of floral goodness.
I found this to be very good after a meal or as a treat in the evening! Because Sicilian Tea Company had a winner with this ballsy flavor combo I’m interested in trying more of their offerings! Kudos!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Sicilian Tea Company
Description
Lola is a sweet treat that’s safe to have before bedtime. South African Red Rooibos is rich in antioxidants. Organic lavender, licorice root and cinnamon make for a yummy treat (without the guilt).
Brew at least twice to get the most out of your blend.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
