I decided to take a brief break from caffeine this afternoon to address my Heaping Decaf Pile. I picked Pina Colada from the stack because it was on top and because HELLO? YUM? Coconut and pineapple. Yes. I iced it because YOLO.
And it was a good pick. I regret nothing.
The rooibos is melt-in-your-mouth velvety and vanilla-flavored. The pineapple and coconut are sweet and fun.
I’ve never “had my colors done,” but if this tea did, it’d be a “spring.”
This is like the Maypole Dance we did in kindergarten. It’s all pastel-colored and cuddly and fresh.
I want to drink this tea on a canoe in almost-summer while flowers surge up on lake banks. I want to drink this tea with a basket of puppies at my feet. I want to drink this tea on a patio while laughing with female friends about slap-happy-silly memories. I want a flower-crown and a ride on a hot air balloon. A sunrise on top of a mountain. A cup of freshly-sharpened brand-new colored pencils.
If you’re a sucker for a sweet surprise, snap this up!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Steeped Tea
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Roasted Chesnut Rooibos from Simpson & Vail. . . .
If tea were the dating world, rooibos tea would be the Nice Guy. You know: the fellow in the Friend Zone.
The Bad Guy (black tea) rides a motorcycle, neglects your feelings, keeps you up all night, and has cryptic moods.
The Nice Guy (rooibos) is friends with your mom, can balance a budget, and understands the nuances of nutrition and sleep.
You don’t take the Nice Guy seriously, but he’s important. He will be your evening companion when you need one. You can call upon him at any time. He is sweet and smooth, and one day you realize, maybe you SHOULD take him seriously. He could be a major player in your life!
My first thought when trying Roasted Chestnut Rooibos was “this is like a brown tweed jacket.” It’s sturdy and solid. There’s a classic reliability to it. The nutty and earthy flavors contribute to this impression. There’s also a slight sweetness here, a creaminess. I’m not sure if it’s the innate gentle red rooibos or this blend, but this is a yummy mix.
A mix for evening before bed.
Or any time, really. Rooibos will be there, waiting for you.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
Usher in the holiday season with this joyous brew. If you like chestnuts roasted on an open fire you’ll love this caffeine free tisane! The dry leaf has the aroma of nutty, heavenly goodness and the brewed cup explodes with this flavor followed by a light buttery taste. So curl up by a fire with this delicious cup while you read your favorite book and listen to holiday songs. We dare you to try not to sing “that” song!
Ingredients: Red Rooibos, orange blossoms and flavoring.
Brew tea at 212º – steep for 5 minutes.
Caffeine free. Certified Kosher
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Passion Peach Tea from Teavery. . . . .
This tea managed to work its way into the bottom of my tin, lying in wait until the perfect moment. Today was such a moment. I’ve been vaguely dizzy and tired all day (I think my medication levels might be wonky) and drank this with lunch, iced.
Boom. Back on point. Full precision. This is my sipping companion in its Giant 30 Oz Water Bottle of Super Hydration and Daylong Peeing. I am very awake and able to concentrate again. My typing is loud. I am a laser-beam of focus.
This blend is a zippy peach black with saucy berry and zesty citrus notes. There’s something about it that sticks in the mouth even after you’ve swallowed. Something sweet. I think it’s the rose hips or passionfruit. Oh, and the black tea. There’s a lot of caffeine in this. It may give you a heart attack. But you’ll love it.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black/Rooibos
Where to Buy: Teavery
Description
Ingredients: Organic Black Tea, Organic Rooibos, Organic Elderberry, Organic Orange Peel, Organic Rose Hips, Organic Calendula, Natural Peach, Orange and Passion Fruit Flavor. Steeping: Add 1 teaspoon to 1 cup of tea at 212 degrees. Steep for three to five minutes. Cold: After steeping let tea sit at room temperature for 30 minutes then add to fridge or add ice No hot water? Add tea to room temperature water and add to fridge for 6-8 hours for a cold brewed tea.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Blueberry Lemon Cake from Curiositea. . . . .
When I was in high school, I worked part-time as a barista at Starbucks. Besides the sweet street cred it afforded me (helloooo, frappucino hookups for all my fellow teen friends), there were tons of perks for 16-year-old Mary to enjoy. We’d spend quiet evenings inventing new drinks and sampling pastries for our customers– and by customers, I clearly meant my coworkers & me. (Wait, I mean…)
By far, my favorite thing to sample was the iced lemon poundcake. Dense and sweet, with tart and sticky lemon glaze– mmmm. I can still taste how delicious it was, particularly at 10:30 on a school night as you’re closing up shop. This rooibos blend from Curiositea brings back those same sweet lemon-pound cake-memories from back in the day.
The dry leaf is beautiful, with bright blue cornflowers intermingling with the rooibos. Scented strongly of lemon and red rooibos, this tea brewed up into a fairly strong cup for an herbal. And brewed, it’s tasty! Sweet berry undertones come out a little bit more, along with a light note of pastry to round out the tart lemon. While the red rooibos is a little more noticeable than I’d like, it’s not overwhelming or medicinal in the least. And bonus! I’m pretty this a cup of this has about four thousand calories less than my beloved lemon poundcake from days gone by. Mmmm. Tasty!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Curiositea
Description
This tea doesn’t seem to be available at the moment but click below for the teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chai Rooibos from Yogi Tea. . . . .
I absolutely love Yogi teas. I love the little uplifting messages on the tea bags, and I’ve never had a flavor I haven’t loved. I also love Chai tea. I’ve been cutting back my caffeine intake, with the goal to completely cut it out of my life. I was kind of nervous to try this at first because I don’t always love Rooibos. I usually drink it for the health benefits, but sometimes I find it a little too earthy for me. But Yogi teas were on a great sale at Natural Grocers so I felt brave enough to try this.
What can I say, it was love at first sip! The delicious blend of spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and ginger really stand up and mask the earthiness of the rooibos leaves. It’s spicy, warming and soothing. And the earthiness of the rooibos actually compliments the spices. The tea is a lovely red hue which for some reason made it even more enjoyable to me. The spiciness is there, but not overpowering. I would call this a Chai for beginners. It wouldn’t scare away someone new to Chai.
And because it’s so similar to standard Chai made with black tea, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. And the aromatherapy woke up my senses without the caffeine. I’m very glad I tried this brew, and I will be buying it again and again. It’s a delicious, hearty and warming cup of tea that’s perfect for anytime of the day. Rooibos has so many health benefits such as aiding in digestion, anti aging, and has many minerals including calcium!!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Yogi Teas
Description
Evoke the beauty of South Africa with our Chai Rooibos tea—a creative twist on traditional chai. We combine Rooibos, a red tea with antioxidant properties, and a traditional Ayurvedic blend of Cardamom, Cinnamon and Clove. Enjoy the spicy warmth of this intriguingly delicious tea any time of day or night.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
