Just like a good Valentine’s date, An Evening with Eros tea blend comes bearing roses and chocolate.
There’s enough of both ingredients that you can see chocolate chips and petals scattered throughout the dry leaf. The namesake of this blend is Eros, the Greek god of love, and since this is a decaf rooibos blend, it’s the perfect brew for a late night out or a cozy evening in.
The vanilla rooibos is the star player in this blend, coupled with gentle swirls of chocolate and flowers. Raisins and elderberries bring additional sweetness and play well with the natural woody and caramel notes of the rooibos.
This blend is easy and drinkable, though not the most unusual blend I’ve tried. I think this tea is best for its novelty for a romantic occasion.
With Valentine’s Day on my mind, I find myself reaching for An Evening with Eros to help treat myself to something festive and to keep me warm on a February night.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type:Roobios
Where to Buy: Banff Tea Co.
Description:
Blended exclusively for Valentine’s Day as a romantic treat, this rooibos based concoction will add a little love at any time of the year (or day…or night!)
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Mother’s Love from Culinary Teas. . . . . .
I think I’ve mentioned before that while my fiancé and I love to share a good pot of tea (in fact, hot beverages pre-bedtime are kind of our thing), it’s rare that we find teas that we both a) like and b) are craving at the same time c) are not crazy caffeinated (card-carrying member of the “can’t handle her caffeine” club over here while my dude can drink coffee until 1 AM). So when this interesting blend from Culinary Teas found its way into my cabinet, I thought it miiiight just be crazy to pique both of our interests.
And on the surface, ‘crazy’ isn’t such an overstatement on the description of this blend. In a good way, of course. A base of green tea and red rooibos, this tea brings together flavors of papaya, chocolate, strawberries and peppermint. I’ve gotta say– I had no idea how this one was going to brew up. But it was straight-up delightful! I can’t say I could pick out any of the aforementioned flavors specifically, other than a hint of fruit here and a touch of herbs there, may a slight chocolate aftertaste– but it all worked together surprisingly well. And for my hearty-tea-loving partner, it was just robust enough to satisfy his cravings without being overdone. And of course, a necessity for me– none of that trademarked medicinal aftertaste that I always fear might linger in a rooibos.
There may only be a few teas that my dude and I love to share together, but that list is now one tea longer with the addition of this blend from Culinary Teas. Yum!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos & Green blend
Where to Buy: Culinary Teas
Description
Here is an unusual but delicious combination celebrating mothers, the arrival of spring, and giving us an exotic lift with the flavors of rooibos and papaya.
We created this blend thinking of a Mom who always dreamed of traveling to distant tropical places but never had the opportunity. She loves green tea, strawberry, mint, and chocolate. So why not blend all of these together? To surprise her we added the rooibos and papaya pieces round out the blend.
This tea is low in caffeine and refreshing, taken hot or cold. It is perfect tea to enjoy while spending time with your Mom watching a late afternoon sunset. The light will intensify the rich color of the brew.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chai Sansibar Rooibos from Aromatica Fine Teas. . . . .
Chai Sansibar Rooibos sounds like it came from a far away land, doesn’t it? Chai Sansibar Rooibos from Aromatica Fine Teas is a chai flavored red rooibos tisane.
It’s described on the company’s website as a delightful vanilla rooibos chai. They also mention that its an outstanding alternative when brewed in apple juice or cranberry juice. Now THIS I might have to try in the near future! But first straight-up, stand-alone, as-is, by itself!
Less is more with the ingredients in this one as it only contains Rooibos, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, red pepper, bruised peppercorns, vanilla. As you can see many of your stereotypical chai spices but paired with a naturally caffeine-free red rooibos base making it ideal for evenings!
I would say that the red rooibos is the primary flavor in this one then you can taste the mishmash of spices followed by the sweet, smooth, and creamy vanilla. Overall I did like this chai alternative but it wouldn’t have been the same if it was missing the vanilla. It’s what seemed to make it all come full circle! YUM!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Aromatica Fine Teas
Description
A delightful vanilla rooibos chai. Outstanding alternative when brewed in apple juice or cranberry juice. Rooibos, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, red pepper, bruised peppercorns, vanilla.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Maharaja Chai and Samurai Chai Blend from Teavana. . . . .
If you’re anything like me, your friends and family know you love your tea– and have been gifting accordingly this Christmas. In a recent office secret santa swap, I hit the total tea jackpot– a brand new gravity (gravi-tea– heee :)) steeper for my desk at work, and a GIGANTIC tin of this chai blend from Teavana. Score!
Now, early on in my tea-drinking years, Teavana was an initial fave, but in the last few years as I’ve discovered amazing small-batch companies and other small businesses that I love to patronize, I don’t really shop at this iconic mall tea shop anymore. That being said, I know they’re a beloved staple for so many tea drinkers, so I was pumped to get to try one of their more popular blends this holiday season through the generosity of a work friend.
First things first: does this dry leaf ever have the SCENT! It is perhaps the strongest spice from dry leaf that I’ve ever had. Super present are the scents of anise and cardamom, which jump right out to me in the brewed cup as well. This is lovely with some cream, no sweetener needed (unless you like your chai syrupy). My only complaint is that this blend is SO heavy on the spice that I can’t taste any of the tea leaf in my cup– which is supposedly a blend of mate, oolong, and green rooibos. I’d love for this to taste more distinctly tea-ified rather than just being so strong on the spices, but if you’re a fan of spiced chai like I am, this one will hit all the notes of a good chai for you. And deliciously warming for the wintertime, to boot!
Nicely done on this blend, Teavana.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong/Mate blend
Where to Buy: Teavana
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
A Calming Decaf Cup to put you on Cloud Nine from Autumn Bear Herbals
Smooth vanilla rooibos tea is a regular caffeine alternative of mine, though I will admit that red rooibos can be an acquired taste.
If overstepped, it can have medicine-like tones, but in a best case scenario, the rooibos has notes of caramel and nuts. Cloud Nine from Autumn Bear Herbals is driven by its vanilla rooibos base, though the ingredient list boasts a larger variety of flavors: sour jujube seeds, fragrant rose petals, lush chrysanthemum blossoms, and more.
The dry leaf is strongly scented with vanilla and rooibos, and looks bright and beautiful in the bag with rose petals and giant chrysanthemum blossoms. Brewed, the blend is still dominated by vanilla rooibos, though as the tea cools, more of the sour fruit and floral flavors are able to shine through.
This herbal blend will be a favorite for lovers of rooibos or when you need a decaf vanilla cup for a calming evening.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Autumn Bear Herbals
Description:
An uplifting organic herbal tea designed to enhance mood, soothe the nerves, and lift depression. Drink this blend to balance your Mood & elevate your Spirit!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!