Don’t you just LOVE colors that compliment each other? That is today’s Vegan MoFo prompt and since the Sororitea Sisters is doing-up Vegan MoFo TEA Style we decided to jump into the mix with Peach Dream from Nelson’s Tea. When you look at the dry mix of ingredients you will see olive green, khaki, cream, orange-yellow, and a few specs of darker brown because of the green rooibos, orange peel, marigold petals, and other flavors in this herbal blend.
Peach Dream from Nelson’s Tea infuses to a orange-light brown and smells incredible because of the peach. The flavor is peachy, sweet, creamy, and a bit like a sweeter nut – almost like cashew, perhaps! I completely agree with the use of green rooibos here and the peach is plump and pleasant and not overdone in the slightest. Peach Dream from Nelson’s Tea makes for easy sipping and is tasty hot or cold. If you try this iced – word to the wise – do a double dose of loose and steep for double the time! YUMMO!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Rooibos
Where to Buy: Nelson’s Tea
Description:
Ingredients: Green rooibos, orange peel, marigold petals, natural flavor
Brewing Instructions: To brew this tea, utilize 1-2 teaspoons of tea/8 oz of boiling water and should be steeped 5-6 minutes to unlock its full flavor and benefits. To make the iced version, double the amount of tea and brew the same way. When finished pour over ice.
*Note: 4 oz of tea equals 50-60 teaspoons or between 30 and 60 cups of tea.
Benefits:
- Anti-inflammatory Properties
- Protects the Nervous System and Brain from Free Radicals
- A bronchodilator, Aiding the Respiratory System and an Antispasmodic
- Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antifungal
- Hypoallergenic and Utilized to Treat Various Skin Conditions
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Rooibos Mango from Adagio Teas
I was lucky to receive a fairly large sample of this tea. That meant I could try it a whole variety of ways. I landed on three different brew methods: a standard hot cup of tea, a cold brew, and a teapop. It was fun to drink them all side-by-side to see just how different each one was.
The hot cup worked as my control sample, since it is the method that follows Adagio’s suggested brewing parameters of steeping 1 tsp/cup for 5 minutes in boiling water. This is how I believe Adagio intends their tea to taste and thus it was the logical place to start off with my sampling. The tea brewed up a dark amber and had a full, rounded mouthfeel. With that comes some nice honey notes from the rooibos base and just a subtle hint of mango sweetness. Unfortunately the mango flavor dissipates as it cools so this is best drank when hotter, something I don’t usually find with other teas.
The cold brew I set up last night, leaving the tea to sit in the fridge overnight (approximately 12 hours). Since the tea is never actually heated, different flavors tend to come out when using this method. Normally I find that with rooibos and honeybush blends, cold brewing tames the base, leaving the flavor to stand out more than it would in the hot tea. This cold brew didn’t really work out that way. It is honestly quite bland. It’s predominantly water with some sweet/wood at the end of the sip. The aftertaste is just a generic sweetness that lingers after the drink is done. Definitely not as good as the hot cup and really not that good in general. So cold brewing this tea is not something I would recommend.
Finally, we have the teapop. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it is when you brew your tea really strong, ice it, and then top it up with a carbonated beverage to make the tea more like a soda. I topped this tea up with Nestle Purelife’s Mango, Peach & Pineapple Sparkling Water. I figured that would help highlight the mango of the tea itself. The end result is a pretty juicy teapop. The mango is really drawn out more and tends to take center stage while also mixing nicely with the other flavors of the water. I should mention there is a little bit of an artificial sweetener component to this, though that is a result of the sparkling water and not something the tea is contributing. The whole thing is bright and refreshing and has a distinctly tropical vibe that is interestingly juxtaposed with the cold and rainy weather outside. However, I think that tropical element may be more from the sparkling water than the tea itself. Nonetheless, I do think the tea is contributing to it all and elevating it just a teensy bit.
All in all, this tea is simple but nice. It isn’t an in-your-face/”WOW!” sort of flavor but I don’t think it is trying to be. Plus, sometimes its nice to have something more subtle and relaxed. Of the methods I tried, the teapop was probably my preferred but the hot cup was pleasant as well. As I said before, cold brewing is a method I would stay away from because I think the flavors of this tea are just too faint to really stand out when prepped in that way. Still, if you are looking for a more plain tea to have every now and then when you just want something tame, this isn’t a bad one to have around.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
A lush, fruity and mellow cup of caffeine free goodness. The tropical aroma pairs perfectly with the naturally sweet organic rooibos. Delicate deep fruity notes from the rooibos, against the creamy texture and floral nose of the mango. Juicy and soft, dry finish. A lovely tropical escape any time of day, or season!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Glass Slipper from Nelson’s Tea
I had no idea what to expect when I pulled this tea out of my collection today. With a name like Glass Slipper, I expected something Cinderella-like and romantic…like berries or chocolate. The first thing I noticed was the blue cornflower speckled throughout the leaf. Then as I scooped it into my strainer, I saw the big chunks of almond mixed throughout. Now I didn’t expect much from the cornflower but the almond seemed promising.
Unfortunately, I find myself wanting more. More nuttiness. More flavor. The only thing I don’t need more of is rooibos since that is all I am tasting when I drink this particular tea. It’s a little bit woody and a hint sweet but there is not much else.
When I couldn’t pick out flavors by myself, I checked Nelson’s Tea’s website and saw that this is supposed to be an almond, cherry, and vanilla tea. With that in mind, I am even more disappointed. Knowing what flavors I should be tasting has me trying to pick them out in the tea. I feel like there should be more an amaretto quality to this but there just is not. I could maybe attribute the sweetness to the vanilla but I am simply doing that because I am being told I should get vanilla from this tea and not because I am actually tasting vanilla.
I have tried worse rooibos teas and as far as the base goes, it is actually quite nice. I just wish I got more from this tea than just the base. As it is now, the only connection I can make to the infamous Glass Slipper is that it seems half of this tea was left behind
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Nelson’s Tea
Description
This brew is a magical rooibos blend of almond, cherry, and vanilla. The Rooibos base provides smooth yet robust flavor, especially when paired with the other enchanting ingredients. One cup won’t be enough!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Organic Ginger Calendula from Spicely Organics
Ginger can be an amazing addition to most things: stir frys, breads, teas, etc. It’s got a great flavor and when used right it shines and helps other flavors shine as well.
In teas, I find it best when it contributes spice and lots of it. One can even buy packets of ginger crystals which dissolve in hot water (not exactly tea but close enough) and it contributes such a delightful spicy burn. So, when I see a tea with Ginger in its name, I expect that heat. Like a hug from the inside. The ginger in this doesn’t quite have that hug-level ginger but there is a little kick that would be similar to one of those back pat hugs guys do when they don’t actually want to hug if I am keeping with the metaphor. The ginger is there but it just didn’t want to fully commit.
Regardless of the lack of spice I was hoping for, this goes down quite easily. The base is smooth and honeyed and provides a nice foundation for the ginger to build on. I don’t think the calendula is doing much but if it is, it would be adding some more sweetness to keep this mellow.
All in all, I think this could do with a bit more heat. Some more spice and this would be perfect. As it is, it is still quite nice though and certainly a different sort of caffeine-free option to enjoy in the evenings when you’re not in the mood for fruity or dessert-like flavors.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Red Rooibos Blend
Where to Buy: Spicely Organics
This tea is no longer available but these teas are!
Roasted Chestnut Rooibos from Simpson & Vail #VeganMoFo2016
Today for the Vegan MoFo prompt it’s “Comfort Food” and since here at Sororitea Sisters we post about teas and tisanes I have chosen Roasted Chestnut Rooibos from Simpson & Vail to be featured today. This Rooibos offering surprised me on so many levels that I just HAD to share my experiences with you!
Not only is Roasted Chestnut Rooibos from Simpson & Vail one of their holiday blends that I could totally see myself sipping on while under a blanket and/or near a fire but it’s super tasty and comforting on the flavor level, too! Right off the bat I can tell you that the color of Roasted Chestnut Rooibos from Simpson & Vail infuses to an exciting and vibrant orange-golden-light-brown color that really draws me in!
It’s smells wonderful with the sweet yet creamy notes, the orange pokes, and the nuttiness! There is a butteriness that I haven’t tasted in other rooibos offerings that I am super stoked about in this S&V creation. This just might be one of my favorite flavored rooibos tastes of this year! Roasted Chestnut Rooibos from Simpson & Vail is a terrific comfort cuppa. I think the reason I am overly excited about this one is because I am not a Chestnut Guru or a Rooibos Rabid Fan! Which makes this even better, I think!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Simpson & 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!