Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tea Description:
Ingredients… Tulsi, Cinnamon, Rooibos, Ginger Root, Cardamom, Fennel, Pink Peppercorn
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Tulsi India Chai from Shanti Tea is a really tasty twist on what I’ve come to expect from something labeled “chai.” Usually, when I think “chai” … I think of a black tea base with the usual spices: ginger, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. And while this blend does have three of the four usual spices … instead of black tea, it offers up a blend of rooibos and tulsi as the base for this chai.
The result is a naturally caffeine free blend that is spicy and sweet and really very delightful. The tulsi gives it an herbaceous taste without pushing that herbaceousness into the “medicinal” zone, it tastes light and fresh and crisp … exhilarating! There is a refreshing minty taste, notes of savory/sweet basil and this melds so beautifully with the spices.
As for the rooibos – well, I don’t really taste them here, and that’s just fine with me. Rooibos isn’t my favorite taste anyway … and I like this blend just the way it is.
My favorite thing about this blend is the fennel … it gives this cup a snappy-sweet licorice-y taste that I’m really liking. The cinnamon, cardamom, pepper and ginger work very harmoniously to provide a warm, comforting taste without tasting over-the-top spicy. Instead, I’d call this well spiced … certainly warm and zesty without leaving my palate feeling overwhelmed by spice.
A very pleasant way to enjoy chai later in the day when you don’t want to load up on the caffeine … but still want that great taste of chai spice!
Berkshire Apple & Fig Blend from Inspired Leaf
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black, Oolong & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Inspired Leaf
Tea Description:
Tempting crisp apple with notes of earthy sweetness.
Inspiration No. 53: Harvest the good in those around you.
Ingredients: Black tea, oolong tea, organic rooibos, apple pieces, fig pieces, clove, star anise, natural flavors.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Berkshire Apple & Fig Blend from Inspired Leaf is really yummy!
The base of black tea and Oolong is a pleasing combination – it is mild but not too mild … it is strong enough to provide a solid background of flavor without overwhelming the flavor of apple and fig. There is a moderate amount of astringency … just a slightly dry sensation of the palate toward the tail, and the aftertaste is sweet … the kind of sweetness that lingers on the palate after eating dried fruit.
As for the rooibos … I don’t taste it! Then again, I can’t say that this blend would taste the same without the rooibos, and some of the nutty, earthy flavors of this cup are probably due to the presence of the rooibos.
But what I really like about this cup is the way the apple and the fig taste together. Sweet and autumnal … a trait that is further accentuated with the addition of clove and star anise. The spices are subtle … adding just a hint of warmth and exotic sweetness without adding a lot of distinct spicy flavor.
This is a real treat … a cuppa that evokes thoughts of autumn even though spring is just around the corner.
Cherry and Almond Rooibos from Trail Lodge Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Trail Lodge Tea
Tisane Description:
This is one of Trail Lodge Tea’s own blends.Tart cherries and slivered almonds are combined with a combination of rooibos and honeybush. Caffeine free. Ingredients: Fair Trade Certified TM organic rooibos, and honeybush, and dried cherries, sliced almonds, and organic natural flavor.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
This Cherry and Almond Rooibos from Trail Lodge Tea is really delicious! I’m loving this!
I’ve had a lot of flavored rooibos blends … and some I like better than others. One thing I’ve noticed is that almond flavor works very well with rooibos, I suspect this has something to do with the fact that rooibos has a natural nutty flavor to it, and when paired with almond flavoring … the sweet, nutty flavor really shines through nicely.
And when you add cherry flavor … this cuppa becomes sensational! I love the flavor of almond and cherry together … and the base of rooibos and honeybush works so well with these flavors. The end result is a cup of naturally caffeine free tisane that tastes sweet and nutty with just enough contrasting tart flavor from the cherry to keep the taste buds happy.
What I’m liking best about this is that the flavor of rooibos is not a strong, obvious flavor. I taste the nutty notes from the rooibos, but not that weird sweetness from the rooibos. I taste the warm honey notes from the honeybush, but not that sour wood note that sometimes comes with rooibos. This is just a warm, wonderful cup of yumminess!
A delightful tisane … great for any time of the day.
Chocolate Rooibos Black Tea Blend from Fashionista Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black Tea & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Fashionista Tea
Tea Description:
A profusion of flavors all come together in this rich chocolaty blend, with an exotic twist of coconut, perfect as a dessert tea with or without milk.
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
When I opened the tin of this Chocolate Rooibos Black Tea Blend from Fashionista Tea, I expected it to be an “ordinary” chocolate rooibos blend … what a surprise when I discovered that it was not just a rooibos blend, but a black tea and rooibos blend.
It’s really tasty too! The combination of black tea and rooibos offers a lighter tasting base, and I am of the opinion that this lighter base allows the chocolate flavor to taste richer.
And when it comes to teas with chocolate … a strong, rich chocolate taste is just what I want! The overall cup is chocolate-y smooth and creamy and positively decadent! YUM!
I also like the addition of coconut and vanilla to this blend. These two ingredients add a creaminess to the cup, and this makes for a very pleasing “latte-like” taste without adding milk. I suppose this would also taste really good with the addition, but, I perfer to drink my teas without adding dairy, so I like that this tastes rich and creamy, just like a latte, but without adding the milk or cream. I mean, why add fat and calories if I don’t need to?
And I also love how sweet and delicious this is without sweetener! Another addition that doesn’t need to be added … making this a luscious dessert tea that is low-calorie and low-fat. Awesome!
Cranberry-Mint African Redbush Tea from MarketSpice
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: MarketSpice
Tisane Description:
Tart yet minty. This tea is a blend of African RedBush, Cranberry and Peppermint flavoring. High in anti-oxidants and naturally caffeine free.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
This Cranberry-Mint African Redbush Tea from MarketSpice has a really interesting combination of flavors … and it’s not what I expected at all!
I expected to taste a strong minty taste, and maybe a hint of sour cranberry. And while the mint is indeed strong … that isn’t the first note I experience. I taste a warm, nutty flavor from the rooibos. It is a distinct rooibos flavor, but, at the same time it doesn’t taste like a typical rooibos. It doesn’t have that sour wood taste, or the sometimes funky sweetness that I often associate with rooibos. Instead … it is more of a taste that is sweet, almost honey-like (reminding me a bit of honeybush rather than rooibos!) and a warm, nutty flavor. Hints of wood but not a sour wood.
Then I notice the fruity notes of the cranberry. It is tangy and tart, but the sweetness from the rooibos curbs some of the tart flavor. I really like how cranberry and rooibos taste together. I don’t think I really realized it until I tried this tisane … but these two components work very well together.
Almost at the mid-way point of the sip, I notice the mint. It is cool and crisp … but it isn’t a strong, distinctly peppermint kind of note. The flavor of cranberry as well as the strong presence of the nutty tones of rooibos has managed to tone down the peppermint just a smidge, to give it a sweet, cooling effect without overwhelming the palate with minty taste.
The flavor is really surprisingly smooth. It almost reminds me of a latte … there is almost a creaminess to this cup (and no, I didn’t add milk!) It’s really very pleasant … a very surprising, delicious cup of rooibos! I’m really enjoying this.