Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: David’s Tea
Tisane Description:
One sip of this sweet, rich rooibos blend and you’ll know spring is here. It could be the sunny taste of pineapple, or the exotic creaminess of coconut. It could be the pretty calendula and cornflower petals. Then again, it might just be the jellybeans. You heard us right, jellybeans – that’s what gives this tea its irresistibly sweet and fruity kick. So why do jellybeans remind us of spring? Because they make us happy. Why else?
Learn more about this rooibos blend here.
Taster’s Review:
I think I should start off by explaining that the sampling I received of this tisane had no Jelly Bellys in it (I’m told that this is the type of jelly bean that David’s Tea uses in this blend), and since I recently acquired a large jar of Jelly Bellys, I added a couple of Jelly Bellys to the sample before the large jar of Jelly Bellys became an large, empty jar.
At that point, I felt it was important to brew this tisane as soon as possible, as this sampling (prior to brewing) contained the last three Jelly Bellys in the house, and I feared for their safety.
YUM! This is really tasty. Not surprisingly, it is sweet. The Jelly Bellys melted and added some sweetness to the cup, as did the red and green rooibos – but thankfully, I don’t taste that funky red rooibos sweetness in this! The pineapple, strawberry and coconut also contributed some sweetness to the cup as well.
This is very fruity – like a handful of Jelly Bellys that have been liquified and served hot. I taste hints of the strawberry, but the most pronounced fruit flavors are that of the coconut and the pineapple. I don’t taste a lot of flavor from the rooibos. I do taste a slight woody/nutty note from the rooibos, but, it is subtle, and doesn’t interrupt the sweet, fruity goodness that I’m enjoying.
This tisane toes the line of tasting very candy-like, and I can see how it might not be for everyone … those who don’t like sweet drinks might not really enjoy this. But if you have a sweet tooth and find great joy in jelly beans as I do, you should definitely try this! It’s yummy!
Strawberry Lemonade from iHeartTeas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos & Herbal/Fruit Tisane
Where to Buy: iHeartTeas
Tisane Description:
A perfect summer treat without all the sugar. A slightly sweet and tart blend. Wonderful hot or cold. Add a touch of raw sugar or honey for the perfectly balanced cup.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
I received this as a free sample with my recent order from iHeartTeas. I just love it when companies give free samples with orders – it’s like a little gift and a really nice way to make me as a consumer feel special. And Rachel from iHeartTeas is really so very nice, it’s like receiving a gift from a friend, which makes it extra special.
My usual steeping parameters for rooibos blends is to steep for 10 minutes, but because this blend also contained hibiscus, I cut that time in half … and I’m glad I did. At five minutes steeping time, the liquor developed a very deep red color from the hibiscus, but none of the syrupy texture of it.
It also picked up quite a bit of the hibiscus tartness, though, and I did find this tisane to be quite tart. But I guess it should be, right? It’s Strawberry LEMONADE, after all. Lemonade is supposed to be tart.
But even though it is tart, the sweetness of the strawberry comes through quite nicely. I even taste a bit of the berry tartness which may be from the strawberry but may also be the hibiscus as it often takes on a berry-like quality when it’s infused.
The apple in this blend is only slightly distinguishable, but really, what it adds is primarily a sense of sweetness, along with the strawberry. The rooibos are not discernible. The strawberry is delicious, the lemon is quite tart, a little bit puckery tart. I would rather there was no hibiscus, but it does give the tisane the aforementioned pretty, ruby red color.
Overall, a pleasant blend. Not my favorite tisane, but certainly not something I’d turn down if offered. I enjoyed it, and it made for a very relaxing cuppa later in the evening.
Strawberry Lemon Basil from ESP Emporium
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos (red), Tisane
Where to Buy: ESP Emporium
Tea Description:
Only the best for the spoiled berry, the queen amongst the gourmets … A hint of lemon, just the perfect helping of basil and a carpet of red roses with fanfares! Take this “state visit” home with you and you’ll soon win all votes.
Ingredients: Rooibos tea, basil, flavoring, freeze-dried strawberry pieces and lemon granules (fruit (lemon juice), malt dextrin, natural lemon oil, gelling agent: sodium alginate), red rose petals.
Serving Size: 1-2 level tsp./6oz serving
Brew Temp: 203 to 212 degree F
Brew Time: 8 to 10 Minutes
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I love it when someone wants to do a tea trade and asks me for a tea I have not had myself in ages. It is a nice reminder to dig something out and enjoy it all over again! This is what happened with this lovely red rooibos tisane!
As I have said in other reviews – I’m not big on red rooibos, but once in awhile there is one that grabs my attention. I have had this in my stash for quite awhile now and it is overdue time to savor it again.
Speaking of savoring something – this is quite the savory tea – although it is also quite sweet. It may even be a little too sweet for some but the lemon and basil do a wonderful job of aiding in it becoming cloying.
Upon first sip, the ripe sweet strawberry flavor is most present, then followed nicely by the basil, with lemon not far behind to give a nice cleansing of the palate and taking away the initial sweetness of the sip. I appreciate that the lemon is not too tart as well.
This tea is good cold but I prefer it hot, although I have read where most others prefer it iced. You can let your own taste buds decide how you like it but the fact that it is a versatile tisane is nice.
Roses take only a minor role in the cup so if you are not a fan of the more floral teas I would not shy away from giving this one a try. The rose comes though not in the aroma but in the flavor and only a slight bit yet I find personally I have to really swish the tea around in my mouth to get that flavor. The rose is also present in the aftertaste for only a few moments – as if they bloom quickly and then the petals delicately blow away into thin air.
Another thing I love about this tea is in my opinion red rooibos is a difficult tea to work with. Too many times the rooibos flavor takes over and the other flavors become hidden elements or are not complimentary. This blend works perfectly with the natural flavor of the rooibos, which is why it is still in my cupboard.
One could say this is a lovely summer brew but I am finding it will be a nice tea to sip on in colder weather. Between its savory appeal and the strawberry, lemon, and rose, it will be a nice reminder of the warmer days as well.
A big thank you to my tea trade parter for reminding me to appreciate this good tea hiding in my stash!
Real Red Paradise Tea from Tea & Botanicals
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Tea & Botanicals
Tisane Description:
Red Tea is naturally caffeine-free red tea blended with colorful flower petals and tropical flavors. Red Tea has reputed health benefits, as it is antioxidant rich and also contains vitamins and minerals.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Visually, this is a very pretty tisane. Amongst the needle-like reddish-brown rooibos leaves, there are beautiful petals of blue, red, and yellow. There is really very little aroma to the dry leaf, which is a little disappointing because with a name like “Real Red Paradise Tea,” I was kind of hoping for a beautiful, exotic fragrance. The brewed tea has a slightly stronger scent, smelling of a tropical fruit medley – not like any one fruit in particular, its more like a tropical fruit punch.
The flavor is surprisingly good. I say that because, with most rooibos blends I want a strong flavoring, because I don’t usually like to taste the flavor of oxidized rooibos. They are nutty, a little woody, and there is often this really funky sweetness that lingers into the aftertaste. It’s not really the most pleasant flavor.
But, somehow, this all works together very well. F0r starters, I don’t taste that funky sweetness nor do I taste a funky lingering aftertaste that I normally associate with red rooibos. I do taste the nutty tones, but somehow these typical rooibos flavors just work well with the flavors and more importantly with the level of flavoring that this tisane possesses. I taste sweet, nutty flavor, and unlike some other red rooibos blends I’ve tried in the past, this tastes very pleasant!
The tropical flavors are very light. I don’t know that I taste any one type of tropical fruit specifically. Every once in a while I think I taste pineapple, but, it tastes more like a harmony of fruit notes … and it’s a very delicate taste, like it’s off in the distance, just barely tempting the palate with sweet, fruity goodness.
And what I’m really enjoying most of all is how well these whispers of tropical fruit mingle with the floral notes … the rose is especially noticeable. The sweet notes from the rose together with the soft tropical fruit is really quite delightful.
Not a bad tisane, quite enjoyable. Nice for a quiet evening, when you just want to sit back and relax.
Marzipan Sunset from Design A Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos (Red)
Where to Buy: Design A Tea
Tea Description:
What’s better than an after dinner treat while watching the sun set? Maybe a almond cookie or two or three or four… But all that sugar is sure to keep you wide awake. We took naturally caffeine free Rooibos tea, mixed in a few ALMOND pieces and added NATURAL VANILLA and MARZIPAN (tastes a little like eggnog) flavorings to come up with Marzipan Sunset. A nice substitute to the German known Marzipan cookie… your pants will thank you!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I don’t care much for rooibos, well green rooibos I like quite well, however the traditional red rooibos, well I am just burnt out on it, and find that its difficult to get past that rooibos base flavor. So often I find anything that a tea company tries to blend with a red rooibos base just falls short for me, rarely am I impressed.
Marzipan Sunset from Design A Tea however has been one of my stead fast favorite night time and dessert teas for a long time now. It has been awhile since I have indulged in this blend but I was craving something yummy and thought maybe it was time I put an old favorite to the test.
Marzipan Sunset is filled with wonderful almond flavor that really does taste like true almond, you will find almond pieces in this blend as well, not just flavoring. Whatever flavoring they use is really quite good. You also get a lovely vanilla flavoring as well which makes the blend quite creamy. Its sweet but not too sweet. Some people even add a little extra sugar to this tea when I have introduced them to it. I prefer it without added sugar. I have added cream to this tea on occasion and it is dreamy!
I doubt I will ever fall back in love with red rooibos but Design A Tea did manage to make a solid blend here for late night sipping that does not have that intense rooibos flavor I cringe at. I don’t feel so much even that Design A Tea covered the rooibos flavor up as much as they managed to find quality flavors, and the right flavors at that to work with the rooibos instead of against it.
Brian at Design A Tea is a really nice guy too, excellent customer service and always happy to make your specific blend for you! You can have a lot of fun being your own mix master on his site!
As for this blend, its one of their Signature Blends and I always have kept it in my tea cabinet, after tonights sipping session I am assured it is one I want to continue to keep in my stash.