Red Chocolate from Shanti Tea

by liberteas

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Shanti Tea

Tisane Description:

Inviting and rich, the warm smell of chocolate greets you as you open the tin and settle in for a cup tea. A rich and smooth blend of Rooibos and cacao, this tea is a refined take on the comforting feeling of sipping hot chocolate on a cold day.

Learn more about this tisane here.

Taster’s Review:

YUM!  This is so rich and chocolate-y that it even manages to satiate the chocoholic in me!  And trust me, that’s not easy to do!  It tastes LOTS of chocolate … and this tisane has got it!

It is rich and chocolate-y with hints of cacao bitterness.  It’s a bittersweet chocolate taste, but the emphasis would be on the SWEET rather than the bitter, in my opinion.  If you prefer milk chocolate, this would go nicely with a splash of milk, but I would recommend steeping it at double strength first so that you don’t lose any of this magnificent flavor.

The rooibos base is barely discernible amid all this chocolate-y flavor, but, I do taste some of the hints of wood and the distinct nutty tones of the rooibos.  But mostly what I taste is CHOCOLATE … so much chocolate in fact that I think that this just may be the most chocolate-y rooibos blend I’ve yet to encounter.  And that’s saying something, because I’ve tried quite a few chocolate rooibos blends.

If you’re an insatiable chocoholic like me, try this tisane.  You’re going to love it!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Rooibos, Shanti Tea, Tea Company, Type Of Tea

Blueberry Yogurt Rooibos from Fusion Teas

by liberteas

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Fusion Teas

Tisane Description:

The wonderful thing with Rooibos is that it compliments just about any flavor. Same as true with blueberries. Of course we only use real blueberries. Then for a smooth finish we added yogurt granules. Naturally caffeine free so it can be enjoyed anytime of the day.

Taster’s Review:

I am so very happy with this tisane for a couple of reasons.

First, I was happy to find that there is NO hibiscus in this blend.  It seems that hibiscus is added to many – far TOO many – berry tisanes to enhance the natural tartness of the berry.  I am glad to see that Fusion Tea Room chose not to follow the trend of adding hibiscus to berry blends with this delicious dessert tea.

Second, I am happy with this blend because it IS delicious.  The blueberry flavor tastes sweet with just a hint of tartness, and it is very true to the berry’s flavor.  That is to say … this TASTES like real blueberries.  It doesn’t taste artificial.

The yogurt adds a creamy element to the cup that complements the blueberry, as well as a tangy note that gives the sweeter flavors of this cup some contrast.  The rooibos base adds a light earthiness to the cup, but the rooibos flavor doesn’t become too strong here, allowing the focus to remain on the sweet, juicy blueberry flavor.

This is such a delightful tisane.  It is sweet and indulgent enough to satisfy those sweet cravings … and makes a delicious dessert, any time of the day.

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Rooibos

Almond Fondant from Kally Tea

by liberteas

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Kally Tea

Tisane Description:

Healthy nutrient packed Rooibos combined with almonds, mallow flowers and natural flavors create this cup reminiscent of fondant (or also known as Marzipan). Are we sitting in a South African Café? As you sip this flavor balanced Rooibos almond treat, it will seem as though you are. What a joy to drink either hot or iced. This Rooibos is a great accompaniment to any dessert delicacy.

Learn more about this tisane here.

Taster’s Review:

Once again, Kally Tea delivers what it promises with its alluring tea names.  The name of the tea is Almond Fondant, and this tastes a lot like almond fondant (or marzipan!)

This tisane has a rooibos base, and while rooibos is not usually my favorite herb, in this case, I find that the natural flavors of the rooibos actually work to the benefit of the tisane.  The natural nutty flavor of the rooibos accents the almond notes very nicely, giving the cup a very delicious, nutty flavor.

There is some sweetness to this cup as well, and I’m very pleased with the balance of sweet and earthy tones.  There is also a light creaminess to this, and I don’t know if that comes from the almond flavor or if there is a vanilla flavoring in this as well.  But, I find that this creaminess takes the other flavors to the next level, giving it that fondant-like flavor.

This is a very tasty dessert tisane, and I like that it’s naturally caffeine-free, making it an excellent late-night treat that you can indulge in with no guilt, because there’s zero calories!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Rooibos

Chaider from World Spice Merchants

by liberteas

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Honeybush & Rooibos

Where to Buy:  World Spice Merchants

Tisane Description:

Chaider is sure to take off the chill with its original blend of Star Anise, Tellicherry Peppercorns, Cassia Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves, Green Cardamom Pod and Seed, Honeybush and Rooibos. Serve it steeped as you would tea, or in warmed apple cider.

Learn more about this tisane here.

Taster’s Review:

This is a very tasty tisane from World Spice Merchants.  It does indeed have a flavor that is reminiscent of hot spiced cider, all that’s missing is the apple!  Then again, it is a little different from a typical cider.  This has a strong licorice-like flavor to it that gives it a sharpness and a sweet flavor and gives this its own unique flavor.

I’ve had this twice now, and the first time I steeped it, I steeped for ten minutes using a little too much leaf – about 2 heaping teaspoons per 8 ounces, which is about the normal amount for me when I make a chai blend, as I usually plan on diluting it with steamed milk to make a latte.

However, I didn’t make it a latte, so I had a very strong-tasting tisane, and I think it was a bit too strong, especially after tasting my second cup which I steeped for about 8 minutes and used  1 1/2 teaspoons per 8 ounces instead of the 2 heaping teaspoons.  This made a big difference in the taste, and I found the second cup to be much more palatable.

The anise flavor is quite strong with this tisane, and as I am a fan of anise, I don’t have a problem with that.  However, if you’re not a licorice or anise fan, this is not the tisane for you.  The other spices are nicely balanced, and the cinnamon and anise complement each other very well.  But this isn’t too cinnamon-y which is something I often find with cider-like teas or tisanes, and I like that I can taste the other spices here.

I can also taste the rooibos and honeybush, and they bring a nice, woody tone to the background.  Normally, I am not a fan of the woody flavors of these herbs (especially rooibos) but it works here, because of the overall rustic quality of this tisane.

A nice, warming tisane for these chilly early spring evenings.

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Chai, Honeybush, Rooibos

Earl Grey Enchantment from Talbott Teas

by liberteas

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Rooibos

Where to Buy:  Talbott Teas

Tisane Description:

Your own private renaissance, this delightful twist on the English classic opens your eyes to endless possibilities. A delicately aromatic, naturally caffeine-free rooibos tea made with bergamot orange essence and blue cornflower blossoms.

Ingredients
All natural premium ingredients: rooibos, cornflower petals & bergamot flavor.

Learn more about this tisane here.

Taster’s Review:

As much as I love Earl Grey and its many variations on this classic tea blend, I tend to find myself skeptical of bergamot flavored rooibos blends.  Perhaps that’s because I’m not as fond of rooibos as I am of other tea/tisane bases, and I worry that the flavor of the rooibos is going to interfere with my beloved bergamot.

But that doesn’t happen with this Earl Grey Enchantment from Talbott Teas.  The rooibos flavor is there, but, it is not a strong or overwhelming flavor, and it doesn’t throw off the bergamot flavor.  It has a soft nutty flavor in the background, with a sweetness that offers a compelling contrast to the tangy citrus tones of the bergamot.

In fact, this tastes suprisingly quite a bit like an Earl Grey tea … even without the black tea base.  It doesn’t have that deep, rich flavor of the black tea, of course, but, the rooibos provides some earthiness to the background to offer a solid flavor.  This doesn’t taste thin or wispy.  It’s quite satisfying, and that’s something I don’t often say about rooibos!

Very well done, Talbott Teas!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Earl Grey, Rooibos