Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Tisane Description:
Freddy’s a little creepy, goofy, and nutty – kind of like this blend of Honeybush and Rooibos Flavors.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Over the past week or so, I’ve been trying to focus on some teas that could be considered “romantic” Valentine’s teas. While I don’t think that I’d want to kiss Mr. Krueger, this custom blend created by my SororiTea Sister, Jennifer aka TeaEqualsBliss, is a delicious alternative to going mouth-to-mouth with Freddy. It is a blend of Adagio’s honeybush orange, rooibos cinnamon apple, and rooibos almond.
While I am not always particularly fond of rooibos, I do like the combination of rooibos and honeybush together. Somehow, when blended together, the honeybush softens the tames funky tasting rooibos. The two taste better together than individually, in my opinion.
The orange flavor is the most distinct note in this cup, but it doesn’t overwhelm. It is complemented by the apple, which softens the tangy citrus notes, and lends a very smooth sweetness to the cup.
The background is nutty and has a hint of woody undertones. The nutty flavor is further accentuated by the almond flavor. While it is not a particularly strong note, the cinnamon gives the overall cup some interest and depth.
A tasty tisane that can be enjoyed any time of day!
Rooibos Chai from Jennifer’s Tea Garden
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Jennifer’s Tea Garden
Tisane Description:
Based in organic rooibos, this blend with an invigorating aroma and luxurious spices makes a full-flavored treat! Best with steamed milk. Naturally caffeine free.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
My favorite winter-y tea is chai. Not chai as in tea but chai as in the warm blend of spices combined with tea (or in this case, rooibos and honeybush!) Nothing warms me up better than a delicious chai.
And this one is quite yummy! The “usual” spices are all there: cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and ginger. In this blend, there are a couple of other spices too: anise seed and fennel. These two spices are not as noticeable in the flavor as they are in the aroma, but, they do add just a hint of licorice-y flavor to the cup which is really quite lovely.
One thing that is also a little unusual about this particular blend is that the ginger has a softer flavor than I’m used to with chai. Yes, I can taste that peppery heat from the ginger, but it is more of a mild, gentle kind of heat. It doesn’t have that prickly, peppery effect on the tongue that ginger sometimes has.
The biggest effect that the lighter ginger flavor has on this cup – at least, in my opinion – is that the flavor of the cloves and cardamom are really coming through very distinctly. Especially the cardamom! Citrus-y and exotic, and pleasantly soothing.
I’ve said before that I really like the combination of rooibos and honeybush together. I find that the honeybush helps to curb some of the funkier flavors of the rooibos. The result is a nutty flavor that is honey-sweet, and that’s what I’m tasting here. It compliments the spice tones of this blend quite well.
Overall, a nicely balanced chai that is not too spicy or sweet, but, somewhere in between. I brewed mine extra strong and then added a bit of steamed, frothed milk and it became a dessert-like treat. Sweet and delicious, it didn’t even need honey!
Lemonade from Shanti Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Rooibos
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tisane Description:
Origin: South Africa
Certification: Organic
Ingredients: Green Rooibos, Lemon Peel, Lemon Myrtle, Calendula, Natural Essences
Naturally Caffeine-Free Herbal Tea
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tried a few different “lemonade” teas and tisanes over the last couple of years. Some are stronger in lemon-y flavor than others. This tisane started out rather subtle, but, as I continue to sip, the flavors have gotten more intense. I like the way the flavors develop, getting the palate ready for the tart and tangy notes that are about to come.
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I prefer green rooibos over red rooibos. The green rooibos has a lighter, fresher, fruitier taste to it than the sweet, woody and nutty flavor of the red rooibos. Here, the green rooibos provides a pleasant fruity flavor and a hint of sweetness to the cup without overwhelming the cup with other flavors that distract from the lemony taste of this tisane.
The lemon myrtle and lemon peel add a sweet, slightly tangy lemon flavor without tasting too tart. The tartness of this cup is most obvious in the aftertaste, where that tingly tangy taste lingers on the palate, as if I had just taken a sip of … well, of lemonade!
Overall, I’m finding this tisane to be bright, sunny lemon flavor that is sweet-tart and really enjoyable. It is deliciously soothing served hot (and makes a great sore throat remedy too!) but it is even better served chilled … I think I’m going to stock up on this one as the weather turns warmer! It’s something that my entire family (even those who don’t like tea!) will love.
Winter Chai from Tea Forté
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Tea Forté
Product Description:
Classic spices familiar to chai drinkers evoke the aromas of the holidays in this crimson rooibos herbal.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Even though I’ve already tasted this tea and reviewed it, I received more of it as part of the Warming Joy Collection that I received, and enjoyed it so much that I decided to feature it again. 
Interestingly enough, when tasting it this time, it struck me as hauntingly similar to the Vienna Cinnamon tea (also from Tea Forté) that I reviewed just recently. Then, after reading through my previous review and the description and ingredients list on this tea, I realized that the cloves is what gives these two teas such a similar taste profile.
The overall flavor is sweet with a gentle, warming spice. The lemongrass plays to the fruitier tones of the rooibos, and helps brighten the flavors.
I think I’m enjoying this more this time around than I did the first time I tried it. It certainly has a comforting effect – it is warm and soothing – and it is a very welcome addition the the Warming Joy Collection!
Tahitian Breeze From Téanzo 1856
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black Tea & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Téanzo 1856
Product Description:
Delight your senses with the tropical aroma of coconut blended with the flavors of chocolate and vanilla. Your palate will come alive with this union of black and rooibos teas. The blending of the two teas, makes it a “half-caf” tea, since the rooibos portion doesn’t contain caffeine.
Taster’s Review:
This is delicious. It is very well-balanced, with each flavor represented well without one ingredient attempting to overpower the others.
The first flavor I notice is the chocolate. It is strong … and yes, the chocoholic in me says it could be stronger, but I think that the amount of chocolate here works well. The coconut flavor sort of weaves its way in and out of the sip, providing it’s creamy sweet flavor. There is but a hint of vanilla in this blend, but, it is just enough to accent the other flavors.
The black tea is a flavorful black tea – it isn’t particularly bold but it holds its own. The rooibos are probably the least noticeable of the flavors in this cup, but that’s alright with me. They do add a bit of nutty flavor to the background, but, really, what I think they do more than anything is help to lighten the overall cup. I think that the rooibos displaces some of the black tea, which if it were stronger it would overwhelm the flavors of chocolate, coconut and vanilla. The rooibos seems to be there to keep everything else in check.
A very pleasant tea that is light enough to enjoy any time of the day!