Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi
Where to Buy: The Tao of Tea
Tisane Description:
Tulsi with hints of lemony flavor makes a great combination. We chose 100% organic Australian Lemon Myrtle for the blend because it had the perfect strength to balance the brew. Complemented with the fragrant sweetness of calendula flowers.
Caffeine free.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh, what a pleasant cup. So gentle and relaxing … perfect for later in the evening (which it happens to be right now), it seems to instill a sense of serenity – I can feel the stress of the day melting away as I sip this.
It has a slight medicinal taste, but I don’t find it to be medicinal in an off-putting way. I think a better word to describe it would be herbaceous, although there are those who would say that herbaceous and medicinal are quite similar descriptive words. I don’t think so, though I can see how some might construe them as similar.
The slightly peppery, slightly minty tones of the tulsi meld beautifully with the light citrus-y tones of the lemon myrtle. I don’t usually notice too much flavor from marigold petals, but because the overall character of this tisane is rather subtle the sweet floral tones do present themselves in the flavor here.
A very enjoyable, naturally caffeine-free cup – perfect for those evenings when you want to unwind. This tea will calm your spirit and mind, and even help relieve your tension.
Very nice.
Tulsi Signature Blend from Davidson’s Organics
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi
Where to Buy: Davidson’s Organics
Tisane Description:
Davidson`s Signature Blend blends three varieties of Tulsi (Krishna, Rama and Vana) with Peppermint (mild stimulating properties, aids digestion & calms an upset stomach)*, Pepper (mild stimulant & digestive aid)*, Ginger (helps with motion sickness & nausea)* and Cinnamon (recommended for balancing blood sugar levels).
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Nice!
I love the combination of flavors here … a quick glance of the ingredients, and one might think of this as a chai-like tisane, but, it really isn’t. The flavors of pepper, ginger and cinnamon are very calm – not at all spicy.
Everything in this blend is nicely balanced. It has a minty overtone, but the peppermint (as well as the natural minty notes of the tulsi) does not overpower the cup. Peppermint can sometimes be an aggressive herb, but here, it seems to even out the also sometimes aggressive flavors of cinnamon, ginger, and pepper. Everything seems to work together to create a gentle, even flavor that is actually quite soothing.
I love that I taste everything here but it is all in a smooth and calm way. Bravo to Davidson’s Organics for creating a Signature Blend that allows the beauty of tulsi to come through.
Wild Forest Tulsi from The Tao of Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi
Where to Buy: The Tao of Tea
Tisane Description:
Flavor Profile:Very fragrant, notes of kafir limes, orange, mint and cloves.
Ingredients:100% Organic Wild Forest (Vana) Tulsi leaves and stems.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I often find myself at a loss on how to describe an “unflavored” tea or herb, because, even though the natural flavor of the product has not been altered by flavoring, it is often quite flavorful on its own and therefore I don’t feel the word “unflavored” applies.
Unadulterated? Unaltered? Untainted? These words seem to intimate that the act of flavoring tea is somehow wrong, and I don’t agree with that sentiment, as I enjoy many types of tea, both flavored and “unflavored.”
Unmixed? This almost seems like the reverse sentiment … like tea and herbs should be blended, flavored or mixed, and I don’t agree with that either.
How about Plain? This seems to imply that the tea or herb is boring. Plain. Dull. And I don’t agree with that either.
So, after what has seemed a long “inner debate” with myself, I think I may have finally settled upon the word PURE to describe an unflavored tea or herb.
And, I think that the word pure is the perfect word to describe this Wild Forest Tulsi from The Tao of Tea. The aroma of the dry leaf is quite herbaceous, reminiscent of the fragrance of the air one might experience while taking a hike in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. (We have a lot of mint growing wild up here!) Once brewed, the tea becomes extraordinarily fragrant. I noticed a medicinal quality to the aroma as I poured it, reminding me a bit of vapor rub.
And to tell you the truth, that isn’t exactly what I would consider to be a mouth-watering scent. But, I still managed to get myself to take a sip … and I found myself taking another, and then another. At first, it seemed to be more curiosity than anything else, but, by the time I made my way to mid-cup, I found myself really enjoying what I was drinking.
The flavor is incredibly complex for an herb: I taste hints of mint and a warm, spicy note to it (not “spicy hot” really, but more of an exotic spicy note) as well as notes of citrus. It has a very satisfying savoriness to it; it is very calming and relaxing to sip.
A lovely, pure herb. I love how it offers a sense of tranquility to me as I wind down this evening.
Orange Spice Tulsi from Fusion Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Fusion Teas
Tisane Description:
A wonderful soothing cup to end a stressful day. The tulsi base calms the stress and has many health benefits that the traditional black tea version does not have. Naturally caffeine free this is especially beneficial as an evening drink.
Taster’s Review:
Normally, I wouldn’t consider a spiced tea to be a “soothing” cup with which to de-stress. But, this truly is a wonderful and soothing cup, just as the description suggests.
The flavors are very calm and gentle. Even the spice notes have their own sense of calmness to them. This is the kind of tisane you want to curl up to on a chilly autumn or winter evening … and it would be especially nice to have on hand when one is feeling under the weather as I am finding it to be quite soothing to my throat. I’m not sick, but I am experiencing my allergies which begin in the late winter/early spring, and they begin with an itchy throat – and I’m finding this to have comforting effect.
Typically, with these orange spice teas/tisanes, they are very heavy on the cinnamon. So, I was surprised (pleasantly so) when the cinnamon was more subtle here, allowing the flavors of the other spices to come through. That is not to say that the cinnamon is not well-pronounced because it is; it just is not the main event. It doesn’t overpower the rest of the spices. Instead, it offers a pleasing warmth that is neither too spicy nor too bland. I like that I can taste each of these spices, as well as a hint of mint from the Tulsi.
The rooibos has a warm, nutty flavor to it. Lightly fruity, it accents the flavor of the orange very nicely. The orange is sweet yet tangy, and I can taste an ever-so-slight apple-y note here as well which serves as more of a sweetness in the distance than anything else.
Overall, this tisane has a mild, delicious flavor that kids as well as adults can enjoy. This is one that I do recommend keeping on hand for when the family has the sniffles – it will bring soothing relief to the aching throats … and it’s much tastier than a cough drop!
Tulsi Pure Leaves from Davidson’s Organics
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi
Where to Buy: Davidson’s Organics
Tisane Description:
Davidson’s Pure Leaves blends three varieties of Tulsi (Krishna, Rama and Vana) to create the perfect balance of buttery and minty flavors.
Ingredients (* organic): Rama tulsi*, Krishna tulsi* and Vana tulsi*.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m sure I’ve probably proclaimed this at least once before, but, I’m going to say it again anyway: the more I try Tulsi, the more I like it. It has a such a delightful flavor that is slightly minty and a little spicy and I like the way these two qualities mingle with one another.
This Tulsi “Pure Leaves” from Davidson’s Organics is composed of three different varieties of Tulsi (also called “Holy Basil”), and having previously tried the Rama Tulsi on its own, I think I do prefer this combination. The blend of three has a bit more complexity.
The flavor is savory and sweet, with the scale tipping more toward the savory than the sweet. Hints of mint throughout the sip, and a peppery tingle tickles the tongue in the aftertaste. There is a creaminess to this as well – its almost like butter.
There is a whole lot of flavor in this tisane, and it’s a great way to experience the flavor of Tulsi!