Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black Tea & Tulsi
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Tulsi is one of India’s most sacred herbs, an aromatic shrub recognized for its spiritually uplifting and healing properties. This tulsi blend is a great morning tea, combining the strong and malty taste of Asamese black tea with the spicy-minty aroma and flavor of high-quality tulsi.
Tulsi or holy basil is an important symbol in the Hindu religious tradition and is worshiped in the morning and evening by Hindus at large. The holy basil is also a herbal remedy for a lot of common ailments. Holy Basil has been called the “Incomparable One”, the “Queen of Herbs” and “The Elixir of Life.”
Read more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This has to be one of the most interesting and unusual breakfast blends I’ve ever tasted. Interesting, yes … unusual, yes … but also very delicious.
I wasn’t sure exactly what to think of it before I brewed it. I thought that the black tea might overwhelm the Tulsi. But that thought vanished as soon as I walked into the kitchen after the tea finished brewing. The smell of warm, savory spice filled the air. I don’t think I’ve experienced that aroma from Tulsi in any other Tulsi that I’ve brewed, even the straight up Tulsi! Maybe it’s the presence of the Assam that brings out those sassy tones from the Tulsi.
The black tea is – interestingly enough – not the strongest flavor I’m experiencing. The Tulsi is strong and pleasant. It offers hints of mint, basil and a warm, peppery note as well. It’s providing a very arresting kind of spice experience: a crisp, zesty taste of mint, a savory note of basil, and the warm undertone of spice that is quite inviting and comforting.
But all that is not to say that the Assam is overwhelmed here. As if an Assam tea would let such a thing happen! It certainly makes its presence known here, although it has managed to master a graceful subtlety to its approach. It is rich and malty, sure, and provides a strong backdrop of flavor and a fullness to the body that is needed in a good breakfast blend.
Another thing that I’m noticing is a sort of slickness to the texture of the tea. It sort of smoothly, silkily washes over the palate. I like it especially because it seems to buffer any attempts at a strong astringent take over by the Assam. Yes, there is some astringency, but it only alludes to a tangy dryness without seeing it through.
I like this breakfast blend very much – I consider it a MUST TRY for those of you who are looking for something a little different in your early morning tea.
Sweet Lemon Tulsi from Shanti Tea
Tea Type: Herbal Tea (Tulsi Base)
Where To Buy: Shanti Tea
Product Description:
Brand New Offering from Shanti – description not yet available on their website
Tasters Review:
Tulsi’s sure are starting to catch on, here, in the states! As you can see by searching Sororitea Sisters – we enjoy discovering new Tusli offerings, too! Here is another one – from our friends to the North! Sweet Lemon Tulsi from Shanti Tea.
I’ve been on a LEMON kick lately and I don’t just mean in TEA…lemon EVERYTHING!!!!
This is super!!!
This is a wonderfully flavored Tulsi! One I could drink often! I’m thinking it’s probably one of my fave Tulsi’s to date! YUM! It lives up to it’s name…it’s sweet, it’s lemon, and it’s Tulsi…life is good!
100% Organic Tulsi Signature Blend from Davidson’s Tea
Tea Type: Herbal Tea (Tulsi Base)
Where To Buy: Davidson’s Tea
Product Review:
Davidson’s Signature Blend blends three varieties of Tulsi (Krishna, Rama and Vana) with Peppermint, Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon.
Tasters Review:
We’ve recently made some new friends in the Tea World…the fine people at Davidson’s Tea. We have many more Davidson Tea Reviews on tap so please check back! They have a large selection of bagged teas…my favorite part…they’re ORGANIC!
As for this specific tea – or Tisane, in this case – it’s their 100% Organic Tulsi Signature Blend.
At first I thought this was somewhat relaxing but it does have a kick of spice to it…followed up with a subtle minty finish.
After really trying to pick out the individual ingredients I could taste the Tulsi, Pepper, Ginger, and Peppermint but they worked well together. This signature Tulsi Blend seems to make my mouth water – a nice characteristic considering the ingredient combo! I appreciate the fact there are not one, not two, but, THREE Tulsi’s in this blend! Nicely Done, Davidson’s!!!
Frankie Says RELAX from 52Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush, Tulsi & Herbal Blend
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
It’s 102° in Wichita today, I’ve been stressing out like crazy lately over a bunch of personal stuff, but fortunately, I have the perfect remedy: a tall tumbler full of iced tea, specifically, our tea of the week for this week.
Frankie Says Relax (I just couldn’t resist), is a blend of caffeine-free organic African honeybush, organic Tulsi Rama, lemon myrtle (come to think of it, I think it’s organic too), and natural lemon and lime flavors.
The resulting blend is a bit spicy, a lot citrus-y, with a touch of natural sweetness from the honeybush, and ALL relaxing. It is an “Ahhhhh”-moment in a cup. And I can tell you firsthand, it is amazing hot or iced.
I fully expect this one is going to go fast, and I don’t have an unlimited supply of tulsi (or honeybush right now for that matter), so don’t drag your feet, get some now and enjoy this one-of-a-kind refreshment.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This tastes much better than I thought it would. Not that I doubted Frank’s artistry; however, I just thought that this blend seemed a little more “ordinary” … or is “tame” a better word? It’s not a “far out” blend like some of Frank’s other fantastically famous blends like Pancake Breakfast or Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha. In comparison, this lemon-lime Tulsi & Honeybush blend would seem a bit boring.
But it isn’t.
The flavor is very refreshing. The lemon and lime flavors meld wonderfully with the herbal-minty flavor of the Tulsi and the honey-nutty flavor of the honeybush. The Tulsi does give the cup a slightly medicine-y kind of taste … no… more like an herbal-health-food kind of taste in the background, but, it doesn’t offset the delicious sweetness of it.
The citrus notes hit the palate first. The citrus tastes tangy, juicy and just a little bit sweet. The citrus is crisp but not sharp, as I think that the sweetness from the Honeybush tempers the sharper tones well. Beneath these stronger flavors, the honeybush offers its sweet, nutty taste, while the mint-basil-y taste of the Tulsi sits back in the background.
I think that Frank describes it best when he says it’s “a bit spicy, a lot citrus-y, with a touch of natural sweetness from the honeybush, and ALL relaxing.” This is all that!
Cooling Mint Tulsi from The Tao of Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi
Where to Buy: The Tao of Tea
Product Description:
An organic blend of green leaf (Rama) Tulsi and spearmint.
Known as Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum), Tulsi is a sacred plant from India used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Tulsi is considered an ‘elixir of life’ providing alchemy to one’s well being.
Taster’s Review:
While brewing, this tea filled the kitchen with a savory, herbaceous aroma. I’ve brewed a few different tulsi blends, and I don’t recall ever experiencing as strong a fragrance as I did with this tea. From the scent, I thought I was in for a very herb-y tasting tisane and I worried it might taste medicinal. But it doesn’t.
The flavor is very cool and minty, but not in a mouthwash kind of way. There is also a sharp and slightly peppery kind of taste to the tulsi that I don’t think I’ve ever detected in a tulsi blend before. The contrast of these characteristics makes for a very interesting and exciting flavor. The cup is light and refreshing with a crisp mint taste. It’s quite tasty.
I have kind of been on the fence when it comes to tulsi, but for no other reason than because it’s an herb and my automated response to herbals tends to be that of alarm and distrust. Well, I think it is time for me to embrace the tulsi, because I have yet to find a tulsi blend that I dislike!