Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Southern Boy Teas
Learn more about this iced tea here.
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Taster’s Review:
Before I tasted this iced tea, I found myself wondering if honeybush was the right base for the flavors. But then I thought about those yummy caramel apples that always catch my eye when I pass the bakery in my grocery store. Those great big apples covered with caramel and then rolled in chopped nuts. The naturally nutty flavor of the honeybush just might work with the caramel and apple flavors!
To brew this, I used the hot brew method and steeped the teabag in a quart of 195°F water for 9 minutes for the first quart. For the second quart, I used the same temperature but steeped the bag for 11 minutes. Because this is a honeybush blend, I don’t have to worry about bitterness. The tannins in honeybush is low so it doesn’t get bitter when it’s brewed for an extended period. I do find though, that a lower temperature means that I don’t experience that “sour wood” sort of flavor that I used to taste with rooibos and honeybush that I would brew at boiling temperatures. A slight decrease in temperature made a vast improvement on the flavor of the tisane.
And this is a tasty iced tea. I’m tasting more honeybush than I am apple or caramel, and that’s alright. The top notes are a honeyed sweetness with a warm nutty flavor. Then I start to pick up on the caramel notes and the apple comes in just beneath the caramel notes. The sweet-tart apple notes linger in the aftertaste.
I don’t know if it’s my favorite iced tea from Southern Boy Teas, but I’m enjoying it and it is certainly a welcome flavor for the season!
Apple Crumble from Shanti Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tisane Description:
Leaf Aroma: Apples and honey
Infusion Aroma: Baked apples
Infusion Color: Amber
Base Flavor: Apples, vanilla
Infusion Strength: Medium
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
This tisane smells so good – like my gramma’s apple pie!
The taste is a bit more like the name of the tisane suggests: Apple Crumble. This tastes quite a bit like an apple cobbler or apple crumble. There’s even a creamy vanilla flavor to this cup to make it a bit like apple crumble a la mode. YUM!
The apple flavor is strong, sweet, and it tastes true to the fruit. It doesn’t taste like a fresh apple, instead, it tastes more like a caramelized baked apple with a sprinkling of cinnamon and brown sugar.
The honeybush is the perfect base for this tisane, because it has a natural nutty flavor and sweet, honey-esque tone which plays well to the pastry aspect of the crumble.
Overall, this is a delicious, dessert-y tisane. It is naturally caffeine free, so, it makes a great late-night snack when you’re craving something sweet but don’t want to eat something heavy and calorie-laden. This tastes indulgent without the guilt!