Fruit Salad by Bird and Blend Tea Co. is inspired by “Fruit Salad chews – the glorious childhood penny sweet!” according to the Bird and Blend Tea Co website. I actually realized that just now because when I purchased it, I thought it was inspired by an actual fruit salad. Having never even heard of a Fruit Salad Chew before, I did a bit a research and it would seem that they are chewy candies with raspberry and pineapple flavoring.
Obviously I have never tried Fruit Salad Chews before but brewed hot, this tea has a bit of an artificial waxy quality that Starburst minis tend to have. That is where the similarities between this tea and a chewy fruit candy ends. This is not all that sugary or sweet. In fact, it almost would be better if Bird and Blend was trying to recreate an actual fruit salad because this is a generically fruity and tart tea, more akin to a melange of fruit than fruit chews. Definitely nothing distinctively raspberry or pineapple here, at least in the hot tea.
I also cold brewed this tea to see how that would compare to the hot brew. It was left in the fridge for approximately 24 hours. Cold brewed, this tea is a little sweeter than the hot tea as some of the hibiscus is tamed by this brewing method. I also get more apple flavors among a melange of fruitiness. Again, not much in the way of raspberry or pineapple though and not as sweet as one would expect from a tea inspired by candies.
This to me is like many fruit teas out there. They all have a similar flavor profile with apples and hibiscus. A little sweet and a little tart. With that said, this is less tart than other fruit teas I have had but also has a fair amount of lemongrass flavor. It is nice enough but nothing particularly special. Easy to drink but easy to forget.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Fruit Tisane
Where to Buy: Bird and Blend Tea Co.
Description
No not the healthy ‘dessert’, the glorious childhood penny sweet! Still a much-loved classic, still wrapped in the iconic orange and pink striped wrapper and still paired with those dastardly Black Jacks (who ever liked those!?) Fruit Salad chews really were the best!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Kiwi Strawberry Energy from Urbal Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Urbal Tea
Tea Description:
Enjoy this invigorating alternative to coffee, soda or energy drinks without any caffeine. A burst of strawberry and kiwi combined with the vitality and stimulating properties of mate, gynostemma, eleuthero and more. Contains Nettle leaf, Yerba Mate, Green Mate, Eleuthero, Rosemary, Ginkgo leaf, Alfalfa leaf, Gotu Kola, Gynostemma, Oatstraw, Apple pieces, Dried Strawberry and Kiwi pieces, Hibiscus, Rosehip, Natural flavors
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
To say I am a fan of this company would be an understatement. I adore this company! So far I have had a couple of their herbal teas and all have delivered a flavor that was spot on. With herbals they can be hit or miss, but everything from Urbal Tea has been delicious and ones I would highly recommend.
This particular tea was sent to me in a tea bag. I boiled up my water and allowed this tea to steep directly in my mug. While it was steeping, I kept thinking I was smelling bubblegum. Yes, this tea has a bubblegum/candy fragrance. How fun is that!
Brewed this tea up for about 10 minutes and instantly fell in love with the gorgeous pinkish red color I was left with. Took my first sip and oh mama. . . This is some good strawberry lovin’!
The itself is sweet yet the hints of tartness that are there gently give a slight contrast. Remember back in the day when Snapple was everywhere and they had a strawberry kiwi flavored one? This reminds me of that flavor but this flavor is kicked up several notches and tastes amazingly fresh where Snapple always tasted watered down and not so great. The strawberry kiwi flavor is what you are greeted with front and center. I pick up subtle notes of the other ingredients but they are much less pronounced than the strawberry. As delicious as this was hot, I wanted to try this iced.
When this tea is treated like an iced tea, you are greeted with this adorable candy like flavor that I wasn’t getting when brewed hot. Strawberry candy flavor.
For an herbal tea, it just doesn’t get much better. I can see this tea being fantastic as a tea to serve at a girl’s tea party or just to enjoy yourself! I’m hooked!
