Apr-i-berry Love Child from Design A Tea

Apr-i-berry

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Design A Tea

Tea Description:

Apricot has long had her eye on blueberry. Some said it hinged on the verge of an uncontrollable passion! After a long and snowy weekend – trapped in a cabin on the side of a mountain; she made her move! When forbidden love is allowed to flourish… the tastes can be absolutely refreshing.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I wasn’t too sure about this Apr-i-berry Love Child from Design A Tea when I took my first sip of it.  Then I allowed it to cool to an “iced tea” temperature and this becomes a really tasty tea!  The flavors of apricot and blueberry play very nicely together, and the black tea base is strong but not overbearing … it’s a really refreshing iced tea.

The black tea base is – as I mentioned already – a strong base, but it’s not an overwhelming taste.  It’s balanced well with the flavors of apricot and blueberry.  It has some astringency, but, it’s not a bitter tasting tea.  I think it could be if it were over-steeped, though, so you want to watch your brew time with this one.

The apricot comes through very well here – sweet and juicy!  The blueberry adds a hint of tart to the cup as well as a distinct berry sweetness.  I found that the flavors were kind of “muddy” at first, but a pinch of sugar helps to define the flavors a bit better.

I wasn’t all that crazy about this blend hot, but, it IS really tasty when it’s iced.  A great summertime treat – and a nice change from the typical iced tea flavors that are out there!  I love the combination of apricot and blueberry:  it’s different but tasty!

Blueberry Wild Child Fruit Tisane from Tiesta Tea

blueberry_wild

Tisane Information:

Leaf Type:  Fruit Tisane

Where to buy:  Tiesta Tea

Tisane Description:

The popular pomegranate superfruit demonstrates its best attributes in a tag-team duo with the fruity blueberry. This delicate twosome will invigorate your taste buds with a very fruity taste experience with extraordinary eye appeal with its robe of royal blue cornflowers, blue mallow blossoms, hibiscus, and elderberries.

Learn more about this tisane here.

Taster’s Review:

I am usually fearful of tisanes with hibiscus in them, mostly because too often, the hibiscus is overdone and the result (especially if oversteeped!) is a thick, syrup-y, overly tart tasting tisane that is really off-putting to me.  Fortunately, that didn’t happen with this Blueberry Wild Child Fruit Tisane from Tiesta Tea.

I brewed this in just under boiling water (195°F) for six minutes.  I found that this produced a really delightful cup of naturally caffeine free tisane that is sweet, fruity and not too hibiscus-y!

Sure, I taste the hibiscus, but, it melds nicely with the blueberry and does not overpower the cup.  This tisane is not syrupy, unpleasantly thick or tart. It is just right!  It is a little bit tart, a little bit sweet, and a whole lot of flavorful!  The body is what I’d categorize as medium to full … it is substantial without being thick and syrupy.

What I taste, primarily, is blueberry!  I also taste hints of pomegranate, hibiscus and even a wine-like note that I attribute to the elderberry.  The apple is barely noticeable, but, I think it adds a pleasant sweetness to the cup that it really needs given the tart berries (not to mention the hibiscus) in this blend.

Overall, a very enjoyable cup.  Something I didn’t expect to like, but I really do!  For something a little different, try adding some bits of cinnamon stick to the tisane before brewing – it gives it a really nice touch of spice!