Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos & Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Davidson’s
Product Description:
Tart cranberries, rosehips, and hibiscus with sweet orange essence.Ingredients (* organic): Rosehips*, orange peel*, hibiscus*, chamomile*, rooibos*, cranberries* & natural flavor.
Taster’s Review:
Yesterday, I published my review of Davidson’s Cranberry Orange Iced – Davidson’s tea of the month. This is the loose leaf variety of their tea of the month. They are both very similar, but two significant differences: 1. this is a loose leaf tisane; and 2. this loose leaf blend lists rooibos as one of its ingredients, whereas the bagged (both the iced and the single-serve bag) varieties do not.
Does the rooibos make a significant difference? I am not sure … but I will work that out as I write this review. What I notice about this tea, first and foremost, is the hibiscus. It seems much stronger in this blend than it did in the iced tea I made for yesterday’s review. It has a thicker consistency, not quite syrupy (I didn’t steep it long enough for that), and I can taste the hibiscus. But, it doesn’t taste like the typical tarty hibiscus taste that I’ve grown to recognize as hibiscus, if that makes sense. It is a far more tolerable hibiscus flavor – but that doesn’t mean that I’d rather it not be there.
Perhaps it is the flavors of the cranberry and orange that turn the tea around. These prominent flavors make this hibiscus-y tea much more enjoyable to drink. And now that I am about mid-way through my cup, I am noticing more of the rooibos flavor – there is a nuttiness in the background that is distinctly rooibos-like. Much like the iced version, I don’t taste a lot of the chamomile here, but I’m glad it’s there. Why? Maybe it’s my imagination, but I suspect that the chamomile, together with the rooibos, helps to thin out the consistency of this tea and give it a very satisfying texture.
Overall, this herbal tea is tart with pleasing notes of sweetness and a very faint woody/nutty tone. I really like that tangy note that comes from the orange. While I did prefer the iced version, I find this to be a very soothing tea to be sipping this evening. It is a very relaxing and yes, tasty cuppa.
Cranberry Orange Ice from Davidson’s Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Davidson’s
Product Description:
This herbal iced tea blend elegantly balances the delicious tart character of fresh organic cranberries with citrusy orange peel and sweet chamomile. High vitamin C rosehips and hibiscus create a rosy red brew and sharp contrast to sweeter elements for a truly refreshing experience. Contains a total of 8 one-quart brew bags brewing appx. 2 gallons of iced tea.
Ingredients (* organic): Chamomile flowers*, orange peel*, hibiscus*, rosehips* & natural flavor.
Taster’s Review:
This is Davidson’s “tea of the month” (which means it’s now on sale! Yay!) and it is a surprisingly good herbal blend. As some of you are probably well aware, I’m not always particularly keen on herbal teas, especially those with hibiscus. But, even though this one has hibiscus in it, it’s quite delicious.
Davidson’s tea of the month this month is offered three different ways: as an “iced tea” (packaged in quart sized tea bags for easy brewing), in single-serving sized tea bags, and in loose leaf form. In loose leaf form, this tea is a little different, as the blend also contains rooibos. What I will be reviewing here is the iced tea blend.
The combination of cranberry and orange is typically an autumnal flavor combination, but, it is a deliciously refreshing summertime flavor too! This herbal blend makes a very flavorful iced tea. It is light and crisp. The flavor is lightly sweet with a tart note that lingers into the aftertaste. I am not usually fond of tart tasting teas, but, here, the tartness works. It compliments the flavor of the cranberry and orange.
The orange is sweet and juicy. The cranberry is tangy and tart. These two flavors work together very well, and seem to bring out the best in each other. The chamomile is not a very strong flavor in the blend, although this blend wouldn’t taste the same without it. I can also taste hints of the hibiscus. It gives the tea a little bit of body, but it isn’t that thick, syrupy texture that is sometimes associated with hibiscus-y teas.
A refreshingly different iced tea!
Sweet Cherry White Tea from The Boston Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: The Boston Tea Company
Product Description:
As fragrant and beautiful as a cherry tree in full bloom, this delicate Chinese white tea, only harvested in early Spring, is blended fruitfully with natural cherry flavor, sweet blueberries, and tart red raspberries. It’s a fruitful brew to help start your day anew!
Taster’s Review:
This is one of the best cherry teas I’ve tasted in a long time. But it’s so much more than just a cherry tea – this tea is ambrosia in a teacup! YUM!
The cherry flavor is the strongest flavor of the cup. It is sweet, and I can taste a hint of tartness from the raspberry. It isn’t a SOUR berry taste, just a little kiss of tart to add some contrast. And the blueberry adds another dimension of sweetness to the flavor of the cherry.
The base of white tea is tastes and feels soft with its light grassy taste and velvet-y mouthfeel. My favorite note in this cup is that of the rose. It is a very subtle flavor, but the floral tones it provides really complete the tea, giving it a well-rounded taste.
This tea is light and delicious – it’s perfect summertime refreshment!
Grape Sencha from Den’s Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Den’s Tea
Product Description:
Grape Sencha has a grape flavor plus a hint of dried cranberry and raspberry. These combine into the sweet-tart flavors of our Grape Sencha. Great for iced tea.
Taster’s Review:
Before brewing, I was a little unsure about this tea. I mean, it smells nice with its delicious berry scent and it’s a really beautiful looking dry tea, but, grape? While I do enjoy grapes, I am not a big fan of grape-flavored drinks, foods and/or candy. There is just something sort of artificial tasting about them, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a grape that is as purple as a grape ice pop.
So, anyway, my point is, I wasn’t terribly excited to try a grape flavored tea. I have actually tasted a few and I have enjoyed one or two of them, and the other teas that I’ve tried from Den’s have been nothing less than amazing … nevertheless, I was still skeptical. Then I read the description (which is provided above). It is not just a grape flavored tea, but also has cranberry and raspberry.
The grape is the strongest flavor, but, I can taste the tartness of the raspberry and the cranberry, and they not only add their tangy flavor to the cup but also a depth of flavor that I don’t think would have been achieved with grape alone.
The Sencha is crisp and flavorful with a somewhat grassy taste but nothing too overwhelming or off-putting. There is a sweetness to the Sencha that compliments the fruit flavors very well. This is a delicious, soothing tea when served hot, and a refreshing, thirst-quenching tea when served iced! (I prefer it iced!)
I really like this blend – much more so than I thought I would! YUM!
Elf Help from David’s Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: David’s Tea
Product Description:
Sweet and fruity with a dash of nutty flavour, this green tea is the saviour of elves everywhere. When they’re building to deadline in the workshop, they crave a drink that’s like dessert with a kick of energy. So we made a tea that tastes just like fruitcake in a mug. Add some brandy for the authentic cake experience – those tipsy elves always do.
Ingredients
Sencha green tea, orange peel, apple, papaya, raisins, barberries, freeze-dried cranberries, coconut, natural flavouring.
Taster’s Review:
Yum!!! This is so tasty.
One quick glance at the ingredient list might lead someone to believe that this is going to be a very fruity tea – and it is – but, it isn’t SO fruity that it overwhelms the flavor of the green tea.
The green tea is light-bodied and light in flavor, but it adds a crisp, fresh taste to the fruit that is distinct. It isn’t very grassy or vegetative to taste; if you’re one that doesn’t care for green tea because it does come off as too grassy or vegetative, this is an excellent choice for you!
There is a lot of different fruit tastes here. I can taste hints of each fruit, but the two that stand out the most definitively to me are the orange and the cranberry. There is also a certain “tropical-y” taste to this, like the Elves on holiday!
It is sweet (almost candy like!) and there is a hint of tartness toward the end of the sip. Due to the sweetness of this cup, it is one that I recommend tasting before you add additional sweetener – you may find this one to be just right without it.
I can see why David’s Tea decided to make this a holiday-ish blend – it definitely reminds me of Christmas with its delicious flavor. It does remind me a bit of a fruitcake (which I happen to like although sometimes I think I’m the only one who does!)
It is sweet, fruity and delicious. A tea that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys flavored green teas – this one is one I could enjoy again and again! Love it!