Well it’s that time of year again. Everyone is making resolutions and trying to recover from all the decadence of the holiday season. Diet and detox ads are everywhere and it seems as if this month’s TeaTaxi package is no exception. My monthly subscription envelope arrived with a whole variety of feel good blends focusing on health and wellness.
First thing I noticed was the vast amount of ingredients in this blend. For something meant to cleanse my body, it seems I am putting a whole lot into it. All natural ingredients but ones I normally would not seek out on my own, such as birch leaves, willow bark, etc. I also noticed a whole lot of natural sweeteners that I tend to avoid due to their aspartame-like aftertaste (I’m looking at you, Stevia and Licorice Root!). Nonetheless, I figured why not give it a try and see how detoxed I felt.
The scent of the brew was a sickly sweet odor. Atop the sweetness was also an earthy scent, perhaps from all the bark and leaves and grass in the mix. Tastewise, that sweetness is all there, leaving a cloying flavor as the sip ends. There is also a fair amount of lemon flavor which I wouldn’t mind on it’s own though it conflicts with everything else happening here. Also, that earthiness transfers over to the taste, though only slightly. I am supposed to be reminded of pine and the cool winter air but instead this has me thinking of pledge and artificial sweeteners. I really don’t think that was the type of clean feeling TeaTaxi was going for here.
Honestly, I didn’t have high hopes going into this between the murky water and the scent. To me it seemed more muddy then anything and I think that is attributed to the vast variety of ingredients in the mix. I think cleaning it up a bit and removing all the sweetening agents would improve this a great deal. As it is, I don’t think this is the tea for me and certainly don’t think its the detox I need from the holiday season. Luckily, I have 9 other feel good teas from TeaTaxi to try!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal Blend
Where to Buy: Tea Taxi
Description
This herbal mixture will remind you of the freshness and well-being experienced during long winter walks. The smell of pine filling your nostrils and the cool air in your lungs.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Vanilla Creme from Teavana. . . . A Honeybush Blend
Every August in my childhood, my family would spend a week or two at my grandparents’ cabin in the north woods of Wisconsin. My sisters and I would spend days catching sand toads, splashing in the river, hiking through pine forests, gorging ourselves on cheese curds & ice cream, and staying up way too late to stargaze and– even more importantly (to 6-year-old Mary), make s’mores.
I was obsessed with roasting the perfect marshmallow– brown and toasty on the outside, nice and gooey on the inside. Never burnt (yuck)– those got immediately relegated to my dad’s plate, undiscerning-marshmallow-eater that he was. I think I torched my marshmallows more than I got them that perfect, brown-and-toasted consistency, but it was always a celebration when I nailed it.
And this tea, simple and unassuming thought it may be, perfectly captures that roasty brown, toasted marshmallow flavor of my youth. Slightly sweet vanilla, creamy and understated with hust a touch of woodiness, it’s balanced and tasty without being overdone. With just a little milk and a touch of honey, it’s a decadent (and caffeine-free) treat worthy of any campfire.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Honeybush
Where to Buy: Teavana
Description
Indulge in dessert-inspired sweetness that brings out the wild honeybush and tames it into a creamy confection. The South African honeybush is grown in the wild and carries soft, clear honey tones when it’s blended with sweet vanilla beans. The result is a smooth, warm and friendly, creamy dessert tisane.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Ginger & Lemon Myrtle from Lupicia. . . . .
Ginger & Lemon Myrtle is a Rooibos and Honeybush blend that I was recently blown away by and it’s rare if I’m this excited about a red rooibos based tisane!
Perhaps it was because of the honeybush addition. Or maybe it is simply because I’m CRAZY for Lemon Myrtle. The possibility of the gentle ginger had something to do with it, too!
The ginger wasn’t overdone. It was more in the background. It was a nice, natural enhancement to the overall flavor and not the focus of the flavor. The Lemon Myrtle really shined here. The rooibos and honeybush blended base offered a nice sweetness to it but was more than ‘just’ a red rooibos base. Regardless this was pretty dandy if you ask me.
I do like this just the way it is – however – I am curious how it would taste if there was crystallized lemon peel or ginger, too! YUM!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description
Caffeine free rooibos and honey bush are blended with ginger and lemon myrtle for a refreshing and spicy zing.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Blueberry Muffin from Davids Tea
On a whim, I picked this herbal blend up from DT during our annual pre-Christmas pilgrimage to Chicago this past weekend. I’ve been craving more interesting herbals lately to sip in the afternoon and evenings (because mama loves her black tea, but caffeine does not reciprocate the love past 3 PM, friends), and this one fit the bill.
On first sniff, it smells… like a blueberry muffin? I get the cakey crumb of a warm muffin here, with whiffs of vanilla and berry. YUM. Let’s get this one a-brewin’, shall we? This tea is practically all chunk and no leaf (which is no surprise, as a tisane), but I can see how it will go by quickly with this much heft to it. That said, it’s a beautiful mix with visible fruit and even veg pieces– looks like some carrot and even beetroot for that beautiful bright pink we’ve all come to know and love!
Upon sipping, I’m torn. I definitely get the blueberry muffin notes that I sniffed pre-brew, but it’s almost overwhelmingly overpowered by (you guessed it) hibiscus tartness. I’m not a hibiscus hater across the board, but this one took a lovely, creamy cup and turned it on its head. I’m not going to lie, I’m a bit disappointed. A second steep and the tartness has gone, but as is fairly typical with most herbals, the creaminess and nuance of flavor from the first steep is gone with it. It’s a decent re-steep, but not perfect. I’m not giving up on this one yet, because while the flavor didn’t perfectly match the scent, it was an enjoyable cuppa. Perhaps as a coconut milk latte, or with a shorter steep time I’d find the cup I know is in there somewhere. In the meantime, David– maybe call this one a blueberry tart instead of a muffin next go-around, mmmk?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Davids Tea
Description
With apple, raisins, carrot and blueberries, this tea is the breakfast of champions.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Downton Abbey English Rose Herbal from The Republic of Tea
I sipped this last night as an accompaniment to this dessert . The flavor is a vivid magenta berry-rose-hibiscus blend. Its sweetness complimented the chocolate nicely.
This tea packed a ton of flavor without requiring a black tea base. A lot of herbal teas seem to be lacking something to me, like they’re watery or sad somehow. They’re like children, floating around Disney World, looking for their parents. Incomplete; a little desperate.
Not here, though. This is a very robust little number. It Keeps Calm And Carries On, undaunted by the challenges facing herbals.
The flavor is part of a Downton Abbey collection, and I wish I could say something intelligent about the show here to tie in the tea. But alas, I’ve never seen this British mega-hit. It’s on my huge pile of TV Shows To Maybe See Someday.
And that pile is daunting. I miss the days when people would say things like “Have you read [book x] or seen [movie z]? YOU SHOULD.” Now it’s TV shows. Entire series of TV shows. “You should watch the 8 seasons of Once Upon A Time!” or “Have you seen Doctor Who? YOU. WOULD. LOVE. IT.”
I could easily chug through a book or dedicate an evening to a movie. But shows are a challenge. They’re easily 10 hours per season. And, of course, most shows get more than a season.* So you’re in it for 20-100 hours of your life.
*(Note: this does not include Firefly. Firefly’s short life is both wonderful and manageable. I would recommend Firefly to you, except I don’t want to burden YOUR TV list. That would fly in the face of this entire digression).
I’m just going to recommend this tea to you on its own merits. It’s tasty. It does exactly the job you want it to. A cup will take 5-10 minutes to consume. This will not burden your time in any way.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: The Republic of Tea
Description
This vibrant, ruby-red infusion of rose, raspberry and hibiscus has fruity, floral notes and a touch of sweetness. Inspired by traditional British desserts, this caffeine-free, luscious tea is perfect as an afternoon treat. Enjoy hot or cooled over a tall glass of ice.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
