When you think of Paris, do cherries and pineapple come to mind?
If your answer is, “no, don’t pineapples come from Hawaii, on the literal other side of the planet?”, you’re thinking TOO LITERALLY.
If the answer is, “Paris has lots of classy pastries with fruits inside them, I guess,” you’re ON TRACK.
This blend, Paris Evening Rooibos, is a blend that leans heavily on pineapples. The effusive sweetness creates a gentle, sugary-tasting nest for a light, spunky cherry-and-slightly-citrus taste. It’s a wonderful after-dinner treat. It’s sweet, low-to-no-calorie, AND naturally un-caffeinated.
I’m sure the Hunchback of Notre Dame would approve.
Probably.
… I’m sorry. I have no idea why this tea was named after Paris.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Fava Tea
Description
The caffeine-free version of our famous French Breakfast black tea. This rooibos-based tea has cherries, pineapple, and no caffeine. Fragrant, sweet, and delicious!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lemon Raspberry Rooibos from Simpson and Vail. . .
Interesting tidbits about this tea blend before I get to my review part…one being that Simpson & Vail has the name Lemon Raspberry Rooibos trademarked and the other being that this is a black tea and rooibos based blend.
Ingredients include Black teas, Rooibos, organic lemon peel, organic raspberry leaves and natural flavors.
The lemon is truly lovely here and more prominent than the other flavors which I love about the offering. The rooibos contributes to the sweet in the sip but it doesn’t speak too loudly. The ratio is ‘just enough’. The black tea in this loose leaf is of medium strength and paired with the rooibos gives it the beautiful color in the cup once infused. The raspberry leaves give it that hint of herb that seems to bring it all together.
I was reading where someone suggested to add a bit of this to vodka to make a sweet and fruity cocktail. I just might have to try that. Until then – I will enjoy this both hot and cold! You really can’t go wrong with Lemon Raspberry Rooibos from Simpson & Vail…and remember…it’s trademarked…so it MUST be good, right!? RIGHT!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
We have blended this “miracle tea” with black teas and herbs to create a wonderfully refreshing beverage. Enjoy hot or cold.
Ingredients: Black teas, Rooibos, organic lemon peel, organic raspberry leaves and natural flavors.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Thoughts on Masculin / Lupicia. . .
If tea were a man this would be him.
Mix him with Lapsang Souchong and you’d get a real outdoors gentleman.
For once the rooibos isn’t the star of the show. Generally, rooibos takes over whatever is put in the tea bag with it. Even the ginseng is somewhat undertoned by this woody flavor.
I’m assuming it must be the maca.
With a name like MASCULIN I’m sure no one knew quite what to expect with this one. To be honest I really thought it was going to be a Lapsang Souchong.
Either way I don’t think this one is my cup of tea nor is the later mentioned tea. But I’m going to drink it all because we could all use a bit more vitality in our lives.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Lupicia
Description:
Four vital herbs (Maca, ginseng root, cinnamon, and ginger) blended with rooibos. Great for boosting your energy.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Carnival Candy Crackle from Tickled Tea. . . .
I discovered Tickled Tea in the summertime which meant I got to take advantage of their limited edition summertime blends. Among those was Carnival Candy Crackle, a rooibos with candy pearls AND crackling candy that had my inner child adding it to the cart before I could stop it (her? me?).
I discovered Tickled Tea in the summertime which meant I got to take advantage of their limited edition summertime blends. Among those was Carnival Candy Crackle, a rooibos with candy pearls AND crackling candy that had my inner child adding it to the cart before I could stop it (her? me?).
Due to the initial let down, I let this sample float around my tea stash as I reached for other teas to drink. It was not until a friend mentioned that she enjoyed this as a cold brew that I decided to use up the last of my sample and give this tea another taste.
After cold steeping overnight, this tea is finally ready to drink. As I sip on this cold tea, I can confidently say this is an improvement from the hot tea. The rooibos is much more subdued which allows for the sugary sweet flavor you’d expect from carnival candy crackle to take over. There is still a bit of a fruity/berry note but candy is definitely better captured in the cold brew than the hot tea.
With that said, though this is an improvement, this tea is still just a sugary water drink and thus, as an adult, not something I need to revisit. It was fun to try and the crackle candy in the leaf makes for a bit of a fun auditory experience when you brew this but that is where the fun ends.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Tickled Tea
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Tropical Fruit from Storehouse Tea. . . .
Confession: I’ve written two reviews for this tea. The first review was written longhand in my journal after a party where I made a few non-tea-beverage tactical errors. It said:
“This tea tastes like what’d it be like to receive a Care Bear Stare.”
The rest of it is, basically, incomprehensible, mostly in terms of handwriting. So I’m writing it again.
“Tropical Fruit” ‘s ingredients include organic orange peel, organic apple, organic rose petals, organic calendula, and natural fruit flavors. Apples, oranges, and flowers aren’t really all that tropical, but the result is still sweet and fun anyway. It tastes like very vivid pastels might taste. I’d probably qualify this taste as more of a “spring” than a “summer” (as the tropics might be), but the accuracy of title-to-flavor isn’t one of my major sticking points.
I’ve drank both of these samples iced. It seems fitting to enjoy the tropics with a cool beverage at your hand.
Cold temperatures also seem to bring out the sweetness in a tea, which I especially enjoy doing with rooibos. It brings out a velvety, vanilla-like quality that makes everything taste like a wash of ice cream.
Or, you know, the Care Bear Stare.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Storehouse Tea
Description
Combines natural exotic tropical fruit flavors with caffeine free, Fair Trade red and green rooibos makes this infusion deliciously refreshing and rich in anti-oxidants. Excellent iced.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!