Golden West from Pacific Tea – I have to tell you – I wasn’t thinking I would like this fruity herbal offering – but I did!
Golden West contains apple bits, rosehip peels, hibiscus, pineapple bits with rice flour, pear slices, coconut chips, ginger, natural flavour, and marigold petals. I wasn’t thrilled when I saw hibiscus but I set that aside based on all of the other ingredients in this blend of flavors. I figured it would be sweet but I was hoping it wasn’t going to be TOO sweet. Lucky for me – it’s sweetness was JUST RIGHT.
This fruity herbal was inspired by a golden afternoon in the Solomon western province and offered the low-acid blend of pear, coconut and ginger, then topped with notes of pineapple, marigold and hibiscus.
For me – personally – the pear shined here! The pineapple and coconut paired together awesomely and was the second flavor I picked up on. Apple was the third. Both the ginger and the hibiscus were very subtle and I think that is why this worked the way it did!
It was sweet and creamy. A yin and yang of sorts. It was hydrating at the same time. And didn’t leave a FUNKY aftertaste. This was delightful both hot and cold. This makes a wonderful Fruit Infusion.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Pacific Tea
Description
Inspired by a golden afternoon in the Solomon western province, the low-acid blend of pear, coconut and ginger, tops any day with notes of pineapple, marigold and hibiscus.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Southern Belle from Tealish. . . . . .
Tealish is a loose leaf tea store operating out of Toronto, Canada. They have a great variety of blends inspired by everything from desserts to the many flavors Canada has offer (maple, prairie berry, etc.). Personally I absolutely adore their caffeine free selection; awesome fruit teas and some of the best rooibos teas I have come ever come across (I am looking at you, Fairy Dust Rooibos!).
This blend is one of the many fruit teas by Tealish I like to keep around, especially in the summer. This tea has a focus on stonefruit and unlike others that have tried and failed, it is not overly sweet/cloying. I think there is a tendency to go the peaches-and-cream route when making teas like this and incorporating that cream element often means adding sweeter ingredients and throwing the flavors out of balance. Tealish instead uses a variety of fruits to get that peachy/apricot sweetness while maintaining balance with hibiscus.
With that said, the hibby tartness does take over a bit in the hot brew, as tends to be the case with so many other fruit teas. As a result, this may not be for everyone. One other issue I have noticed with the hot tea is, at times, the fruits can come off a bit waxy. Consequently I enjoy this best iced or as a teapop but the hot cup is still a welcome alternative to the monotonous fruit options offered by so many other companies.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Tealish
Description
The taste of sweet Georgia peaches and juicy apricots combine for an herbal tea that’s just peachy! Real pieces of apricot, peach, apple, pineapple, and elderberries mixed with lemon zest, hibiscus flower, and marigold blossoms.
Southern Belle herbal tea makes an amazing iced tea!
BREWING INSTRUCTIONS: Fruit tea can be steeped for as long as you like. We recommend steeping Southern Belle for 4-6 minutes in boiling water. Use 1 tsp loose leaf tea per 6-8oz of water.
INGREDIENTS: hibiscus blossoms, apple bits, raisins, apricot bits (apricot, rice flour), candied pineapple bits (pineapple, sugar), lemon peels, peach bits (peach, rice flour), marigold petals, flavourings
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
