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!
Yomogi from Amoda Teas November Subscription Box
Yomogi is the Japanese name for the herb, Mugwort. (Yomogi is also a fun word to say, and I’ve been saying it all week since I tried this tea.) There’s more than Mugwort in this blend, including Japanese black tea, green tea, and lavender. The dry leaf smells most strongly of lavender, with subdued tones of nutty green tea beneath the floral tones.
Brewing instructions for this tea called for cooler water and short steep times, and I made a few infusions of this blend with successful results. The tea brews light green/yellow in color, and tastes strongly of apricot and melon. This blend reminds me of an oolong due to its sweet stone fruit flavors, without being too grassy or sour like some strong green teas. There is a crisp mouthfeel, like fresh garden cucumbers, and a bit of toasted nuttiness that rounds out the experience.
The namesake of this blend is mugwort, though I don’t know which flavors derive from this herb. Mugwort has been around the block a bit, apparently being used as flavoring for drinks throughout history. Online you’ll find references to mugwort in all sorts of medicine and magic, from acupuncture, to insect repellent, to use in herbal spells, to being worn as a crown to protect against misfortunes on Saint John’s Eve. (I have Baltic ancestry myself, so we usually wear oak leaves for the occasion, maybe I’ll have to switch to mugwort and see if my luck fares any better).
If you’re a fan of Japanese teas, or just looking to ward off some bad mojo, do yourself a favor and brew up a cup of Yomogi tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black and Green
Where to Buy: Unfortunately this blend isn’t available online at this time, but there are plenty of other teas to choose from at Amoda Teas or in their monthly box subscription!
Description: We also found a more modern blend of Japanese black tea, green tea, lavender and Japanese mugwort. Mugwort! a.k.a. Yomogi.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Blueberries and Blossoms in My Cup! Rooibos Blend From The Kettlery
As much as I love pumped-up black teas and spicy chai teas, I do need an herbal comfort now and again. Enter: Blueberry Blossoms Rooibos Tea from the Kettlery. Unsurprisingly, the overall the focus of this blend is blueberry. You can smell the berries in the dry leaf, and their flavor is very forward in the brew. This tea is not too juicy, or fruit-heavy, like other blueberry blends with hibiscus or apple pieces. This is more subdued and toasty, like a blueberry scone.
I can understand why rooibos teas might be a hit-or-miss for some people. Red rooibos can taste like medicine if oversteeped and green rooibos can be bland if you are not in the mood for it. This tea feels like a happy medium, an easy-going rooibos, strong enough to add some nuttiness underneath the blueberry flavors, but far from overpowering. I didn’t experience any sour or bitter tones when brewing this tea, only warm and gentle blueberry.
There are marshmallow blossoms listed in the ingredients list, which I found intriguing. We all know what marshmallows taste like, little clouds of pure sweetness in cocoa or Lucky Charms, but they’re not quite the same as marshmallow blossoms. My internet research tells me that mallow blossoms should taste a bit sweet, like their sugary counterparts. Any additional sweetness in this tea gets wrapped up in the blueberry flavor, and I didn’t notice any unusual herbal tastes in this tea. Perhaps the mallow blossoms are in this blend for their visual appeal. The little lavender blossoms certainly are a nice pair with the deep purple blueberries.
If you’re looking for a gentle, nutty, blueberry tea without too much sour fruit or in-your-face hibiscus, I recommend brewing up a pot of Blueberry Blossoms Roobios from the Kettlery.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: The Kettlery
Description:
This tea is better than dessert. Indulge into a healthy guilty pleasure with this rooibos tea blended with blueberry and smooth marshmallow blossoms.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Revitalizing with Peppermint from Balcony Teas
Revitalizing with Peppermint from Balcony Tea is a herbal tisane made up of peppermint, spearmint, aniseed, chamomile, liquorice, and rosemary.
Ever since I had a Licorice and Peppermint tisane from a completely different company I am afraid what others might bring. Maybe afraid is the wrong word – perhaps – CAUTIOUS – would be more fitting. But I didn’t have to worry with this Revitalizing with Peppermint from Balcony Tea because it was VERY nicely done!
The ingredients in Revitalizing with Peppermint from Balcony Tea were playing together nicely. I was able to taste the licorice and minty duo of peppermint and spearmint upfront but with the others following closely behind. The subtle Aniseed, Chamomile, and Rosemary served a mighty purpose with a small roar. This was a DANDY of an herbal!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Balcony Teas
Description
This indulgently sweet and minty blend will refresh and revitalise. Naturally caffeine-free, it is perfect after a meal or as a pick-me-up during the day. It is packed full of herbs traditionally used to sooth the digestive system and boost wellbeing.
Ingredients:
Peppermint – Cooling and balancing. Used traditionally to aid digestion. Spearmint – Tingling and refreshing. Aniseed – Delicately aromatic, widely used as a digestive. Chamomile – Treasured for its relaxing properties. Liquorice – Traditionally used to treat cold symptoms and improve digestion. Rosemary– A wonderfully flavoursome Mediterranean favourite, used traditionally to help circulation and concentration.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
North from Metolius Artisan Tea
If you would have told me a few weeks ago that North from Metolius Artisan Tea would be an herbal tisane that I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about I would have called you CRAZY.
I mean…I’m pretty finicky when it comes to herbal tisanes. Let’s face it…they’re NOT really tea. I’m not saying that as a slam it’s the technicality of it, folks! North from Metolius Artisan Tea is a REALLY AMAZING Herbal Tisane. One that blew me away and I will not be able to say enough about.
North from Metolius Artisan Tea is Fresh, organic, vibrant, and hand-blended. It’s a sweet and spicy blend of coconut, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, licorice, and pink peppercorns.
I have a confession to make. I was terrified of the licorice in this. I know – I need to get over that. I have now sipped on many wonderful licorice flavored teas and tisanes since a few I tried years ago and couldn’t stand. But I have to say that North from Metolius Artisan Tea is in a class of its own!
The coconut and licorice pairing is something of an enlightening outer body experience of sorts. Call me dramatic if you will but I’m trying to express my surprise and delight with this blend of flavors! Its licorice and cinnamon ‘stave off sugar cravings and tone down energy-bonking’ according to Metolius so it’s perfect for evenings or after dinner when you don’t have anything for dessert or later on in the night when you have that sweet tooth going. The spices are present at the ideal ratio, too!
I wouldn’t change one thing about this herbal. It’s truly amazing! I LOVE it! I find myself revisiting it time and time again!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Tisane
Where to Buy: Metolius Artisan Tea
Description
A sweet and spicy blend of coconut, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, licorice and pink peppercorns.
Beyond North tea’s warmth and flavor, its licorice and cinnamon stave off sugar cravings and tone down energy-bonking.
Fresh, organic, vibrant, and hand-blended.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!