#FanaticFriday: Hufflepuff House Blend from The Forest Witch

I’m going to get all ‘Harry Potter on your arses” today and to do that I would like to introduce you to Hufflepuff House Blend from The Forest Witch.  It’s the tea I’m featuring during #FanaticFriday here at Sororitea Sisters!

In our home we currently have 4 furkids…3 dogs and a cat.  Hubby and I have jokingly said in the past that Paco our full Chihuahua would probably resided in Hufflepuff while Charlie our feral cat would set up shop in Slytherin.  Riley – our Corgi/Lab mix would most likely fit in with Griffindor.  Finally, Cricket, our Chihuahua/Toy Rat Terrier would side with those in Ravenclaw.  Yes…I’m really that nerdy, folks!  I’m glad I’m not the only one and I’m glad there are fan teas out there including Hufflepuff House Blend from The Forest Witch.

What I’m not completely clear on are the ingredients in this honeybush tea.  While I am to eat vegan I am sure there are things that slip through the cracks.  If I know something is not vegan I will not consume it.  I saw on the Etsy Shop that the ingredients of this offering were: Honeybush, Lemon and orange pieces, calendula petals, essences of cake and warm icing which I assume are flavorings because I didn’t see actual cake/bread/icing in the loose mix.  Fingers crossed and if it was my error I’m truly sorry!  What I can tell you is that Hufflepuff House Blend from The Forest Witch was pretty tasty and I think House Hufflepuff would be proud!  I could see myself sitting in the basement near the fire sipping on this for sure!

The flavors of orange, lemon, and honeybush are first and foremost in this flavor on the tongue.  There is a sweet yet smooth consistency to the sip.  I’m sipping on Hufflepuff House Blend from The Forest Witch hot but also letting it cool at room temperature as I sip and I can already tell that it would be outstanding as an iced tea, as well!

 


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: The Forest Witch
isla_75x75-20531038_gbrvypnfDescription:

A perfect, sunny tea to cheer you up! Enjoy by a warm fireplace in the Hufflepuff common room as birds flit by outside the windows and open door to the school grounds.

Three citrus fruits flavour delicious, spongy cake with a delectable, buttery icing.
Honeybush tea mixed with lemon and orange pieces, calendula petals for a pop of sunny colour. Essences of cake and warm icing swirl in this tasty cup to bring you a lovely cup of dessert.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Just Peachy from Blend Bee

Right off the bat I will tell you that I’m impressed with Just Peachy from Blend Bee for 2 reasons…one…the aroma…it’s wonderful and…two…because it’s a green tea and Honeybush blend that works really well!

The notable ingredients in Just Peachy from Blend Bee include not only green tea and honeybush but ginger and cinnamon which are both fairly strong – as well as – lemon peel and peach flavor.  It’s flavor on the tongue is comparable to other Ginger Peach teas I have tried in the past but seemed a bit more refined in some way.  Maybe it was the subtle addition of the lemon or maybe it was the sweet and green contrast of the green tea and honeybush.  Whatever it was it worked!

If Just Peachy from Blend Bee is any indication of how awesome their other teas will be (or are) then I am sure to be hooked on them soon!


Here’s the Scoop

Leaf Type:  Green Tea/Honeybush Blend

Where to Buy: Blend Bee

BlendBee-Logo-and-Tagline-2Description:

Honeybush and green tea infused with fresh peach is absolutely divine hot or iced. Sip and savor the delicate peach flavor with spices like ginger and peach. This blend will brighten any day!

  • *Green tea
  • *Honeybush
  • *Ginger
  • *Cinnamon
  • *Lemon peel
  • *Peach flavor extract
  • Lightly Caffeinated – *organic

Learn more about this tea and tea company here.

Waterfall Mist Honeybush Tea from Plum Deluxe

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Herbal

Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe

Tea Description:

A blend for refreshing body, mind, and soul.  All Organic:  Honeybush Tea, Orange Peel, and Peppermint.  No Caffeine.  

Learn more about tea’s available from Plum Deluxe here.

Learn more about Plum Deluxe’s monthly tea club here.

Taster’s Review:

Waterfall Mist Honeybush Tea is a lovely simple blend of honeybush, orange peels and peppermint. Plum Deluxe knows how to create the most wonderful flavors out of a simple concoction.  Sometimes the most simple blends are the ones we hold dearest to our hearts.

So let’s chat about the tea! Waterfall Mist Honeybush brewed up with water at 212F and allowed to steep for 5 minutes is soul soothing and as comforting as tea gets. I added in a few fresh slices of lemon to complete the tea.

First notes you really pick up on are the rich lush silky honeybush, followed by an orange sweetness, and to finish each sip, the peppermint provides a touch of that familiar minty flavor.  With the lemon wedges in the brew, the citrus notes are even more amplified.

All in all, this tea is exactly what I was needing today. Simple, sweet, and cozy.  Doesn’t get much better than that!

Chocolate Covered Banana Honeybush from 52Teas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type: Honeybush

Where to Buy: 52Teas

Tea Description:

I was inspired to do this blend because one of my all-time favorite 52Teas blends from way, way back was Chelsea’s Chocolate Banana Rooibos. And as much as I loved that blend, there was always a part of me that lamented the fact that it was a red rooibos base and not long after Amethyst acquired 52Teas, I decided that I needed to “reinvent” that blend into either a Honeybush blend or a green rooibos blend. Ultimately, I decided I needed to first try Honeybush – but I do plan on trying a green rooibos blend eventually too.

Mmm! The naturally nutty-sweet flavor of the honeybush works nicely with the flavors of chocolate and banana. The overall flavor reminds me a bit of the frozen chocolate covered bananas that you might get at an amusement park – the kind that are sprinkled with chopped nuts before the chocolate has a chance to set. I get sweet, fruity notes of banana, the creamy, rich flavor of chocolate and a hint of nutty flavor from the honeybush. 

Tasty!

organic ingredients: honeybush, freeze-dried bananas, cacao nibs, cacao shells, mini vegan chocolate chips and natural flavors.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Chocolate Covered Banana Honeybush. . . As much as I love my banana flavored teas, chocolate banana teas I seem to be more hesitant with.  I am just not a huge chocolate fan, but I do find that I love the honeybush that 52Teas using as their base, so I had to try it.  My first impression of the dry leaf was rich dark chocolate notes with a bright and vibrant banana flavor.  Still hesitant, I prepped the tea up and took my first sip.

A rich decadent baked good flavor greeted me.    A nutty almost cookie note with a lush dark chocolate hint here and there.  Add in the fresh banana flavor, you have a tea that really pops.  This is one of those decadent teas that are rich, simple, yet full in flavor.  And I’m greedily gulping mine down. I can’t get enough.  Since I only have a taster size of this tea, I think I’ll save the rest to try a cold brew. I can see how this could be an amazing treat on as an iced tea on a warm summer day.

This is one of those decadent banana teas that screams dessert tea.  One that I hope to be enjoying for some time now. This tea is still available from 52Teas so I highly recommend checking it out! Chocolate Covered Banana Honeybush will be a tea I will be dreaming out!

Self Care Blend Herbal Tea from Plum Deluxe

self-care-square-477x477Tea Information:

Leaf Type: Honeybush/Herbal

Where to Buy: Plum Deluxe

Tea Description:

One of the things we just love about tea is how luxurious a simple cup of tea can feel. We want you to feel like a millionbillion bucks at a moment’s notice, which was exactly what our intention was when making the Self Care Blend.

A curious pairing of elderberry (tart) and apricot (sweet), this all-organic tea has mellow flavors and is packed with nutrients. You’ll love it paired with a hot bath, a good book, or after a nice spa treatment. Elderberry — believed to help us tap into our inner magic — helps expel toxins and helps with colds and viruses, and apricot is believed to be one of the most healing fruits in nature.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This was my sample a few months back from my monthly subscription.  I love my honeybush but sometimes that herb can taste a lot like its cousin the dreaded red rooibos. . .which tastes odd to me and medicinal.  I hadn’t tried this blend yet because of this, but I decided today was the day for me to try it!

Brewed per the instructions with boiled fresh water and steeped for about 5 minutes and I have to say this isn’t my favorite tea that I’ve had from Plum Deluxe, but it isn’t one that I would have a problem drinking again. This is more or less a middle of the road one to me.

This tea is a lovely mix per the description of sweetness and tartness. I didn’t get any of that but I did get a lovely almost woodsy berry like flavor with hints of a jammy sweetness.  Since I only had a sample, I wasn’t able to add more loose leaf in to strengthen the flavor to pull out more of those jammy notes. Those were definitely the best part of the tea.

I would love to experiment with this tea.  I have a feeling it would make a gorgeous cold brew or iced tea.  Or would be a great tea brewed hot with may more loose leaf tea.

If you haven’t checked out Plum Deluxe, do yourself a favor and pick up a few blends.  Plum Deluxe has by far one of the best customer service, friendly, knowledgeable tea blenders/owners that I have ever encountered. I just love them! I’ve been subscribing to them for a while now and have no plans on stopping anytime soon!