June was National Iced Tea Month so I thought a few Iced Tea attempts were surely in order! To kick things off I brewed some Dragonfuit Fusion Tea Bags from Simpson & Vail.
As many of you know Hibiscus scares me and Rosehips are creeping on that list as well. When I saw how intensely pinkish-red this was after brewing I ASSUMED it was going to be that dreaded tarty-sour Hibiscus I was so frightened of. BUT…I don’t know how S&V did it but it worked well here! It wasn’t overly tart or overly sweet. Perhaps it was the Green Rooibos base that helped even it out?
Ingredients include Organic green rooibos, organic rosehips, organic hibiscus, organic orange peel, organic lemon peel and natural flavors. I will say that I could taste the citrusy peels mentioned in the list of ingredients and that seemed to really contribute to the overall flavor of this tea!
The rebel that I am – I sipped a half of a cup of this tea hot before icing and it was pretty good hot, too!
I have a very large thermo container that I will be traveling with a lot this summer and I can see myself keeping iced teas in there very soon! I’m looking forward to Iced Tea Season. Are you?
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Tisane
Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail
Description
Perfect for lazy summer days, this organic herbal blend brews to a ruby red color with a tropical fruit taste. Caffeine free and bursting with flavor, this “tea” will be enjoyed by young and old alike. Add a little sweetener or seltzer to brighten up the taste!
Ingredients: Organic green rooibos, organic rosehips, organic hibiscus, organic orange peel, organic lemon peel and natural flavors.
To brew:
Put teabag in a gallon container. Pour boiling water over the teabag to cover, steep for 5 minutes then remove the bag. Add cold water to fill the container and stir. Refrigerate. Serve over ice as is or with your choice of sweetener.
Iced tea in the refrigerator may turn cloudy. If this should occur, pour a little boiling water into the tea after removal from the refrigerator.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Signature Batch No 6 from Teakoe
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teakoe
Tea Description:
Satisfy your palate with this perfectly crafted blend of estate grown teas. Our 6th batch achieved its signature status by balancing bold flavor with a smooth finish. The result… superior tasting iced tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Ever made up a huge batch of tea only to be incredibly disappointed by the results? We’ve all been there. There are a few companies out there that make more of a gourmet style iced tea bag to share with others. In the past I’ve been so excited. I’ve prepped everything up per steeping instructions and poured myself a huge glass. Take one sip and I’m disappointed in the flavors either being fake tasting or just non existent. Even over dominating sometimes. This situation sound familiar at all?
Well, not to sound like a commercial for this particular tea or tea company, but seriously look no further!! Teakoe has some of the best iced teas I have ever tasted. They are now a family favorite and have been demanded by the fiance to be a staple in our house.
Teakoe creates their iced teas in small batches with love and care. You can tell. This one in particular may just be my favorite. I brewed this up to the steeping specifications, put ice in my cup, and poured myself a glass. Took a sip and I just sat there and enjoyed. This tea is a beautifully done and well crafted black tea. On the back of the package it reads Black Tea + Artistry + Brilliance. I whole hardheartedly agree. This tea is just simply a slightly flavored black tea that is smooth, rich, and well rounded. it says there is bergamot in the tea but I honestly can’t say I tasted that. I did pick up notes of a slight citrus kick but it was ever so slight and subtle, which I’m glad. I could see this tea getting off the tracks fast and being over thought or complicated. I think that is what I like the best about this tea, the simplicity of it.
I can’t recommend this tea enough and have literally made a note on the fridge to order more soon.
