Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal & Rooibos
Where to Buy: TeaFrog
Company Description:
Tulsi Herb, Rooibos, Ginger Bits, Cinnamon, Lemon Verbena, Chamomile Blossoms, Lavender, Rose Petals
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This is good! Surprisingly good!
Why surprising? Well, here’s the thing – I ordered this because it sounded different. I liked the name. Tulsi Harmony. But the truth of the matter is, I have only tried a couple of tulsi teas/tisanes, and while I enjoyed them quite a bit, tulsi still scares me just a little bit.
I don’t know why it scares me, it just does.
Well, hopefully this tisane will put my fears to rest and let me celebrate tulsi! Because this is so good.
The tulsi is the strongest flavor here – and it lends a somewhat spicy character to the cup that is similar to cloves. The ginger is very soft here, offering mere hints of its characteristic peppery nature. The cinnamon is a little stronger, and it is a sweet yet spicy cinnamon. These spicy notes are not over-the-top or in-your-face spicy, rather, they are quite … harmonious!
The rooibos is one flavor that is lacking in the cup. I am not getting a lot of rooibos rather distinctive woodsy/nutty flavor. But, as I’m not a huge fan of the woodsy flavor of rooibos, I am not missing it.
I can, however, distinguish the other flavors here – the chamomile, the lavender, the rose and the lemon verbena. These aren’t strong contributions to the overall cup, but, I can taste subtle hints of each ingredient. And I think that is what I like best about this tisane. It has a complexity that is rather uncommon in tisanes. It offers an interesting and delicious taste. I’m very glad I decided to try this today!
Rooibos Garden from Urban Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Urban Tea
Company Description:
Handcrafted, naturally caffeine-free, organically grown Rooibos Garden blends South African Rooibos with sweet coconut and sun-kissed lavender. Nutrient rich, Rooibos is commonly consumed as a cure all for stomach aches, digestion aid, sleep and relaxation aid, promoting healthy skin and providing relief from allergies.
Taster’s Review:
This is an absolutely delicious rooibos blend!
In it’s dry form, the smell is mainly lavender, which I completely adore. The brewed tisane loses a bit of the intense lavender aroma, or perhaps it is displaced a bit by the distinctive woody/nutty scent of rooibos and the sweet smell of coconut. It still smells lovely, though.
The flavor is delightful. The blending of coconut and lavender is not one that I see very often but it is quite genius, really. The two seem made for one another! The sweet, creamy taste of coconut brings out some of the sweeter notes of the lavender, while curbing some of lavender’s somewhat sharp, soap-ish qualities.
The nutty qualities of the rooibos comes through only slightly. Mostly what I taste is the union of lavender and coconut – and that’s just fine with me. I am finding this to be one of the most delightful rooibos blends I’ve encountered in some time.
I highly recommend trying this one for yourself. And, you don’t have to listen to music while sipping, of course, but I found myself humming this classic tune while sipping on this delightful tisane. Enjoy:
Grey Duchess from Souvia
Tea Type: Black
Where To Buy: Souvia
Product Description:
A Souvia exclusive! We compine the flavor of real vanilla, earl grey and lavender. Mellow and mild, a great soother.
Ingredients: Black Tea, Organic Lavender, Vanilla, Bergamot oil, flavoring
Tasters Review:
Grey Duchess from Souvia is a more mild Earl Grey. It has satisfying yet toned-down Earl Grey Flavor with a wonderful dash of vanilla.
It has an almost pine-like after taste which I think is very interesting and pleasing. I can taste all of the ingredients and they are all pretty good!
This is the first tea I have had from Souvia and I must say I am happy my first cup was a success!
Patriot Tea (Daughters of the American Revolution)
Tea Type: Rooibos
Where To Buy: Local Coffee & Tea (Sip Locally)
Product Description:
This tea perfectly captures the essence of the Sara DeSoto chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This is the oldest non profit organization in the Sarasota located in historic Payne Park.
Early colonists learned about locally grown herbs from the Native Indians. These discoveries played an important role in the protest against taxes the British were placing on tea, which would eventually lead to the Boston Tea Party.
Daughters of the Revolution vowed to “drink tea made from weeds” instead of imported tea. Thankfully they chose herbs, fruits and flowers to make their tea and as a celebration of those early beverages we now present them to you in this beautiful tea!
A CERTIFIED ORGANIC Rooibos blended with lavender the “Herb of Harmony”, rosehip shells, dried red and black currants, rose petals and bilberries. Heady, perfumed lavender notes with a floral, fresh, fruity and mellow flavor. This is a very relaxing tea for consumption any time of day or night. Naturally caffeine-free.
20 to 25 cups of tea can be made from 2 oz of loose leaf rooibos. We also suggest steeping our Rooibos multiple times for even more cups of great tea.
Store in a dry place.
Tasters Review:
This is a juicy flavored rooibos. I can taste the elderberries and currants more than the floral ingredients but I certainly like that. The rosehips and floral notes are subtle and are a nice gentle touch.
This is nice hot but I am going to be trying it ICED soon because I think it will be even better iced!
Another draw to this tisane is the history behind it! Not only the history – locally – and for their local DAR Chapter but the story behind Sara, herself! I did some research and found the following about Sara…
The Spanish explorer, Hernando DeSoto, explored this part of Florida in 1539, and according to legend, he had his daughter Sara with him. Sara met and fell in love with a native warrior by the name of Chi Chi Okobe (pronounced Chee Chee Okobee). He was a member of the Calusa tribe, which inhabited this region at that time. Unfortunately, he contracted a fever and was gravely ill. Sara decided to remain with him and nurse him back to health, but she contracted the fever and she died. Chi Chi Okobe was grief-stricken at the loss of his love. He had her body buried out in the bay. He then sent 100 of his best warriors out to the spot where they chopped holes in the bottoms of their canoes and drowned themselves to protect her final resting place. According to the legend, when you see whitecaps on the waves in the bay, they are actually the feather headdresses of those native warriors still guarding her grave.
For more information about Daughters of the American Revolution see THIS Website.
For more info about Sarasota’s Chapter see THIS Website.
And for more information about Local Coffee & Tea’s Sarasota Collection of Teas – check this out!
Butterfly Tea from Design a Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Design a Tea
Company Description:
A great bed time or “relaxing time” blend of herbal tea. Filled with the benefits of Chamomile and Lavender as well as that great tea Rooibos. Which we added for its antioxidant spin, not to mention the added red color it adds to the brew. Enjoy – but be prepared to be VERY relaxed and have a strong desire to cuddle after drinking it. 🙂
Taster’s Review:
This is a very nice, relaxing blend that is perfect to enjoy later in the evening – when you want something warm and comforting to drink but don’t want something with caffeine that might over-stimulate.
The combination of lavender and chamomile is fast becoming a favorite of mine. I like how these two really complement each other. The sweet, somewhat fruity flavor of the chamomile softens the sometimes perfume-y lavender and brings out the lavender’s gentler side. The result is a sweet, lightly floral, subtle fruit-like taste – I can taste a hint of juicy cherry as well as the natural apple-like flavor from the chamomile – that encourages a sense of tranquility.
I was a bit hesitant with how the rooibos would behave in this blend. Would its sometimes funky sweet flavor overwhelm the natural sweet taste from the lavender and chamomile? Would the woodsy tone of the rooibos interfere with the lovely, peaceful flavor of the chamomile/lavender combination?
Well, there was no need for hesitation, because the rooibos seems to be a natural companion to these two flowers. The woodsy note of the rooibos is there, but, it doesn’t interfere, instead, what it does is add a pleasing depth of flavor to the cup.
This is a blend that is sweet, but not too sweet. Comforting and cozy. Delightful!