Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Republic of Tea
Product Description:
Spot of Sunshine Herb Tea Blended with orange peel, sweet carrot and beetroot bits, raw green rooibos takes on a fresh wake-up flavor. If you could taste sunshine, it just might taste like this. Low in tannins, it steeps a unique, gratifying cup – hot or iced.
Taster’s Review:
This tisane is part of The Republic of Tea’s “Raw Green Rooibos” collection, and it was one I was definitely excited to try. I love carrots, and I’m always intrigued by teas or tisanes that are carrot flavored.
And I’m very happy to say that I’m not the least bit disappointed by this blend! It’s really good. The green rooibos has a more fruity taste to it than the typically nutty-woody tasting red rooibos, and I appreciate that difference in this blend. The sparkling fruity tones to the rooibos accents the orange flavors nicely.
The beets give this a beautiful reddish color as well as a fair amount of sweetness (in fact, if you’re one who routinely sweetens their tea before tasting, I would recommend tasting this one first, because you may find that it is sweet enough on its own). The carrot flavor is sweet and earthy, while the orange flavor lends a hint of tartness and a juicy taste to this – it almost tastes like a breakfast smoothie (but without the thick, ice-y texture!) and is just as refreshing. It also has a very revitalizing quality to it. It is naturally caffeine-free so it’s a great way to get that energy boost without caffeine.
I’ve really enjoyed the three varieties of The Republic of Tea’s Raw Green Teas that I’ve tried – and I think this one might just be my new favorite. It’s awesome!
Chad’s Red Chai from Chad’s Chai & Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos & Honeybush
Where to Buy: Chad’s Chai & Tea Co.
Product Description:
Made with leaves from the South African Rooibos bush, this caffeine-free chai is bursting with exotic spices and notes of cherry. Try it straight up or with milk. Great for all ages and times of the day.
Ingredients: (all organic chai) Organic Rooibos leaf, Organic Honeybush, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Black pepper, Organic Chili pepper, Organic Ginger, Organic Coriander, Organic Cardamom, Organic Calendula.
Taster’s Review:
I like this! And there is so much to like…
I like that the base is a combination of rooibos and honeybush. I like the flavor of these two South African herbs combined: nutty with a pleasing honey-esque undertone. I especially like that the two herbs (and the rest of the ingredients) are organic; as I’ve said on previous occasions, there is a difference that is noticeable in the flavor between the organically grown and conventionally grown rooibos.
I also like the spice level here. It is spicy, but, I don’t find the spices to be too overwhelming. It has just enough zest to it to give it a lively taste without setting the palate afire. The chili pepper not only gives this a nice amount of heat, but also an interesting fruity note in the background.
This is a little different from a typical “red chai” in that it focuses more on the lively zip from peppery spices. Because this chai doesn’t contain cloves, it doesn’t have that solid background of gentle warmth, instead, this has more of a peppery punch, and I like it!
Overall, this is a very flavorful cup. It is warming and soothing – the kind of tisane I like to curl up to later in the evening, when I want something comforting. I also like that no sweetening is required with this chai to bring out the spice flavors – there is a natural honey-like sweetness to the base already. I enjoyed this without any milk or cream, but if you want a creamier cup of chai, this would take that addition well.
YUM!
Rooibos Mirage from Georgia Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Georgia Tea Co.
Product Description:
Red rooibos and green rooibos blend with orange peels, vanilla and cactus flowers. Delicious!
Taster’s Review:
If you like unusual teas and tisanes, you should certainly read on: here is a very unusual blend – unusual but tasty.
The unusual-ness of this tisane begins with the fragrance of it. I can smell the vanilla and the orange. I can even smell the nutty/woody aroma of the rooibos. And then there is a somewhat herbaceous scent there, not exactly floral, not exactly vegetable… it’s an unusual note, but I think I like it!
The flavor is equally as unusual. I like the pairing of the red and green rooibos because I think that the sparkling fruit tones of the green rooibos help to eliminate some of the funkier flavors that I usually find unpleasant in red rooibos. Together, the two types of rooibos give the cup a strong nutty presence that has a nice fruity background. It tastes crisp and refreshing.
The orange peel give this a very delicate citrus-y taste. It is sweet and also a little zesty. The vanilla gives this tisane a nice creamy background. And then there is a flavor that I find difficult to describe accurately that I can only assume belongs to the cactus flower. It has a sort of sour character to it. It sort of tingles on the back of the throat, and while it is a little weird, it isn’t unpleasant.
I hope that my description there doesn’t scare you from trying this, though, because, I really do like it, and I would be happy to have it again! It is sort of like a weird, twisted creamsicle-ish treat; and while it is definitely different it is also definitely delicious!
Eternal Life from Element Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green & White
Where to Buy: Element Tea
Product Description:
The varieties of Green tea in this blend will truly have you living a long life. This mild and subtle tea is the perfect way to start the day!
Ingredients: Green Tea -China Sencha -Ming Mee, -Pai MU Tan, -Gunpowder, -Jiaogulan, -China Wu Wu, Flavoring, Jasmine Blossoms, Red and Black Currants, Cornflower Blossoms, Apricot Bits
Taster’s Review:
I am really liking this! I am usually somewhat skeptical when it comes to “flavored” jasmine teas – that is, jasmine teas that have additional fruit or flower flavors – because I worry that the jasmine notes will be overwhelmed by the other flavors. But that didn’t happen here.
The jasmine flavor is delicate, but, I like that I can taste its sweet floral essence. The jasmine doesn’t taste soapy. It offers a whisper of jasmine that remains throughout the sip and then lingers on the palate in the aftertaste. The lovely floral presence in the aftertaste is especially nice.
The combination of currants and apricot offers a delicious fruity tone to this cup without it being too strong. The apricot is sweet and the currants give this a little tartness and a very pleasing depth to the flavor.
This is a very well-balanced cup. The fruit and the flower come together very nicely and do not compete for the attention. The green tea is a very light taste, but it lends a sense of freshness to the cup with its delicate grassy note. If I were to offer any complaint about this, it would be that the Pai Mu Tan is practically indistinguishable amongst these other flavors. Occasionally, I do taste a very distinct white tea taste, but, it is just a momentary glimpse, and disappears just as quickly as it appears, never appearing very often.
That being said, I am very pleased with this tea. It is very flavorful and would make an excellent iced tea for these warm summer months! It is equally as nice hot. A lovely selection from Element Tea!
Red Matcha from Pure Matcha
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos (Matcha Style)
Where to Buy: Pure Matcha
Product Description:
Rooibos, which is grown deep in the heart of South Africa, is a deeply rich, aromatic, and flavorful tea. Naturally caffeine free and full of anti-oxidants and vitamins. 47% more than any green tea. Our Rooibos is stone ground into the finest powder. Allowing you to consume the whole leaf, just like traditional Matcha. By consuming the leaf, you absorb almost 10 times more anti-oxidants and vitamins than the regular method of drinking Rooibos, where the leaves are removed after brewing. This results in a stronger, richer, and naturally sweet flavor you will never forget. Our 100% Rooibos Powder will leave your body and mind completely revitalized and rejuvinated.
Taster’s Review:
Having tried only red matcha (aka rooibos powder) in latte mix form, I was excited – and yet somewhat apprehensive – to try this matcha from Pure Matcha. Excited because I hadn’t tried it. Apprehensive because I have never been very fond of plain rooibos.
Generally, I like rooibos ok if it’s been flavored, but, unflavored rooibos isn’t my favorite thing to drink. I worried that this might taste similar. And, unfortunately, it does. One redeeming factor, though, is that this has a much more enjoyable texture than the traditionally steeped unflavored rooibos. It doesn’t taste or feel chalky, it is smooth and almost creamy on the tongue.
As I said, this tastes very much like unflavored rooibos. It has that same nutty/woody taste and the same sweet note that I would expect from rooibos. And even though I’m not particularly fond of drinking this prepared as I would normally prepare matcha, I do like it in smoothies or mixed into my favorite yogurt – it adds a very interesting dimension of flavor.