Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Hari Tea
Tisane Description:
We appreciate the magic of the moment and celebrate that what is gives us and the world.
This tea stimulates your senses from the first sip and awakens your awareness of how nice it is to be alive: Orange treats with sweet, Hibiscus promises romance, pepper makes you awake for the adventure of the moment.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
So, hibiscus is supposed to be an aphrodisiac? That’s what I’m getting from the above description (taken from the Hari Tea website). If so, this is something I did not know about the herb.
It doesn’t make me like hibiscus any better.
This In the Mood Herbal Tisane from Hari Tea (Shoti Maa) has a bit too much hibiscus for my liking. What saves it for me is the notes of orange and the spice. The spicy notes, especially, help keep the cup interesting and detracts the palate from feeling inundated by the thickness of the hibiscus infusion. The spice also keeps the cup from being too tart. As it is, it’s drinkable for me, but, I can’t say that this is my favorite beverage.
It’s alright though. The orange gives it a little bit of sweetness, and a juicy taste – it tastes almost like there’s a couple of drops of freshly squeezed orange in this. I like that. I am wishing I could taste more of the other spices that are in this blend, particularly, I’d love to taste more of the licorice (or liquorice) and the cardamom. Every once in a while, I’ll notice a note pass my palate that I’ll think … “oh there it is!” but, then it disappears as quickly as it appears.
Overall, this wasn’t horrible. But, I don’t think it put me in the mood for anything other than a desire for some black licorice.
Talk To Me from Hari Tea (Shoti Maa)
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Hari Tea
Tisane Description:
It’s no secret that the mental stress of modern life affects us. How can we avoid this unwanted guest? Sometimes we can’t. But maybe with a little comfort, we can maintain calmness. Here is a big comfort – Shoti Maa Tea. Each of the varieties is formulated to comfort your senses in different ways. Traditional and not-so-traditional herbs and spices are blended to give you an experience of meditative well-being. And perhaps the biggest comfort of all: Shoti Maa teas are simply delicious. One sample of the heady aroma and taste tells the story.
Note: This tea is part of the Shoti Maa line of tisanes from Hari Tea.
Taster’s Review:
Well, after reading such a lovely description, I would have liked to have been as equally as eloquent and complimentary about this tisane as they are about the product. Unfortunately, I can’t.
That is not to say that this is a bad tisane, it’s not bad at all, but, it just doesn’t taste or smell – in the opinion of this taster – as good as the description sounds to me.
The aroma is herbal in a medicinal kind of way, which was a little disappointing as I had hoped for a stronger lavender scent. As it is, I can barely discern the lavender, smelling mostly the licorice. Now, I like licorice, as anyone who has read very many of my reviews can attest. It’s certainly a favorite flavor of mine. However, for some reason, it just isn’t working for me in this blend.
The taste is a strong licorice flavor, and something about the way that it unites with the cardamom and lavender just isn’t really knocking my socks off. It’s not a bad flavor, but, it is strongly spiced/herbaceous, again, in a medicinal sort of way. I find myself wishing that the flavor had a stronger mint note or even a stronger lavender note. Perhaps even a stronger cardamom flavor might work. But, as it is, the strong licorice really overwhelms just about everything else, and the supporting herbs and spices seem to accent the licorice in all the wrong places.
On the up side, I do find that sipping this is incredibly soothing to my throat – suggesting to me that this would be a good tisane to have on hand if one is feeling under the weather and wanted something to help relieve an itchy, achy sore throat. And I find it does help calm and relax me.
And it isn’t a terrible tisane, I just find myself wishing it could be so much more than it is. I find myself wanting more from it, and as it is, it just seems to fall short of the mark. I would love to hear other people’s thoughts on this herbal, so if you’ve tried it, please do comment and tell me what you thought!