Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush & Rooibos
Where to Buy: Revolution Tea
Tisane Description:
With its delectable caramel flavor, Honeybush Caramel is a sweet and fitting conclusion to any meal. The South African herb, rooibos, provides more antioxidants than green tea and gives this blend its soothing properties. Caffeine Free
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a yummy tisane that is perfect for late night sipping … when you’re craving something sweet but you know that you shouldn’t indulge. Honeybush Caramel Tea from Revolution to the rescue!
By combining honeybush with rooibos, Revolution has created a mild, deliciously nutty background for this tea that provides a pleasant sweetness that melds really nicely with the caramel flavoring. I like the way the nutty notes and slightly fruity taste of these two herbs accent the caramel.
The caramel is sweet but it isn’t overdone. It doesn’t taste sickeningly sweet or cloying … at least, not to my sweet tooth. Someone who doesn’t usually enjoy sweet teas might find this a little much for them, but, if you like dessert teas, I think you’d really like this tisane.
Overall, I really enjoyed this cuppa … a really nice dessert tea that you can enjoy anytime of the day or night because it’s naturally caffeine-free!
Brandied Apricot Upside Down Cake Honeybush from 52Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tisane Description:
Buttery yellow cake, sweet brandied apricots in caramelized brown sugar, all in a caffeine-free calorie-free African honeybush. Is this a dessert or a tea? Maybe it’s both. Only 52teas could bring you such a delicious and decadent treat.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
I was excited to try this honeybush blend from 52Teas. As I’ve mentioned once or twice before, Frank (the chief Zoomdweebie at 52Teas) has a way with honeybush that’s quite unlike any other tea artisan that I’ve come across, and I’m always pretty impressed with his honeybush blends.
And let’s face it, the idea of a Brandied Apricot Upside Down Cake sounds pretty incredible, does it not?
This is really very good. The apricot flavor tastes does not taste fake to me, it has a very authentic flavor, and what I’m tasting is what I’d imagine fresh apricots, simmered in brandy, and then caramelized in butter and brown sugar might taste like. Now, I imagine that decadent flavor spread into a cake pan and topped with cake batter and baked until golden brown and delicious. Yeah… that’s what’s in my cup right now!
I taste all those notes that are suggested in the name of this tea: I taste the brandy … but it doesn’t taste too strongly of brandy. I taste the apricots, this flavor lends a bright, fresh taste to the cup. I taste brown sugar that’s been caramelized in butter, and a sweet, bake-y, cake-y taste. I even taste just a hint of nutty flavor from the honeybush. These flavors all come together in a very delicious way, tasting very dessert-y without tasting too sweet or cloying.
As I write this, I see that there eleven more pouches of this tea available. That may seem like a plentiful amount, but given how quickly 52Teas can sell out of delicious blends like this one, I wouldn’t put off ordering one for too long if I were you. And this one is worth splurging on … it’s a delicious, decadent, naturally caffeine free treat!
Rooibos Chai from Choice Organic Teas
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: Choice Organic Teas
Tisane Description:
Thrill your senses with this naturally caffeine-free twist on traditional chai. We blend rich South African rooibos with the finest masala spices for a cup that’s warming, robust and subtly sweet. It’s a luscious treat that pairs wonderfully with milk and sweetener. (Caffeine Free)
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a nicely balanced chai blend – spicy, but not too spicy, and just enough of an exotic sweet spice to it to keep it interesting. And the most surprising part of it all is that this is a rooibos blend!
I’ve never really hid my lack of interest when it comes to rooibos. I mean, I don’t hate rooibos or anything, but, it isn’t usually my first choice when it comes to a cup of tea. But, the fact that this is an organic rooibos base is one thing that I found assuring. If I were to have a side-by-side comparison of plain, unflavored rooibos that was conventionally grown versus a plain, unflavored rooibos that was organically grown, I’d choose the organic every time. There is a very noticeable difference in taste between the two.
And it makes a difference in this cup too. The flavor is smooth and there is an undertone of earthy, nutty flavor to the cup, and this earthiness from the rooibos melds well with the earthiness of the chai spices. I taste the cinnamon, and the cloves, and the cardamom … with the ginger and pepper sort of providing a backdrop of flavor that I really like. Often, these two spices in a chai tend to take over the cup, offering a very peppered taste, but, that’s not happening with this cup. I do love a good, spicy, peppery chai, but I also enjoy it when I find a blend that has these spices as more of a background note than something in the forefront.
But that’s not to say that this isn’t a spicy cup – it’s got it’s own spiced charm to it, but, it isn’t what I’d call a very strongly spiced chai. And I think for a rooibos blend, that’s right on target. You don’t really want something too spicy just before bed, and with rooibos being naturally caffeine free, it makes a great late-night chai option. Here neither the spices nor the caffeine will keep you awake!
Honeybush Earl Grey from Red Leaf Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Tisane Description:
This is one of the most original takes on Earl Grey tea available, Honeybush Earl Grey, takes the classic taste and puts it with a honeybush based tea instead of the traditional black tea. True to its name, this is one sweet tea that takes the addition of bergamot orange perfectly for a fruity and sweet cup of tea that is sure to please any palate. Made with only premium South African honeybush tea and true bergamot the taste is a distinct Earl Grey that will become a staple in your day. Perfect for a treat, or to satisfy the sweet tooth of the sugar lover in your home.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
This is definitely one of the most unusual variations of the classic Earl Grey I’ve yet to try, and it is no surprise to me that it comes from Red Leaf Tea, as they have the largest collection of Earl Grey teas I’ve seen from a tea purveyor. This delights me because not only am I a big fan of Earl Grey tea, but, also, when I was just starting out in the tea business I wanted to have a vast Earl Grey collection.
Unfortunately, I did not succeed in that quest, mainly because it is quite difficult to blend Earl Grey! It is one of the trickier flavors to perfect for many reasons: not only is the quality of flavoring important, but also, the amount of flavoring is key … too much bergamot, and you’ll wind up with a tea that tastes like your grandfather’s aftershave, and too little and well, it’s not flavorful enough. So when I come across a tea purveyor that has got it right, I’m impressed.
And this Honeybush Earl Grey from Red Leaf Tea is very well done, indeed. The dry leaf aroma smells of honey, citrus and even a hint of flower. The fragrance is really quite lovely. The infusion smells like a mellower version of the dry leaf.
Wow! This tastes amazing. The honeybush offers its usual honey-like sweetness to the cup, and also brings a somewhat herbaceous flavor and a nutty note to the party. The bergamot is less floral than the aroma suggests, and it is less sharp than a classic black tea Earl Grey might be. It has a zesty citrus tone to it, and it tastes bright and tangy.
This is a refreshing change from the traditional Earl Grey, and it’s really nice to be able to enjoy Earl Grey later in the evening, when I usually have to limit my caffeine intake. This tisane allows me to have my Earl Grey and drink it too!
Mona’s South African Honeybush from Ducky Life Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Ducky Life Tea
Product Description:
If you like Rooibos, you’ll love our rarer, richer and sweeter honeybush. This fregrant, health promoting herbal tea know for its calming effects can help with weight loss, cholesterol levels, menopausal symptoms, and more. No Caffeine.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve said on several occasions, I am not particularly fond of plain rooibos (although I do enjoy many flavored rooibos and I also like organic rooibos alright). However, I really like unflavored honeybush.
Because even though the two herbs – rooibos and honeybush – are related, they taste different. They are both sweet, but the sweetness is different. In the case of honeybush, the sweetness is more honey-like, whereas with rooibos, the sweetness seems to mimic that of saccharine. They both have a woody flavor as well as a nutty tone to them, although I find that rooibos is more woody while honeybush is a little more nutty.
This honeybush from Ducky Life Tea is an excellent product: fresh and full of flavor. There is a very pleasant nutty flavor to it and even a somewhat malty note that I am enjoying and I don’t remember experiencing with other honeybush teas in the past.
The sweetness is honey-esque (although there are no real surprises there!) And even though this honeybush is not “flavored” or “blended” – that’s quite alright, because I am finding it flavorful and delicious without anything added.
It doesn’t even need sugar or other sweetener, because of that natural sweetness. I do recommend, though, that you steep this extra long (at least 6 minutes, the longer the better). In fact, if you have one, try steeping it in a libre mug. Place the leaf in the main chamber, add the boiling water, let steep for at least 6 minutes before you begin sipping, and then top the mug with the strainer lid. This will allow the leaves to continue steeping as you sip. Honeybush never grows bitter from over-brewing, it just becomes more delicious!
I really enjoyed Mona’s South African Honeybush from Ducky Life Tea. This is a terrific company that not only delivers quality product, but does so in a fun and exciting way! (Just place an order and see what I mean!) They are also prompt to answer customer inquiries and very friendly!