Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: The Tea Spot
Tisane Description:
Our blend of naturally caffeine–free South African red rooibos, vanilla, and almond bits is an herbal delight! Rooibos is full of antioxidants and healthy minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, and fluoride. It has a wonderfully smooth flavor, and is a great cold buster as well as thirst quencher. It brews into a dark red liquor and has a naturally sweet, earthy scent, reminiscent of pipe–tobacco. You cannot over–steep this tea (the longer the better!) and it is fantastic by itself, or with cream and a bit of sweetener. Red Rocks is the perfect, healthy, all-around herbal tea – a favorite amongst athletes and as mom’s choice for children.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
I had been hearing some good things about this rooibos blend over on Steepster, so I knew I had to try it … even if it IS rooibos!
The aroma of the dry leaf is pretty much what you might expect from rooibos: sweet and earthy, with nutty notes (which are further highlighted by the almond) and hints of wood and tobacco. I can also smell the vanilla. The brewed tea smells warm and inviting, like sweet nutty muffins fresh out of the oven.
This is really quite tasty. With most rooibos blends, I’m usually happy if the taste of the rooibos is masked or obscured by the other ingredients, because the flavor of rooibos just isn’t my favorite. But here, The Tea Spot did something a little different, something that I find every once in a while in a rooibos blend … but not often. Here, The Tea Spot utilized the ingredients to highlight the nutty flavors of the rooibos – and they did it well!
The almond and the natural nutty tones of the rooibos work very well together, enhancing the almond notes and adding depth to the overall cup. The vanilla not only softens the cup, but also sweetens it and manages to marry with the sweetness of the rooibos so that it doesn’t have that funky aftertaste that I so dislike. Instead, I just taste a sweet, lingering note of vanilla together with a delicate nutty taste.
This is a very good rooibos blend – one I’d recommend to those who generally do not like rooibos. The flavors here work so magnificently together to create a deliciously smooth cup that is cozy and comforting when served hot, and a tasty, refreshing treat when served iced.
Earl of Grey from The Tea Spot
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Tea Spot
Tea Description:
This unique blend takes traditional Earl Grey to the next level by combining the expected bergamot flavoring on full leaf black tea then adding the perfect proportions of other citruses, vanilla, licorice root, and mallow flowers. The result is a captivating aroma and a deep liquor with a well-balanced, smooth, bright, and slightly creamy flavor profile. This tea is for those who like to veer from tradition, explore new ground, and a must for those with fond memories of the orange-creamsicles of childhood. It pairs perfectly with strong cheeses or creme brulee.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
What an interesting take on the traditional Earl Grey.
I took my first couple of sips without having read the above description of this tea, and so I had not realized that there was more to this tea than bergamot and black tea. This is not the usual Earl Grey!
But I’m always eager to try new twists on the classic Earl Grey. And this tea definitely qualifies as a twist on the classic! The bergamot tones have been softened significantly by the addition of other citrus flavors, vanilla, and licorice root. These additions curb the sometimes sharp notes of the bergamot, and instead offer a smoother, rounder taste.
The black tea provides a nice background, it is a moderately strong black tea that doesn’t attempt to overpower the other flavors. It is content to sit in the background and do its thing. The citrus notes are tangy, the vanilla adds a nice creamy sweetness, and the licorice root adds a little something. It doesn’t really taste licorice-y, but the licorice notes are there. They just seem to meld so seamlessly with the flavor of the bergamot that its difficult to discern where the bergamot ends and the licorice begins … if that makes sense. These two seem very well suited to one another.
The end result is a sweet, very well-rounded, full-bodied Earl Grey experience that I’m enjoying very much. This is definitely the Earl Grey for those who find that bergamot can be too overwhelming for them. I’d also recommend it to those who are quite fond of Earl Grey but want something a little different from the usual.