Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Rooibos
Where to Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Product Description:
A rooibos base infused with succulent black currants, organic hibiscus and creamy white chocolate blossoms.
Taster’s Review:
The fragrance of the dry leaf is really nice, it isn’t TOO powerful, but, it has a delicious combination of berry and vanilla notes with a somewhat nutty background. It smells like dessert!
I was about to steep this the way I normally would rooibos – that is, in boiling water for ten minutes. Because the tannins are very low in rooibos, the flavor will intensify from the long steep time without becoming bitter. However, upon closer examination of this tisane, I noticed the hibiscus. And while rooibos blends can benefit from a long steep time, the longer hibiscus is steeped the more tart and syrupy it becomes. And… I don’t like that.
So… I set the timer for six minutes instead. And this resulted in a really lovely cuppa. It is tart, but it isn’t too tart. The tartness accents the berry flavor of the black currant well, while the white chocolate in the blend gives the cup a deliciously creamy, sweet note that helps to offset the hibiscus tartness so that it doesn’t become too overpowering. The rooibos base is nutty and sweet, but, I am not getting that aftertaste that sometimes accompanies rooibos (a good thing!)
This is a skillfully blended tisane: the flavors are well-balanced, and while it is sweet enough to serve as a dessert tea, it isn’t cloyingly so. A very fun cup of tea any time of the day.
Peach Apple Crisp from Persimmon Tree
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: The Persimmon Tree
Product Description:
A clean, flavorful blend of black loose-leaf teas, combining fruity notes of white peach, gala apple and cinnamon with a crisp floral finish.
Ingredients: Biodynamic Black Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Nilgiri Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Assam Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Orange Peel, Fair Trade Organic Rooibos, Roses, Organic Hibiscus, Safflower, Natural Flavors
Taster’s Review:
This is a surprising black tea blend. Most flavored black teas are comprised of just Ceylon tea, and it is refreshing when I find a blend that utilizes other black tea leaves in the blend.
Using Assam and Nilgiri in this blend gives the base a much more substance. This is a TEA first, and the flavors come second, and that is the way it should be! The black tea offers a strong flavor with a delicious malty character. Hints of wine-like flavor come up at the finish just before the astringency arrives. The finish is slightly dry with a sweet, fruity aftertaste.
The peach and apple flavors are distinct although they do not attempt to compete with this bold black base. The cinnamon gives a lovely hint of spice – just a hint – and I like the way it accentuates the fruit and gives the cup an overall sense of being a dessert-ish type of tea. The hibiscus here is barely noticeable. I can taste it – a little, and although the flavor of it develops slowly as I continue to sip, it never becomes a strong or protruding flavor.
I really like this full-bodied tea a lot, it has a very satisfying tea flavor that is sure to please the tea enthusiast while also maintaining a delicious, dessert-like taste. I like this served straight, but if you really want to highlight the “crisp” part of this tea, try adding a little brown sugar. It would also be nice with a splash of milk (Peach Apple Crisp a la mode!) Very nice hot or iced!