When Roswell Strange ordered a Create-a-Blend tea & told me that they wanted a Rhubarb blend – I was just a little thrown off because I’ve never worked with rhubarb before. I’ve never cooked it, I’ve never even eaten it. The closest I’ve ever come to a rhubarb before working on this tea was spotting them on occasion in the produce market.
So, I asked Roswell Strange if they wouldn’t mind if I took some time to familiarize myself with the flavor – and allow me to play around with the components that I’d use to create the tea to figure out the best path forward with a previously very unfamiliar flavor profile. (I would say that I’m still somewhat unfamiliar with it, but far less now than I once was.)
But after having taken the time to work with it, I’m really glad that Roswell Strange ordered this blend because it’s not only really delicious, but it has also inspired additional rhubarb flavors.
This blend starts with a blend of black teas including some Lapsang Souchong. The smoke isn’t overwhelming here, but it’s strong enough that you’re not going to miss it in the sip. The Rhubarb flavor is tart, a little sweet & quite pleasant. It melds really nicely with the hints of smoke & the touch of cinnamon. The cinnamon notes develop as I continue to sip, they were barely noticeable in the first sip or two, but as I continue to drink it, the cinnamon continues to pop. It adds a pleasant roundness to the overall cup which is smoke, sweet-tart rhubarb & a gentle warmth of cinnamon.
