This was last night’s pre-bedtime cup. I figured something calming wouldn’t go amiss given the stress of work at the moment! First things first, and the dry leaf is absolutely lovely — whole hibiscus flowers, whole hops, whole marigold flowers…it’s a difficult one to measure! I did the best I could with the recommendation for 2-3 tsp, and left it for 4 minutes in boiling water. Apparently it can be left for between 3 and 10 minutes, but I erred on the side of caution for my first cup.
I was pleased with the result. The liquor is a pale pink, and smells very herbal. It’s a hard tea to pinpoint in terms of flavour; the initial sip is mostly hibiscus, tart and a little sour. This gives way to a floral flavour…I’m thinking maybe the hops? Again, there’s a touch of sourness in the background. The end note is a sweet, fairly delicate mint. It’s an interesting flavour progression, and one I did find conducive to relaxation. I certainly slept well! It’s not the most tastebud tingling tea, but it’s obviously of quality, and I feel it lived up to its calming promise. I’m happy for it to occupy a place in my cupboard.