Alterra

This is by far one of the best rooibos teas I’ve ever had the chance to enjoy. The smell and taste was reminiscent to blueberry pancakes. The tea uses REAL blueberries (apparently this is a pretty big deal now) and even though they’re dried they still have excellent flavor to them. The tea was on the thicker side, which made it almost syrup-y. I could see this tea replacing water in a recipe for blueberry-anything if I really wanted to. I tried resteeping this tea to see if anything would change, but the brew didn’t come out, so…sad day. Nonetheless, an amazing tea with an average price.

Full review here: http://theteablag.blogspot.com/2011/01/alterra-sould-stick-with-coffoh-my-god.html

For being a marketable brand dishing out teas, Alterra really missed it here. The tea smells great in the tin… but if you really want to enjoy it, keep it there. The moment it touches hot water, all hopes and dreams are crushed. One would expect the brilliance in its aroma to at least help in the taste department, but overall, it ended up being warm ginger water. Though I can see where the tin’s comments on the tea being “spicy and sweet to tart and fruity” can come in (see: smell), it most certainly didn’t make the transition to the taste department. Makes a great potpourri though…

Full review here: http://theteablag.blogspot.com/2011/01/soulless-t.html