Caribbean Dreams

Ginger is very strong alone. I usually make ginger and black tea blends by cutting and crushing fresh ginger and boiling it. I haven’t tried this alone yet, but since I got sick, I went to Fairway and saw this in a teabag and decided to buy it. I brew this with black tea (Red Rose Tea) and it is perfect. It is just the perfect amount of spicy ginger that slightly stings my tongue but soothes my throat and stomach. It blends well with the black tea. I am not rating this yet until I try this alone.

This is just okay. On my quest for pure ginger that brews strong and pure, this one is a little weak for me. Oversteep it long and hot, three bags per cup, and it begins to come close to what I’m looking for.

A colleague at work was preparing a bag of this and it caught my eye as I’d never heard of sorrel tea before and wasn’t even quite sure what it was. She told me it’s a flowering plant that is very popular in Jamaica, particularly in the holiday season, and prized for its sweet/sour flavor. She was kind enough to offer a sample, so I’m happy to log it here.

I have to say that the BRIGHT red color coming out of the bag during the steep is very reminiscent of hibiscus, and the first sip has a similar sour, herbal taste, though not quite as pronounced. Combined with the ginger, it’s an enjoyable and caffeine-free hot drink, especially on a grey and rainy day.

A must have for soothing my stomach.