We had some visitors come up from the states Friday and Saturday, and we did a lot of the traditional tourist things with them, per their request…high tea at The Emptess, Butchart Gardens, and Craigdarroch Castle. We spotted a few teas in the gift shop at the castle at the end of the tour. There were only a few options, but my friend and I both liked two of them each. We decided that we’d go halvesies, with each of us getting a bag, and splitting it up into some small ziplock bags rather than two bags each. So I got his one, and she got Dark Knight…a chocolate mint black. I’d never heard of this company before, and they had a few other honey based or related products like soap and lip balm. Turns out that it’s an island based company, too.
Anyway, I’ve just steeped a cup of this because 1) it smells so good 2) it’s caffeine free, so good for the evening, and 3) and it’s feeling a little bit like fall out there today, and I felt like a hot cup of this would be like a warm hug… and I was right! It’s really good! For those who are keeping score, I’m not a huge fan of rooibos, but green rooibos is better, and beyond that, I prefer honeybush over rooibos…and this is a honeybush. The aspects of most rooibos that I don’t like as less pronounced in honeybush. The flavour that dominates this tea is definitely the mango. The citrus is more of a subtle taste that is more of a bright note in the tea. My mouth is watering and it feels juicy. The tea is straight, without sugar or milk, but at some point it might be something I try if I want an indulgence. A little sweetener and some milk as a latter is probably in my future. I feel like while I have some organic cane sugar, a nice orange blossom honey would wa nice touch. A nice local honey for local tea…
I definitely like this tea and will probably get more in the future, if I can get it from the gift shop without the tour. I could also order it online too…it’s good for supporting local businesses, especially ones that promote bees the way this one does
Flavors: Mango
I overdid it with the rooibos teas a few years ago and have been turned off by them ever since. Now I have the occasional cup. Just not drawn to it anymore. But the bees… gotta support the bees!