3 Tasting Notes
I was totally skeptical when I heard the name of this tea, which I got as part of a sample pack from Della Terra Teas. I scoffed at the premise when I read the description, which said if one is “overly stressed, over worked, over tired, or just plain sick”, they should try this tea, and I almost didn’t order it. But, I’m a sucker for trying anything with orange, apple, and cinnamon, so I gave it a shot. Boy, am I ever glad I did. There’s a new game in town, and its name is Serenity.
According to Ayurveda, the Hindu practice of natural medicine, the Vata is what keeps your body, mind, and soul in balance. There are many ways to balance ones Vata, and drinking this tea is supposedly one of them. The ingredients, said to be present in a classic Hindu drink that is used to calm and balance ones Vata, are cinnamon, apple, orange, ginger bits, raspberry leaves, chamomile, and cardamom. It also contains St. John’s wort, which is a homeopathic remedy used to treat depression and some other ailments.
The aroma is obviously similar to spice tea, but spice was not the first thing that came to mind when I tasted it for the first time. My very first thought was of being surrounded by nature, and as I closed my eyes I could just hear a babbling brook trickling along below my feet. I had the feeling of being in the mountains, in a beautiful and (yes, I’ll say it) serene setting as I sipped my tea. I truly could not believe how I was feeling as I opened my eyes and reconciled my brain to where I was and where I was not. I was amazed.
It might not magically transport you to another time, another place. But, then again, it might. It’s so hard to find a good balance these days. If this tea can help…even a little…then why not give it a chance? I don’t think you’ll regret it.
I don’t get all the negative ratings on this one. This is one of my favorite chais. I love the strong cinnamon flavor. I don’t think it’s too much at all, although I do add just a little Demerara sugar, as I do to most any tea (we southerners generally like our tea sweet, and hot tea is no exception). I typically don’t care for lemongrass, but I only taste a hint of it, so it doesn’t detract from the flavor.
I love this anytime, but especially when I’m under the weather. It’s just a great relaxing tea and it seems to coat my throat, which feels wonderful when my allergies are acting up and making my throat scratchy. It’s just a really smooth cup of tea that makes you feel good all over.
Although i’ve tried a LOT of teas, i’m still very much a newbie at this. i can vary the temp a bit, but i don’t have a newfangled machine to do it for me..not yet, anyway. i’ve gotten way from bags and now use real loose tea. I can thank my buddy, Nik, for that. Also, thanks to him giving me one of the best gifts ever with Steepster’s Tea of the Month club, I have greatly expanded my knowledge of teas, and, hopefully my palate as well.
I’ve found that most folks tend to fuss about cinnamon. Like fuss and cuss. Now, thankfully, I’m in the minority there. i LOVE cinnamon. Bring it on! The more, the merrier, for the most part. Ginger, on the other hand, is slightly opposite…not so much because i don’t like the flavor, because i do. Mostly, it’s because it tends to initiate a migraine, which doesn’t make me very happy. However, and very thankfully, I have no neurological issues with this tea. This one is so good that I think I would just have to accept the migraine and take medication. Yep, it’s THAT good.
Its goodness shouldn’t be a great surprise. I mean, honestly, it was custom blended for His Holiness The Dalai Lama. To me, that just says, “Wow”. It also says the dude knows good tea ;) Seriously, though, I first had this tea just after I’d started drinking loose teas, when I was in San Francisco for Macworld. A group of us went to Samovar’s for tea, and I was hooked after my first sip. I simply could not get enough. I kept discovering something new with each successive sip, with just layer upon layer expressing itself. Maybe it was just the first time I’d had a truly excellent cup of tea.
Regarding the tea itself, it has almost a subdued heat to it that builds to a strong finish, almost the way Mexican food has a way to sneak up on you before you realize what has happened. It is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, so it’s actually really good for you. This rooibos blend contains cinnamon, cloves, ginger, licorice root, and black pepper. Normally, I run from licorice, because I don’t typically like it, not even a hint; but (you knew there was a but, right?) I don’t really taste it here, which is a good thing, because I would hate to run from this tea. These tea leaves are a dark reddish brown that leaves you with a gorgeous clear red tea after steeping that just beckons you to, “Come. Drink.”
There are many levels to this one. Just when you think you’re done, another layer pops to the surface—or does it come up kicking and screaming and gasping for air—the way I was when I made it a bit strong, it took my breath away and my throat burned long after the last drop.
Still, this one sets the bar against which all others are judged. This is the closest to the perfect cup of tea that I have had. I can’t imagine anything else even coming close to this one, but it will be fun trying to find a successor. Let the games begin.
