576 Tasting Notes
This is in teabag form, of course, so I wonder if I should have a different rating system? What do you think?
http://keenteathyme.blogspot.com/2011/02/bagged-tea-versus-loose-tea.html
Back to the tea. First sip there is a lot going on. Almost too much. It’s spicy – whoa, there’s the licorice. I love the sweet aftertaste of licorice, but you know it’s there. So if you don’t like licorice, you may want to pass on this tea – and possibly all Yogi teas. It’s a fave ingredient of theirs.
I can see why this would be a popular tea for someone who is sick – especially if you can’t taste anything.
A few sips in and I’m thinking this tea is kinda nasty. Yet I keep drinking it. It makes my throat feel good – all the flavors of helping one feel better when one is sick.
It’s soothing. And kinda making me sleepy. I think I’ll re-evaluate and re-rate later, after I try another cup…
About 15 mins later: I noticed the brew is kinda foggy and I’m concerned about consuming a foggy tea. Nonetheless I keep drinking it… and now it’s starting to taste kinda good…
This is an interesting tisane. I drank it hot – love the hot pink color! There are so many layers of this tea: first it starts out tangy and citrusy, then becomes floral and fruity, but ends like a sweet, candied apple.
I’ll have to try this iced, but hot it is delicious. I didn’t steep it for as long as recommended, only about five minutes. However I have a dislike of hibiscus; I don’t like tea that it too tart or too tangy.
At five minutes, this brews up perfectly pink and deliciously smooth.
Preparation
I’m not going to rate this tisane just yet, as I’m still on the fence. I love how minty, refreshing, fresh and calming this brews up. I drank one cup on this relaxing Sunday and the tisane tasted nice. Decent. But afterwards I felt thirsty – this has never happened before.
So I’ll brew up some cups during the week and see where it stands…
Got these in the box from my SweeTEA, the lovely Meghann. (Thanks!) I was a bit concerned that I would not like them due to my love-hate relationship with rooibos, but I can never turn down a cookie. (Just ask my coworkers.) These were surprisingly delicious! I plan on ordering more, and am excited to try the other varieties.
These are buttery with the rooibos tea flavor there – obviously – but instead of me running away in horror from the wood/sawdust taste, I LIKE it! It’s spicy and woodsy, which makes no real sense, I know, but combined with the sugar and buttery tastes, this rounds out to be a darn good cookie!
Adagio says you get about 15 per bag but I think I got at least 20-25. I have been spacing out my enjoyment; tried these with my usual Chai Blend from Teavana and the experience was absolutely decadent!
I always want to ask, but never do – Do you really get a wood taste from rooibos? Can you elaborate on that at all? I’ve read from people who get mintiness from it, and people who get sawdust, and I’ve never got either so I don’t know where we’re going so very differently!
(Glad you enjoyed the cookies! :D)
I really do get that sawdust smell from the taste of rooibos. It’s woodsy and strong. Green rooibos doesn’t have that effect at all; tastes just like tea. But the red stuff is VILE. It also gives me headaches so I’m predispositioned to oppose!
It always weirds me out when I like a rooibos, too.
I have had a love affair with lavender thanks to my grandma’s garden. My Oma has had lovely lavender growing in her garden for years. So I am completely biased about any and all things lavender.
Lavender tea is one of those weird things that you’re not sure if it will actually taste good. Like the illusive Bacon Diet Coke. Lavender is an herb, something you use in soap, bath salts and other bath products.
But this tea is wonderful! It brews up purplish – which tickles me – and is soothing and comforting. I taste lavender and sweet black tea. As with most of Joy’s Teaspoon teas, you can infuse at least two, if not more, times.
Third infusion – still going strong. Strong lavender, strong cup of calmness, strong love for lavender.
2nd infusion. I actually left the teabag steeping for the entire length of me enjoying the cup. So this is more like a fifth infusion. ;)
Still watermelon-y. Still summer in a cup. A bit weaker than the first infusion, but since it steeped for almost 20 mins, I’ll let that pass.
I will be placing an order for this in the near future. And I’m glad I found a honeybush that I get along with! :)
Oh, Watermelon Honeybush, where have you been my entire life?! Thanks to the lovely Meghann for splitting with some from her stash. I am in watermelon heaven!
This is summer in a cup! The leaves smell like fresh watermelon – like a natural flavor not artificial. Once brewed – and I steeped for at least eight minutes, although the bag is still in my cup – the watermelon smell becomes irresistible!
First sip tastes like a bite from a summer watermelon. OMG! This is summer in a cup. I never knew honeybush could be so pleasant; we have a sordid past, honeybush tea and rooibos, with me. But this tea erases the bad memories.
If you love watermelon, you need this tea. Bottom line. It’s a must! And it’s wonderful to taste summer in February. :)
