Golden Slumbers Herbal Tisane

Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – March 2023 Tea #9 – A favorite herbal tisane

I think this tea was the entire basis for a swap with AJRimmer a LONG time ago.  So thank you, AJRimmer!  I also haven’t written a note for it yet, even though I’m finishing it now.   Really, any herbal blend with marshmallow root from 52Teas is probably going to be a favorite (or even any marshmallow root blend at all from 52Teas.)   I love the sleepy idea, love the name.  I love lavender & lemon combo idea.   This might be the reason I haven’t written a note— I’m always ready to dive into this cup of mallow/lemon/lav but then I get a very strong note of MINT.  And I always check the ingredients and it isn’t supposed to be there. Maybe it is just my sample?  No other teas that AJRimmer sent seemed to absorb mint, and I can’t imagine it would take over this heavily.  I put each sample in reinforced packaging when they arrived.  So I’m not sure if it’s the sample fault or the blend itself.  But that mint kind of ruins it for me.  And if the other flavors that SHOULD be there are this subdued by secondhand mint, then I guess the blend just isn’t strong enough for me anyway.   Luckily the mint flavor seems to disappear in the second steep somehow but then it is mostly chamomile flavored.  But others have mentioned the mint, so I don’t think it’s the packaging for the sample.  That mint is just unexpected, and I wish the other flavors were stronger. (Note: this blend is from 2020.)
Steep #1 //  1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 //  just boiled // 17 minute steep
2023 sipdowns: 40

I made a cup of this warm a few nights ago and it just didn’t really work for me. I absolutely love lavender, often at strengths that most others find “soapy,” but I was getting this kind of acrid/sour floral note from it that kind of ruined the cup. I was also getting a strong citrusy note, very lemongrass forward, with that sort of green/herbaceous taste to it. I will happily report that I am not a fan of chamomile, but wasn’t tasting any actual chamomile flavor in the cup.

I probably could’ve salvaged it with a bit of honey to smooth the bitterness in the florals, but I was lazy that evening and just made do. But I did decide to steep the remainder of the package coldbrew after that, and sipping on it now, it’s very nice! Very lavender forward, and I would not recommend it to anyone particular about that floral note, but I’m a fan. It doesn’t have that sourness in the coldbrew, instead it has a subtly minty briskness to the floral note. The lemongrass is still coming through strongly, though I think I’m also getting a bit more lemon peel tangy pithiness in the coldbrew as well.

(52teas (Anne) 2022: 46)

Located this while searching for Vanilla Whipped Lavender EG! Aroma-wise, it smells pretty good – vanilla/lavender/chamomile, much like Dream On. However, I can taste the earthy rooibos, and that definitely dampens my enjoyment of it. It’s better than I remember, though, so I will happily get through it. At least the rooibos isn’t medicinal-tasting!

I am a walking mass of itches and abrasions: nasty gash on my knee (bashed into the corner of my desk at work), sore vaccine shoulder, bug bites that make shoes and other apparel confounded uncomfortable, and I must’ve dropped my favorite blue wear-over-anything summer duster on the parking lot because it didn’t make it home with me. Oh, and did I mention my overwhelming case of self pity? ;)

It’s all light and momentary, but for the moment, I’m pampering myself a little, and this nice 52teas tisane is helping. What differentiates it from the usual crop of chamomile/rooibos/lemony nighty-night concoctions is a pleasant dose of marshmallow root that takes the edge off the tartness, while the rest of the ingredients (hopefully) take the edge off everything else.

I cheated—far too impatient this evening to wait the prescribed 8—10 minutes and pulled it at 5. Properly steeped, the blend may change personalities entirely. I’ll try that another night when I’m not distracted by a vampirous mosquito that is trying to raise yet another bump on me!

I was excited to receive a 50g bag of this in my last 52teas mystery box order. I love stuff with this flavor profile, but I don’t have anything like it in stock right now, so this was perfect! The lavender is so tasty and soft. It’s supported by a nice chamomile, though I don’t think I taste any lemon. I also don’t notice the rooibos in the flavor, but I’m sure it helps round out the flavor. I’ve found that a hot resteep works a little better than a cold one.