Cranberry Apple Zinger

Celestial. I love you. This is just great all around, it’s tart, but in the right way. Sipping on this, I’m trying to come up with more words to describe it but it just slips in my mouth and leaves it happy.

Finishing up the last 3 bags from the sample I had. I put them into the triniTea and realized that its idea of 3 cups’ worth of tea VS mine is a bit different. Must remember to use slightly less water. This came out a little weaker than last night, but it’s still nice to have on this chilly, wet day.

Tart. Going to see how fast my office fridge can cool it because it’s way too darn hot in here (29C… IN MY OFFICE.) for hot tea.

The scent is right, but the rest is all wrong. For once, celestial seasoning’s obsession with propping up fruit teas with tons of hibiscus tartness would make sense. But no! There is no tart cranberry or hibiscus flavor in sight. This is a dull plasticy flavor that tastes very synthetic. I don’t know how else to describe it. Wait, I do! It has the same aftertaste as old jolly rancher candies. What is that weird flavor?

I have never much liked any of the zingers … until yesterday. A very thoughtful work friend brought me a tumbler of this stuff steeped strong, iced, sweetened with half honey, half organic sugar. It tasted like the best celestial kool-ade ever. Between the sweetness and the additional ingredients that I do like: chamomile, blackberry, chicory, there was no make-your-eyes-water tartness at all. Best summer afternoon surprise in a long time!

I go to my in-laws once a week for dinner. My Mother-in-law doesn’t drink tea very often so her stash is limited. Usually I just drink President’s Choice White Tea as she always has that on hand and I do like it. However, this time she had Celestial Seasonings Cranberry Apple Zinger so I thought I’d have it for something different for a change. I thought it might be too acidic for me and bother my acid reflux, as some fruity teas do that to me. I was pleasantly surprised. It didn’t bother my stomach at all. Not only that but it went down nice and easy. I found it comforting and soothing. It suited the mood I was in. It was a little sweet, a little tart and had a nice cranberry/apple flavour. It tasted just right. I re-steeped, as I usually do with all the tea I drink but this one did not re-steep well. The second cup was just like mildly flavoured hot water. I generally don’t drink grocery store bought teas unless they’re organic but I did enjoy my cup of this on a cold Autumn evening.

This was one of my first non-Earl Grey/Orange Pekoe teas, and it’s been a staple in my cupboard ever since. I normally drink this one hot (it’s my “ow I hurt, make it better” tea), but today I decided to try it iced. Used 2 tea bags, around 750mL water at 200F, steeped for 5 minutes, and then poured over ice. Yum!

Of course the ice waters it down and weakens it quite a bit, but I keep pouring more tea in to try and strengthen the flavour. Not sure if I should’ve let it steep longer, or if another tea bag would’ve been a better idea – this is one I can usually get away with just leaving the tea bags in the pot.

Aside from the weaker-than-hot flavour, this is pretty good iced. I can drink it clear, it doesn’t demand the use of sugar like the other ices I’ve been drinking recently. Would definitely ice this one again.

A very pleasant blend of cranberry and apple, though it is a bit too tart if left to steep for more than 2 1/2 minutes. I enjoy every cup.

verry good i love the smell and taste

It smells nice, but the taste is a little weak for fruit tea.