Rooibos Jardin Bleu

Dang it, backspace key! A note lost.

A cup of rooibos sounded nice before bed so I opened this sample. Regret washed over me when I was walloped in the senses with sweet medicinal redfruit (strawberry heavy) with a touch of tang. The smell of the sachet reminded me of red Fla-Vor-Ice popsicles; artificial artifacts of humid childhood summers in the previous millennium.

Once brewed, the aroma remained intense, fruit forward, medicinal tart strawberry and dark brown sugar. The flavorings play well with the rooibos. The taste was herbal forest strawberries blended with the sweet, vanilla medicinal, mineral, wood shavings character of red rooibos. A pleasing floral, almost perfumey quality merged with both. The rhubarb tartness became evident in the back and sides of the mouth after the swallow and was accompanied by the drying rooibos quality.

I propped myself up in bed with pillows and contemplated life and tea. This isn’t something that would ever be found in my cupboard since I’m not a big fan of hot, tart liquefied redfruit. But the longer I lay there and the drier my mouth became and the heavier my eyelids, I was lulled into restful sleep by the lingerings of an intense brown sugar returning sweetness and a delightful forest strawberry perfume.

Dammann Frères, you’re doing things to me.

Even though I consider this to have artificial and medicinal notes, I do recommend it for red rooibos fans. I really enjoyed it and thought the wild strawberry note was spot on. Do not consider this if you don’t like the taste of red rooibos, but maybe try the black tea version.

The second steeping was cold-brewed overnight and was good in its own right but I really appreciate Rooibos Jardin Bleu hot.