Lov Teas, Calmly Cleansed

Picture Credit: Lov Teas

Lov Teas Description:
Calmly Cleansed Tea is a nutrient rich blend bursting with vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants. This unique combination of restorative herbs will leave you feeling nimble and clean. Beautifully steeped in dark orange, it is a wholesome, purifying addition to your self-care routine.

Ingredients:
Rooibos*, Blackberry Leaves*, Raisins*, Black Pepper*, Carrot*, Caraway*, Licorice Root*, Cinnamon*, Turmeric*, Dandelion Root*, Alfalfa*

*100% Organically Grown

Sample provided by Lov Teas

My Review:
My internet is making me crazy. I exceeded my bandwidth last month, as always. When that happens I get throttled down to dial up speed (yeah, not fun). When the new period starts my speed is supposed to come back, except it hasn't. Blogging at dial up speed is really hard.

On top of internet issues, my den is a mess. I am wading through guitars, amplifiers, stands of all sorts, along with way too many teapots, teacups, steeping equipment, boxes of tea everywhere. I can't find my desk and it is sort of an Aaaaarrrrgggggh! day. As I try to find the room, I need some calm.

Today's tea is Calmly Cleansed herbal tea from Lov Teas. Just what the doctor ordered - I hope.

I cut the top off the sample pack and gave a sniff. Strangely, I'm getting mint and ginger. Strange because neither are ingredients in this tea. Pouring out onto the plate, I notice pepper corns, and carrot pieces.

A lot of the leaf is very fine as is the rooibos. I decided to use my stainless infuser basket as it has a very fine mesh. The basket of leaf went into the mug along with freshly boiled and filtered water.

My steep time was 5 minutes. I found it interesting to watch the leaf. At first it all floated at the surface but as time progressed the leaf began to fall, until only a small amount remained at the surface.

The brew is a lovely deep orange red. The aroma says rooibos to me, but not the harsh kind. This smells very pleasant.

Tasting, this is not what I expected based on the dry and cup aroma. I asked the herbal drinker in the house to taste. She thought it had a note of cinnamon. I wasn't sure. Her thought as she left the room was whatever, I like it.

To me it was pretty subtle all around. What I originally caught as ginger in the dry aroma I am now wondering if it isn't the combination of cinnamon, pepper, and tumeric. The rooibos is mild and pleasant. I have no idea why I thought earlier that I detected mint. The unique blending of herbs and spices here caught my ravaged brain unprepared this day.

In the final analysis, I find I don't care what is in this blend. My wife summed it up well, Whatever, I like it. The tea has done its job. I feel replenished. Now I have to pack up some guitars and head to band practice. The mess will still be here in the morning.

You can find Lov Teas Calmly Cleansed here.

Good Earth, Sweet & Spicy Caffeine Free Herbal

Good Earth Description:
Is there anything better than when opposites attract? The master blenders behind Sweet & Spicy ® don’t seem to think so. Bursts of sweet orange tangle with spicy cinnamon in a naturally caffeine free Rooibos red tea infusion.

Ingredients:
Rooibos, chicory root, natural flavor, rosehip, cinnamon, lemongrass, peppermint, chamomile, ginger root, anise seed, orange oil, orange peel.

Sample provided by Good Earth

My Review:
Today I am reviewing the last of the Good Earth teas. The hardcore loose leaf crowd may not understand, I have to admit I have enjoyed this leisurely journey back to my corner store roots.

I am finding the last decade has brought about some real change on the local tea aisle. There is more variety and better blending of ingredients. I am always going to choose loose leaf for its depth and complexity when I want to meditate upon the cup. Sometimes, I have to admit though I just want a simple relaxing cup to sip. For me, there will always be room for a decent bagged tea.

What we have here is a caffeine free flavored rooibos. From the picture of the box (I only have a single bag), I note there is 40.5 g and 18 bags. That makes each bag contain 2.25 g. Enough for a civilized cup of tea.

Each bag is individually foil wrapped. Opening the envelop, I get a hit of cinnamon and numerous other spices and herbs that I cannot readily identify.

I heated the water to boiling and steeped in the mug for 5 minutes. The brew is a reddish orange and is clear and bright.

The first thing I'll note about the taste is I cannot single out the rooibos. I personally prefer it this way. Rooibos has a unique woodsy flavor that I often find harsh and scratchy. So I am happy to see it hiding in the background. I do taste cinnamon, it is the predominant flavor but not hot or overwhelming. The orange, peppermint, and chamomile seem balanced and trade spots during the sip. You have to watch for it as its kind of unexpected and kind of neat. The lemongrass, ginger, and anise stay just above the rooibos as fill in flavors.

There is a lot trying to happen all at once in the cup, as such it can seem a bit muddy. I found the addition of just a little sweetener really helped the cup to pop.

It's caffeine free and perfect for long cold winter evenings of relaxing, hopefully with a fire and something good to read.

You can find this and other Good Earth products at your local Walmart or Kroger store, online at Amazon, or direct from Good Earth.

Simple Loose Leaf, Mint Chamomile Rooibus

Simple Loose Leaf Description:
Our Mint Chamomile tea will put a smile on your face regardless of the day you are having.  Brew a cup of this floral, sweet and soothing tea and enjoy a wonderfully fresh finish of this beautiful cup of tea.

Ingredients:
Chamomile Flowers, Roobius Tea, Peppermint Leaves, Natural Vanilla Flavor

Sample provided by Simple Loose Leaf

My Review:
Another from the monthly subscription box for review. This box contained 5 samples. The number varies from 4-6 depending on what is included in that month's box. Monthly plans range from $13 to $15 depending on how many months you purchase (1, 3, or 6 month plans).

Today's tea is actually a herbal. It comes, as you can see, in a simple resealable pouch. The label is decorative and lists ingredients, a description, brewing information, as well as contact info.

I do notice one minor issue. The company lists part of the name as Rooibus. The ingredient list spells it Roobius. While they can name this anything they like, to my knowledge the correct spelling is Rooibos. I understand typos. You will probably find plenty on each page of this blog. I do try to catch them. The ones that get away seem glaring once published.

Opening the sample, I smell mint. I love peppermint. Something in the rest of the ingredients, probably the vanilla, is making this smell much like a Peppermint Patty. It is not quite as distinctively chocolate, but it wasn't just me either, my wife sniffed the bag and said the same thing.

I filled my mesh basket with leaf and set it in the mug. Boiling water was used for a 5 minute steep.

The result is a dark honey caramel brew. It is mostly clear with very little sediment making its way into the mug.

Tasting is a little different from the initial scent. First comes the peppermint. Often peppermint can be a bit... overwhelming. Despite its strong aroma it plays nicely here. It quickly steps back and allows a creamy sensation to take over. I suspect this is the vanilla, although I can't say I actually taste it.

Next, I notice the apple like flavor of the chamomile. At a five minute steep it is a light taste. My wife doesn't care for long steeped chamomile because to her the apple is too much flavor. She normally only steeps it three minutes. I thought it perfect at 5 minutes.

The rooibos is faint. It appears briefly late in the sip adding a sweet fullness to the taste. I am not a big fan of straight rooibos. I find it harsh, medicinal, and scratchy, like drinking sawdust. When done well, as with this tea, it adds a nice enhancement without dominating.

The aftertaste sees the cooling peppermint step back into the lead.

I enjoyed this and would drink it again. In fact, I have plans to add some cacao nibs for a little touch of decadence to this otherwise tasty cup.

You can find Simple Loose Leaf Mint Chamomile Rooibus here.

The Persimmon Tree, Berries 'n' Cream

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Our Berries 'n' Cream tea takes a rooibos base and transforms it into a vanilla truffle-like treat with succulent black currents, creamy white chocolate blossoms, and organic hibiscus. This naturally caffeine-free tea makes the perfect after-dinner dessert tea when sweetened with a little rock sugar.

Ingredients:
Organic Fair Trade Rooibos, Organic Hibiscus, Organic Currants, White Chocolate, Natural Flavors

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
I stated in my review of Detox Blend that my wife chose this month's The Persimmon Tree offerings to be reviewed. She loves herbal and rooibos. I am a little stand offish and have to be won over.

When she told me Berries 'n' Cream I thought ooooh, strawberries and cream. Then I read the ingredients. I have had exactly one black currant tea. I did not like it. Hibiscus is an ingredient that usually is overdone and too tart for my tastes. About now, I'm wondering what have I gotten myself into? Man, I'm trying to keep a neutral attitude going into this but it is going to be easy.

I removed the lid and took a whiff. Hmmm. This is a rooibos but the scent is vanilla and berry or possibly cherry. There is no vanilla listed in the ingredients. It has to be the combination of white chocolate, black currant, and hibiscus yet... I think I might, sort of, kind of, like it.

Looking at the leaf, the rooibos is easy to spot. Also visible is the hibiscus and black currant. What isn't showing up in my picture is the white chocolate. Had I realized this while taking the picture, I would have rearranged the scene. There really is little curls of white chocolate but I guess you'll have to take my word for it.

I used a Finum basket, to catch the rooibos, placed in my cup as boiling water was added. The covered steep was 5 minutes.

The result is a dark brew that at first resembles coffee. As the cup is tilted and the brew spread out, it takes on a more reddish purple tint.

Notice there is surface particles. At first I thought some of the rooibos made it through the mesh. Stirring with a spoon and looking closer, I am pretty sure it is from the white chocolate.

The aroma is much like the dry scent.

My first sip is pleasant but a little lighter than I would have guessed. I added some sweetener to see what would happen. I'll tell you what happened - Awesomeness! Ya, that surprises me too.

Once sweetened this came alive. The black currant and the hibiscus combine to give a taste that I can't nail down but drifts between blueberry, cherry, and grape. I do taste just the slightest tartness but honestly it works here. This is creamy, probably from the white chocolate. I do taste the rooibos but it is not the main note. It adds to the overall mix with a touch of spicy sweetness.

I think I can best sum up my perception of this blend by telling you that I went into this review not expecting much from these ingredients. I thought, I'll try to keep an open mind but will settle on just getting through it. I ended up gulping the last half of the cup down and can't wait to have another. Surprisingly delicious.

You can find The Persimmon Tree Berries 'n' Cream here.

The Persimmon Tree, Rooibos Vanilla Chai

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Our Vanilla Rooibos Chai tea features a delightful blend of masala chai spices, red rooibos and a hint of vanilla. Rooibos Vanilla Chai is naturally caffeine, making it a perfect any-time tea. Much like its caffeinated cousin Masala Chai, this tea tastes delicious with milk and sugar.

Ingredients:
Organic Rooibos, Vanilla Flavoring, Ginger Pieces, Cinnamon Pieces, Cardamom, Clove, Orange Pieces

Sample provided bt The Persimmon Tree Tea Company

My Review:
Last month I tried The Persimmon Tree's Masala Chai and discovered that just maybe I did like chai after all. I thought their spices were exceptionally well blended to my tastes. I liked it, so I went all crazy and had this vanilla chai with a rooibos base sent for review this month. I am a wild man - red tea and chai, whilst and at the same time. Yep, I'm out of control.

I love The Persimmon Tree tins. They keep the tea fresh for a good long time, and I think they are easy to photograph. Cutting the seal and popping the lid, I am met with the traditional clove and cardamom spices. In addition I catch faint hints of the ginger and also the rooibos. It all flows together well. It verges on potpourri but that is kind of normal for chai, in my opinion.

There are some chunks in the leaf and something resembling twigs. I finally concluded the chunks are orange rind. The twigs I tasted and still am not sure.

Today I used my mug with built in infuser basket. I keep forgetting the mesh is not usually fine enough for rooibos. It turned out OK as I don't notice any floating in my mug.

I used 200F filtered water and a five minute steep. The result is an inviting deep orange colored steamy brew.

The scent is largely cinnamon and orange. I didn't notice either in the dry scent.

The taste with no  additives is cinnamon and rooibos with some orange and the heat from ginger. I think the vanilla tames the rooibos taking the edge off it. It is kind of hard to know for sure as the ginger puts a little edge back in. This is nice, but I think we can do better.

I added sweetener (Splenda in my test). This did brighten the taste quite a bit. Now the orange and ginger are the front notes with the other spices just behind and the rooibos a little more than barely decipherable. I can't say I taste vanilla, yet it seems kind of creamy. Sweetened is better.

For the final challenge, I add milk. This makes for a warm cup of spicy yum. The spices wash past my taste buds and before I can separate which it is, another washes by. The ginger still dominates a little too much for me but I am not a big ginger enthusiast so it doesn't surprise me that I notice it.

My opinion is milk and sugar are definitely the way to go here. While I prefer the standard Masala Chai, this is a fun drink. It makes me want to sit around a fire in the cool night air and sip while chatting.

You can find The Persimmon Tree, Rooibos Vanilla Chai here.

The Persimmon Tree, Herbal Grey

The Persimmon Tree Description:
This caffeine-free herbal alternative to Earl Grey black tea comprises fragrant bergamot essential oil and hand-crafted organic fair trade rooibos, delivering a sweet, deep red infusion with fruity and floral notes. This delicious herbal tea is a real treat with milk and rock sugar, and can be enjoyed any time of day.

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
Hello from space - the final frontier! I finally have my internet woes sorted out. We went with satellite internet. It is not cheap and you can't game with it, but that is the price of living out in the boondocks.

So today I have chosen an herbal to review. This one is a South African rooibos flavoured with bergamot oil. You know me, if there is any association with my beloved Earl Grey, I must try it. This also happens to be a decaffeinated herbal, so no worries about late evening or night time sipping keeping me awake.

Upon opening the tin I immediately catch gentle notes of bergamot before I even get the lid completely removed.  It is a light, yet natural and pleasant, citrus scent. The leaf (bark, stalk?) always reminds me of finely chipped cedar. This seems extra shiny to me.

I heated to water to the recommended 200 F. This was steeped in my Republic of Tea mug with a stainless filter basket. I prefer a Finum basket as the mesh is much finer on those. Since my wife is using both (both!) of the ones we own, that leaves me little choice.  I'll survive.

I steeped for about 4 minutes with the lid on the mug. Removing the lid reveals a dark orange red brew. There are some tiny bits of rooibos floating on the surface. This is the issue with using this mug. Rooibos requires a very fine mesh filter to avoid floaters. Again, I'll survive.

The scent is pretty absent of bergamot. Brewed this has a mellow aroma of rooibos. I do attribute the mellowness to the bergamot. Straight rooibos often has a sharp scratchy aroma and taste. This does not.

When the cup is hot, I taste only the tamed rooibos. I like it well enough, however it is not what I was expecting.

As the cup cools I begin to catch more and more of the wonderful citrus I crave. It is still light but obvious.

I guess I can look at this two ways. First, the rooibos is tamed. There is no harshness or scratchy aftertaste. So as a relaxing herbal cup this succeeds. Second, as an Earl Grey alternative this really leaves me wanting. Bergamot and rooibos really do compliment each other, so I want this cranked up several notches.  

If you drink your tea very hot and are expecting a stout Earl Grey, you aren't going to get it. If on the other hand you would like just a touch of bergamot, or simply a way to like the sometimes overwhelming taste of rooibos, then this may well fit your need.

You can find Herbal Grey here.

Good Life Tea, Belgian Chocolate - Rooibos Tea

Sample Bag and Leaf

Good Life Tea Description:
A supple, vitamin-rich, fat-free Rooibos base meets a cacao infusion and the results are as tantalizing as the blend of South African and Belgian implies. Calendula and other natural flavors add to the unique, brassy, rich flavor collection as a whole. Cederberg is known for the lingering, incomparable flavor of its Rooibos leaves. This “red bush” is known to South Africans as a relaxant, antioxidant, and provider of a flush, melty flavor. In this case, the always-blendable Rooibos plays off of the coal-ish, insular pleasures of cacao to form what is often described as a “truffle” note.
A medium-flavored "red tea", Belgian Chocolate is a quirky treat, especially for those who have already discovered the pleasures of Rooibos. Perfect as a luxury tea (and perennial gift favorite), Belgian Chocolate is a tea to be savored. Which makes it such a pleasant surprise that it's lineup of health benefits includes an impressively-broad vitamin scale.

Sample provided by Good Life Tea

My Review:

Sample Label

The last few weeks have been very hectic. I've been with my wife as she has had one medical exam after another. More than a few thousand dollars later the conclusion is acid reflux. Thankful it wasn't more serious, but honestly, couldn't they have tried treating it first and then do tests if it didn't ease up? We are also having a porch built on our home. Finding time to drink tea hasn't been easy.

It's 90 F today and feels like 100, but that isn't going to stop me from enjoying a cup of rooibos. This one has cocao in it. Opening the sample packet this smells insanely chocolate.

In addition to the rooibos and cacoa, there are also thin petals in the mix. The description above mentions calendula, I Googled it and discovered calendula is also called pot marigold. I don't think the petals add a lot to the scent or flavor but it does add interest and color.

I used my mug with an infuser basket. The basket as it turns out is not quite fine enough mesh for the tiniest of rooibos pieces but it did hold back most of it. I used boiling water and steeped for about 4 minutes.

Dark Chocolaty Goodness

The brew is dark and resembles coffee. The wet leaf aroma is strong of rooibos. The mug scent is chocolate.

I first tried this with no additives. It starts out rooibos flavored but without the usual harsh ending to the sip. About midway into the sip it switches to light chocolate. It has an almost minty feel. The taste is thinner than I expected based on the strong scents. It has a mineral element that reminds me of spring water.

Next I added sweetener to it. I haven't been using much Splenda lately but hey, this is chocolate. To me that implies sweet indulgence. So into the mug goes a packet of Splenda. My wife would say I just ruined it. I have to disagree.

The flavor pops out of the cup now. I mean it is the same, just bigger. In one sip the flavor bounces back and forth between rooibos and chocolate and swirling in minty fresh notes as it does. As I get closer to the bottom of the cup, I notice the color is a beautiful deep orange burgundy.

I can count on one hand the rooibos teas I have tried and actually would enjoy sipping again. This is one of them. It is a very pleasant chocolate treat without the guilt.

You can find Belgian Chocolate - Rooibos Tea here.

Upton Tea Imports, Rooibos Earl Grey

Upton Tea Imports Description:
A superior grade of Rooibos, scented with oil of bergamot. An excellent caffeine free alternative for Earl Grey aficionados.

Ingredients:
rooibos, artificial flavor

Origin:
Germany

My Review:
If you've been around here long, you already know I love Earl Grey. My standard cup has a Ceylon black tea base. I am also quite fond of Earl Grey with a green tea base. I have tried a rooibos Earl Grey once before. It came from an old time general store in a nearby arts and crafts community. Their loose tea was stored in clear glass canisters on an open shelf. It had no flavor.

Opening this sample packet I am hit with bergamot. Oh, bergamot, how I adore you. Just breathing in the scent makes this a hundred times better than my first encounter. I catch no hint of rooibos in the dry aroma.

The sample label is clearly marked with all the important information. It does say artificial flavor instead of oil of bergamot as mentioned in the description. I have encountered this before. Generally it means the oil is freeze dried before applying to the leaf. The legal eagles won't let them call it natural. The aroma is a delight, so no matter what the label says, this is bergamot.

I placed the leaf into a Finum basket and added boiling water to my mug. I used about 5 g for my 10 oz mug. The steep was around 6 minutes. 8 as recommended just kept me waiting too long. The brew is deep black cherry red. I can catch the scent of rooibos in the air. Oh, please, please, please, let this taste of bergamot.

First sip - SCORE! Yes! This IS Earl Grey. The bergamot is very up front, sweet, and citrusy. It is not overwhelming, fake, or soapy tasting. I really can't single out the rooibos, although I know it is altering the flavor ever so slightly from what I am accustomed to sipping. Because they add the acknowledgment of rooibos in the blend name, I am cool with it. I do single out the rooibos in the lingering aftertaste. Of course I still taste bergamot, so my mind is unconcerned.

This my Earl Grey friends is really a nice caffeine free late evening alternative to the standard black tea base. This is a rooibos I could see me drinking on a regular basis - maybe even daily. Very Good!

Visit Upton Tea Imports here. This tea is buried under Teas> Miscellaneous> Herbals and Tisanes> Rooibos and Honeybush> BA19 My main complaint with Upton is they offer so much, it is hard to locate anything.

Traveling Tea, Pumpkin Ginger Spice

Traveling Tea Description:
Pumpkin from ‘Our Garden’ Farm (New Florence, MO) oven roasted to bring out full flavor and sweetness, then combined with organic: Rooibos, Ginger Pieces, Clove, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and Pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

My Review:
I'm really not on a caffeine free joy ride, although it may seem like it lately. Today I had a diet Mountain Dew with lunch and it just seemed like a good time to try this one.

Rooibos is listed as the main ingredient but when you pour this out on a plate to examine it looks like a snack. Lots of big pieces of stuff. The scent is cinnamon and clove. I don't really notice the rooibos.

I steeped this for around 5 minutes using a Finum basket in my mug. The brew is an orange tinted light brown that resembles a watered down apple cider. It is kind of cloudy yet warm and inviting looking. The spices are more prominent in the brew scent than when dry. The aroma is cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.

I normally cannot separate flavors in a very hot cup. That is true here as well. What I got was similar to the aroma with a light bite late in the sip from the ginger. Once the cup cools into my normal warm range, it transforms. Now I taste the pumpkin.

I have had several pumpkin teas, all bagged and mostly with a black tea base, that had all the right spices in copious amounts that resembled pumpkin spice but they never actually tasted exactly like pumpkin. This one does. The spices are more powerful than the pumpkin so it slightly misses the mark as pumpkin pie but then again that isn't what this is called.

I know I am reviewing this at totally the wrong time of year. It isn't even available on the website until October. Just in case you plan way ahead on your tea ordering, this is the best pumpkin tea I have tried and strangely it is a rooibos blend. That may well be what makes this blend work so well. Also it is caffeine free, for when you don't want any additional buzz.

Visit Traveling Tea's Online Store.

Kally Tea, Rooibos Cola Chai

Kally Tea Description:
Okay all you cola lovers out there; this is what you have been looking for. A great healthy alternative to carbonated cola drinks. This chai starts off with a Rooibos base, then we mix ginger root, cinnamon, green cardamom and a hint of vanilla flavor. Excellent either brewed with water alone or in the traditional Chai method. What a divine substitute.

Ingredients:
Rooibos, Ginger Root, Cinnamon, Green Cardamom, and Cinnamon, Ginger and Vanilla Flavor.

My Review:
Up front I am not the biggest chai fan and while I like rooibos, it is never something I think to brew. That said this one just sounds interesting. Cola? I have never had a cola tea before. Looking at the ingredients, nothing says cola to me. We shall see. Also rooibos chai? Having just said I seldom crave either, the combination might, MIGHT, just convince me.

Removing a scoop for pictures and an initial exam, you can see some seeds and leaves in the mix. The aroma is sweet chai. I do not notice the traditional rooibos scent in the dry blend.

I used a Finum basket and boiling water in my mug for a 5 minute steep. The result is a bright but intensely dark burgundy liquor.  In the mug it does have a rooibos aroma mixed with the chai spices. It smells sweet and inviting. A good sign.

In the sip I get sweet spicy chai. It is not overly sweet or spicy. Pronounced but pleasantly behaved. I hope the two descriptions make sense together. None of the individual spices really stand out. Maybe the cinnamon is most present but really it melts together really well.

After the initial spice, I next taste rooibos. It is easy to pick out because it is so different from normal tea flavored drinks. Again, like the spice it is obvious but restrained. I think even rooibos haters might be able to sip this without making that face. Yeah, you haters know the one I mean.

After the rooibos I catch notes that remind me of a flat cola but I suspect if I had not been told this is cola I might not make that connection. As the cup cools the spices swell in flavor some and I can catch the ginger in the aftertaste. I never really catch the vanilla. I imagine the vanilla knocks the rough scratchy edges off the rooibos. If that is why the vanilla is so well behaved then bring on the vanilla.

My wife, who is the tisane drinker in the house, took a sip and made a Mmmmm face, then added, "Interesting." I think that is a great one word description. I enjoyed this mug and it was chai and rooibos. I looked on the website and it is listed at $3.98 for two ounces. A fair price for a cup of interesting.

Visit the Kally Tea Store.

The Persimmon Tree, Chocolate Banana

 The Persimmon Tree Description:
This wonderful Chocolate Banana dessert tea comprises chocolate, banana, rooibos and pink peppercorns blended with pieces of apple. This favorite flavor duo satisfies cravings at less than 5 calories per cup, and tastes great hot or iced. Try it with a little honey or rock sugar for a real after-dinner treat.

Ingredients:
Organic Fair Trade Rooibos, Organic Cacao Nibs, Organic Apple Bits, Organic Banana Chips, Pink Peppercorns, Chocolate, Natural Flavors

Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree

My Review:
I really don't remember the last time I reviewed a rooibos tisane. Made from a South African bush this is a caffeine free herbal drink and not a true tea. Perfect for late night. I just couldn't resist the allure of chocolate and banana. Scooping some leaf out to examine I immediately notice the pink peppercorns. They add a pretty attractive note to the mix. I see from the ingredients that it also contains apple bits. Bigger pieces of fruit may have worked their way down into the tin as I am only seeing a few smallish pieces in the leaf. Actually I am thinking that may be the cocao nibs.

I used a Finum basket as rooibos is finely cut and makes a clean up nightmare of my press. Boiling water was added for a 4 minute steep. As soon as the water hit the leaf I caught the distinctive and nearly impossible to describe scent of rooibos. It is a kind of cedar wood saw dust, sweet, medicinal, aroma. That is my best effort at putting words to it.

The cup is dark red and sort of reminds be of root beer. The taste is.... well, I am not getting chocolate or banana. On the other hand it is not rooibos flavored either. What I am tasting is lightly peppery. Not spicy hot, just light pepper. I can taste a mellow rooibos without the harsh throat scratching that often comes with 'red tea'. It sort of reminds me of sassafras tea or flat root beer. It is a pleasant enough drink for a rooibos. Hmmm. I easily finished the cup but this is very strange as it is not agreeing with reviews others have posted.

Based on my on my observation that the leaf seemed to lack dried fruit pieces, I am going to pour this out of the tin into a bowl and mix it up. My thinking is the fruit has settled. Every one else seems to be getting banana flavor and light chocolate. I want to be one of the cool kids too.

Now looking at the full bowl, my thinking is how do they pack all that leaf into those little tins? Really, I am not seeing a lot of bigger sized fruit pieces even after mixing. My understanding is fruit pieces added to the leaf are just visual anyway, as the flavor does not come from them. Again looking at the bowl, I was afraid it would not all fit back in the tin but it did.

Round two, with new mixed leaf, boiling water, and a 4 minute steep. The leaf aroma and dark root beer colored brew are the same. Mixing has changed the flavor slightly. I do get a light warm chocolate and hints of banana. The pepperiness has moved was into the background. The apple seems to be adding just a slight tartness at the end of the sip. None of these flavors are bold. The interesting thing about this blend for me is how the additions have tamed the rooibos. Yes, it has the aroma of red tea but the flavor is pleasantly mellow. This is not the decadently flavored dessert I was expecting, rather this is a quiet mellow moment sip. I easily finished my second cup as well.

You can find Chocolate Banana Rooibos here.  

Solstice Brews, Cancer- Caramel Pecan Rooibos Tea

Solstice Brews Description:
Comforting. Rich. Creamy.
Cancers are a big fan of comfort foods, hence why this decadent treat is modeled after pecan pie.
Box of 15 tea bags
Ingredients: Rooibos, Caramel pieces, Pecan oil, Red Clover Blossoms

Price: $4.00

Sample provided by Solstice Brews

My Review:

This is the second of three Solstice Brews teas I will be reviewing. This is from their astrology line. This is also a rooibos blend. I have not reviewed a 'red' tea in a long time. Not actually a tea since it contains no camellia sinensis leaf. Rooibos is a bush grown in South Africa. It starts out green and is oxidized similarly to tea resulting in the familiar red color.

I poured boiling water over the bag and steeped for 6 minutes before tasting. I actually left the bag in the cup the entire time I was sipping. The brew is the familiar dark reddish brown. Likewise the scent is familiar to all who have tasted rooibos.

As an aside, I have heard various pronunciations of rooibos. The preferred, I believe, being roy-bus. Feel free to disagree.

Tasting is immediately rooibos. Of course, if you have never done so, that means little. It is very difficult to describe. Instead of a horizontal palette, I think of rooibos as a vertical spike. It is sweet like honey, woodsy, spicy - kind of like cinnamon, and caramel. Honestly it is its own thing and you will have to experience it yourself to decide if it appeals to you.

Where as a straight rooibos often grabs the back of my throat like sandpaper, a good blend will calm that behavior down. This is such a blend. After the initial spike of red tea it mellows into a pecan and caramel mixture. I don't know what the red clover is doing in the mix but I assume adding a touch of sweetness. 

I found myself pulling the cup away from my lips to look at it and contemplate. That is a good thing. This was different, interesting, and delicious.

If you have a dislike of all things rooibos, be warned. This is definitely red tea. If you find it comforting and you are avoiding caffeine, this is a warm rich blend. Nicely done.

Visit the Solstice Brews website.

Nina’s Teas USA, Taurus

Nina’s Teas USA Description:
Strawberry pieces, strawberry and cream flavors

My Review:

So, if someone asks you if you would like a cup of rooibos, what is your immediate reaction? Too often the reaction is - No thanks. My own take is generally, it's OK and if offered I'd try it. 

That is exactly what happened with this sample. Nina's asked members of Steepster who would be willing to try this blend. I'm no fool, I said pick me, pick me!

I have come to respect Nina's Teas USA as being masters at crafting a wonderful and elegant tasting cup. Let's see if they can blend rooibos in the same magical way. 

The sample looks like standard rooibos. There is only a slight scent, but nothing that really grabs my attention. I poured the sample into my Finum basket, boiled some water and poured into the cup. The steep was around 4 minutes.

I took the first sip and was totally surprised. I don't taste rooibos. Instead this is a very light cup of strawberry. It reminds me of the wild strawberries that grow in our fence row. It is slightly green tasting, not at all tart. This is very nice. I passed the cup to my wife. She said, "ooh strawberry but its kind of light". My son took a sip and also thought of wild strawberry. 

At this point I added some sweetener. OH WOW! I don't care if you never add sweetener - just do it! This is amazing. The cup now explodes with flavor. It is like a big juicy bowl of sweet strawberries and cream. I do catch a slight woodsy aftertaste of the rooibos. It blends so well with the berry and cream that you won't mind. There is no tartness from the berries and no rough edges from the rooibos.

I am impressed at how really good this tastes. This is a caffeine free tisane you can actually look forward to sipping.

Nina's Paris has been blending masterful fragrances for 300 years. They have brought this mastery to their USA tea line. You can currently find their offerings on Amazon. They plan to open an ecommerce webstore at ninasteastore.

The Republic of Tea, Good Hope Vanilla

The Republic of Tea Description:

Tea for Inspiration - Naturally caffeine-free Rooibos is indigenous to the cape region of South Africa, which includes The Cape of Good Hope. We offer you Good Hope Vanilla, a blend of rooibos and sweet, fragrant vanilla beans. This caffeine-free infusion is sweet, satisfying and “good” all day long.

My Review:

I sipped this one as the last cup of the day. This is the bagged version. Technically this is not tea - being a rooibos it is an herbal or tisane (the terms are interchangeable). Rooibos is a South African bush that is dried and oxidized similar to black tea. It is caffeine free.

The taste of rooibos (pronounced roy bus - according to my sources) is really difficult to explain. I asked on Steepster how others describe the taste. Gmathis said, "A little fruity without the fruit flavor? Sharp, sweet roots? You’re right. It’s hard to categorize." JacquelineM added, "I always think of rooibos as “depth” or “heft” or “body” — I have been drinking it flavored these past few years and I’m having a hard time thinking of adjectives to describe it plain (sweet wood?)!" So obviously I am not the only one having a hard time finding words. To me it seems kind of spicy but sweet. The sip can have a harshness that makes me image tasting cedar sawdust (not that I ever have).

So there you have it. Now that you know exactly what rooibos tastes like (ha!) let's see how this version by Republic of Tea fares.

Republic of Tea packages their individual bags in these huge square and colorful envelopes. When you remove the bag it is tagless, round, and flat. They always look disappointingly thin because they contain 1/3 less leaf than most American tea bags. I used just off boiling water and steeped for 4-5 minutes.

What did I think? It is a little strange to say, but apparently my favorite cup from Republic of Tea so far, is not a tea but a rooibos. I don’t drink a lot of rooibos but this one I thought was really pretty good. The tiny bag just maybe did it a favor. The vanilla is not very strong but hits at the perfect amount to take the harsh edge off the late sip and add just enough flavor to be pleasing. This sells for about $10/36 bags, or $0.27/cup. I know it is less than half a can of Coke, but compared to many teas I drink it seems a little high.  If they would cut their prices, I might be tempted to keep this around. If you can buy this locally at a fair price, it is a very nice red tea that you can enjoy late night without worrying about it keeping you awake.

The Persimmon Tree, Peach Apple Crisp

The Persimmon Tree Description:
Our Peach Apple Crisp tea offers a flavorful and clean blend of black loose-leaf teas and crisp apple tea flavor while mixing fruity notes of white peach, gala apple, cinnamon, and provides a crisp floral finish.

Ingredients:
Biodynamic Black Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Nilgiri Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Assam Loose-Leaf Tea, Organic Orange Peel, Fair Trade Organic Rooibos, Roses, Organic Hibiscus, Safflower, Natural Flavors, Apple Crisp Tea Flavor, Peach Crisp

Price: $11.99/2oz


Sample provided by The Persimmon Tree for review.

My Review:
This very generous 1oz sample arrived in a tall, skinny round tin. It is a nice looking and I will be keeping these tins for future storage. The dry leaf looks just like the picture. Its scent is pleasant of fruit and flowers. It is not at all overpowering.

I used a scoop of leaf in my press with 12oz of near boiling water. I steeped for an estimated 3 minutes. I was busy and forgot to set the timer. The liquor is bronze. I can smell the black tea in the wet leaf. That always makes me happy.

Drawing the cup to my lips and breathing the aroma I catch rose and peach. I also detect the rooibos in the nose but I cannot detect it in the sip. The flavors of the ingredients is very mild. I may not have gotten the time/temp/leaf ratios correct. Even so, I like this.

I can catch brief instances of orange and cinnamon late in the sip. I catch the tea base most in the aftertaste. I am not noticing the hibiscus at all but then I am not overtly sensitive to it. At first I didn't think I was catching the granny smith apple. Then I realized it was flowing right between the rose and the peach.

Normally I associate peach and apple teas with a much bolder flavor. I will try this again with hotter water and a longer steep but honestly if it doesn't increase the fruit flavor I am OK with it, as this is a very nice cup as is. There is no bitterness. Nothing sour, or off. The base is slightly drying without any rough edges. Well done!


Visit the webpage for Peach Apple Crisp tea.


About The Persimmon Tree:
(From their website) The Persimmon Tree® offers our customers some of the world's finest organic teas and botanicals. Not only are most of our fresh high quality teas from around the globe hand-blended and organically grown, some of our teas are also fair trade, ensuring fair working conditions, fair wages, and a better life for tea workers from countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

At The Persimmon Tree®, our mission is simple: to enrich people's lives through the pleasure of tea.

Utopia Tea, Rooibos Root beer

The ingredients listed on the sample pack are Organic rooibos, vanilla, cinnamon, sassafras root, and natural flavors.

What’s not to like here? This is listed a couple different places on Utopia’s website. One of those places is children’s teas. With good reason. It’s that much fun.

This is my third sample provided by Utopia Tea. The sample is .3oz and contains enough for two servings. The sample is well labeled. As with all the samples I was left confused on how I should open it. Should I cut off the top? The side? A bottom corner? I opted for cutting off the top so I could paper clip it closed after the first cup. I know it is a minor point.

I used half the leaf and steeped in my Finum basket. Made two cups. The taste is first vanilla followed by sassafras. My palate isn’t sensitive enough to catch the cinnamon by itself but so what if it blends in nicely with everything else. The rooibos is present in the sip but it blends well with the other flavors. Does it taste like root beer? Well, it might come close if you used carbonated water. Mostly this is just a fun, balanced, I would drink this often, cup. I added Splenda but it was a bit sweet on its own and isn’t necessary.

With the last half of the sample I had to try something I read on the label on the back of the sample. I steeped up my cup, let it get cold, and added a scoop of ice cream! Since this is a root beer inspired tea you have to think of it as a root beer inspired float. Cold I notice the rooibos a lot more. It takes on a darker kind of taste. I drank it pretty much straight down. If you are expecting a real root beer float you will be disappointed. If you are expecting a flavored rooibos ice cream treat, this is a fun one.

Republic Of Tea, Strawberry Chocolate

Ingredients: rooibos, carob, cocoa kernels, natural chocolate flavor, natural strawberry flavor, sweet blackberry leaves, and bourbon vanilla beans

I have to be honest, I went in to the tasting of this tea with a bad attitude. I am not a big fan of RoT. Generally speaking, I find the bag size is too small and the price tag is too high. Also when I think strawberry and chocolate, I think Neapolitan ice cream. I really don’t care for Neapolitan ice cream. This tea doesn’t stand a chance.

Steeped for 5 minutes. First taste was ok but a bit bland. Added sweetener (which is my usual habit). Sipped again. I have to say, this isn’t bad. In fact I kind of like it. Read the label and noticed this is rooibos. I tried but I can’t taste rooibos in this at all. It is just a pleasant mix of strawberry and chocolate actually more cocoa, with a hint of vanilla. It tastes natural to me, not fake or candy. It is rich enough to enjoy, yet not overbearing in the cup. This is not something I would drink everyday but it is a pleasant caffeine free calorie free desert drink. Glad I tried it.

Yogi, Chai Rooibos

The ingredients listed on the bag include: organic rooibos leaf, organic cardamom seed, organic cinnamon bark, organic ginger root, organic clove bud, and organic stevia leaf.

Over the years I have picked up a handful of Yogi bags from the try me free display at the local world food mart. I have never cared much for any of them once they were brewed. My expectations are rather low, even though I like all the ingredients except I could do without the stevia (it is bitter).

I open the envelope and the bag smells nice but seems a bit thin. The instructions say to use boiling water and a 5 to 10 minute steep. I went 7 1/2. The bag actually plumped up nicer than expected. The brew is a murky reddish brown, typical of rooibos.

Wow, this isn’t bad. The flavors are pretty well balanced. Ok, the clove seems a little more obvious but I am ok with that. I have never had cardamom by itself but as I understand it tastes similar to clove and cinnamon. The rooibos is present in the sip but acts more as supporting cast rather than the star. I am ok with that as well. There is a bit of numbing mouth feel that I am going to attribute to the ginger. This is much better than expected. A nice rooibos chai.

Fusion Tea Room, Pumpkin Rooibos

From Fusion Tea Room:

This autumnal blend of genuine pumpkin pieces, sweet potato, freshly hand-milled fall spices, toasted sweet brown rice and organic South African rooibos provides a wonderfully warming seasonal dessert tea that is perfect by itself or with a splash of cream or milk.

Ingredients: organic honeybush, organic rooibos, buckwheat, mace, ginger, toasted rice, cinnamon, candied peanuts, pumpkin pieces, sweet potato, caramel pieces, pumpkin seeds, natural flavors, stevia leaf

This is a rooibos, honeybush blend. Normally, I would try this tisane in the fall but this was included in my samples, so what the heck. I open the sample pouch and I am immediately hit with a wonderful smell like gingerbread. Awesome, now I can’t wait to brew this one.

The dry mix is, well, a bit strange looking. There is the red leaf of honeybush and rooibos. Then there are tiny tan cubes and little white puffs that look like Rice Krispies. There are also slices of seeds. I used a healthy 2tsp of ‘leaf’ for a 12oz mug and steeped in my press for 9 minutes. The brew is a muddy orange red. This smells so good.

I am no expert but just in case, possible allergy warning – this contains cinnamon candied peanuts and ginger.

The sip is rooibos and honeybush at the beginning, followed by ginger mixing with the other spices. At the tail of the sip and especially in the aftertaste you get the pumpkin and sweet potato. This is a delicious and awesomely aromatic rooibos blend. I tried this one at work, so I did not have any milk to add to it which I imagine would have really set this off. It does contain some stevia leaf so take it easy on any sweeteners you might add as I think you could easily overdrive this one. If you are a fan of this type ‘tea’, this one is a winner.

Sample provided by Fusion Tea Room. First time customers at the time of this writing could get 10% off their first order by entering the code 10off.

Fusion Tea Room, Carrot Cake Rooibos

I don’t remember the last time I had rooibus and I have never had honeybush before, which is also listed as being in here. I looked at the dry leaf and wondered, am I supposed to drink this or eat it? There are whole walnuts, raisins, and pieces of carrot in the mix. The leaf (bark, whatever rooibus and honeybush are) looks kind of like redwood chips. The steeping pot smells awesome. This would make a great potpourri if it weren’t tasty. Steeped 9 minutes per instructions printed on label.

In the pot this is murky, reddish brown, and mysterious. The cup smells kind of rooibus but with the spices it takes on more of a cherry aroma. There is no bitterness, and nothing harsh. No one flavor really jumps out. All of this mixes together really well. The rooibus is tamed, so it is not the horse stall straw taste I normally associate it with. I can’t say anything in this makes me think carrot cake other than the name on the label. That being said, the aroma is wonderful. The taste is solid and well thought out. Normally when there is this many ingredients (11 listed) I find it over done, but that isn’t the case here. This is an excellently flavored rooibus. Hey, and the after cup aroma is amazing as well. The second cup was just as tasty as the first. Seriously good.