Tea Embassy in Austin, TX had a page on rooibos (red bush) tea and its health benefits (If interested you'll need to scroll to the bottom to read all of it). Rooibos tea is an herbal tisane made from the red bush which grows in South Africa. They said it's becoming popular in the US. It's on the fair trade list, so if I bought one with the fair trade stamp I would be making a contribution to the economic welfare of another country. The page spoke authoritatively and persuasively, so I decided to try some.
There were several brands in the grocery store I went to (Sun Harvest), including one that was both organic and fair trade. That brand was the most expensive costing almost $6 USD for 15 teabags. Rooibos seems to come blended with stuff a lot, and in two different colors. There were both red and green varieties. Sun Harvest didn't have many blends, although Tea Embassy's web page has quite a few. One I did see was rooibos mixed with honeybush. Numi had a plain variety, and I wanted to know if I liked the basic herb, so that's what I bought. Numi's packaging attributed an "earthy vanilla" flavor to it. Tea Embassy said the tea was slightly sweet.
Well, I've just had my first cup and.....hmmm. Took a whiff and it smells like Camphor. A very tentative first sip didn't taste sweet, but, as had been promised, with its low tannin content it didn't taste bitter either. It tasted better than it smelled. Next I sweetened it and that was an improvement. What I got was a kind of minty vanilla taste. That's not bad, the mint was a surprise though, no mention of it on the box. There is a hint of earthiness that's hard to describe. Its a faint darkness that sits on your tongue, a little heavier than smoke but too light to be substance. Rooibos wasn't an instant hit, but it's intriguing and it's growing on me. Halfway through the cup I found I liked it better cooled.
If you've got experience with this tea and any of the variety of blends I'd like to hear your take on it. Which is the best blend? Should I have gotten the green variety?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
New Tea Taste Test (Can you say that 5 times real fast?)
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13 comments:
Sounds interesting, Lee. I have no experience with this tea, being a French roast coffee devotee. When I do drink tea, I'm fond of herbal ginger-lemon (unsweetened).
I'll have to go looking for your ginger-lemon, San. Which brand makes it?
Let me know if you decide to explore this tea. I can snail mail you a bag. :)
Hugs!
I believe the brand is Stash.
I'll let you know...
San, I do Stash tea. I've got their chai, fusion (green and white), and chamomile. Just hadn't gotten to the Ginger-Lemon. I also like Tazo tea. Their Zen and Wild Sweet Orange are both good.
Thanks! & Hugs!
Lee:
I'm not so much interested in the tea taste test, but I found your post to be an example of the kind of writing at which you excel: clear-spoken, informative, with a good sense of your personality (the "personality" of your writer's mind, say). It's this voice, whether reviewing a tea experience, discussing ways to green, or reviewing books - and any number of other topics - that I think will serve you quite well in creating, if you choose, a more (hate this word) "professional" blog. (Nothing at all wrong with unprofessional blogs: I've got a fondness for them.)
Write on.
LOL I hate that word "professional" too, Paschal. Gives me this ugly, flat, grey suited image that has no depth and wouldn't know an original thought to save it's soul.
By the way, if the new blog appears it's taking it's opening title from your earlier description of me, Renaissance Woman. Somehow when I say it it sounds right, a good fit. Thanks!
Thanks also for the perspective on my voice. Spent some time today putting together a list of writing skills. True to form it turned out to be more comprehensive than I'd imagined. :)
Peace!
I love my tea plain Lee...maybe just a splash of milk...no sugar or lemon in hot tea...and definitely don't want mint gumming up the works...so I can say that I wouldn't like it, trying it wouldn't change my mind, lol...camphor? Maybe in the cedar closet, not in my tea...okay okay, I'm a tea snob...I got that awfully bad habit from my Scots Great Grandmother, I'm afraid lol...she of High Tea Fame and Fear
hugs
Sandi
And I like my tea sweet, Sandi...with or without milk...and sometimes lemon if its over ice. My grandmother used to stick a couple of mint leaves on the edge of the glasses when she set the table for the family. It was a very gracious southern gesture.
Rituals such as tea are things we grow up with, so I'm not surprised that your grandmother set your tea tastes for life. Mine set my coffee tastes by serving me cafe ole when I was young.
I don't know where I picked up the desire to try different types of tea and coffee, but it is reflective of my desire to explore life and try new things even if I only do the thing once. :)
Hugs!
Lee
OHOH, I forgot to say, I love your Signature! Very bold and outspoken! love it!
hugs
Sandi
Thanks Sandi! I got the idea from you! Red's long been my favorite color.
Hugs!
Guess what, Lee? I peeked in the cupboard yesterday and discovered that Bennie had purchased some red bush tea. Looks like you won't need to mail me a sample after all!
Bennie used to be a French roast devotee too, but heartburn compelled him to give up the habit. Now he's a herbal tea kind of guy.
Cool San! Give it a try and let me know what you think. Did Bennie like it?
I've never been a french roast fan. It's too dark and heavy for me. I prefer medium to light roasts with bright notes. Gee...doesn't that sound like a coffee connoisseur? LOL
Hope you're having a good day!
Hugs!
The box of red bush is yet to be opened. I'll see what he says when he tries it.
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