Much thanks to teaplz for the chance to try this tea! Honestly, since it is rooibos and banana, I never would taken the risk of buying this on my own. But is has ‘monkey’ in the name, so I really wanted to.
Right off the bat I’m a little nervous. The leaves smell like it has gone off. I don’t think it has actually gone bad. I think that’s the rooibos. And the fright grows once I pour the tea into my cup. I was hoping for some chocolate or even some monkey. But instead it looks like I get full on rooibos. I’m scared. Hold me.
Sipping it’s not quite as horrible as the smell. There is… taste… before the rooibos hits. The problem is, when the rooibos hits, it hits hard. And it doesn’t blend with or accentuate the other flavors that pop up at the beginning of the sip. It battles against them and kicks their collective butt. The initial smell is now banana and rooibos and then the sip is banana and then rooibos and then ROOIBOS. Where’s my chocolate? And I can’t pick out the apple (though maybe that’s some of the sweetness at the beginning with the quick banana taste) or the pink peppercorns (and they are pink! I wanted to pick them out!)
Ultimately this is too much rooibos for me. The other tastes in the tea are too mild to make the rooibos step back so it just ends up being too much for me to deal with well. I’ll be able to finish the cup but I don’t think I’m going to be crying out for more rooibos monkey.
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Completely unrelated: the thumbnail of the picture of this tea looks like an insect that is leaning to the left.
Also, too bad about the tea. I mean…it’s chocolate! And monkey! Come on, tea!
I have that same problem with rooibos. I’ve only tried a handful of blends that have it that I really like.
@takgoti – Your mind scares me sometimes but I mean that with love. And you are right… it’s a leaning insect. And I can’t stop staring.
@fcmonroe – Can you suggest some blends that you’ve had luck with? I like the idea of decaf rooibos (or other) blends to have at night, I’m just having trouble finding things that I’d actually want to drink.
Auggy, Lena may also have some suggestions for you too. She’s got some that she likes, I think. :)
Thanks! I will go stalk Lena for some ideas!
Completely unrelated: the thumbnail of the picture of this tea looks like an insect that is leaning to the left.
Also, too bad about the tea. I mean…it’s chocolate! And monkey! Come on, tea!
I have that same problem with rooibos. I’ve only tried a handful of blends that have it that I really like.
@takgoti – Your mind scares me sometimes but I mean that with love. And you are right… it’s a leaning insect. And I can’t stop staring.
@fcmonroe – Can you suggest some blends that you’ve had luck with? I like the idea of decaf rooibos (or other) blends to have at night, I’m just having trouble finding things that I’d actually want to drink.
Auggy, Lena may also have some suggestions for you too. She’s got some that she likes, I think. :)
Thanks! I will go stalk Lena for some ideas!