I was never a big fan of gingerbread growing up… but at some point my palate expanded and gingerbread became a favorite of mine during winter. So when I saw this one come out from DT’s this “holiday” season (seriously it’s only November people! Granted I saw Christmas decorations in Costco back in July/August but really!! Sorry the commercialization of holidays, Christmas in particular is a bit of a soapbox topic for me… ) … Anyways, when I saw this one come out I just had to try it.
I definitely get “gingerbread” when I smell the dry version of this tea. As some others have noted it does (somewhat) resemble DT’s Red Velvet Cake in smell but only in the sense that I get a “cake” scent out of the flavorings, rather than anything else. The ginger is more subtle then I was expecting as well but there are enough high notes from the pineapple and sweet ones from the currants and honeybush that they could be breaking up the spice of the ginger.
Steeped the infusion comes out clear and red (though not as red as I’m used to seeing from a rooibos, though I’m sure that is influenced by the amount of green rooibos in the blend.) The ginger scent becomes even more subtle at this point and I start to get some of those darker molasses notes that DT promised. I’m still not sure about the inclusion of the green rooibos, I’m getting some definite grassy notes underneath it all that just don’t mesh well with the rest of the scent profile.
As for the flavor of the tea… yes it’s definitely gingerbread but I was really hoping for more ginger, it’s a bit… well, bland compared to my expectations. Otherwise it hits all the right notes, there’s just enough hits from the pineapple to brighten things up; the currents and honeybush mix well to give a lovely sweet tea that needs no additives; and the safflower enhances the bit of spice from the ginger and cinnamon. I do wish though that they had gone with a straight red rooibos blend rather than mixing in the green… there’s still those grassy notes that don’t quite fit for me.
Overall quite a nice tea, different from other rooibos blends that I’ve had so far. I just wish there was a touch more ginger in it.
