Holiday Tea-son! Third tea from my advent calendar, which was one of Bird & Blend’s holiday blends from last year. It’s one of those hibi-hip spice blends so I imagine everyone else is going to hate this one, but I happen to love those. The dry leaf smelled heavy on the orange and spice and reminded me of a blend I’d sipped down just a few months ago when I was fighting off a minor throat cold, Tea Chai Te’s Orange Zephyr, which was an orange/tangerine flavored hibiscus ginger blend. I always loved that tea on my throat. Though this tea smells a little more heavy on the clove than the ginger.
My teabag apparently didn’t have much hibi in it, since my steeped tea was very weak in color, it looked a pale lavender color. I’m sure this news will make every other person on Steepster rejoice, since I’m apparently one of about five people on the whole site that actually likes hibiscus, but if I knew it was going to be like that I would’ve cut the bag open, put it in my gravity well infuser, and added a bit more hibi petal from my stash myself. Is it really supposed to look like that? * checks their Instagram * Nope, definitely should be a nice, deep red. Welp, nothing to do for it now but drink it as is…
…Yup, it’s really weak. Needs the hibi. It’s like the whole base is just missing. It tastes too oily and watery without it. I’m getting a strong orange flavor, and a nice spice mix, but there is no substance. I wonder if I tried steeping a bag of hibiscus into this cup of already steeped tea, if I could somehow salvage this, because this is pretty much undrinkable as is…
Blech. I’ve got to try.
Alright, 1/4 teaspoon hibi is going in the cup until it turns a proper red. Fingers crossed.
The cup has turned a slightly darker red just from adding that small amount of hibiscus and is no longer that that pale, pale lavender… and the taste is already drastically improved. She has a pulse! It actually has a base now! Honestly, I probably should’ve added a bit more, but I wasn’t sure what the actual blend was supposed to have and didn’t want to over do it and drown out the flavors, either. But now this is actually drinkable! There is a slight fruitiness to bring out that orange flavor and for it to mix with, so it doesn’t just taste like oily orange water, and the clove and ginger compliments it very nicely.
Still a little unimpressed to get such a bad blend in my teabag, though. Of all the people to receive that teabag, I was probably the one person to not enjoy getting a hibi cider with no hibi, while everyone else would’ve cried tears of joy if that happened to them. Go figure.
(On the plus side, I’m probably also the only person able to fix that problem, since I own plain hibiscus flower, and no one else would…)
Flavors: Citrus, Clove, Fruity, Ginger, Orange, Spicy, Tangy
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I also have plain hibiscus! So. Much. Hibiscus. I bought a big bag from an herbal tea vendor a million years ago, and it goes so far and lasts so long, I will never ever ever not have hibi. I will be passing down antique hibi for generations to come. :P
Hahaha! Yes, write that hibi into your will for your grandchildren, I’m sure they will appreciate it! _ hands out your “Welcome to the Hibiscus Rescue Habitat Society” badge We are a select few on Steepster. Cherish it.
I also have plain hibiscus! So. Much. Hibiscus. I bought a big bag from an herbal tea vendor a million years ago, and it goes so far and lasts so long, I will never ever ever not have hibi. I will be passing down antique hibi for generations to come. :P
Hahaha! Yes, write that hibi into your will for your grandchildren, I’m sure they will appreciate it! _ hands out your “Welcome to the Hibiscus Rescue Habitat Society” badge We are a select few on Steepster. Cherish it.