Might as well try the last sample from RiverTea tonight – that way I can place my order as soon as possible! Yay!
I think they picked this one out for me because I requested flavoured teas, and cherry was one of the flavours I particularly named (they sent two cherry teas and a lychee tea – both of which I named specifically as flavours I was interested in). Although, even though this is described as a cherry tea, interestingly enough cherry is not directly named as an ingredient. To me that says that the cherry is part of the “flavouring”. I’m still game, though!
Visually, this tea is stunning. The colours are so vibrant and fun, and there’s some really great contrast. As far as the dry smell goes, it’s a kind of woody rooibos smell (you know, characteristic rooibos) with a jumbled fruit smell – nothing so specific I’d be able to name any of the fruits in the blend with confidence had I not already looked at the ingredients list. And, speaking of the ingredients list – it semi concerns me there’s peppercorns in this? I don’t really smell any spice, but cherry/peppercorn/orange doesn’t sound uber appealing to me?
I’m following the steeping guide set by RiverTea, so the following: 1 tsp. of leaf for 8 oz. of boiling water, steeped for six(ish) minutes. The smell of the steeped tea is significantly more fruity with clear orange notes (like an orange creamsicle), strawberry notes, and cherry notes. There’s also a very mild and subtle spiciness to the tea, and some creaminess that I think the cornflower is contributing. It smells VERY good.
Tre distracted me for a few minutes, and then kept touching my tea tins (the tins don’t like to be touched!) so it was a while before I actually got to start sipping away at my tea! Boo :(
However, when I did finally sip it, I was just blown away by how delicious it was! The fruit notes are very full and well defined – and also quite well balanced. I’m not totally sure why this is being marketed as a cherry rooibos tea, because while I do taste the cherry clearly (I’m pretty confidant that if I was blinding tasting this I’d be able to name it as cherry), I also get clear notes of orange, strawberry, and subtle hints of raspberry. It works very well. Nothing medicinal about the cherry, and all the fruits tastes sweet and juicy – but not cloying. There is a nice creaminess to the tea and a thicker sort of mouthfeel, and the peppercorn makes itself known in a very subtle and gentle was as this sort of very feint kind of spicy “tickle” that greets you in the end sip and aftertaste, without lingering long enough to become uncomfortable. I don’t think I had any reason to be concerned.
As far as the rooibos base goes, I definitely get nothing that could be considered medicinal, and the woodiness that is there is super subtle (hardly even present, really). So if you’re not typically a fan of rooibos, this might be worth checking out anyway.
I think this might be my favourite RiverTea blend yet – and it really does taste exactly like the website describes it. I feel that this is very well done, and I’m glad to have tried my sample prior to ordering, because this is something I definitely want some more of!
