Caramel Apple Cider Rooibos

I had stored this packet sealed, but I fear that age may have still taken its toll, because I’m not getting much flavor from it. It smells quite nice in the bag, but even overleafed and steeped for a very long time, I am not getting apple or caramel. I do pick up a fruity note that is probably the apple, but somehow I’m tasting it as pear instead. The spices are nice and quite present, particularly the cinnamon and allspice. I’m not getting caramel at all. The tea is pretty rooibos-heavy in flavor, which is fine for me (I like red rooibos) but would probably be a bit much for others. It was tasty, but I definitely got “spiced pear” instead of “caramel apple cider.”

(52teas (Anne) 2022: 143)

C is for… Caramel Apple Cider!

One of the more flavoured/better-tasting rooibos teas I’ve had in a while. It has that… red wood sort of rooibos flavour, without the medicinal edge, alongside a fairly distinct apple cider flavour. Not really picking up caramel, but it does taste “sweet”, which might be where it’s hiding. Not bad for a rooibos!

Cold Brew Sipdown (1417)!

I think I like this better as a hot tea (more caramel) but it was still very good cold brewed. The apple was sweet and juicy and reminded me more of a crisp hard cider, but with that honeyed note of the rooibos. I also tasted much more allspice as a cold brew, which I thought was a pleasant addition to the cup – and I especially liked that I was getting those spice notes without it coming off as a heavily spiced tea. It was clear but light, and let that apple note really shine and be the star.

Sipdown!

Yay, this was the last one from my October subscription box! Now I can start on the November teas! \o/

This one is just okay for me. It actually reminds me more of a dry hard cider than the usual nonalcoholic kind? There’s something that feels effervescent about it, and it’s not really sweet. I don’t get caramel either, aside from the subtle natural notes of the rooibos itself. There’s also a weird banana flavor? Which obviously seems out of place.

It’s a bit odd, but not unpleasant. There were definitely others that I liked better from this month!

I dislike rooibos, but I still try them anyway. Especially when they’re in my 52Teas subscription. Unfortunately for me, the rooibos flavor is strong here. It’s pretty much rooibos and…bananas? It tastes like bananas, not apple or caramel.