Pink Flamingo

I’ve been drinking this tea since day one, so it’s a shame I didn’t get around to writing about it earlier. Now that I’m at the end of my tin, I think it’s time to talk.

This is a very, very fruity tea from David’s Tea. Dry, it smells amazing. Very strong lemon and orange scents with a hint of something very different – my guess is the eucalyptus. As the tea’s steeping, it goes from a light, lovely pink to a deeper, richer almost-red pink (hence the name). Steeped, it smells incredible: a very light, sweet citrus scent. It’s important to mention that the leaves and grass in this tea are very pesky. Without a very fine infuser, you’ll end up with bits of green floating around your mug.

This tea is pretty delicious! A great replacement for a summer juice, since it tastes very much like a light, unsweetened lemonade. After taking a sip, the zest stays on the back of my tongue, a little sour. It’s a very flavourful tea, and I usually steep it for the maximum suggested time to get everything I can out of those dried fruits! I definitely prefer this tea with a little sugar or honey though. It becomes a little less sour, while still maintaining its strong citrus taste.

If citrus is your thing, then this tea is great. More specifically, if lemon is your thing. Personally, the sour notes in this tea are a little much for me, so I don’t think I’ll be refilling my tea tin anytime soon.

So, add me to the listen of people who didn’t know how dangerous over-steeping hibiscus could be. Because yiiiiiiikes, this tea…

After being introduced to cold steeping by Steepster and successfully attempting it for a few teas with Angusexpired, I thought I’d try this cold steeped. Results: not good. I used two teaspoons, like the instructions say, then I put two icecubes in a mug with the infuser and pouring some fresh water on it. I let it steep for about half an hour. The one good thing I can say about it? The colour was fantastic. It brews a gloriously saturated magenta-pink, and as a pink lover, I was incredibly happy—until I actually tasted it.

It was horrifically tart and bitter, with a strange basic texture that I can only describe as flat. I usually don’t mind hibiscus as long as the tea its in isn’t too tart, but yeesh; if it was really due to the hibiscus being over-steeped, I might withdraw my membership to the hibiscus club.

I decided to not give up, because I love how this tea smells dry (an absolutely amazing, intoxicating orange-y fruit cocktail), but I’m still not a big fan of this tea, even brewed the normal way.

I only used 1 and a quarter teaspoons and let it steep for six minutes, being careful not to let it oversteep. Once it cooled enough for my liking I did enjoy it more, but I’m just not a fan of Pink Flamingo. It just tasted predominantly of hibiscus and nothing else. Right now I’m getting a rather savory flavour, I’m assuming from the beetroot and carrot, but it’s nowhere near as orange-y and fruity as it smells. Maybe some agave or honey would help deal with the tartness, but I can’t see it helping with the other lack of flavour.

What I actually found really fascinating was that the liquor when brewed hot was much, much darker and had more depth than the liquor from the cold-steeping. The magenta had heavier purple tones, and my best guess is that regular brewing and cold steeping activate different ingredients in the tea.

All in all I’m INCREDIBLY disappointed with this tea. I was willing to overlook the use of artificial flavouring, and maybe I’ll give it a higher rating if a sweetener helps… but I’m just not a fan.

Day 39 in my 101 days of DAVIDsTEA challenge.

1tbsp in my 2-cupper. Didn’t pay attention to steep time so haven’t put it down.

I found this a little strong, even though it was brewed as instructed. The flavour was wonderful, but I think it tastes better brewed with a little less “leaf” put in. That being said, the colour is a beautiful deep pink, and the flavour isn’t bad.

The best way to describe the taste of this tea is as a hot version of pink lemonade. …at least if you’re not having it iced. There is a lovely level of tartness to this, and the colour is very playful — this is the first pink tea I ever had (though through DAVIDs I’ve had a handful of others since). I’m glad it’s come back — it’s certainly deserving. Not bad on a resteep either, though of course nowhere near as powerful as the first time around (especially in colour).

So I finished my exam today and on my way home I picked up some samples of tea today as a reward to myself =). Starting with this one, after tons of black tea and coffee the last few days I decided to have a cup of this before bed.

Anyways, I love the colour that it makes like a deep pink-red, it smells amazing too like grapefruit actually. It’s very citrus-y and kind of reminds me of pink lemonade but more like grapefruit lemonade. I was scared when i read the ingredients list: carrot flakes, this ruined the Forbidden Fruit for me so i was concerned that it might to the same for this tea, however I never tasted any of it so all good. It tastes just slighty sour but I guess I don’t mind it being that it really reminds me of a real fruit. It’s hard to pick up all the flavours when it is still hot, and I have to say tastes better when it has cooled down. I am sure it will taste better in summer to have it iced. So yea, this one will be a pickup for me I think I’ll get a tin of it… I haven’t tried the goji pop yet, but this appealed to me more, and for now, it has won me over.

One downside, you gotta use more substance like more than normal tea, Apple chunks and stuff, it’s kinda heavy could be a concern cost-wise.

I received this as a sample in my Davids Tea order. I’m really surprised I like this, I normally don’t like anything with lemongrass in it. It is very fruity tasting, but doesn’t just taste like warm fruit juice or jello. Very refreshing and interesting. Prepared with stevia.

I don’t know why DavidsTea doesn’t mention that this tea tastes EXACTLY like grapefruit. Not even a whisper of its likeness is detailed in the tea’s description! It’s even got a colour that’s similar to grapefruit once it’s steeped! Silly David’s Tea.

… but yes, my review of this is ‘it tastes like grapefruit’.
Oh, and it’s better iced with lots of agave nectar. =P Like the (grape)fruit, it deserves to be served cold and doused in sugar.

I have a cold, this seems to be the most soothing delicious part of healing this doosy of a cold, the lemon is just a dream.

Hot Ribena + Halls Cherry cough drop = Pink Flamingo. Not necessarily a bad thing, if as I do you like both those things, but this is a very tart, almost artificial tasting hibiscus/strawberry tea. I had a hot cup today and probably left the bag in too long as it was cheek-twingeingly sour. Could be good if you’re feeling coldy.

Lurve this tea <3 I have enjoyed it hot and cold so far and look forward to having it as a summer staple! I love the colour of it and the little bit of beetroot adds something secret and delicious you might not guess at first. I may use a sweetener on my next batch of cold though.

Delish! Tried this today iced for the first time and I loved it! Tart, not too sweet :) Definitely will be making more of this!