Rooibos (Organic)

I’m pretty sure there has to be another entry for this tea somewhere but after five minutes I couldn’t find it, so I’ll be the first to rate it and note it here.

This is my first time drinking straight rooibos. The closest I’ve come before this was some horrid Tetley vanilla infused “red tea” bag over a year ago that was so bad I tossed the container after one cup.

Drinking this as a straight, I can definitely now realize where the rooibos flavour is in all the blended versions I’ve tried. This is deep and earthy and unique, and yet lovely at the same time. I can see why it blends so well with cinnamon now, because I just want to sprinkle some across my cup before I sip.

Since this is my first straight red rooibos, I can’t judge quality, but it definitely seems to me to be a good one, compared to the flavoured rooibos I’ve tried before. For drinking it straight, though, I think I prefer it in green form.

I used to be unsure if I liked plain rooibos but now it has become something I like to keep on hand at all times. I like it because it has a very distinct flavour. It’s really different from the camellia sinensis teas, but still very flavourful. It reminds me a little bit of safflower (american “saffron”). The fact that is has no caffeine makes it my go to choice when I want something more robust than an herbal before bed. You can definitely add sugar and/or milk to rooibos, it complements it very well. But my favorite thing to add to it is about half a teaspoon of honey. I find that it makes the whole cup of tea taste like hot milk… or maybe i’m weird :P

While it is an interesting experience to see what rooibos tastes like on its own, I find I prefer it with other things in it. I prefer other rooibos teas like Birthday Cake over plain.

There is something wonderful about plain rooibos. It’s rich like a black tea, but sweeter and creamier, not to mention much better for not keeping you up at night. (I partially blame last night on having one too many cups of black tea before bed. x_x)

I could almost drink this on its own as a dessert tea, or use it as a nice, mellow side for something sweet, as I’m doing now. It’s lovely, and I can really see why it’s used as a base for so many dessert teas; it holds its own there very well.

Sweet, smooth, and earthy. Very true to the classic red rooibos flavour of other rooibos teas I have tried. Leaves very little astringency in the mouth and steeps quickly. I would likely steep this one a little less next time, or use less tea. Very cost-effective! This is not anything innovative or special from DAVIDsTEA, but it definitely surpasses my expectations for a straight rooibos leaf. There were none of the dusty notes I’ve tastes in rooibos teas from other brands. A very good to excellent option for those who appreciate a full-bodied, smooth, and slightly sweet red rooibos tea.

#ProjectTeaWall

After ages of this being backstocked, we finally got it back in stock this week so I took the opportunity to check this one off my now very small list for Project Tea Wall. I’m down to only four teas now after an original 70+! That feels like a really cool accomplishment.

Anyway, I’ve obviously had rooibos before – both in blends and on it’s own. So it’s not like I didn’t know what I was in for with this one. I opted to drink it iced since it was gorgeous outside yesterday, and with just a bit of honey because I find that straight rooibos on its own tastes rather bland to me. I mean, it was very woody as I expected it to be. I think this was in part because I chose to add honey, but it also had a lovely graham cracker sweetness to the finish that I wasn’t exactly surprised by but that I also hadn’t expected either. I have experienced this flavour with rooibos before – just not often or to this degree of flavour level.

I don’t love rooibos but I don’t mind it either – I do prefer green, though. That said this is actually something I could see myself drinking again because it was REALLY refreshing and didn’t taste awful. It’s not something I’d buy to make at home though; only an ‘at work’ thing for me personally.

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts regarding the teas, and not the company’s.

After the lovely Kristal sent me a sample of rooibos last month, I decided I had to get more.

I think perhaps there are people who get rooibos, and people who don’t— like black licorice, coriander and/or cilantro, and Thrills soap-flavoured gum (I happen to like all three, but not at the same time).

I don’t know how to describe what rooibos does to me. It like a sweet intense flavour sensation that starts in the back of my mouth. It tastes kind of like the smell of hot wet cedar or the smell inside a wood sauna.

Tonight, I got home and started making bread for tomorrow’s Christmas social at work. Then I had to sew a ton of Christmas gifts that the children helped make. I’m not sleeping because I’m physically taking my work home with me each night. When I sat down and drank a cup, it’s like I finally got to sit and breathe.

I’m so glad I ordered a bag of this with my last DT order. It may have to become a staple in my house.

I like the flavored ones better.

My fave rooibos. With milk or without I find this a nice soothing tea before bed.