I’m awake and perusing the Vendor Floor of the International Virtual Tea Festival this morning, while the friend I am virtually “attending” with is still sleeping over in PST. As I am down with some terrible congestion (and I am hoping that is all it is!), I’ve been depleting all my ginger-bomb teas at a rapid rate. This came as a free sample in my latest DAVIDsTEA order — I was honestly surprised to even get a sampler, since my last few orders didn’t have any. (Honestly, for how much I have to spend in a single order just to hit free shipping because their shipping rates in the US are absolutely outrageous — the cost of a 2 oz. package of tea on its own! — a few freebie teabags is the least they could do.)
I usually balk at anything with the word “cayenne” or “chili pepper” on it as I’m a huge spice wuss that orders her Thai food with negative stars. If I’d ever drink something like this, while I’m all stuffed up is the time. But I’m surprised that my mouth actually isn’t on fire. It’s very lemony, a little citrus tangy but not sour or puckering, and there is a soft heat at the end of the sip, but it isn’t coating my tongue or lingering in my mouth. I do feel it a bit on the back of my throat, but it’s a pleasant feeling given the congestion, so this was probably the right choice. There is a peppery taste, but certainly not the daunting experience I was expecting when I saw “cayenne” in the title.
Since I actually really like tart/tangy, I think I prefer my lemon a little more punchy than this, though I imagine this is a good choice for those that don’t. I also think just because I’m a ginger fan I’d probably reach for a lemon ginger blend before something like this, but this certainly isn’t bad and I’m glad I got to try it. Definitely isn’t something I would ever think to try on my own, given my biases towards hot/spicy things.
Flavors: Citrus, Lemon, Pepper, Spices