African Autumn

Grabbed a cup of this at Barnes and Noble, was excited to see they carried a tea other than tazo (because it’s starbucks inside). I’ve been looking for some herbal alternatives for evening tea, and thought this description sounded appealing. I tried a few sips and enjoyed the berry tartness of it. The rooibos really seems to do well with berry. I remembered enjoying a little cream with my rooibos teas I’ve tried previously. Adding cream, the tea curdled.

I don’t know what element it is in this tea, if it’s one of the ingredients, the fact the half and half is not super cold at starbucks, or possibly a reaction to the high heat of the water? This has happened to me with two rooibos blends before. Cream blends wonderfully with Tazo Vanilla Rooibos, but not the two berry blends I’ve tried. I remember raspberry syrup curdling in lattes when I worked at a coffee shop, maybe it is the cranberry?

Anyways, I took the tea home, tried a few sips and dumped it. I rinsed the bags and tried steeping a longer time 6-7 minutes with near boiling water. Taste was weak, barely there so I dumped it out.

Will rate again after I pick some of this up. I think its worthy of being an evening tea.

Finally managed to get to the post office this morning with the packages of tea that I owe to people. Would have done it Saturday, but we were snowed in.

I brewed this one a little stronger than normal and it’s good. Sweetened with a bit of splenda, though I think it would do better with honey (honey is too messy for the office).

It’s a good blend of cranberry, orange, and rooibos. I know someone said they tasted hibiscus in here, but I’m not getting it… I’ve also noticed that I’m not as sensitive to hibiscus as others seem to be, though, so that may be why. I like it a lot as a fruity tea with just a hint of tartness.

(this is the bagged version)

I don’t know what originally possessed me to put this tea on my Christmas wishlist, but boy am I glad I did! It’s not typically my cup of tea (pun intended) I don’t usually go for herbals, but have been trying to expand and explore more Rooibos. The no-caffeine factor won out and I decided to brew some up since it’s getting pretty late. It has a luscious tangy cranberry, that isn’t too overpoweringly fruity, and is a welcome departure from all the heavy, flavored black teas I’ve been on a kick with lately.

Reminds me why I went through my original tin of Cranberry Autumn by Harney and Sons so quickly this past fall.

l wasn’t sure about this tea. I took a sip and liked it, and then I took a sip and hated it. It kept reminding me of a tea I’d had before and as I got about halfway through the cup, I realized I’d grown up drinking this in the form of Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger. Blegh. The cool it got, the more I tasted the hibiscus, which is not a good thing for me. I like to drink my teas lukewarm or cold, so a tea that tastes bad the more it cools is not for me. I don’t think I’m going to finish this cup. It will be nice to have on hand when my mother visits, however. Thanks for letting me try this one, SimplyJenW! I had it on my wishlist and you just saved me money! LOL

If you like rooibos based tea, and if you like Cranberry Autumn by Harney and Sons, you will probably like this tea. One friend who only drinks greens and whites loved this one. I bought it so I would have a decaf option for evening, but in the evening I find myself longing for black tea, so I will mostly stick to Decaf Orange Pekoe and Vanilla Comoro. A good tea, though.

umm…..not the tea for me. most of the time I don’t mind rooibos but am not sure I’m loving this combination….
Didn’t even finish the cup…

:/

Bleh. Usually I like Rooibos blends, but this sucks so bad not sure I’ll be able to finish the cup. I dumped a bunch of sweetener in the cup and it barely takes the edge off of the tart/sourness.

One of my favorite teas!!! I love this one. It’s naturally sweet, and is very calming to me. :)

This is one of the few tisanes I like, while a little too tart for me at the start it mellows as it it slowly sipped while it cools. The cranberry orange combination is one I have always enjoyed and is mainly the reason why I chose this tea, the other is so that my grandfather would have something caffeine free when he decides he is going to steal some of my stash. Plus this rooibos will always be associated with one of my favorite professors who is always up for me dropping by her office with some of this and good conversation. So while it may never be a prefect “tea” flavor wise it will be memory wise.

I love African Autumn. It’s a wonderful evening tea with a delightful aroma. Very fruity and warm. It’s one of the few teas I don’t sweeten with a spoonful of honey.