Tulsi Clarity (Formerly Three Tulsi)

Sipdown (2581)!

I wonder why Pukka decided to rename this tea? They have a lot of “three” blends like their ginger, and I find the naming scheme actually pretty iconic. Also just more clear to the consumer, I would think?

Regardless, I really enjoyed this cup of tea. It’s definitely not something for the tea drinker who dislikes or is on the fence about tulsi though because dang does it taste strong and basil heavy. It’s also surprisingly nuanced though, and if you can taste past the really herbaceous flavour I think there’s a lot of other notes to appreciate like cooling and camphorous mint and tingly spices like clove.

This is probably one of the few Pukka blends that I’d happily buy a full box of. I am on record as being a HUGE tulsi lover though, for whatever that’s worth.

Happy National Pizza Day! One of my local favorites is a chicken garlic that has lots of veggies and basil on top, so I decided to brew some tulsi (holy basil) as my nightly tisane. This was one of the boxes of tea that Todd brought me back from his once-ago trip to Ireland. Thanks, Todd!

This is a blend of the three different varieties of tulsi (my preference!) I am pretty sure I’ve only ever had tulsi in blends, not straight, and it is interesting taking in the aroma as is… the pepperiness I’ve always gotten in the flavor really comes out on the nose, as well as a sharp citrusy scent, and something that smells like a cross between sandlewood and cinnamon, with an herbaceous/woody undertone. The flavor is mostly what I’m used to with tulsi — a little minty, though lacking any sort of cooling menthol, a little citrusy, and a little peppery, though I’m also tasting a slight roasty note here… tastes a little like chicory, though leaning a bit more dry/herbaceous.

Pleasant and relaxing… I will probably also have a cup of Aesthete’s “La Vie en Rose,” which is a tulsi blend with a strong fennel presence, as I just finished a bowl of Minestrone soup with some very fennel-forward sausage! (Mmm, sausage!)

Pukka Days of Christmas #19

So, Tulsi leaf is a type of Basil sacred for the Hindus…also by trying teas from an advent calender one learns new things! Herbal in a nice way (I´m still getting over the herbal teas my mother made for me when I complained from anything when I was a kid ;-) ), and I surely enjoyed this brew. I had it steeping quite a while, maybe 12 minutes, and it was no problem.

Day 18 of Sara’s Old Tea! Part 1 of 6?

So, for Day 18, Sara gave me:
Pukka Tulsi Clarity
Pukka Licorice & Cinnamon
Trader Joe’s Moroccan Mint Tea
(these three are teas I’ve sent her)
Tazo Glazed Lemon Loaf
Stash Cinnamon Apple
(I think these were both herbals we got on vacation to the Oregon coast)
Simple Truth Organic Mint Blend Herbal Tea
(I don’t recognize this one)

I poured 12 oz of boiling water over the bag and left it in till it cooled off enough for me to drink it. Mmm, there’s that familiar peppery tulsi and some kind of minty note. Simple and tasty. My cat Rory keeps sniffing my mug though. I don’t think I should give him any.

checks

There’s no catnip in here, only three different varieties of tulsi. I can taste something like chamomile in it too.

The brew is surprisingly dark.
And it has a strong aroma, very much like European basil, but with even more clove-like notes.
Very herbal, basil taste, rich and complex, with long aftertaste and spicy notes.
I’m pleasantly surprised that the tea made just from one plant (although from three variations of it) can be this interesting. And fortunately Pukka didn’t spoil it with their usually overused licorice and ginger.