Wellness Blend

Thanks to MissB for passing some down in my parcel! With the crazy amount of ingredients in this, I was expecting something very complex but it ends up being quite straight-forward cinnamon and fennel, with maybe a vague echinacea undertone.

There was dirt today, and leaves, and lots of bugs. Just a heads up. Yeah, I got to play in the dirt today like a little kid, it was wonderful! Today might be the last warm day before snow comes and covers all of my mother’s potted plants, making all the late autumn cleaning a really mushy, gross, and cold mess. So while waiting for mom to require my assistance, I took my camera and lifted various rocks and stumps looking for bugs. I found several spiders, tons of centipedes (and centipede eggs) more pillbugs than I could count, and a terrestrial flatworm of some type. Sadly mom would not let me keep the Yellow Sac Spider in a jar since ‘enough spiders find their way inside’ which is completely true. No desk friend for me this time…yet.

So, to spare some of my more bug-phobic readers anymore heebie-jeebies, it is time for tea! Today’s tea is The Persimmon Tree Tea Company’s Wellness Blend, an herbal blend of Organic Green Rooibos, Organic Fennel, Organic Linden Flower, Organic Orange Peel, Organic Raspberries, Organic Licorice Root, Organic Neem, Organic Cinnamon, Elderberries, Echinacea, and Chili Pepper, designed as a pick me cup. It also has the added benefit of calming the nerves and getting rid of headaches, and you know, when you have chronic headaches a nice herbal sip before bedtime is always welcome. The aroma, well, with all these herbs in it is expectantly herbaceous, reminding me of a plethora of dried herbs hanging from an herb show. Of course there are floral notes, a touch of peppery warmth, and a tiny bit of celery. It reminds me a little of my mom’s kitchen during winter, her drying kitchen herbs, a pot of simmering spice potpourri, and always flowers.

The now steeped pile of plants and spices is quite soggy, and still very much so smells like herbs, but this time with a very sweet note of fruit and a slightly tart note of berries. This fades to warm spice, pepper, and woody finish. The liquid, oddly enough, smells like pie. It smells like pie crust, berry fillings, and an herbal finish.

Sadly? I do not have a headache, and I am actually quite calm, so I am unable to relay on how the tea affects that, so it will just be about how it tastes. It starts sweet and herbal, a blend of fruit and spices. Again, pie comes to mind, not entirely sure why, but each sip I take reminds me of eating a slightly spicy berry pie with herbs baked into the crust. Not that I have ever actually eaten that, but it sounds really tasty. I like this tea, it is pretty mild as herbal teas go, no kicking in the face with the taste of plant bits and flowers, so that is a good if you want something gentle while being spicy and sweet.

For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-persimmon-tree-tea-company-wellness.html (minor spider warning at the end, a very pretty long jawed orb weaver)

First Sip Thought: “Energizer bunny.”

Smell: I enjoyed the scent very much. It was floral with fruity undertones. To me it smells very fresh and it awakens my senses with the added spices.

Taste: My first sip thought was all about the energizer bunny. Why? Simply because the Wellness Blend is filled with invigorating, organic ingredients that can boost your mood and immune system. When you take a sip, be prepared for some extra energy to come your way! I was expecting it to be a bit spicier than it was because of the chili pepper. I believe the added fruitiness and sweetness calmed down the spices included which made it into a wonderfully balanced blend. I wouldn’t get confused by “green” rooibos, as this can steep longer than your typical green tea and still taste great. I think this is a perfect life pick me up. Even if you’re not feeling under the weather this blend will keep you from feeling that way anytime soon. I absolutely love that there is Echinacea in it. I used to swear by Cold 911 from David’s Tea but I think I’ve found a new favourite that I will be referring to all my friends and family. I also find the Wellness Blend to be perfect for an after yoga drink. With it’s organic and calming ingredients it can also help you unwind after a spiritual journey with your mind, body and soul.

www.theteacupoflife.blogspot.com

Well, I accidentally steeped this for over 20 minutes, so… it tastes like medicine. Pills. Yea… not going to rate it, because it’s definitely user error. Bah!

Thanks though Suziqzer, this definitely has my name all over it! :) I love me some herbal tea.

This tea has a nice balance of sweetness, acid, fruitiness, and spice. The tartness of the fruit and the spiciness of the herbs balance each other out, and the licorice keeps it bright and clean tasting. The combination of flavors is warming yet calming at the same time. The use of green roobois worried me since I don’t like red roobois, but this added to the fresh taste and to balance out the other flavoring a to keep it from being too potently spiced. The roobois is also more hearty and less vegetal than a green tea and can hold up to a longer brewing.

It is great to have a warm cup of this before bed time to unwind, especially since it has no caffeine.