This tisane was slightly out of my comfort zone. So, I’ll try not to be harsh. I took an open-minded approach when I tried this tea. The good news for a lot of you, it’s caffeine free because it does not contain tea. The package states it contains hibiscus, licorice root and natural herbs and raspberry flavoring. The bad news for me is that I could not take the raspberry flavoring. The herbal tea had an excellent raspberry scent. However, the overall taste of the herbal infusion did not agree with my taste buds. It reminded me of instant tea. It was hard not to pucker after a sip of this beverage. I enlisted my wife’s help to try this one. She’s not a big tea fan, but she drinks a lot of instant beverages. However, she didn’t really like this one. Keep in mind, this product comes in a round tea bag (no strings attached). It simply did not taste natural to my wife and me.

That said, I’ve had other Tea District products that I thoroughly enjoyed. This one just wasn’t for me. If you would like to try a caffeine free, raspberry flavored, herbal beverage that will make your mouth pucker, this is for you.

• Visit Tea District

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For those of you that like a tasty tisane, I have a good one for you. It’s called Ginger Twist, and it’s from Mighty Leaf. As I write this blog, I feel a headache coming on from a lack of caffeine. However, many readers have told me that they are looking for decaf beverages. So, this is for you. Ginger Twist comes in the same artisan whole leaf pouch as Mighty Leaf’s tea. Mighty Leaf hides nothing with their pouches. You can see exactly what you are going to brew in their stylish pouches. This herbal infusion is a mix of lemongrass, tropical fruits, a touch of ginger, and mint. What a flavorful mix! I’ve had similar tisanes with many of the same ingredients, but this one is easily the most flavorful. I’m impressed at how Mighty Leaf blends their mixes. They are perfectly balanced. Honestly, I cannot pick out the dominant flavor of this tisane. The lemongrass and fruit flavors are probably the dominant flavors. I noticed the ginger and the mint just as the beverage roles around in my mouth. It smells so good! Give this one a try. It’s very relaxing.

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This is a flavorful ready to drink beverage from Snapple. The acai mixed berry flavor is very very fruity. In fact, it tastes like a fruit drink. If you were blindfolded and asked to try this, you would not guess it’s tea or Rooibos for that matter. Obviously the reference to “Red Tea” relates the beverage to Rooibos. The bottle contains 17.5 fluid ounces and totals about 90 calories. The strong fruity flavor is very pleasing, but it doesn’t taste as fresh as some of the other bottled teas I’ve tried lately. There’s no doubt it tastes good, but I’m not getting the freshness I’ve grown to appreciate from organic bottled beverages. That said, if you want to try Rooibos, give this beverage a shot. My wife is not a tea fan, and she really liked the red tea. The reason people that usually do not drink tea will like this beverage is because it’s not tea. So, if you’ve seen the product in a cooler near you, go ahead and give it a try if you are in the mood for a healthy beverage with a fruity flavor. I can’t say enough about acai – although I will very soon.

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When I was at the World Tea Expo a few months ago, I stopped by the booth of Rooibos Limited. I wanted to learn more about Rooibos – The Red Tea. I needed to see what all the hype was about. Rooibos Ltd. is actually from the Cederberg region of the Western Cape in South Africa. So, they know Rooibos on a first-name basis. For those of you that are new to Rooibos, it is not tea. It doesn’t look like tea. It doesn’t smell like tea. It doesn’t taste like tea. Rooibos is a species of plant called Aspalathus linearis. Tea is produced from a species of plant called Camellia sinensis. However, you can purchase Rooibos almost anywhere tea is sold. Thanks to the marketing efforts of companies such as Rooibos Ltd., Rooibos has become a regular in the tea scene.

I point out in a lot of my blogs that I am a fan of caffeine. I’m aware that many of you are looking for decaffeinated alternatives to caffeinated beverages. Although it doesn’t taste like tea, it does have a naturally pleasing flavor. In addition, Rooibos is packed with antioxidants to help battle everything from aging to improving your cardiovascular health. Rooibos is naturally decaffeinated. I haven’t tried many decaffeinated teas, but I do like Rooibos better than many of the decaffeinated teas I have tried. It has a naturally sweet flavor to it with a silky-smooth texture. The color of its liquor is vibrant and red. So, the tisane has a lot going for it. I’m now completely sold on Rooibos in a “tea” bag. Unlike many teas, I don’t taste a difference between bagged and loose leaf varieties of Rooibos. So, I’m a fan of bagged Rooibos. I have tried Rooibos iced, and it is a great alternative to iced tea. My recommendation is for you to try Rooibos to help you form your own opinion. You will most likely not be disappointed.

• Visit Rooibos Limited

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Rooibos is a popular tisane that has really made a splash in the tea industry. There are a lot of herbal teas (tisanes), but Rooibos has emerged as the dominant herbal that appears to he here to stay. Rooibos is a South African shrub. It’s claim to fame is that it is known to have a lot of antioxidants, and it is caffeine free. Rooibos has a naturally sweet flavor to it. It does not taste like tea. It has a flavor all its own. I really enjoy Rooibos, but it’s primary selling point is the reason I mainly avoid it – no caffeine. That said, it’s important to note that its lack of caffeine is not a bad thing. If you are looking for a smooth, flavorful, and relaxing hot beverage to sip at night, Rooibos is perfect.

This is the first time I’ve ever tried Rooibos in a “tea” bag. Also, this is the first time I’ve tried a variety that was not flavored. I have to say, I think I liked this better. The Rooibos seemed to be very flavorful. There was no mess, and the Rooibos had the same silky-smooth texture to it that I’ve grown to appreciate. After trying Numi’s Rooibos in a bag, I have to say I really enjoyed it.

• Visit Numi Tea

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I’ve discussed in previous blogs about how much I depend on caffeine. In the event I had to stop drinking beverages that contain caffeine, I would be in serious trouble because other than Rooibos, I have no idea what products are out there that actually taste good and are decaffeinated. In addition, I’m always asked about decaffeinated teas, and teas that can be purchased at a local grocery store.

So, that leads me to my next beverage selection: Bigelow French Vanilla. I do like this one! It has a creamy french vanilla flavor that almost reminds me of a cappuccino. Without adding any sugar, the Bigelow tea has a very sweet flavor. The key to this tea is the fact that it tastes how I would expect it to taste. The good news, it’s a decaf. I do recommend this tea for those of you wanting a nice warm and relaxing beverage to sip at night without worrying about the side effects of caffeine.

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My “decaf” blogs are for those of you wanting to drink tea, but need to cut the caffeine intake…

from a previous blog.marTEA.com blog on Earl Grey: Earl Grey is a popular black tea blend often referred to as an afternoon tea. I like it anytime of the day, especially in the morning. There’s one catch to liking Earl Grey, you have to like the flavoring of the Bergamot oil. Bergamot is a citrus fruit described as a cross between the pear lemon and a grapefruit. Whenever I hear someone say they don’t like Earl Grey, they are usually trying an Earl Grey from a supplier that might have overpowered the tea with Bergamot oil.

I have read that most teas are made decaffeinated by additional processing. Tea naturally contains caffeine. The processing needed to rid tea of its caffeine is completed in a safe and natural manner (or so I’m told). One way to remove the caffeine is Ethyl Acetate processing, and another way to remove the caffeine is to basically “pressure cook” tea using Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Now, let’s get to the taste test. I know when I started drinking diet pop/soda/cola it took me a while to get used to the flavor. The same is going to be true with decaf tea. The smell of the Earl Grey tea before it was brewed was excellent. The popular Bergamot scent was pronounced and pleasant. However, after brewing the tea, it lacked the flavor that I was expecting. It did not taste bad. The tea was just weak in flavor. In addition, the scent of the brewed tea was flat and not at all as pronounced as the dry tea. Unfortunately, after a few cups of this tea, I’ll have to pass.

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The last time I placed an order, I thought I would try one more flavored Rooibos. Rooibos is known as “Red Tea.” My previous Rooibos post gives a lot of background on the red tea from South Africa. There’s no doubt that Rooibos is a tasty alternative to tea. When it is steeped, Rooibos gives off a beautiful amber liquor. Rooibos literally adds texture to the water. It gives the water a very silky smooth texture. What makes this “tea” appealing to a lot of people is the fact that it’s naturally decaffeinated.

This week, I’m drinking a caramel flavored Rooibos. The last flavor I tried was vanilla. I have to be honest, I don’t taste that much of a difference. That’s not saying this tastes bad, it just tastes very sweet and not a lot like caramel. Basically, when I smell the dried Rooibos, I wouldn’t necessarily guess that it is caramel flavored. I guess the only thing I have left to do is try Rooibos straight without artificial flavors. It definitely tastes good, there is no denying it has taste going for it. I need caffeine at this point in my life. Therefore, Rooibos might sit on my shelf longer than other teas. My biggest complaint about Rooibos is the mess it creates. Rooibos is finely chopped. I read on Adagio’s feedback section that someone said it was like making tea with saw dust. It makes an absolute mess of my tea filter. If you can get past the mess, I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

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