This is another one of the teas I got at Twining’s shop at the Strand. Unlike the Golden Rose Hearts, this was something that my sister and I planned to get – we’ve tried this before and we liked it. Strictly speaking, this isn’t tea but these tisanes are pretty fun and easy to reach for.

Watermelon, Strawberry & Mint

One thing I like about these tisanes is the colour. The gradient of the tisanes as you brew them is quite lovely.

I shared this with my friend and we both agreed that the first impressions of this infusion is strawberry, not watermelon. However, the taste of the watermelon comes through very clearly after you infuse it. The tartness of the strawberry (or hibiscus, I think there’s more of that in there) grows stronger the longer you steep the tea. The last part of the name, the mint, is more of an aftertaste and makes it even more refreshing.

Rose Lemonade

I wasn’t as fond of this one and I think it started from the minute I opened the can. I had a very strong whiff of pickled plum (the type that’s sold as a Chinese sweet) which was completely not what I was expecting. That said, this smells like a normal lemonade after infusing it. The taste is mostly the tartness of the ‘lemonade’ (It’s still probably hibiscus – that seems like the go-to for tart notes in tisanes) but there is an aftertaste of rose.

These are pretty fun and a good way to get people to start considering tisanes, and by extension, teas. I had the Watermelon, Strawberry & Mint one with my friend, who’s not very big on tea, and she really liked it. It’s also a pretty good option if you just want to throw something into your bottle and not have to worry about caffeine or over-steeping.