I’m finally at my last packet of Bird & Blent Tea blends! If I’m not wrong, once I’m done with this (and Honeycomb Cookie Doh – I’ve really not touched it since I reviewed it), I only have the Tea 101 box that’s not been opened.
Here’s the description from the packet:
Get bobbing for the perfect sweet & spiced apple tea
First Impressions:
Look at all the apple pieces in this! To my dismay, I didn’t really get an apple scent but I got a very distinct cinnamon note – while I like rougui (aka Chinese Cinnamon), I’m only a fan of Western cinnamon in very small doses. It doesn’t smell too overpowering, but my hopes are not up. Separately, I’m reminded of Christmas tea blends for some reason.
Tasting Notes
This was unexpectedly red, although it made sense after I checked the ingredients list – there’s rosehip and hibiscus inside. In terms of smell, it reminds me of a McDonalds Cinnamon Melt, which I actually enjoy so my hopes are raised. The taste is mostly tart (probably from the rosehip, hibiscus, and berries) with a hint of sweetness and cinnamon. I definitely wasn’t expecting the tea to be this tart (from the smell I thought sweet and cinnamon) but I do like how the cinnamon is working here.
Overall Thoughts
It’s a slight pity that the tea was tart. I actually liked the amount of cinnamon used here, which is pretty rare for me, but I didn’t really understand why the rosehip and hibiscus had to be included. Are ciders generally tart? I’ve had a few, but I never had that impression!
Just from the name, I don’t think the smell/taste would have been quite what I was expecting either! I do like the idea of an apple cider tea, though. (And I’d agree most cider isn’t really that tart! I think I had one apple cider that was, and I didn’t like it.)
I think apple is a pretty hard flavour to add in tea, unless you’re using fresh apples to make fruit tea! For some reason, most apple flavourings come off as too artificial…
I’ve always liked the idea of an Apple Cider tea more than I’ve liked actually drinking them. There is a DAVIDsTEA Apple Cider blend that starts out palatable but then turns into something cloyingly sweet.
As for whether Apple Cider is tart? For the perspective of someone living in the USA: If I get the cider from the grocery store– those ciders can be fairly tart and zesty, but sometimes those have Ascorbic Acid added, which adds tartness. The freshly pressed cider that can be purchased from cider mills are not usually tart. (Or if there is a degree of tartness, it’s not rosehips and hibiscus level tart).
I’ve tried only one DAVIDs Tea in my life (a friend brought it back from America) but the flavour was so strong I haven’t dared to actually order from them :p
Interesting to know the diff between grocery store and fresh pressed cider! I really have to try them some day(:
I love those “leaves” with the chunks of apple, and did you try adding sugar to this one? It could take the edge off of that tartness
I haven’t, actually! I think I still have some of this tea left so I’ll probably give that a go!
If you do I hope you enjoy it!