Happy New Year!!! I believe this is my first tea review for 2009 and I am excited. Sad, but true, the end of December 2008 and beginning of January 2009 was rough. Not only was I plagued with a head/sinus cold, both my hubby and step-son traded viruses. Drinking tea was wonderfully therapeutic, but writing about it was not. Now that everyone is healed, I’m back to my old tricks and ready to review. Today’s choice… Organic Cinnamon Plum Tea.
Composition: Organic cinnamon, organic Fair Trade Certified™ hibiscus, organic currants, organic licorice root, natural plum flavor.
Dry Visual: A medley of colors from golds to browns to reds to purples – absolutely beautiful to behold.
Dry Aroma: A combination of both spicy and fruity, Organic Cinnamon Plum smells scrumptious!
Flavor: As the dry aroma suggests, Organic Cinnamon Plum has both a spicy and fruity quality. It is full-bodied with the taste of currant and plum dominating the brew as well as adding bitterness. (I’m sure the hibiscus acted as an accomplice, contributing to the bitterness as well.) Cinnamon is present adding a subtle yet sweet character to the tea. Not a lover of black licorice flavors, I was surprised by how well it was blended into Organic Cinnamon Plum. Its presence was known, but not overpowering.
I found it necessary to add a sweetener to Organic Cinnamon Plum – my choice was Sugar-In-The-Raw. After adding, the bitterness was completely eliminated illuminating the fruity nature of the blend. I found the currant and plum flavors enjoyable.
Liquor: A vibrant raspberry color.
Brewing: It is recommended that 1 tablespoon of Organic Cinnamon Plum is steeped for 5 minutes in boiling water. I steeped as recommended.
Manufacturer: Rishi Tea
Caffeine: No
As always, it is a wonderful experience to sample a new tea. If you have had an opportunity to taste Organic Cinnamon Plum, please stop by and share your thoughts. Until then… Happy Tea Drinking!
the bitterness/sour note comes from hibiscus, not a fave of mine, so yes, you almost always have to add sugar to anything blended with hibiscus because it overpowers everything and can range from tart to downright bitter. the cinnamon element in this blend, however, counterbalances some of this with sweetness, although it’s a slimy sweetness. i’d give it a 2 on a scale of 1-5.
Simone,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I always wonder what others think of the teas I drink and review. I think hibiscus is not my favorite thing either.