I am always excited to crack open a new box, tin, or foil package of tea. For a moment I simply sit with my eyes closed and inhale the dry aroma. There is nothing else I can draw on from the recesses of my memory that smells quite as soothing as tea leaves. Whether the tea is flavored, unflavored or blended is irrelevant. Others may disagree, and perhaps I have a bit of free association going on, but I’m okay with that. While I have never visited a tea plantation, when enjoying dry tea’s perfume, I sometimes find myself imagining the plantation from whence the tea originated. Even now, I am reminiscing about the smell of Safari Lullaby, the subject of today’s tea review.
Composition: Rooibos, Chamomile, Spearmint, Lemon Grass, Valerian, natural flavors.
Dry Visual: Because the tea came prepackaged in a tea bag, I was unable to get a clear view of tea. Interesting fact from the retailer – the tea bags are made of unbleached Manila hemp and unbleached wood pulp – very eco-friendly. Nevertheless, what I could see were flecks of yellow, green, and red – a representation of the the ingredients.
Dry Aroma: Safari Lullaby has a sweet, somewhat citrus, mildly minty aroma. There was a hint of its floral nature.
Flavor: The flavor of Safari Lullaby and the dry aroma almost mimic one another with one exception – I was unable to detect the lemony taste of lemongrass. However, the sweet nutty flavor of rooibos and the floral quality of chamomile were easily discernible. This tea has a mild soothing taste. No one flavor overpowers the other, but blend wonderfully to form this brew. A personal lover of mint, it would have been nice if the mint presented itself a bit more robustly, but then again, its spearmint not peppermint.
Not an ounce of astringency was detected thus Safari Lullaby could be enjoyed without sweetener. However, next cup I may be adventurous and add either Sugar in The Raw or Adagio Sugar Crystals to test the impact on the flavor profile.
Liquor: A burnt orange/rusty hue.
Brewing Time: As I was unable to locate the recommended steeping time for Safari Lullaby, I relied upon my past experience with rooibos which typically requires a 5 – 7 minute steep time. After 5 minutes, I tasted and decided to steep for 7 minutes.
Manufacturer: Kalahari Red Tea
Caffeine: No.
If you have had the pleasure of enjoying a cup of Safari Lullaby, please stop by and share your experience. Until then… Happy Tea Drinking!
What is Valerian?
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis, Valerianaceae) is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers. The flowers are in bloom in the northern hemisphere from June to September. Valerian was used as a perfume in the sixteenth century. Native to Europe and parts of Asia, Valerian has been introduced into North America. Valerian is used for certain effects including sedation.
References: Valerian (herb). (2009, July 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:39, July 21, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valerian_(herb)&oldid=303383954
Good thing it wasn’t the Valerian’s root or the smell would have been much different eh? Hehehe! Sounds great. I guess I could try and make a bit of this myself. I have it all here at home now. Don’t know what the proportions are though. Might try it this weekend. All the best!
Thomas,
You’ll have to try it – especially since you have all of the ingredients already. Then come back and let me know. If you come up with a good recipe, I’d love to write a post about it.
I too was impressed with the teas I tried from Kalahari. They have a good product and nice smooth blending!
Nicole,
Thanks for sharing your Kalahari experience. Stop by and comment again soon!
While catching up on my Google Reader I see that you had a 2nd Kalahari post. wondering if I had shared, I clicked into comments to find that my alter ego (Nicole) had already commented. My super hero identity has been revealed!
Madam Potts,
How pleasant it is to be visited by both you and your alter ego! Since it has been awhile since we’ve chatted, I must say, it is great to hear from you. I’ll have to pop over to your site soon. Happy Tea Drinking!
I found a great tea at a place on line called http://www.youmeandtea.com/. They have a product called Organic Relation under herbals. It has Valerian root in it. This stuff works great and puts me out in about 30 minutes and get a great nights sleep..This stuff is worth like gold. Tastes pretty damn good too.
Here is a link to the product if anyone is interested.
http://www.youmeandtea.com/Organic_Relaxation_Tea_p/ymt3454.htm