Review: Organic Green Rooibos Tea with Peppermint
I rarely stray outside of the realm of classic, loose leaf teas but today I decided to break out some herbal rooibos tea from Suffuse Tea. Thanks to the kind folks over there for sending over a sample.
If you’re not familiar with rooibos (pronounced ROY-boss), it’s important to note that it’s not a true tea. Teas are derived from the tea plant camellia sinensis, and the different types of tea vary based on how the tea is picked, processed and prepared for the cup. Rooibos, instead, is actually a member of the legume family – which means that it’s related to things like beans and peas! Rooibos tea is commonly known as ‘bush tea’ or ‘South African red tea’. The fine needle-like leaves are harvested, chopped, and then left to dry in the sun to prepare the tea.
Suffuse Tea’s organic green rooibos with peppermint is a refreshingly minty tea that tasted very similar to peppermint tea mixed with a light black tea. It is caffeine free, and according to Suffuse, rich in antioxidants.
Suffuse Teas’ Description:
Caffeine free green Rooibos herbal tea, rich in antioxidants, is infused with relaxing peppermint. Green Rooibos skips the traditional curing process, retaining higher levels of antioxidants while peppermint contains muscle relaxant properties to relax the body and may aid digestion, congestion and coughs creating a brilliant mix of health and taste.
Tasting Notes
Brewing Instructions
I couldn’t find brewing instructions on my package, but referenced this set which indicates brewing at boiling water (212) for 5-10 minutes.
Appearance
Rooibos tea looks like a jumbled mix of small, finely cut leaves, stems and dry needles. These fragments of plant vary in color from a leafy olive green, a dry pale straw yellow, and a dark chili-pepper red.
The smell is surprisingly earthy, and a little herbal like peppermint mixed with camphor.
In the cup, the liquor steeps into a warm amber.
Once steeped, the wet leaf is wet and tightly compact, smelling strongly medicinal and herbal. It hasn’t expanded much beyond its original size.
Taste
The taste of the tea is almost exactly like how I’d describe a peppermint, with a bright clean note and a backnote of earthiness. It’s soothing on the throat with a minty after-tingle on the finish. I’d describe like imagine a mix of peppermint tea with a shot of a smooth darjeeling to add some depth and richness to the flavor. The rooibos adds some body and depth to the peppermint without overpowering it. Definitely a great night-time tea due to its caffeine-free benefits, and a nice alternative to peppermint to soothe your throat. This one is staying in my cupboard.
Pricing & Where to Buy
Pack Size: 8 oz
Price per unit: $4.99
This tea can be purchased on the Suffuse Teas website here.
