Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit/Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Rishi Tea
Tea Description:
The sweetest Saigon Cinnamon, also known as Vietnamese Cassia, melds with the deep, luscious flavors of currants, hibiscus and plum to yield a rich, warming cup in winter or a refreshing glass when served iced in summer. With its fruity, full-bodied and juicy character, Cinnamon Plum’s robust, crimson red infusion is delicious on its own or mulled into cider or wine.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Yeah, I’ve said it about a hundred times (or more) … I’m not a fan of hibiscus. But I am a fan of cinnamon and of plums, and I also like currants and licorice. So this tisane seems to have more going for it than it does going against it as far as my palate is concerned.
So, I’ll give it a try!
The aroma of the dry leaf is an abundantly cinnamon-y fragrance. (The same is true of the brewed tea.) I can also smell notes of licorice and hints of fruit. It doesn’t smell distinctly plum-like or even like currants, it just smells warm (from the cinnamon), sweet (from the licorice) and fruity.
To brew this tisane, I used my Kati brewing system and I measured out a bamboo scoop of the loose leaf into the basket. Then I heated the water to 195°F and poured it into the tumbler. I let the tisane steep for 6 minutes. The liquid is a very deep ruby red color … like brewed hibiscus. Fortunately, the color does not accompany the thick texture of brewed hibiscus. Either the steep time prevented this or possibly the fact that there are a lot of other ingredients in this blend. (Or a combination of both these factors.)
It also doesn’t taste too much like hibiscus. I am getting a strong cinnamon-y flavor. It’s a sweet, warm cinnamon flavor. Not like the sweet, red-hot type cinnamon but like the kind of sweet, spicy cinnamon you’d sprinkle on your morning toast.
And I am tasting plum. It is both sweet and tart. The tartness is enhanced somewhat by the presence of the currants as well as the hibiscus, but fortunately for my tart-sensitive palate, this is not an overly tart drink. I’m not puckering as I sip it. I think that the tartness works in the favor of this tisane because it offers a nice contrast to the spicy and the sweet notes.
Overall, it’s a very enjoyable beverage. I like it served hot – it has a very autumnal feel as I drink it. It’s cozy and reminds me a lot of a mulled cider. In fact, I think that would taste lovely with this, I might try steeping this tea in some warm apple cider! It would also make a tasty iced drink that would be appealing to children as well as adults.
