Root Down Tisane from Swallowtail Teas

The colorful label for Root Down Tisane from Swallowtail Tea features a yellow and orange sun on the horizon.  It must be a sunset, as this tea is perfect for after dinner or before bed.

This tisane is driven by licorice root.  I’m a fan of licorice in all its forms, including as a root in herbal teas.  Licorice root is a natural sweetener, adding a bit of spicy anise flavor along with its sugary perk.  Licorice is also a throat soothing herb, so it brings a very smooth mouthfeel and soothing sensation.

Beyond the bold licorice, this blend features some cinnamon warmth and just a ghost of mint and orange peel.  There are also dandelion root and nettle leaf in the blend, but they are more for color and health benefits than taste.  I wish the mint and citrus were just a little bit bolder to add more flavor texture to the brew.

Root Down Tisane would be a great blend for those who are tired of herbal teas having ginger, chamomile, or even rooibos, as none of these ingredients are included.  This blend is all licorice and herbs, and is a nice change of pace for a naturally caffeine free blend at bedtime. I’ll have to save the rest of my tea sample for when I need to set down some roots and snuggle in for the night.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Swallowtail Tea (Red Rooster Coffee)
Description:

This signature tisane was artfully crafted as a warming and supportive infusion. Perfect as an after dinner treat.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Thoughts on Soothing with Chamomile / Balcony Tea. . . .

It is often said that you can steep anything that isn’t a true tea for much longer then regular.

For the most part it is true. I would suggest, however, to still taste every few minutes while you are steeping. I steeped this tea for the majority of the morning and now it is basically a chamomile punch in the mouth.

When steeped for 5 – 7 minutes it is a perfect harmony of herbal notes with the chamomile and rose nicely balanced. Like most tisane with rose petals this one also smells like a garden when you open the bag.

Truly a pleasant aroma.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Balcony Teas
Description:

Feel transported to a beautiful evening in the Mediterranean. All is calm and you can smell wild flowers. Perfect for a moment to yourself or to wind down after a busy day.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Sunset from Salt Sisters Online.. . . .

Sunset is a herbal tisane from Salt Sisters Online. My family located it at a little shop in Bemus Point, New York, where they sold some of the Salt Sisters products. I have to say I have only ever tried two teas/tisanes from this company and I enjoy both of them. With SUNSET – I’m sure it had something to do with the LOVELY MINTINESS!

The herbal blend is made up of Balm, Peppermint, Blackberry, Lemongrass, Chamomile, and a variety of flowers.

It’s a fantastic calming offering that is for sure. They said to sip the tea that calms the mind and lets the day drift away. I think this is perfect for evenings and can be enjoyed both hot and cold.

I can’t wait to try more of the Salt Sisters offerings. I hope when I go back to the little shop in Bemus Point that I can find them there still.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy:  Salt Sisters Online
Description

Sip the tea that calms the mind and lets the day drift away. This relaxing herbal tea with a blend of peppermint, blackberry leaves, lemongrass, chamomile and floral scents is a perfect way to unwind in preparation of a peaceful night’s sleep.

Ingredients:
Balm, peppermint, blackberry leaves, lemongrass, chamomile, lavender flowers, rose petals, orange blossoms and heath flowers

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Antivirus from TeaTaxi. . . . .

One thing I never realized until I started drinking tea is that when I get sick, my tastebuds stop working. Sometimes when I’m sick, my food still tastes the same but with tea there is almost a void in my tastebuds. It is like some of my tastebuds work and some are muted so everything is just off and it is all too clear that something is missing. It’s at these times I either try to drink teas I didn’t really love to being with or sick teas such as this Antivirus tea by TeaTaxi.

Made with peppermint, spearmint, rosehips, almonds, apples, ginger, rose, sunflower, calendula, osmanthus, hibiscus, and natural flavors, this is not something I would ever care to drink under normal circumstances. However, the collection of ingredients is tolerable and even nice when sick.

I brewed this both hot and iced, steeping both for 7 minutes in 200F degree water. Then I got suckered into going grocery shopping with my mother so both teas were left on the counter in their respective thermoses for a couple hours.

Starting with the iced tea, I am getting mint…mint and maybe ginger. That void is still present so the flavors are all lost for the most part but the tea feels good on my throat as I sip. Hot (well…warm), this tea has a lot more mint flavor. While the iced tea was more smooth and peppermint-like, hot it is more medicinal/spearmint tasting. Ginger is also more noticeable in the hot tea but as a soothing ginger tingle at the back of my throat. Other than that, everything else is M.I.A.

I don’t mind the lack of flavor because the tea is doing what I want and that’s soothing my sore throat and cough and hydrating me when I am not feeling 100%, especially the hot tea. If I am being honest, my preferred cold tea is probably Cold 911 by DAVIDsTEA but this is not a bad alternative.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy:  Tea Taxi
Description

An infusion of peppermint, spearmint, apples and ginger to help you make it through the winter. It’ll warm you from the inside out.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Orange Dreamsicle from Wise Ape Tea Co. . . . .

Wise Ape Company might be best known for its Chocolate Hustle tea blend, a high-caffeine yerba mate blend, but recently, the Wise Ape has branched out to feature an assam black tea blend and an herbal blend as well.  Orange Dreamsicle is the new herbal tea offering from Wise Ape.

I love the names and designs from Wise Ape, not to mention their videos featuring a big ape hand brewing tea.  Orange Dreamsicle is a great name for a bedtime tea, evoking the flavors of a favorite ice cream bar.

The blend itself is very chamomile-driven, with the gentle lemony tones from that herb taking the lead.  Behind the chamomile, I taste vanilla and orange as well, contributing to the creamy ice-cream-inspired flavors in the blend’s name.  The vanilla and orange add sweetness without being too artificial or sugary; they are gentle yet flavorful and let you add more sweetness to suit your own tastes.  For my personal preferences, I will say that I wish there was a bit more citrus and a bit less chamomile, but it makes sense that there is lots of chamomile for a sleepytime brew.

Smooth and easy-drinking, a great cup of tea to ease you into sweet dreams.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Wise Ape Tea Co.
Description: A dreamy blend of chamomile flowers with subtle hints of orange and cream, combined with adaptogenic super-herbs to support your nightly zen. This relaxing elixir is designed to calm the mind, ease the body, and help you sink into a restorative night’s sleep.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!