With a name like Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal I was assuming it was a straight-up herbal tisane but when I finally checked out the package I noticed it also contained Green Rooibos. While I realize that rooibos is still technically in the realm of tisanes and not an actual tea we still have categories for Rooibos here at Sororitea Sisters. Without further jibber-jabber here’s my review for Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas.
Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas received 2nd Place at the 2014 North American Tea Championship. That’s a wonderful accomplishment! So of course I wondered WHY all of the high praise? I had to taste Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas for myself! And I’m glad I did!
Dry – prior to infusing – I thought Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas smells like vanilla flavored cereal. It was a very pleasing smell! Once I infused for about 5 minutes the scents of sweet vanilla and lemongrass filled my cup and the surroundings! The taste of Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas was very nice, too! First and foremost I could taste the lemongrass then the orange and vanilla!
Not only was I happy to see the use of GREEN Rooibos over regular Red Rooibos I was also delighted to see Vervain used in this herbal blend. Henry Beston’s ‘Herbs and the Earth’ which was written in 1935 said the following of Vervain…”To those interested in magic and religion, there is no herb in the garden more worthy of attention, for this simple plant without fragrance, without an outer look of power, without a flower of significance, was singled out from among all other plants and herbs as the most sacred of the growing things of earth between the Pillars of Hercules and the roots of the Caucasus.” Again…pretty high praise, right? So…YES…I enjoyed the ingredients in this tisane, I really liked the aroma and taste, and I can see why Lemongrass Vanilla Herbal from Aromatica Fine Teas was an award winner and it was well deserved!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal/Tisane
Where to Buy: Aromatica Fine Teas
Description
North American Tea Championship: 2nd Place – Flavored Herbal Blends category – 2014 Spring- Hot Teas Division
Bright, fresh lemon taste in a healthy herbal blend. Makes a great iced tea! Apple pieces, lemongrass, green rooibos, orange pieces, vervain, flavour, vanilla bits.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Catnap from Aka Tea
I misread the name of this tea at first, and thought it said “Catnip.” Turns out I wasn’t far wrong, because this blend does actually contain catnip. It’s even more fitting when you consider that the company logo, and indeed the majority of their blends, are cat themed.
Catnap is purportedly a relaxing blend, containing chamomile, mint, lemon verbena, lemon balm…and catnip. In my head, catnip isn’t something I typically associate with relaxation – it conjures images of bright-eyed, mischief-making kittens. Maybe in humans the effects are different.
Noticeable amongst the dry leaf are small whole chamomile flowers, pieces of lemongrass, cinnamon chips, bright blue cornflowers, and finely shredded mint (and, assumedly, catnip) leaves. I gave 1 tsp of leaf 4 minutes in boiling water, no additions. The resulting liquor is a bright yellow-orange, the scent generically herbal with an edge of sweet mint.
To taste, it’s a little danker than I was expecting, more a dark, sludgy herbal than a bright, clean, refreshing one. Mint is the main flavour – there’s the characteristic cooling peppermint, the sweeter edge of spearmint, and then a borderline vegetal flavour that I’m assuming is the catnip. I’m putting it with the mints because that’s how it comes across to me – minty, but with a definite swampiness about it. Underneath all of those runs the cinnamon, adding a warming spiciness. I’m not sure that it pairs 100% successfully with mint, though. It’s not a flavour combination I’ve come across many times before, and I’m pretty sure there’s a reason for that…
The lemon emerges in the mid-sip, and lifts what could have been a fairly uninspiring cup into brighter territory. The lemongrass adds another layer of sweetness, combining hay-like notes with a light citrus, and the lemon verbena and lemon balm also help to heighten this impression. The chamomile makes itself known at the end of the sip, with its typical thick honey notes. It pairs well with the lemongrass, and moves this blend more firmly into “relaxing tea” territory.
To me, this is a tea of two halves. The initial sip is very heavy on the mint and cinnamon, but that fades pretty quickly and is replaced by the citrus-honey flavours that seem to develop further as it cools. It’s certainly a unique blend, but I’m not sure it’s one I’d seek out especially frequently, primarily because I find the flavour combinations a little too jarring.
Having said that, this is an interesting caffeine-free option, and it’s different from most other “relaxing” blends I’ve tried. If you’re looking for something a little unusual to brighten up your evening tea drinking, this could well be the blend for you. Cat lovers may well award extra points also!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Aka Tea
Description:
CatNap, anyone? Sometimes that’s just what the doc ordered. Catnip is not just for cats. It has been known to help humans relax, relieve headaches, and calm the nerves. Curl up with a cup and “cat”ch some z’s.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Black Tea and Lemongrass from Chiang Rai Tea House
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Chiang Rai Tea House
Tea Description:
The relaxing aroma and health benefits of lemongrass, combined with our also organic black tea, makes this blend a mellow drink to be enjoyed any time of the day.
Ingredients: Organic Black Tea 60%
Organic Lemongrass 40%
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
There are times when the name of a tea perfectly describes the flavors inside. Black Tea and Lemongrass is one of those teas. Chiang Rai Tea House did a nice job balancing the two since lemongrass can be such an over powering flavor causing notes from the tea itself to get lost. While the lemon flavor of this tea is strong the slight briskness of the base tea can still be tasted. There’s also a clean finish that compliments the lemongrass flavor very well. The whole tea comes off as bright, even cheerful. And honestly, who can’t use that during the duller days of winter?
I only drank this tea hot, but I can see it being an excellent served iced or as a cold brew. In fact, I think this tea served cold during the summer months would be incredibly refreshing. I’ve even made a note in my phone to pick up more of this tea while the idea of summer picnics and long days in my garden danced in my head. The fact that the tea is organic is a bonus point in my book because my family drinks lots of iced tea and I’m more comfortable giving organic teas to my kids.
So, from winter to summer I think Black Tea and Lemongrass from Chiang Rai Tea House can find a place in my cupboard and my cup. If you’re looking for a nice organic tea with a lemony citrus kick this is one worth checking out.
Lemongrass & Pandan Tea from Chiang Rai Tea House
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal Tea/Tisane
Where to Buy: Chiang Rai Tea House
Tea Description:
This delicious combination is loaded with anti-oxidants and is known to release stress, lower cholesterol and ease digestion. Both of these two healthy plants are grown the most natural way, so you can benefit from all the potency and enjoy the subtle flavor of this blend all day round.
Ingredients: Organic Lemongrass 60%
Organic Pandan 40%
Lemongrass-Pandan main benefits -the power is in the combination of these two plants:
> Induces a feeling of relaxation and relieves stress
> Contains a higher level of anti-oxidants than taken separately
> Fights constipation and regulates digestion
> Helps clear away toxins built up in kidneys and bladder
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Chiang Rai Tea House and their Lemongrass and Pandan Herbal Tisane is pretty special. You don’t see too many Pandan teas here in the US but I’m glad I was able to try this one. Usually I’m not really into herbal tisanes but this one was lovely. The Pandan Leaves made it somewhat savory and the lemongrass seemed to cut it and add a but of mellow lemon. This is a comforting herbal not to mention the potential healthy benefits it offers! I loved how it was brothy. Almost like I was drinking a soup rather than a tea. I could totally see myself cooking with this. I think it would be great to boil rice in.
Lemongrass and Pandan Herbal Tea from Chiang Rai Tea House
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal
Where to Buy: Chiang Rai Tea House
Tea Description:
An exquisite, balanced blend of two fragrant herbs typical of South East Asia. The lemony flavor and aroma of lemongrass is a great match to the sweet, vanilla-like taste of pandan. If you haven’t tried pandan yet, this infusion is not to be missed. The lemongrass-pandan combination is known to relieve stress, ease constipation. detoxify the blood and, being caffeine-free, it’s also the perfect after-dinner beverage. As for all our teas and herbs, these two are also organic.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Pandan seems to be becoming a more popular ingredient in herbal tea – I’ve certainly seen it more recently than I ever have before. It has quite a distinctive flavour, but one that’s also hard to describe – it’s sweet in a way reminiscent of liquorice root, with an almost thick-tasting starchiness. Pretty unique.
This particular blend contains an approximately 60/40 split between lemongrass and pandan. The “leaves” are quite small (approximately 2mm shreds of lemongrass, with slightly larger twists of pandan), but this also means that they brew up relatively quickly. I used 1 tsp of leaf for my cup, and gave it 3 minutes in boiling water. The resulting liquor is a pale golden colour, the scent generically sweet.
To taste, the pandan is definitely the most dominant flavour. It has a rather thick mouthfeel, and it’s the kind of flavour that lingers at the back of the throat. The sweetness, particularly, is rather cloying after a while. Fortunately, the lemongrass is there to freshen things up a little. It has a hay-like sweetness of its own, but also a clean, citrus edge that cuts through the pandan and helps to end the sip on a bright, refreshing note. I drank my cup hot, but I can also see this working well iced.
A pleasant, summery cup with two classically Thai components. This one is an excellent, and unusual, herbal, and definitely worth a try if you’re in the market for a caffeine-free option.