Back when I was a coffee drinker, I was definitely a pumpkin spice latte kind of girl. I always looked forward to pumpkin season. Since switching from coffee to tea, I still look forward to pumpkin season because I have run into a lot of awesome pumpkin teas. But something even cooler than that, I feel that tea opens the door to so many more fall-flavor options than coffee does. I have loved trying all the fall flavored teas, Honeybush Pumpkin Chai by Adagio being one of them!
This tea was very similar to Adagio’s other chai’s aside from the obvious honeybush in place of black tea and the added aspect of pumpkin. I have always been a fan of honeybush I think it lends a sweetness and nutty flavor that is hard to achieve with its cousin, rooibos. I also really like non-caffeinated chai’s because sometimes I am craving the traditional chai spices after dinner and want to enjoy them without the added caffeine.
So, this blend really is cool. I thought that the chai component was very spot on for Adagio- it was their usual blend, with a twist of pumpkin. I really like the mix of honeybush and pumpkin, I think that they compliment each other well. That, blended with traditional chai spices- ginger, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, etc. really do scream “fall”. Unfortunately it is springtime right now, but I can pretend it’s fall while drinking this- that’s easy to do!
I’m definitely liking this one.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
Masala chai spices in a South African honeybush herb base, with a hint of pumpkin. This blend of honeybush, cinnamon bark, cardamom, ginger root, cocoa nibs & safflower is sure to delight. Beautiful clear and bright cup, with a crisp and tangy-sweet flavor. The heat of the spices is balanced beautifully with the natural smooth, mellow quality of the honeybush. Naturally caffeine free for an anytime treat. We suggest two heaping teaspoons per 6 oz cup. Sugar, cream or soy if desired.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Woodland Trek by Beach House Tea Company. . . . .
I steeped this tea for 8 minutes at 212 degrees with 1.5 teaspoons of leaf in about 6-8 ounces of water.
After steeping, the tea is an interesting peachy color-pinkish-orangeish-amber. It smells mostly of honeybush and a little of hops. The flavor combinations available here are quite intriguing!
First sip: SUPER sweet. It has a light, airy quality to the flavor. It’s not as “earthy” as I’d expect with so much honeybush in it (honeybush and rooibos usually ground a flavor pretty well in my estimation).
The flavor is also much more complex than the fragrance, rather than being dominated by the honeybush and hops flavors. It has the sweetness and woodiness of honeybush, but also a touch of lemony/citrus flavor (which brightens it considerably), just a hint of minty or piney freshness maybe, and some other difficult-to-describe notes.
After consulting the list of ingredients (it’s a relatively long one for a tea blend, although not super-long like a processed food or something) I’ve worked out that the sweetness is probably boosted by the marshmallow leaf (although honeybush is sweet on its own too) and the licorice; the bee pollen is probably what I see dancing in the tea liquid, giving it this peachy color; and the cedar is probably what I was mistaking for minty/piney freshness. All taken together, these notes make a fascinating flavor that’s worth exploring!
I’m really glad I got to try this tea–the dried leaf didn’t smell nearly as appetizing as the tea liquid turned out to be, and I’m glad I gave it the chance to bloom (figuratively speaking, that is–this wasn’t what they call a “blooming tea”).
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush/Rooibos
Where to Buy: Beach House Tea Company
Description
Woodland Trek 100% organic loose leaf tea is crafted with honeybush tea with a rich undertone of licorice and sage and snap of organic Oregon hops and a hint of sweetness from bee pollen. This outdoor-rich blend with organic cedar tips invites you to reminisce memories of evenings spent camping or hiking the cascades.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Kumquat Cheesecake from 52Teas. . . . . .
One can always count on 52 teas for their unique blends.
This is a winner and needs to actually be made into cheesecake as it would be delicious. They did a wonderful job of capturing the kumquat flavor without any of the bitterness that can be found in the rind. Fruity with hints of citrus and cream.
The honey bush blends perfectly with the aforementioned flavors like a selfish ninja. You know it’s there but it won’t truly show. The liquid is a beautiful color.
When you brew be sure to use something clear. The rose color is quite a delight.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
HoneyBush from Numi. . . . .
I haven’t had honey since going vegan over eight years ago. I used to love honey in my tea. When I took my first sip of this tea, I felt like I was a kid drinking herbal tea with lots of honey in it. It has a beautiful aftertaste of honey. It’s perfectly outbalanced. It’s sweet without being too sweet, just like I remember honey.
Apparently honeybush is related to the rooibos plant. I can tell they’re related. Honeybush tea has a similar earthy taste just with a very pleasant sweet finish.
This tea is caffeine free so it is a delicious anytime tea. It would be an amazing dessert tea. I enjoyed this tea two ways. I had it both warm and iced and I loved it both ways. This is one of my favorite herbal teas and I’m just so glad I discovered it!
Just like rooibos tea, honeybush tea is full of antioxidants. I love drinking something that not only tastes so lovely, but is also so good for me as well.
If you haven’t tried honeybush tea yet, you need to do yourself the biggest favor and try it!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush
Where to Buy: Numi
Description
From South Africa, our organic Honeybush is a flowering shrub that yields a rich earthy brew with sweet honey overtones. This secret healer is rich in antioxidants.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Snickerdoodle from 52Teas. . . .
I am a fan of dessert blends, regardless of what the tea base is. Whether it’s caffeinated or not, I always tend to prefer something sweet & unique. 52 Teas definitely has some unique blends so they are usually my go-to. This particular tea, Snickerdoodle, is a Honeybush/Rooibos blend which means that it is caffeine free and perfect for a guilt-free after-dinner treat to warm you up on a cold rainy evening!
Smelling the dry leaf on this one, the cinnamon and cookies really shines through. Even more so once the tea has been steeped. Snickerdoodles are not my favorite cookie, i’m more into hot chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the over with a cold glass of milk! However, the flavors involved in a Snickerdoodle (cinnamon & sugar) make for an excellent cup of tea. Not only is this warm, cinnamon-sugary, and comforting but there is an actual “cookie” flavor to the cup. The Honeybush/Rooibos blend is subtle and smooth so if you tend to dislike rooibos you should still give this one a try!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Honeybush/Rooibos
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This tea is no longer available. Click below for teas that are.