Blackberry Vanilla Infusion

Steepster was playing up for me earlier today, so this was actually written this morning.

My Dad and step-mom are busy setting up for my step-grandma’s 90th birthday today. The hubby and I went over last night to drop off some chairs for the big event. My hubby always likes to show up at their place right after dinnertime. Even though we always have tons of food in our house, he just loves my Dad and step-mom’s cooking, and they just love to feed us whenever we visit. It’s amazing that they always seem to have leftovers for him, as if they know he’s coming. It’s kind of cute.

My Dad offered me a cup of this tea. It’s not bad, in fact, this used to be one of my favorites at his house, but compared to the teas that I buy, it’s nowhere near my favorite. It has a touch more tartness than I like, and the teabag itself is only strong enough to make a single mug at the strength that I like. As far as grocery store boxed teas go, it’s still pretty decent, I just wouldn’t buy it for myself when there are so many nicer options that I enjoy.

Ehhhhh. I so badly want to like this one. but the smell… it’s so cloying and ugh!
The taste? well it’s ok. Freshly hot, it was full of vanilla, which is so not my thing… and then as it cools, I get alot more hibiscus. I’m not sure which one is worse?!? That said, it is a little creamy which I find odd for a juice tea, and the only enjoyable part.
Anyhow, DaisyChubb is right… rocket candies, berry flavoured ones all the way (once it cools a bit).
It didn’t help that little bits of berry snuck out of the pyramid bag.
What am I going to do with the rest of these pouches?! Maybe they’ll be better iced, and walloped with a spoonful or five of agave.
Overall, a thoroughly unimpressive tisane. I don’t know why but I expected more :(

After reading Indigobloom’s latest review of this tea I decided to give it another try. She was right, time does mellow out teas. This tea is much more drinkable than it was the first time I had it. Yay!

I’ve had a box of this tea sitting on my shelf since before I joined Steepster. The first time I had it there was an overwhelming tartness which I now recognize as the hibiscus. I couldn’t get past it, and I’m not sure I even finished the cup. Tonight there was definite berry and vanilla. I wouldn’t recognize the berry as blackberry if it wasn’t printed on the box, but it’s berry nonetheless. The hibiscus comes out as the tea cools, but as long as I drink it while it’s hot then it is a perfectly drinkable tea. It doesn’t make me want to do cartwheels, but I can see myself adding this tea to my evening teas list.

This is a fruity infusion that tastes mostly of hibiscus. It is bright, tart, and refreshing. I have trouble picking out particular blackberry flavor (mostly generally fruitiness) and maybe the vanilla is present as just touch of creaminess. I like hibiscus, but there is a slight off-taste that I don’t like.

This was a gift I received along with Bavarian Wild Berry (also by Lipton). I’m not much of a fan of either flavors, but this one is my least favorite of the two. I will try giving it away.

Although I much prefer loose teas now as opposed to pre-baged ones I still like to try a new one every now and then. Usually they’re nothing special, I’ll try it once and that’s usually it other than the black tea bags and maybe a honey lemon that I always have on hand. This one, however, is now a must have in my cupboard.

More of a juice tea for sure, and super cool in it’s pink colour after being steeped. Personally I like to leave the bag in for this one the entire time to strengthen the taste. A little bitter tasting at times but not overwhelmingly so. I think this must come from the blackberries as I find it to be almost identical to when I eat them fresh.

I have to disagree with Indigobloom about the teabags. I find these to be extra sturdy and probably one of the best designs I’ve ever used in terms of not ripping…plus the triangle shape is just plain cool!

Tried this one iced for the first time the other day….steeped two bags in hot water to make sure it didn’t taste too watery and then poured over ice. Delicious!!! Actually probably one of the better iced teas I’ve had.

The only negative thing I would have to say is agreeing with the hibiscus flavour….I find you can only taste it when it’s at that in between point between hot and cold. Still steaming?? Great! Iced?? Great! Cooled off and sitting for a while?? Not so much.

My mom in law gave me one to try ._.
Ah hibiscus run!!
I steeped for maybe 2 minutes haha, and it’s pretty darn sour.
It has a yummy aftertaste though – like those Rocket candies, or those suckers made of powder.

Oooh this tea. I love this tea for those days when I’m ill and should really be drinking fruit juice instead. The tartness from the berried and the sort of candied taste from the hibiscus remind me of Tazo’s Brambleberry tea that comes in bottles, minus the hint of cinnamon and mint. I like to add a nice spoonful of demarara sugar to my cup for an extra sweet kick.

Entirely not bad. I very much enjoyed the smells, but the taste was a little lacking. Oh well.

I think the bags are really cool, for one thing, and it smells so good as it’s steeping. A little bitter the first time I drank it, not one of the teas that’s good enough for me to drink without sweetening. I love the creaminess that comes from the vanilla, and this was my first go at hibiscus which was delightful too.