African Summer

First of all I want to say that this tea is BEAUTIFUL! Both in color and smell. It brews up a gorgeous reddish pink color. It’s so pretty it makes me wish I had a clear mug to admire it in (specifically the clear perfect glass mug from David’s Tea – the one with the tree on it). I am in love with the smell this tea gives off. It’s very lemony which is awesome for me because I absolutely love lemons! I even like to eat them raw by themselves =)

I think the name African Summer really fits this tea. I’m picturing a red sunset over dry African plains…maybe there’s a zebra lingering somewhere in the distance…

I like that this tea is naturally sweet and tarty. The lemon isn’t too overpowering and neither is the hibiscus. They are in perfect harmony with eachother. I can definitely see myself reaching for some of this on a cold winter day when I need a little warmth. It would also be a great go to during cold/flu season. I think I’m going to have to order some more of this!

I’m really very happy with this tea. I can’t wait to try it iced! Mmmm…fabulous African Summer!! So glad I tried this.

http://flic.kr/p/deqyP6

I am pleasantly surprised by this tea! I woke up not knowing what tea I wanted, but I knew to stay away from blacks right now, astringency will only make my throat worse. When I don’t know what I want, I push myself to try some of the new teas I have that I haven’t tried yet. This was a sample in my most recent Red Leaf Teas order (the first of many, I assure you). I dumped the whole sample into my tea-for-one set (that actually makes enough to fill the base cup twice) and let it go for five minutes. After four minutes and 58 seconds, I realized it had hibiscus in it and quickly pulled it out.

Good news, everybody! The hibiscus isn’t overwhelming at all! It blends nicely with the other ingredients, though I can still taste it. This tea is helping my dry throat immensely.

That all being said, this is not a tea I would order. It’s a bit like Celestial Seasonings’ Red Zinger, but without the hibiscus being as overly harsh. But that comparison is enough to keep me away from it. It’s not a flavor I enjoy, but it is a good cup of tea for those who like such things.

Smells like Cologne with a hint of fruit.
I was afraid of the ingredient mixture – mostly with the Hibiscus – esp with my more recently H-cus attempts…lol…but this is lovely!
I am enjoying it!

I really like this blend a lot. It’s great hot or cold, and would mix nicely with other teas.