The name of this tea brings to mind memories of Christmas fruit cake. While fruit cake tea would be a wild concoction, the focus now is on this Cranberry Orange Rooibos from Shepherd’s Tea.
I have commented in the past on the uniqueness of Shepherd’s Tea and how they include Bible verses on the paper tab of each teabag. Thus, I shall not again comment on this, though I nod to the originality of the idea. Out of its packaging, this tea almost smells like a spiced cider, such as one might find around the holidays. Adding the bag to a cup of freshly boiled water releases the aroma of much orange peel and perhaps a few other spices.
Giving the tea five minutes to steep, I enjoy the warm scents wafting from the cup. There is a certain tang, from the cranberry, more than likely, that arises from this brew. Too hot to drink immediately, I wait a few moments for the liquid to cool slightly. The flavor is intriguing. While the cranberry and orange tastes do not seem overwhelmingly strong, the flavor of the rooibos itself certainly takes a backseat to the fruits. The certain spiciness that was quite apparent in the aroma has also found a subdued place within the flavor of the brew.
While this cup relaxes and satisfies, I feel as though something is missing from it. The flavors are all in place and taste great, but it seems as though this tea aught to be more bold than it is now. On my personal enjoyment scale, I give it an 80/100.
