Cherry Cosmo

I have a terribly sore throat today. The kind of sore throat that keeps you up all night desperately trying to swallow. I need something soothing and I figured that Cherry Cosmo may be the ticket.

I actually kind of like this herbal blend. I’m always a fan of cherries and this tea defiantly delivers on that front. My only quibble is the slightly medicinal flavor that hits you after the first sip. To be fair, it does taste like the vodka you find in a cosmo. The problem for me is that I don’t care for vodka. Fortunately, the vodka taste fades pretty quickly and it’s all cherry loveliness for the finish. So, the flavor is accurate but not one I would gravitate to on a regular basis. All of this being said, this herbal has soothed my throat and made me a far happier camper.

Thank you kindly Tea Forte for the complimentary sample pack of your herbal blends. I LOVE to try new teas :)

Edit: This tea’s cherry flavor really develops as it cools off! I needed to drink it hot this morning to soothe my throat, but I half wish I’d saved it for iced tea later. Oh well…

First off thanks a bunch to tea forte for the samples! The cherry cosmo was however a disappointment, the tea smelled like cherry cough syrup with … plastic? And no this was after I poured it out of the bag. The taste was worse, it did hold up to its cherry cough syrup scent though. It was overly tart almost to the point of tasting carbonated. I did manage to finish the cup but not by much.

This was however the one that looked the least appetizing so here is hoping the rest are better. On a plus note the packaging was fantastic.

This is pretty tasty. Even with the hibiscus. At first I wasn’t sure if I liked it, but as I continue to sip, the taste is growing on me. And now I realize what it is that is intriguing me so much about this: It tastes like a cherry sour ball!

I’m working my way through the sampler from Tea Forte. This was today’s pick. When I opened the package my first thought was holy cherries!! I’m not a really big cherry fan unless they happen to be floating in my Shirley Temple :) But this smelled pretty yummy, so I added the leaves to my trusty leaf holder thingy and waited for the tea to steep properly.

As it steeped the tea smelled a bit like cough meds. This did not make me want to drink it when it was done (even my husband took a sniff and asked why I was going to drink hot cough syrup?). But I was serving it over ice so maybe that would help. I added some sweetener to this which I hardly do anymore and it isn’t half bad. It isn’t a favorite either. I’m still getting the left over medicine flavor at the end which is grossing me out a little. But I will finish the glass.

This was interesting. The dry leaves smelled like Jack Daniels and Cherry Coke, once wet immediately reminded me of Cherry Carmex, Neccos and Pine Sol. Steeps to a dark raspberry colored liquor. I had to add quite a bit of sweetener, as this was very prominently hibiscus and very tart. Tastes like hibiscus, cherry, alcohol and a bit of raspberry. I don’t think I like it hot, as I normally don’t like hot fruity teas. This is like hot fruit juice with alcohol. I’ll let it cool and try it iced.

Edit.
Tried this iced. It tasted like cherry lime Kool-aid..plus a funny taste I can’t place. Just wasn’t digging it.

Let me begin by saying this: I am not a cherry person. It is the flavouring/druit that I always pick last and accordingly I am “getting it out of the way”. This Single Steep had larger pieces of dried fruit, almost looks like just the skins of the berries. Dry, it smells a bit medicinal, not quite cough syrup but definitely well on its way. Definitely appetizing though.

I let it steep seven minutes (accidentally) and the result was a bright red liquor with a bizarre and slightly potpourri-esque smell. A hint of spice mixed in with a sweet fruit smell. There’s also a vitamin sort of a smell, if that makes sense. The taste is slightly tart, but otherwise very unassuming. The strength of the smell does not carry over into the taste (as is par for the course with Tea Forte teas). I don’t really get cherry taste, but I do get tart fruit. There is still a hunt of that vitamin aspect, which makes this seem more medicinal. I’m NOT getting cherry cough syrup though, so that is good!

Once again, this is something I could drink if offered but would not buy. A bit more cherry taste would do this a world of good. Mostly just tart red fruit punch-esque drink. Maybe it is the rosehips that give it the unexpected ‘vitamin’ quality. I definitely get the hibiscus, but otherwise have trouble identifying these flavours.

Bleghhhhhhh! Why do I ever try red fruit teas? I hate them so much. This one in particular is mostly hibiscus though, with a strong undercurrent of cherry. It tastes medicinal and like hot jell-o mix at the same time. I made myself drink most of my travel mug’s worth, and then dumped the last 1oz or so into a bush as I was walking, where hopefully it will grow something other than Cherry Cosmo tisane plants.

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 packet
Water: 12 ounces hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes (http://steep.it)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: alcohol, cherry, hibiscus
Steeped Tea Smell: hibiscus, cherry
Flavor: sweet fruit then tart
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: tart
Liquor: translucent dark purple-pink

It smells alcoholic! I found it a bit tart and would add sugar next time, but it was a fun cup of tea (not often you can drink at work!).

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/04/tea-forte-loose-leaf-herbal-tisane.html

As a child I used to cough into my pillow at night when I had a cold so that my dad wouldn’t hear and insist I take some of the probably long-expired prescription cold meds we had sitting in the medicine cabinet so I’m a bit leery of anything cherry. I do not take cough drops (unless they’re the Ludens ones that are basically just hard candy), I do not drink cough syrup unless I am feel-like-I’m-about-to-die desperate.

So I was super stoked to get this as part of Tea Forte’s generous sample offer. /sarcasm (re the flavor, not the generosity)

But one night last week, it spoke to me and I figured ‘what the hell’ and tried it.

Not bad.
It did smell like cough medicine so that freaked me out at first. But I didn’t hate it. Didn’t love it either, but it hit the spot that night although I had no problem not trying for a second steep like I normally would.

One singe steep packet prepared cold brewed for 20 hours, in 12 oz. of water.

The smell of the dried leaf reminded me of a cherry soda, really. It smelled carbonated. But there wasn’t anything medicinal or alcoholic (yay!) so I was cautiously optimistic as I left it to steep in the fridge.

Once steeped the scent of the liquor was much the same – fizzy cherry-ish. The color of the tea was pretty much dead on for cranberry juice or cherry juice – it was that vibrant and red – so pretty!

Unsweetened this is mouth-puckeringly (and undrinkable, to me) TART. The hibiscus and cherry are no doubt to blame for this – in fact, it tastes like cherry juice that has had all of its sweetness extracted. It is very drying on the tongue and needs a bunch of simple syrup to be palatable, but once it is, it is tasty. More like juice than tea, but tasty.

Well, this whole experience started out quite nice – I really enjoyed the smell of the dry tea – fruity with an intriguing hint of booze (vodka?) to it. Too bad that all got drowned out by the hibiscus. I suppose I’m biased but I can’t bring myself to enjoy a tea this sour, particularly since none of the flavours of the other ingredients in the tisane manage to rise to conteract it. I think there wouldn’t be a whole lot of difference tastewise between drinking this and drink straight hisbscus.

Ah well, at least it’s good for me (supposedly).

So I’m not rating this one, as it wouldn’t be fair. I don’t like cherry flavored anything. But my wife, who loves cherry, took a sip and seemed to like it, so there you go.

To me, it tastes like a flat cherry coke with too much cherry syrup. It does vaguely remind me of a cherry cosmo, or at least what I would imagine a cherry cosmo would taste like…

Wait! I figured it out. It tastes like a melted cherry coke icee. I feel much better now XD. Don’t you hate when a tea reminds you of something else, but you can’t quite put your finger on what?

But yeah, this isn’t one I’d restock.

I don’t think I can rate this one, being pretty firmly anti-cherry flavouring. I cold-brewed it, and not for very long. On one hand, I was surprised that I found it quite drinkable (I don’t like cherry flavours) and refreshing. On the other, it tasted pretty artificial and I don’t think I’d make it again. I can’t imagine it hot because this was already pretty strong.

Okay. So this started off being my least favorite, and became my favorite (so far) of the sample pack.

Dry, the leaves smelled to me like paint thinner. Hooray!

The first sip tasted really tart, thank you hibiscus, but as I kept drinking it got addictive and super yummy. Then I placed it – it tastes like Cherry Coke or Balck Cherry soda! Not as deep at Black cherry, but that flavour is def reminiscent of it. Yum!

So yeah I am pretty impressed with this tea now. The hibiscus was there because I wanted to be disappointed in this tea I think. That sounds strange, but there you go. As I kept drinking, the cherry flavor over powered it.

If I make an on-line order, I will pick up some of this.
Maybe it will inspire me to get the courage to try david’s Cherry Potion. But I doubt it.

Thanks again Tea Forte!

I’ll admit the ingredients made me nervous because many of them I do not favor…but…it was Cherry-Fruity but not as tart as I thought it would be…there was a nice yet unexpected smoothness towards the end of the sip, too. I’m glad this wasn’t as puckery as I thought it would be. There is still a lot of punch there but it’s pretty good for a hibiscusy tisane!

Spending New Years Eve with a pot of this since I have to work tomorrow morning so I can’t go out (well, I could but I would suffer the consequences).

I love cherries but this was not for me. This comes off as sour hibiscus to me and I think it’d be alright iced. I’m not a big fan of iced teas though so I don’t think I’ll be giving it a go. It gets much more tolerable as I drink it though.

Steep time: 5 mins. Added agave.
Rating: 30. Not or me.

Based on two experiences: my wife’s and my own

Experience buying from Tea Forte: Good. Website is very colorful and easy to navigate. Given free samples after responding to Steepster invitation. Package came in reasonable amount of time. Other than sending my address, no e-mail or phone contact.

Age of leaf: Unknown. Steeped within weeks of receiving.

Packaging: Creative: a grayish somewhat transparent plastic bag with five smaller “Single Steeps” packs attached to a colorful paper backing describing each tea. The tiny tea foil packs themselves are the most colorful and most professional-looking tea packages I have ever seen.

Dry Leaf: Strong, fresh smell (a little like amaretto to me).

Brewing guidelines: (package states 12 oz. I used closer to 16 oz.) Two steepings: 1st: boiling, 3mins. 2nd: boiling, 5 mins. (about 20-30 minutes later). Small amount of Stevia added. Basket strainer inside ceramic 16 oz. cup.

Aroma: smelled a little like canned cherries.

Color of liquor: 1st: Beautiful, deep red color. 2nd: a little darker.

Wet leaf: smelled a little like cherries.

Flavor: 1st steeping: OK. A little too strong on the cherry flavor? 2nd: Not as tasty as 1st, has a kind of ‘off’ flavor to it, almost stale, and even a little — I’m sure how to describe it, but I believe the correct word here is — tart, since I am experiencing some dryness in my mouth.

Value: Free sample, but their price on their website is more than I would be willing to pay if I purchased it.

Overall: Awesome start, disappointing finish. I love everything about the tea but the taste: as to that we both felt it fell short. I didn’t feel a need to finish the first steeping, let alone the second (my wife didn’t even want to try it). Unfortunately, we would not buy this tea. :(

I was really disappointed here as we just got a pint of Luna & Larry’s Cherry Amaretto coconut ice cream just to pair with this. I can summarize it as cough syrup poured over an other wise decent, if overly tart, ingredients list. May re-make this one with just real cherries in it?

I’d call it a bitter, hot, cherry coke. The smell reminded me of a stale cocktail. I’m thankful for the sample but this is a big nuh-uh from me. I think I can bring myself to finish the cup, but I really can’t wait to brew something else to wash my mouth out…

i’m usually more wary of teas with hibiscus as they always turn out too tart for me, but i absolutely love cherry, so this one was high on my list to try out.
smells kind of boozy! haha, i can imagine all these teas infusing really nicely in some vodka for fancy mixed drinks. maybe i’ll try that soon.
lovely deep pink hue, definitely a pretty tea. steeped it smells more like a cherry wine.
initially sweet with that tart hibiscus undertone. i don’t really get much of a cherry flavour sadly, more raspberry, which would go better with the tartness.
blech, it just gets worse. too tart. had to dump it out. :(
yeah, i’ll probably just infuse the rest of this in some vodka and mix it with a lot of… anything sweet!