Luminous Lemon Rooibos

This was actually called Precious Lemon Rooibos on the tin but the ingredients are the same, so I’m assuming this is the same tea just with the name changed. I got it out of the Travelling Teabox and I ended up just taking the entire tin to reduce the overall weight (nuuu flat-rate boxes for me I’m afraid).

I was expecting this to taste super tart and lemony but the lemon flavour is in fact quite subdued. There’s a lightly foral, faintly spiced sweetness to the tea. None of the ingredients are really shouting out to me or otherwise making themselves obnoxious and all together it’s quite a well-balanced tea. I can taste the woody flavour of the rooibos mostly of the end of each sip, but it’s quite faint and blends it well – so I’ll forgive it for just this once. ;)

I actually had this last night before bed. I was a bit afraid that either the rooibos would be really woody or that the lemon would taste like hard candy. Luckily I was wrong on both accounts. I could taste the rooibos, but it tasted cleaner/smoother than I usually experience with rooibos. The lemon was very muted in the taste, mostly present just at the end of the sip. This tea was rather nice and I enjoyed trying it, courtesy once again of Doulton. I will have no problem finishing the rest of this sample.

Earlier this afternoon I had the Samurai Chai Mate from Teavana, and the grittiness left me with a desperate need to grab something to wash out the little granules it had left behind. The smoothness of this tea was a refreshing succor, while its taste was perplexing.

When I see a tea with lemon in its name, I can’t seem to avoid comparing it to Lemon Zinger. This was nothing like its lemon-drop effect – in fact, it’s difficult to even taste the lemon. All I can identify is a slight aftertaste. From the name, I was expecting something a little more in your face. But that’s okay – it’s nice and soothing, and that’s exactly what I was looking for this afternoon.

I got this as a sample from Doulton (thanks!) but I’ve been reluctant to try it as I knew the bar had been set way high for lemon flavored Rooibos by SpecialTeas Rooibos Lemon Chiffon. Sadly, I was right. I don’t think anything can compare to that.

This sample just tastes like a lemon sucker (from the bank) and rooibos tea. Not much to write home about. Just on the edge of drinkable.

not overly fruity or flowery, thankfully. good hot, better iced.