Vanilla Rooibos Parfait

It’s suppose to be hot here – like upper 80’s, low 90’s hot. I’m not looking forward to this, especially with any added humidity there might be…

So I’m trying to prepare. I currently have in the fridge a fruity white tea and a vanilla mint green. When it gets hot, I usually crave a sweeter non-black tea (because I start my day with black tea). So I’m trying this cold.

Brewed the usual hot way I use 4 tea bags for 32 ounces of water, brought to a boil and steeped for just over 5 minutes. Let it cool and stick it in the fridge to get friendly with the other iced teas.

I really don’t like the taste of this unsweetened. Don’t get me wrong, it tastes sweet without adding anything extra to it. I believe it to be the licorice root as Aveda’s Comforting Tea also has this in it – both I’m not crazy about. And for a vanilla rooibos, Tazo’s tastes apple-y. Again not a bad thing, but it’s not really what I want out of a vanilla rooibos. My remedy for this: homemade vanilla syrup.

So I’m always up in the air about getting a new tin. I like it, but it has to be doctored – usually with some vanilla syrup. :-/

This was surprisingly not bad. I liked the mix of flavors, though I do wish I had been told that it was more than just a basic vanilla rooibos, but it warmed me up on this chilly night.

The conversation leaving up to the conversation, however, had me cringing every time I took a sip. Mind you, tonight was my first time inside a Starbucks.

Me: What kind of teas do you have?
Barista: Oh, we have lots! For herbals we have….pause to think of list
Me: Oh, I don’t want an herbal (hibiscus feaaaar)
Barista: Oh. For greens we have…
Wife: She doesn’t like greens, either.
Barista:….okay, for blacks we have Awake, Earl Grey, and Vanilla Rooibos.
Me:…
Wife:…
Me:…I’ll have the Vanilla Rooibos.

Anyway, I would definitely drink this one again.

Lizbet sent me a sample of this one. I’ve tried it before in Starbucks and I think it’s a little better brewed at home (maybe less water per sachet). I really don’t know why they call this vanilla. It’s more like cinnamon apple with a slightly odd taste of… wax lips.

I don’t normally like rooibos teas. So according to me the rating I am giving this tea is good for a rooibos tea. I liked this tea but the vanilla was overpowering. Once I got past the vanilla it was enjoyable, smooth, and relaxing. I expected a fanning grade tea but got a better grade tea than most Taza teas that I’ve tried. Therefore the tea bags were larger. Tossed out the tea bag and then realized I should have tried for a second steeping.

Co worker passed along … reminds me of Adagio Foxtrot without the peppermint. I’m not getting any of the fruity stuff, but it’s not bad.

Just dropped a bag of this in my cup for an afternoon chill out. It has been one of those days and I need something soothing or else someone might loose an arm. ANYWAY…to me this tea has a nice smooth flavor and a even mix of rooibos and vanilla flavors. Now if only I had some steamed soy milk to mix in here….yum! But alas simply the tea with a few sugar cane crystals.

I got this, like so many other folks, in part to try to recreate a Starbucks tea latte at home (when I use up my current stash of earl grey I’ll try the Tazo earl grey too). For me, the vanilla syrup seems to just make the beverage, so I am trying to compensate at home. Next time, for example, I am going to try vanilla sweetened soy milk rather than my unsweetened vanilla almond milk+ honey. (The almond milk otherwise did a good job).
The trick for me is to just leave the teabag in the cup, and use no water. Steep the thing in the milk directly. Do you get a better result from steeping it in water for a long time first? Curious.

Anyway, I like this one plain as well. It’s a nice sweet vanilla-apple pie type of aroma. Well done on Tazo’s part, as I usually cannot stand apple.

Have been drinking this tea off and on for a while now, as it is one of the few teas in the cupboard. Now seems like a perfect time to sit down, relax, and write something up.

Removing this tea from its tin resting place I am immediately struck with the scent of loving, caressing, vanilla. Underneath, a slight smell of cinnamon comes forth, surrounding the smell of rooibos, bringing forth an almost marshmallow smell. At this point I am feeling relaxed, I almost want to just sit and continue smelling this tea, simply because it is so pleasant.

Snapping myself out of the daze, I prepare the tea. Boiling water for 5 minutes as instructed. As the water gently begins to embrace the tea leaves, the lovely scent of vanilla begins to dance up from my cup to greet me. That same marshmallowy-vanilla scent with cinnamon spice undertones is now fully steaming from the light creamy liquid resting in front of me.

I raise the mug to my lips and take a sip. Vanilla, sweetness, light cinnamon, and mint. The vanilla flavour is the first to hit, though not quite as strong as strong as the scent it gives off, which is somewhat underwhelming, though that could simply be personal preference. There are some light cinnamon undertones at the sides of my tongue and a sweetness that is left behind on my lips. After this has passed I feel a light almost minty aftertaste on my tongue, which I assume to be the rooibos as that has been a singature of my experience with it.

Now my mug is empty, still wafting that lovely vanilla scent, I am fully relaxed. My throat feels a little dry, which I have been told is common with lower grade teas, and my lips and tongue are coated in a pleasant, sweet aftertaste.

This tea spins an image into my imagition of a younger, gentle female. She is very kind and loyal. She looks out for those who are close to her. Whoever chooses to love her she will love back consistently for as long as she is able. She tends to avoid excitement, preferring to settle down with a nice book. She grew up in a wealthy family so she does tend to spend more money than the average individual, in some ways making her more of a “gold digger” as she likely will only be introduced to those of a higher social standing.

Summary(tl;dr):
This tea is kind of pricey for the product that you get. It is a nice relaxation tea that produces many lovely aromas. As with most Tazo brand teas, this tea seems to be designed with Starbucks signature drinks in mind rather than straight consumption. Sweetening this tea will really accentuate the vanilla flavour and make for a more creamy style drink if that is what you are interested. I would recommend this tea to those who are interested in recreating Starbucks style drinks at home to save some change.

Last time that I went to starbucks, I was pleasantly surprised with the Tazo tea that I had (Passion). It was fantastic and gave me a go-to drink when I’m not feeling all of the whip cream and such that I need to add to my coffee to be able to drink it. So I went back last night with some friends, and with high hopes ordered this tea…
It was however a disappointment. The smell was nice, vanilla and mildly spicy almost?, but the taste was not quite what I was expecting. I also didn’t really enjoy it. I did taste the vanilla but it was almost the background flavour to some weird fruity tones. Probably not the best description, but it just wasn’t my cuppa…

Nothing more to add, other than that the teabag will make an impressive second steep. Smelling the bag before tossing it, I got a big whiff of the cinnamon I failed to notice earlier. Strange tea.