Chilli Chilli Bang Bang

Cteresa was kind enough to supply me with some more flavoured rooibos samples. Two of them I’m eager to try and one not so much. This one would be the not so much. It has many things in it that I don’t much care for. Still I decided to do this one first because that was the only way I could think of to make sure it didn’t languish forever in the sample box. And I did want to try a new rooibos blend.

So I’m giving it a cautious go. Last time I gave something I fully expected to dislike a cautious go, I ended up giving it 90+ points, after all.

Well, the aroma is strong. Cinnamon and ginger are right there at the forefront, and I haven’t even put my nose anywhere near the cup yet. It smells uncannily like mulled wine, which I’m finding a little strange. Upon closer olfactory inspection, I can also pick up some pepper in there. I have to say, the aroma does nothing to quell my fears. (Sugar on standby)

It’s not as spicy as I initially feared, but it does have a rather strong ginger-y note, with some cinnamon behind it. There is a small prickle of chili and pepper, just enough that I can feel it on my tongue, but not enough to be burning.

It’s not as bad as I feared, but it’s definitely not one for me either. There are too many things in this that I don’t really want anywhere near my teas or herbals. Ginger most especially. I like ginger okay in food or in some baking, when it’s not a primary flavour but merely adding a zing of something to the dish. I feel the same way about garlic, really. On it’s own or in something where it’s a heavy flavour? Not so much.

I find it drinkable as it is, but just barely. Still I eventually decided against trying it with some sugar, because I just couldn’t imagine sugar being able to do anything about my problems with it, and I thought I’d probably just risk making it completely useless to me.

No, definitely not for me. Sorry, Cteresa.

Damn it, yumchaa, there you go and make another blend which is going to became a staple and I will need to keep in stock when finished, no matter what. Please please please do not discontinue this, it just might have medicinal magical sinus clearing properties (I can not prove it, to New England Journal of Medicine standards, but it does feel that way!).

And well, this is it, the spicy rooibos mix I had been looking for all along. It´s got a definite hint of chilli-hotness (there is no proper word in english for it, piquancy maybe? this just might score, even if quite low, on the scoville scale). There is some cinnamon, and there is something from the red peppercorns, definetely there. And some nice rooibos underneath, though if you do not like rooibos I am pretty sure it is subtle enough to be ignored if you want to ignore it. And there is more stuff there, all very nicely balanced, and making something just right. Another huge favorite.

Ah, just a note, this is surely a winter drink kind of stuff.

My favourite rooibos tea so far. It’s probably worth mentioning that my gingerbread recipe is adapted by (at least) tripling the amount of ginger, doubling the amount of cinnamon, and adding nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. I LIKE spicy. (And now I’m thinking it should get some pepper and chilli too.)

All that said, the tea is spicy but not overly so! A good rooibos base, with strong but balanced flavours of cinnamon and ginger, and a nice kick of chilli. (I’ve no idea what red thistle adds to the mix – does anyone know what it tastes like?) I almost always brew this in a large filter bag (Palais des Thés calls the size small, but they’re generous) and leave it in, as rooibos doesn’t get bitter with long steeping. I’ve noticed that when I drink it without milk (it’s good either way) the last little bit of tea has a much more pronounced sweetness than the rest of the cup.

Have re-ordered several times from Yumchaa, and will keep buying as long as they keep selling!

This tea makes you soo long for cold weather. I love it I had to share it with my neighbor and she agrees. This tea is got the cinnamon kick and the great flavor. It is ok as an ice but best at 6 am for the wake up and get going tea. Almost makes you wish you could visit England weekly to get these teas.

Backlogging a bit, but it’s been such a hectic couple of days. I didn’t even get around to turning my notebook on yesterday! I’ve been keeping notes of the teas I’ve drank on my phone though, so I hope to get them all logged eventually.

So, I was over at my allotment plot this afternoon. Now the nights are drawing in and it’s dark when I leave work, I’m only going to be able to work up there at weekends. I’ve had my allotment plot for two years now, and it’s completely changed my life. Who knew gardening could be so therapeutic? Seriously, the whole procedure of growing something from a tiny seed, nurturing it as a plant and then harvesting it onto your plate… mind blowing! I’ve actually taken on a second plot this week, which will be double the hard work, but also double the space to grow produce. I’d really like to grow plants on the second plot that I can use in tea blends; mostly herbals like chamomile, lavender and mint.

I digress! The tea! So, I brewed this up in my T2 flask to take with me to the plot today. I figured it would be absolutely freezing up there and the name of this tea appealed to me. In the packet, it smells quite peppery, with a blast of cinnamon and ginger.

After an hour of digging, I ventured into my shed and poured myself a mug of this. OH BOY! This for sure did an excellent job of warming me up. Seriously! First sip, I got mostly rooibos and ginger, with a smattering of cinnamon. But the aftertaste. No… the after glow! This is where the tea excels. The bite from the chilli and peppercorns leave a warm, spicy tingle in your mouth and on your lips. It’s amazing! I sat there hugging my mug with a huge smile on my face.

This is definitely something I will repurchase. I already plan to make up several tea sacs of this, which I will leave in my shed. I have a kettle and stove in there and this blend will be perfect to warm me up on the cold, exhausting weekends to come.

The pop of chilli is very mild in this red tea, but between the ginger, cinnamon, thistle and red peppercorns (very visible in the mix) the rooibos flavour is barely discernable, just a slight undertow of hay and compost. It’s a good tea for a chilly morning; I like to drink it first thing while checking for frost damage in the garden.