I had a craving this evening for sour candy that could not be fulfilled (hello Spooky Season cravings!), and so I thought to myself I’d turn to a tea instead – something fruity and tart would likely fill that hankering! I had a couple of packets of Hibiscus Splash from a box of iced tea samplers DT released in summer of 2020, and thought I’d go for it, remembering how it had been the most tart of the lot.
The fact that I was not disappointed at all should give some indication of the flavours happening here. Sharp and tangy, quite sweet (but I don’t find it’s crossed the line into TOO sweet – but for some it might!), it’s toeing the line from becoming too sour, on a long, generous steep. (I should point out, I’ve only drunk it hot – I’m not a big fan of iced teas – but I did want to try more sweet, fruity blends – hence I bought the Iced Tea box!) It reminds me a lot of White Cranberry Bark, however WCB has that white chocolate smoothness that helps to mellow it out, gives it a creamy flavour, while this particular tea is rather a bit sharper with regards to its tartness. The sweetness of Hibiscus Splash isn’t so strong as the literal Jolly Rancher-type candy flavour I was craving, but there’s a more subliminal flavour that is similar which lingers in the mouth rather than on the tongue. In the summer, I think it might be one of those drinks that makes you thirstier as you drink it – particularly if you are going so far as to drink it hot!
It’s scratching the itch I had – but it’s not something I’d turn to every day. Rainbow Lemonade, which was in the same sampler box, has slightly more “gentle” flavours, so if you wanted a step down from the punchiness of this, I might suggest going in that direction. Or wander further along towards White Cranberry Bark for something smoother but still sweet and a little tart.
Flavors: Cherry, Cranberry, Hibiscus, Lemon, Tart
