St. Valentine’s Tea

February Sipdown Prompt – a least favorite tea

Third times a charm? Not with this one.

I chose and ordered this tea. I don’t remember if I saw that there was hibiscus in it, but I was expecting and wanting a white tea with delightful rose flavor and aroma.

First cups were weak and disappointing. There have been a few Fortnum teas that were pleasant but the added flavor was weak, and overleafing handled that situation handsomely. The flavor was nice and the tea didn’t become astringent. I decided to overleaf this one and see if it would bring out the white tea and rose.

It turned deep red instead of light pink, and the dry, tart impact told me that all I had increased was the hibiscus flavor. No white tea taste at all. There is rose, mostly in the aftertaste but throughout breakfast it built a little and I could tell the aroma was lingering with me but hibiscus was still the main flavor.

I decided to try it sweetened to see if that increased the rose, but it really didn’t help and I really don’t sweeten my hot tea. The only option now is to super sweeten it like I would a hibiscus tea and have it chilled at lunch. I poured the remaining tea (I made a lot this morning) into a jar and added more sugar, but I did have a taste before putting it away. It was better this way. But it isn’t rose white tea. It’s jamaica with rose.

If you love hibiscus and are intrigued to see how it would taste with added florals, you might like this. You might even love it. But as a hot tea, this is not for me.