Just a Trio of Tulsi

I’ve heard that tulsi can be very soothing and relaxing – which means that I’d love to develop a taste for it. However, it still tastes sort of weird/funky to me. I keep expecting to get a cup of diluted pesto when I brew it, but the taste is much different than what i’ve built up in my head.

This tea isn’t so bad – it’s quite sweet, actually – but I really just want to finish it off so I have one less tea in my cupboard.

I found this in my stash and I feel terrible as Just Organic sent it for review ages ago! So sorry! Tulsi is definitely my thing and this was definitely still delicious despite not being as fresh as it should have been when I steeped it up. I love the flavors of tulsi, this holy basil- it’s definitely a change of pace, something unique, especially when I’m a tea addict and have at least a couple types of tea in every day. The flavor is sometimes citrus, spicy, vegetal, sweet, minty, savory, refreshing, really an odd mix of tastes and yet somehow it always works. Very full of unique lingering flavor. It might have been a while back that I tried this one, but this one might be my favorite from Just Organic! To the shopping list this will go, but I don’t see it on their site… that’s too bad.
Steep #1 // 15-20 minutes after boiling // 3-4 min steep
Steep #2 // few min after boiling // few min steep
Justorganictea.com

Most of my lovely samples from Just Organic tea have been waiting patiently for my return from travel and then a bit more for life to be sane enough to actually sit and enjoy my tea. The dry tea in its little sample bag must be scented from the other samples as it smells like incense. I’ve eaten a lot of “holy basil” in curries and like it a lot with fish but never drunk it. And after 5 minutes brewing the whole sample in 8 oz of 195 degree water the incense is gone it smells of basil and red clover. The taste also has hints of the clover sweetness. Its clearing the fumes and confusion from my mind with a gentle warm summer breeze. The flavor is a bit sweet and a bit buttery or maybe that’s me remembering the village in Nepal where they poured ghee offerings on their tulsi bush? Its also soothing to the stomach and head! I will try this one again although I often dont’ like straight herbals this one is differnet it doesn’t taste like grass!

Never ha tulsi before. Looked it up, my dad used to grow this stuff. :)
It reminds me of world markets spice section. Vaguely tastes like chai.

This is my first time trying tulsi, so just for that thanks Just Organic Tea! Dry, this tea smells exactly like the inside of one of my friend’s (who happens to be Indian) apartment. I know that’s not all that helpful but I really can’t think of anything else that smells like that. When brewing, it smells a bit like green beans. To be honest, it tastes like green beans too with a tiny, slightly basil-y kick at the end. The flavors are extremely mild though. I like it some, but I wouldn’t seek out more tulsis.

First time tasting Tulsi, thanks for the Samples Just Organic Tea.

hmmm… not sure what to make of this one. I love the idea of the health benefits that it provides with repeated drinking for sure. I alternated between really liking and not really liking this with pretty much every sip. I can’t make up my mind whether I genuinely like it or feel like it is not for me.

Definitely very herbaceous. Strong basil notes and a little citrus and spice. Some sips were purely a mouthful of basilness, others were more complex and the basil mingled with the other notes. I think I’d have to try this a few more times to clear my confusion, haha.

Currently I am in the rather extensive process of cutting up 448 pieces of origami paper into quarters by hand. Yes the blade on my trusty paper cutter has bit the dust so I must use scissors to do the task. At about halfway finished I have not encountered any hand cramps or really botched cuts, so I consider this a win, the bigger win, of course is planning all the fun things I am going to fold with the paper when I am done. Pretty soon I will have to either start selling them or just leaving them on random people’s doorsteps, because I am running out of room to store said origami!

Today’s tea is an herbal blend by Just Organic Tea, Just a Trio of Tulsi, which is, as the name implies, a blend of three different kinds of Tulsi. Also known as Holy Basil, this Indian herb is used in both Ayurveda and is considered sacred to the Hindu religion. This specific tea blends together Krishna (purple leaf or dark leaf) Tulsi, Rama (green leaf) Tulsi, and Vana (wild leaf) Tulsi, though I am not experienced enough in Tulso to tell the difference just yet. The aroma quite herbaceous with strong notes of basil, sage, and a hint of lemon. There is a finishing note of sweet hay.

Brewing the leaves brings out a nice peppery aroma in the wet leaves, along with a much clearer citrus and a very strong basil aroma. Again there is a finishing note of sweet hay…I find myself tempted to cook with this tea, I bed it would taste very good with fish or chicken.

It is time to drink my herbal brew. The taste is, as expected, quite herbaceous, there are strong notes of basil and a slight hint of citrus. This fades to lettuce which also lends to a cooling sensation that was perfect (when I wrote the tasting notes for this tea in my notebook it was blistering hot) and very relaxing. The mouthfeel is very smooth and the aftertaste was honey sweet. Each time I try a Tulsi tea I seem to like it more and more, the flavors are complex enough to hold my interest, while at the same time being simple enough to just relaxingly sip without thinking about it. I will certainly have to try more of this because I have a sneaking suspicion it would be good iced!

For photos and blog: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2014/05/just-organic-tea-just-trio-of-tulsi-tea.html

I think Tulsi is a more acquired taste. It’s ok, but I don’t think I’d reach for this one.

This is my last of the sample pack from Just Organic. Thank you.

I think tulsi and I are just not meant to be. As much as I really really want to like this because I love holy basil in my food, in my tea, it is just too much for me. When I do herbals in the evening I want something calming and not over powering. This has enough of a bight in it that it over takes my mouth. I am grateful for the opportunity to try this, but this one is not my cup of tea.

Oveerboard TTB

I haven’t had this in a long time. It’s as good as I remember. I’m keeping my rating at 80.

We had 12 inches of snow last night so it’s definitely a stay-at-home-and-do-something-useful day. I cleaned out my tea cabinets today. Wow – lots of good stuff in there. Time to join up with “Little Terri”and starting doing those sip downs.

Getting these empty tins dry dry after washing them is a pain in the butt (especially if you are impatient like me. I’m standing there with a hair dryer when my husband comes home and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. ;-p