Review: Rishi Tea Blueberry Rooibos

Mar 29

Review: Rishi Tea Blueberry Rooibos

Jamie’s Teaview Snapshot

"Rich, velvety sweet and smooth, luscious and jammy, an instant ticket to summertime."

Jamie’s Teaview:	9.5/10
Other Teaviews:	Kari gave it 6/10, Brad gave it 6/10, Joe gave it 6/10, Dan gave it 7.5/10, Laura gave it 5.5/10, Shaiha gave it 8/10
Your Reviews:	Add your review »

I knew something good was in store when I received some samples to try and the overwhelming scent emanating forth was a wonderful wafting blueberry smell that actually smelled like blueberries...and when I actually opened the sample packet of Rishi Tea's Blueberry Rooibos (currently 20% off at their website, by the way!) I was ready to try it pronto. This simple rooibos tea base is bursting with plump blueberries, lovely wild looking blueberries like I recall raking over the summer time on nearby barrens here in Midcoast Maine...the smell took me right back to that perfectly hot summer's day eating berries by the handful in the warm sun...for those who haven't spent a long winter in a northern clime, try and imagine what a nice memory this is to crop up when Spring is nearly here "chronologically", but the snow is still high in the side yard and full blown cabin fever has definitely arrived. I am pleased to say that I have found a cure for my cabin fever in the form of Rishi's Blueberry Rooiboss and will probably be ordering several tons of it immediately...by the time I finish it, the snow might actually have melted!

Rishi recommends using a full tablespoon of tea for each 8 ounce cup, so I brewed three tablespoons up for a nice little pot of tea after dinner last night. Rishi suggests a 5 to 7 minutes steep, and I chose the longer steep, but 5 minutes would have done just fine. Seven minutes brought me a cup that was so dark it looked like a staunch assam, deep deep red brown, and with a heavenly warm, almost palpably velvety scent steaming forth - so fruity and heady! This is a superb tea, all around. I loved it from start to finish, dry and steeped. The appearance is attractive and the tea full of big blueberries. Scent wise - there's nothing to describe it aside from transporting and delicious, and taste wise, ahhhh magnifique! You get a full, rich, relaxation inducing flavor with a high clear finish and bit of tangi-ness from the berries. Best of all, I had another steeping from this tea that was different but also delicious. The first infusion really brought forth the headiest of the berry flavor, but the second steeping was sturdy and very flavorful, with much lighter color and a different set of taste qualities than the first brewing, also very delicious.

Rishi has also used organic blueberries in its blend, a definite plus in my book. The tea also supports fair trade practices, which I hope extends to the blueberry workers too, and will be a good question to ask the folks at Rishi. Blueberry raking, outside of recreational freezer filling, is incredibly hard work that doesn't pay very well, as many seasonal workers in Maine can attest.

Aside from being perfectly delicious hot, I can imagine this blend will be splendid over ice, and I got a hankering to try it iced with a splash of cream, sort of a blueberry creamsicle experience sans food dye and the eerie calliope sounds of the ice cream man! Oh, summertime...I've tasted you again!

— To purchase Rishi Tea Blueberry Rooibos, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.