With summer bearing down upon us, I’m bringing out my more tropical teas for some flavoured hydration options for taste buds dulled by the heat.
The tisane is a looseleaf blend of 38.7% apple, 30% hibiscus, 10% rosehip, 10% orange peel, 4% flavouring, 4% liquorice root, 3% sweet blackberry leaves, 0.2% strawberries and 0.1% kiwi juice granules.
Infusing 4 g of the looseleaf in 200 mL of hot water at 96°C for 5 minutes, the infusion was a translucent deep crimson colour with a tropical aroma of sweet strawberries and tangy kiwifruit. Served hot, sweet notes of strawberry came through developing in the body with a gentle acidity to recall the sweet tangy tropical notes of ripe kiwifruit. The acidity becomes prominent towards the body, developing to a tart cranberry flavour characteristic of hibiscus and rosehip before the strawberry and kiwifruit notes return to linger with a sweet tanginess in the finish.
Overall, this tisane delivered on the strawberry and kiwifruit flavour, although I find the acidity of fruit teas more enjoyable when flavouring a leaf tea.
This Whittard of Chelsea Strawberry and Kiwi Infusion contained 125 g. It was produced in the United Kingdom and purchased in London, the United Kingdom in 2013.