Honey Blush from Teapigs is a blend of organically grown, unflavored rooibos and organically grown, unflavored honeybush.  A rather simple blend, really, but one that I’ve not tried before.

Honeybush on its own possesses a mild nutty flavor and a lovely, honey-like sweetness.  Rooibos (red rooibos) is similar in flavor, although it tends to have what I often refer to as “sparkle” which I can only define as a slight tingle that sort of affects the palate similarly to tartness, although it isn’t really tart.  The sweetness that rooibos has is a bit different than honeybush; while honeybush is decidedly sweeter, somehow, the natural sweetness of rooibos comes off as slightly saccharine-ish.

I definitely prefer both of these South African herbs as flavored tisanes, as the flavors tend to play off the inherent characteristics of the rooibos and honeybush quite well and the flavored rooibos and/or flavored honeybush tend to be much more palatable than their unflavored counterparts.

However, what is surprisingly evident from this blend is that the two unflavored herbs play off each other nicely, and produce a delicious, light cup.  The flavor is smooth, with just enough sparkle to keep it interesting.  The honey-like characteristic is very pleasant, and that honey flavor seems to wash over the palate.

Teapigs describes this tisane as

About this tea:
This is a blend of the leaves of two native bushes from South Africa. Honey Bush and Rooibos grow only in the Cedar berg region of South Africa. Rooibos (Afrikaans for red bush) and Honey Bush are harvested and processed in much the same way as tea. This organic blend is particularly high in antioxidants and nutrients.

Compare the leaf in our tea temples to the dust in your regular tea bag; whole leaf is best.

Taste:
An earthy, mahogany-coloured nectar that gives way to a subtly, nutty flavour

Try it:
With extra honey!

Good if you’re feeling:
In need of some African sun. Who needs a safari break? A cup of this will give you that much-needed holiday feeling being crammed with goodies to rid you of toxins and calm your system.

Because this is a naturally caffeine-free beverage, it is perfect for any time of the day, but is most especially appreciated by me later in the evening.  The naturally calming effects of these two herbs offer a sense of overall well-being and relaxation.

I added a little drizzle of agave nectar, and this gave the tisane some depth, which I felt was lacking in the drink without the sweetener.  For an added treat, try dropping a couple of chunks of candied ginger into your cup!  It gives the tea a lovely little kick that is warming and delicious.