My mom gave me a couple of bags of this because apparently I need to relax. So I thought I’d try it out tonight as I can feel the stress building. It smells like sweet, mint and chamomile. I know sweet isn’t technically a smell but it is so work with me here.
I really don’t know what to think of the taste. It tastes like it has been sweetened with honey, but there is something in the tea that burns at the very back of my throat. Like the post-vomit kind of burning. And yeah, that’s fairly unpleasant. Really hope that goes away soon. As I start to swallow, if feels like the tea is going to be bitter, so I wince. But it isn’t bitter – instead I get the honey/chamomile flavor. Then the sweet as I hold the tea in my mouth. As I swallow I feel a hint of the freshness of mint. After I finish my swallow, I feel the post-vomit burn.
Okay, I’m really trying to ignore the burning feeling. And I’m either doing pretty good at ignoring or it’s fading a little as the tea cools a bit. It doesn’t feel exactly pleasant but it no longer feels like I just finished yurking. The tea taste isn’t that bad, but there’s this weird aftertaste on my tongue (which I can now feel since I’m not as distracted by the throat burning) which I believe is the stevia. I have actual no reason to believe it is the stevia though. It could be the skullcap, St. John’s wort or valerian root, all of which (like the stevia) I have never had before. But that sweet scent and mid-taste (which hits the center of my tongue – right where the aftertaste is) seems to be stevia-related so that’s what I’m going with.
And yet I’m still drinking this tea. I have no idea why. Why am I still drinking this tea? Apparently the sweetness – even with the burning and weird aftertastes and whatnot – is kind of enjoyable. Yay sweetness. But it’s really not worth the rest of this tea. Actually, even the sweet isn’t worth it if it is causing that weird feeling on my tongue. Like a thin metallic coat of paint.
Yeah, I’m not going to drink this tea anymore. I made it through two-thirds but no more. I offered the husband the last third of my tea. He was smarter than me. He took one sip, made a surprised/pleased face (I think when he had the chamomile and then sweet) and then that quickly changed to this… horrified/surprised look and he handed the cup back to me. His response, “I kind of want to vomit to get the taste out.”
I feel like I already have.
Preparation
Comments
That is so gross. I can’t believe you made it even that far. I think after a few sips, I would have just tossed it. Brave, brave Auggy!
Ah, I almost bought this…sounds awful! I’m still looking for a good bedtime tea, if anyone has any recommendations. I tried the bedtime tea by Bigelow and it was sour (hibiscus…bleh).
Shanti, try Ocean of Wisdom by Samovar or Caramelized Pear by Art of Tea! Both rooibos, but both used to perfection. CP doesn’t even taste like rooibos, and OoW has some lovely chai-type notes in it. Both are extremely calming.
ive tried this tea b4 when i was having trouble sleeping…its disgusting i took 3 sips and dumped it! Auggy i think you hit every flavor note on the head with this one because i tasted almost the same thing (i added sugar to mine…didnt help)
This is a brave, brave review. I’m not that brave and I’ll be avoiding this tea. (Unless someone has a fantastic experience with it.)
@Shanti, this tea is very sweet with no bitterness. And looking at the other reviews, some people liked it so maybe you wouldn’t hate it. My instinct says that if I was more used to artificial tasting sweeteners, I wouldn’t have hated this so much. Maybe. Or maybe not.
@Kitch3ntools, Yay! I’m not insane! I seriously am blaming the stevia for the nastiness this tea has.
@Lena, the hubby actually pulled some milk out of the fridge so he could get rid of the burning throat feeling. I stole a few sips and it helped!
I absolutely love this tea. I wonder if it’s the stevia that your tasting? It can be bitter tasting at least it is to me when added to something.
I have an illness that affects my sleep at night and I sleep like a baby with this tea. I take it about an hour before bedtime and drift right off to sleep. And I’m so rested!!
Wow. I will be staying far, far away from this!
That is so gross. I can’t believe you made it even that far. I think after a few sips, I would have just tossed it. Brave, brave Auggy!
Ah, I almost bought this…sounds awful! I’m still looking for a good bedtime tea, if anyone has any recommendations. I tried the bedtime tea by Bigelow and it was sour (hibiscus…bleh).
Shanti, try Ocean of Wisdom by Samovar or Caramelized Pear by Art of Tea! Both rooibos, but both used to perfection. CP doesn’t even taste like rooibos, and OoW has some lovely chai-type notes in it. Both are extremely calming.
Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew.
I hate the post-vomit burn feeling.
ive tried this tea b4 when i was having trouble sleeping…its disgusting i took 3 sips and dumped it! Auggy i think you hit every flavor note on the head with this one because i tasted almost the same thing (i added sugar to mine…didnt help)
This is a brave, brave review. I’m not that brave and I’ll be avoiding this tea. (Unless someone has a fantastic experience with it.)
This is deeply disturbing. I will definitely go nowhere near it. Ack. :P
erm…no thanks. your husband is too funny.
@Shanti, this tea is very sweet with no bitterness. And looking at the other reviews, some people liked it so maybe you wouldn’t hate it. My instinct says that if I was more used to artificial tasting sweeteners, I wouldn’t have hated this so much. Maybe. Or maybe not.
@Kitch3ntools, Yay! I’m not insane! I seriously am blaming the stevia for the nastiness this tea has.
@Lena, the hubby actually pulled some milk out of the fridge so he could get rid of the burning throat feeling. I stole a few sips and it helped!
I absolutely love this tea. I wonder if it’s the stevia that your tasting? It can be bitter tasting at least it is to me when added to something.
I have an illness that affects my sleep at night and I sleep like a baby with this tea. I take it about an hour before bedtime and drift right off to sleep. And I’m so rested!!