La Vie en Rose

This is the only tea I have from a black-owned company for National Freedom Day/Black History Month, which I picked up at the company’s booth at the Portland Tea Fes back in 2019 (feels so long ago now…) I can’t remember if this tea was one of the tasters they had at the booth, but I do know the ingredient list is what drew me to picking up a bag: tulsi, rose, caraway, and fennel. I’m not familiar with caraway, but the other three ingredients are all favorites of mine, so it was easy to draw the conclusion I’d enjoy it. Like most of my teas, I picked it up and then the still-sealed bag has been sitting in my cupboard ever since! So, it’s time to change that.

The dry leaf smells so nice — a somewhat herbaceous soft mintiness from the tulsi, bright garden rose, and a peppery anise aroma from the fennel seeds. The aromas smooth a bit and start to meld together as the leaf steeps, with the rose smelling sweeter, and the fennel in particular popping.

A soothing tea, the sort of thing I’d expect at a spa. The tulsi base provides a minty sort of note while lacking the cooling menthol, as well as a slight lemongrass note. I think the slight peppery flavor I usually get in tulsi is combining with the fennel, which really fills out the end of the sip with a strong warming spiciness, slightly peppery, slightly licoricey. Despite being called “La Vie en Rose” I’d say the rose is actually the most subtle flavor here; I have to really focus to notice it in the blend. It is there, coming off with an almost wine-like quality, a little crisp/effervescent, in the mid-sip, but it is quickly drowned out by the fennel. I do get it lingering on my tongue in the aftertaste, though, after the spice has waned from my tongue.

I’m enjoying how these simple flavors are coming together. It’s a nice evening cuppa.