Ginger Twist

This was the other Mighty Leaf tea that we had in a Vegas restaurant; this time at one called Mon Ami Gabi – which is a French Bistro on the strip on Paris Street. As a whole, this restaurant was incredible and the food/service/ambiance were phenomenal. Vegas restaurants need to step up their tea game, though…

As a tea, it tasted fine – a medium level of ginger with just a little bit of heat to it and then a light presence of orange, and a sharp, acidic lemon tang. It was early in the morning, so this felt like an appropriate morning time flavour. However, the other drink that we ordered (the fresh squeezed strawberry and white grape juice) tasted significantly better. I ordered a VERY sweet breakfast though (caramelized apple waffles) so having something with more acidity and a little spice worked better to counterbalance the sweetness of the waffle dish and juices.

Strong flavours of fruit, earth, and roots. The ginger is very spicy (have you ever tried shredding ginger in hot water when you have a stomach ache? It tastes just like that: fresh unprocessed ginger), minerals, and a sweetness/earthiness that might be from licorice root or the ginger. I think this might also have some sort of fruit in it, but I can’t place which ones. Possible citrus/lemon, or maybe apple? Regardless, it is an excellent blend. Too many ginger teas are not very gingery or contain a lot of licorice root that tastes like iron, metal, dirt, and artificial sweetener. Stupid licorice, ruining perfectly good herbal teas. Don’t get me wrong, I actually love black licorice, but I don’t like it when the licorice is overpowering and tastes like sickly sweet metal.

Yet another fantastic tea blended by Mighty Leaf. I probably would not keep this around all the time because it isn’t a flavour I need regular access to, but nevertheless, I really enjoyed trying it and would order it at a cafe again.

Strong mint and some ginger on the nose. Mint gives it slick and syrupy mouthfeel. Citrus mint on the front, ginger kick on the back, with a lemongrass backbone.

I drank this before subbing yesterday, when I realized I was battling yet another stomach issue. I don’t like ginger, but I know it soothes upset tummies, and this has lemongrass and other herbals in it to help cut that. I am not the biggest fan, but it is drinkable for me. Whether or not it worked is anyone’s guess.

My office is stocked with Mighty Leaf and this one is solidly ok. It’s good for settling my stomach, but doesn’t have a strong ginger taste. I think the licorice is too big of a flavor for this blend

I think this is a case of an herbal with too much going on. Sadly, it just doesn’t work very well. I taste mint, licorice, lemongrass, and some kind of fruit, but nothing else. It’s called Ginger Twist, but I don’t taste any ginger! I’ll finish this cup, but it’s not a favorite.

Another from the Mighty Leaf sampler. This is not how I expected it to be, surprisingly. I was anticipating something very much like Teapigs Lemon and Ginger, but this is quite different. The main flavour is lemongrass, which is generically citrussy and somewhat hay-like. There’s also a hint of tropical fruit, maybe mango or pineapple, and the slightest touch of mint. I don’t really get ginger at all, which is surprising in a tea called “Ginger Twist” I think. I get the twist, but no ginger other than perhaps the tiniest spicy warmth in the aftertaste. I might be imagining that, or at least wishing it into existence.

This means that my feelings about this one are mixed. I don’t always like ginger in tea, so part of me is a little relieved. I wasn’t expecting a lemongrass/fruit blend, though, which is what this essentially is. It’s pleasant, but nothing out of the ordinary. It also makes me wonder how I should rate this. As a ginger tea, I wouldn’t score it very highly at all, largely because there’s no ginger and it doesn’t live up to its promise. As a lemongrass/fruit blend, I’d rate it more highly. I’m going to go with an average and call it good, I think. I’ll have no problem finishing off my last few bags, but it’s not one I’d seek out again because overall it’s just a bit meh.

It’s funny how names can color receptions of a tea. I was expecting this herbal blend from Mighty Tea, Ginger Twist, to be quite piquant. Instead, it seemed very fresh and clean tasting, but not especially spicy. My mouth felt almost as though I had used some sort of pleasant-flavored antiseptic mouthwash!

The mint was very obvious, as was the lemongrass, which makes sense since there is lots of both clearly visible in the sachet. The chunks of stuff appear to be both ginger and fruit pieces, but the overall effect is pretty close to the description on the box:

Lemongrass, tropical fruits and mint fueled with a touch of ginger

How true! Well, except that I would mention the mint second, since it is more dominant to my palate than are the tropical fruits…

Overall, I am pleased with this tisane. I consumed a second glass and found it to be more spicy, though I believe that I steeped it for about the same amount of time. The licorice is very subtle, imparting only a smidgeon of sweetness, so this blend is very different from Harney & Sons Licorice Ginger, Tazo Settle, and other infusions with big hits of both ginger and licorice.

Fortunately, despite its dominance, the lemongrass does not seem too rough hewn or ragged in Ginger Twist. Sometimes I find that lemongrass can overwhelm, but in Ginger Twist it seems pretty smooth. Given how harsh lemongrass can be, I imagine that the fact that it figures as the very first (predominant) ingredient may dissuade some consumers from even trying this blend.

Backlog:

A really nice tea to keep on hand when I’m feeling under the weather. I’m glad that it’s a tisane WITHOUT hibiscus. It does have ginseng, and i’m not big into ginseng, but I’d rather have ginseng than hibiscus.

Tasty. I like the tropical notes to this. The ginger is warm and peppery. Not a bad tisane.

The most delicious aroma fills your room when you brew a cup. Spicy and sweet flavor—this is my favorite “fancy tea” to go with sweet cakes.