Review of Holy Basil Purple Leaf

AromaFlavorValueTotal
10 of 103 of 54 of 583 of 100
OutstandingFairGood Value

For me, the flavor of this tea was the least interesting thing about it. It's complex, herbal, a bit cinnamon-spicy, less basil-like than I would have expected. Some bitterness, and it was annoyingly hard to stop little fragments of leaf from leaking into the brew, which is a pet peeve of mine. It disrupts the texture while drinking, and I hate picking things out of my teeth.

Far, far more remarkable was the smell. It was powerful, pungent, almost nose-clearingly fragrant. The words that came to mind were 'heady', 'intoxicating' and 'luscious'. Lots of anise and subtler notes of Chinese five-spice. But wow. I just wanted to keep smelling it.

Also remarkable was its physical effect. As other reviewers have noted, it is a noticeably calming, warming tea. It just straddles the border between 'calming herb' and 'slightly psychoactive substance' - after a large cup, I felt like I had been meditating.

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