Here's the most-rated Tazo product on RateTea, but haven't yet rated here for unknown reasons. So...this is that, since I snagged some at a hotel.

The blend brews up a dense magenta hue quite quickly, presumably from the added elderberry extract ("for color" on the ingredients label). Dry-bag aroma is generically fruity without obviously being any specific fruit, and also, a bit like dry grass or straw. In-cup aroma loses the straw element, keeps unidentifiable fruit scent. The taste is another matter altogether. The tartness slapped me hard on the first sip, and only abated a little thereafter. I don't know if there's enough elderberry in here to add to the flavor, or mute the others, but something is making this taste like no fruit in particular, just potent sour candy.

For the most part, I like strong flavors...except the few I don't! Sourness is one. I'll recommend this to my adult son, who loves SweetTarts, Sour Skittles, Warheads, and other such mouth-puckering confections, and who enjoyed sucking on a raw lemon when he was a baby. Sometimes, sweetening blunts the excess tartness in a fruity, hibiscus- and rose hips-based herbal tea, such as most of the Celestial Seasonings "Zinger" line. Not here. The base flavor seems to be really nice and fruit-punchy; alas, the tartness was offputting enough to me that it was difficult to finish the cup. It's good nobody filmed me drinking this, because I probably had the facial expression of a bloated puffer fish. If you like sour stuff, you'll probably rate this a good bit better.

Add your own review

Login or Sign Up to comment on this review.