Passionately Tea-ful
Written: Dec 31 '07 (Updated Dec 31 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Richly flavored herbal tea with a deep red color
Cons: Expensive, especially in specialty shops
The Bottom Line: Tazo's Passion is the most flavorful herbal tea I've yet to experience. It has been well named.
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| DAnneC's Full Review: Tea: Tazo Tea Passion - 20 Bags Vitacost |
I truly am passionate about tea. That being the case, it was only a matter of time until I got around to tasting Tazo's Passion. And when I did--well, I immediately became a fan . . . or rather, connoisseur.
My first encounter was in the workplace. A colleague kept a box of Passion on her desk. She raved about the flavor and the aroma, declaring it to be a most satisfactory escape mechanism from the chaos of our daily tasks. After observing the lovely deep red liquid in her cup and experiencing the fruity aroma for myself, I mooched a teabag. The rest is history.
The folks at Tazo describe Passion as "a tantalizing, incredibly bold infusion of exotic botanicals and tropical flowers." Even allowing for a bit of literary license, this description hits close to the mark. Passion combines hibiscus flowers, rose hips, lemongrass, and red poppy flowers with orange peel, licorice, and cinnamon to produce a herbal concoction that is as rich and flavorful as what one gets from a strong black tea. Fully steeped, it has a potent fruity flavor and resembles a medium-bodied red wine in color. (Some devotees say is resembles merlot, but I think that's a bit of a stretch.)
When making your own perfect cup of hot tea, be sure to begin with cold water, either from the tap or from your favorite bottled still water. Naturally soft water is best for tea making. Bring the water to boiling in either a saucepan or kettle, then pour the hot water directly over the tea--bags are now de rigeur, but loose tea is even better. Let steep for a full 5 minutes to maximize the flavor. Then remove the tea. (Hint: Never squeeze a teabag. Let the residual liquid drip. My British friends advise me that squeezing the bag borders on being uncouth. Besides, if you let the tea steep properly, about all you'll get from a squeeze is more flavor from the bag itself, not from the tea.)
I'm inclined to add milk or lemon to my teas, and occasionally a bit of honey. To do so with Passion, however, would be sacrilege. It's perfect just as it is. In my opinion, one really shouldn't bother to tamper with perfection.
Tazo teas are found at most major supermarkets and at many specialty stores featuring tea and coffee--including your local Starbucks or Seattle's Best. Tazo's Passion features bright purple accents on its packaging. (As Tazo aficionados know, each of the company's teas can be identified by its own color code.)
Depending on where you make your purchase, the price of a box of 20 Tazo Passion teabags varies greatly, from about $3 to nearly $6. Supermarkets are typically cheaper than speciality shops. I usually pay between $3.29 and $3.59. To pay above $3.59, I have to feel pretty desperate for some Passion in my life.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
DAnneC
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Location: Small Town America
Reviews written: 215
Trusted by: 277 members
About Me:
Loves history, travel, gardens, and words in general
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