Fruity, hot and tasty (Twinings Raspberry and Echinacea)

Member Name: laramax

Product:	Twinings Raspberry and Echinacea
Date:	26/03/08 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tasty, fruity and caffeine free

Disadvantages: Not everyone likes raspberries

If you want a change now and again from traditional tea and coffee there are now a wide range of herbal infusions available in supermarkets which make a tasty and somewhat healthier alternative.

Twinings have been making teas for over 300 years and not only do they sell traditional and speciality teas they have a very wide range of herbal and fruit infusions within their range. Twinings Echinacea & Raspberry Tea is one of their herbal infusions (infusion being a more accurate term than tea as strictly speaking these products aren't actually tea!)

As the name suggests the ingredients within this particular blend are Echinacea and Raspberry. The blend contains no caffeine and they suggest drinking it will "aid a healthier lifestyle" and "they're perfect if you're cutting out caffeine or suffering from sleepless nights".

It is also low in calories, a typical serving contains 4 calories. The calories are there because there are naturally occurring sugars found in the fruit pieces, they don't add any sugar or sweeteners. Plus it is GM and Gluten Free. All Twinings teas, herbal infusions and flavoured fruit infusions are 'gluten free'. Neither do they contain genetically modified raw materials or ingredients derived from genetically modified raw materials.

This tea comes in a distinctive bright pink box containing the teabags. There is no unnecessary packaging and the contents are just plain tea bags which you have to fish out when the tea is brewed using a teaspoon. To make a cup of this tea just put the tea bag into a mug, pour on boiling water, leave to brew for a few minutes (I leave mine for about four minutes) and then sit back, relax and enjoy.

The minute you have poured the hot water on to the tea bag you will notice a lovely aroma of raspberries and it is these berries that give the tea its delicious taste. The Twinings tea bags are only suitable for a single mug of tea - if you try to reuse one you will be disappointed. You do not add milk to herbal teas but if you want to add a little sweetener then a little honey should suffice. Personally I drink these without any sweetening and find them very pleasant and naturally sweet enough.

Echinacea is said to boost the immune system so may add a health giving property to the tea rather more than a taste. Although I do like to take Echinacea at the first sign of a cold (and I find it to be very effective) I doubt there is enough in a single tea bag to make much difference to your general health.

I do like this infusion. It is very tasty and a little different to drink for a change from time to time. People seem to either love of hate herbal teas - if you haven't tried them this would be a great one to try. It is fruity and refreshing and will help to lower your daily caffeine intake.


Previously published on Ciao Jan 2007

Summary: A refreshing fruity drink which makes a change now and again