Numi Rooibos Organic - Red Mellow Bush tea bags.

The product:
The product I am reviewing is a pack of 18 teabags each individually wrapped in coloured paper wrappers. The individual bags have a tag on a string for removing the bag once it has achieved the desired strength and colour.

NUMI - the Company:
Numi the Canadian company that makes these organic tea bags prides itself in using fresh whole leaf tea herbs and fruit to make its tea bags with no added oils or flavourings. They make different real teas and a Honey Bush and a Moroccan Mint tea but I have yet to try these varieties. The name Numi means citrus in Arabic and the company was started by a brother and sister team in 1999.They are a company that believes in fair-trade from farmer to packer and as well as this their packaging is 100% recycled material and the bags are made from biodegradable filter paper.

THE PACK:
On the front of pack you will see a lovely picture of elephants grazing by a tree in sepia and this is framed by the orange package colour. The company name is at the top and then Rooibos - Organic - red Mellow Bush -earthy vanilla healer- 18 herbal teasan bags .

On one side Numi is:
"A journey of imagination begins with a cup of tea and a quiet moment...
It explains that the sister hand paints the images on the Numi packs inspired by photos taken by her brother who travels the world taking photos and in search of organic and exotic teas and herbs.
"Tea is liquid meditation, reminding us to enter a time and space to find our own thoughts and visions."
I thought this was such a lovely sentiment and exactly what we should be doing when enjoying a brew.

WHERE DOES ROOIBOS COME FROM?
I first encountered Red Bush tea while reading Alexander McCall Smith's ''No 1 Ladies Detective' as she loves this brew and spend s a lot of her time mulling over her cases with a cup of Red Bush tea. I was intrigued and when I saw Rooibos or Red Bush tea in Tesco I had to buy it.
Although Mme Ramotswe comes from Botswana Rooibos tea that we enjoy in the UK generally comes from South Africa and is grown in the high desert regions of the Cederberg Mountains.

WHY ROOIBOS TEA?
Rooibos tea is caffeine free and low in tannin whilst at the same time is rich in minerals but relaxing to the nerves. Like green tea it is an antioxidant so is much better for you than normal black tea.

WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE?
I have South African friends who drink this tea with milk but I am not so keen on it served like that. I like mine just as it is with boiled water and no sugar but I guess you could also add sugar or honey if you liked.
The tea is a brighter colour than normal tea but browny/orange and clear. I leave my bag in for a very short time about the same time as I would a normal tea bag really. Being a cheapie I do keep the bag and use it for a second cup after this first one. I do draw the line at drying them out for use the next day I only use them for a second cup straight after.
The smell rise as the teabag begins to give off its infusion. It smells of vanilla quite strongly but also a bit like a bonfire - smoky and almost caramel like. The taste is just that a sort of smoky sweet vanilla.

SUMMARY:
I really like this tea as an alternative to ordinary black tea, I would not want to drink it all the time but it is nice for a change. Strangely I find I like it in cooler weather more than hotter which is odd as it is from South Africa but that is my strangeness. I would choose a fresher herbal tea in hot weather such as lemon. It is a delicious change and I like this brand as I feel I am supporting a family company with positive ethics.
I cannot remember where I bought this but it was in a real shop rather than off the internet. Sorry about this lack of useful information.

Thanks for reading .This review may be posted on other sites under my name.
© Catsholiday