Carny in a Cup

At first, Rosegarden by the Bayswater Tea Company looks like a rather ordinary black tea with its familiar murky dark brown. But sniff it and get immediately transported to some magic carnival ride through a cloud of cotton candy.

It smells as if a rose and a watermelon had an unholy love child which in turn was used to flavor the latest line of Jolly Rancher candies. The taste, however, doesn’t live up to the aroma. There’s a subtle citrus note at the first steep which loses its potency in subsequent steeps when a hint of an astringent tang starts creeping in.

Recommended for: lovers of fair food
Brewing suggestions: boiling water/1 teaspoon per 1 cup water/steep 5 min
Also posted here.

Knock Out

Not all chamomile teas are created the same. Whenever I need something to knock me out for the night, I turn to Stash’s Chamomile Tea. For some reason, it’s more potent in its effects compared to other brands.

I find the aroma of this tea very strong–a musky flowery smell which almost overwhelms the senses as if one is trapped in a chamomile warehouse. It also tastes rather musky, but in a rather pleasant way. It’s the beckoning finger of the sandman, promising a night of undisturbed rest.

And unlike a lot of other things, it actually delivers on that promise.

Recommended as: an alternative to a sleeping pill
Brewing suggestions: boiling water/1 teabag per 1 cup water/steep 5 min
Also posted here.