Have you ever heard of sorrel tea? If you’re a tea drinker, you definitely have – you just didn’t realise it. Hibiscus, the more common name for sorrel, is such a popular ingredient in fruit teas. Despite being derived from the flower of the hibiscus plant, it gives tea an incredibly rich and fruity flavour. It bursts with tartness, red berry notes and tannin complexity.
Pairing it with spicy cinnamon and smooth sweet apple is a genius move by The Clean Tea Company!
Before we delve into this review, I have a small disclaimer. Ishmael of The Clean Tea Co sent me this tea for free (I just paid postage) to review on Instagram. The blog article you’re about to read, however, was not part of the deal. I just couldn’t resist.
Sorrel Cinnamon Apple Tea at a Glance
Izzy’s Rating
- Blend: Hibiscus, cinnamon and apple
- Flavour: Punchy apple and red berry notes with rhubarb astringency and cinnamon warmth
This tea is gorgeous. The ingredients are so simply but they pair together perfectly. It’s sweet, tart, spiced heaven. It really does feel luxurious to sip.
Full Review – The Clean Tea Co
- Type: Pyramid sachet
- Ingredients: Sorrel (hibiscus), cinnamon, apple
- Health Benefits: Boosts immune system, anti-inflammatory, lowers blood sugars, improves heart health, improves vision
- Flavour Notes: Punchy red berries, rhubarb, apple, redcurrants, cinnamon
- Aroma: Christmas spice, tart apple, berries, red wine tannins
- Milk or Lemon: Honey, if desired
- Where to Buy: The Clean Tea Co Website
My first thought when I opened the tea packet was “CHRISTMAS!” The strong cinnamon notes in the dry aroma tingle your nose while notes of tart apple and berries provide a lovely counterbalance. It hits a button in your brain that conjures up images of tinsel and drunk relatives. It’s impossible to avoid.
Once brewed into a gorgeous jewel magenta-shaded tea, the aroma deepens and reveals whisps of red wine tannins amidst cinnamon spice.
As for the flavour, it’s tart. Like, really tart. The hibiscus offers a punchy rhubarb-and-red-berries flavour that’s softened by hints of apple and warmed up by a touch of cinnamon. For a tea with just three ingredients, it has incredible depth.
The texture is worth noting too – it has velvety richness, thick and slightly drying as it sweeps over your tongue.
Drink The Clean Tea Co Sorrel Cinnamon Apple tea on a cold winter night and you will feel one step closer to heaven.
How to Brew Strong Fruit Teas
With hibiscus, you want to start with a quick brew. Try two minutes with one teabag in about 250ml of boiling water, take a sip, and brew for a little longer if you can handle the tartness.
From there, you have two options:
- Add a teaspoon of honey and sip it hot.
- Pour over ice and sip it cold.
This tea is not overpoweringly sweet, so adding honey or sugar can make it more palatable.
As it is totally caffeine-free, you can drink this as an evening drink… though it may be too punchy to be a just-before-bed option.
Why The Clean Tea Co?
The Clean Tea Co reached out to me for an Instagram review and after taking a quick look at what the brand is all about, I was eager to get going.
Founded by Ishmael, The Clean Tea Co is focused on giving you a clean, guilt-free tea drinking experience. That means no unnecessary packaging, no flavourings or additives, just pure tea leaves, fruits and spices enclosed in corn-based starch “silk” pyramid teabags. These pyramid teabags will compost at home in your garden within 12 to 24 months.
On the box, you’ll also find information about the history of the ingredients. Though it doesn’t disclose the origins of the ingredients in the tea, it does explain how hibiscus is commonly drank in the Caribbean over the Christmas period and how cinnamon was introduced to North Africa and Arabia from as far back as 2,000BC.
The only thing I wasn’t too happy about was the lack of packaging protection – there’s nothing between the pyramid teabags and the outer cardboard box. In fact, the cardboard box is just folded together too, with no outer plastic wrap holding it together. That means full air flow between the teabags and the outer world.
Yes, that means less plastic packaging… but it also means the tea will go stale that much quicker. The best way to resolve this is to move the teabags into a sealed container once you receive them at home – a clean jam jar or Tupperware will do. Store them somewhere away from direct sunlight.
Summary
Ultimately, this tea is gorgeous. The depth of flavour and velvety texture make it feel like a luxury experience, despite being incredibly simple with just three ingredients. At the time of writing, the only place to purchase this tea is directly from The Clean Tea Co.
Tea Recommendation
If the cinnamon in this tea makes you think of Christmas, my next recommendation will be right up your street. Whittard’s Ginger Snap Oolong Chai brings all the aromas and spicy high notes of the festive season to your cup with the heaviness of black tea or the richness of coffee. That’s a winner in my book!