I love a good sleep tea, from Whittard Dreamtime to a simple chamomile. But they aren’t all made equal. Some teas opt for ingredients that feel comforting and sweet, while others go for the scientifically researched ingredients to help you sleep… flavour be damned.
This week, I’m going to find out which category Whittard Dreamtime tea falls into. I was gifted a loose leaf jar of this tea and I’ve been holding back opening it until I had time to review it properly.
So, without further ado, let’s find out what this tea tastes like, how to brew it, and where to buy it.
Whittard Dreamtime Loose Leaf Tea at a Glance
Izzy’s Rating
- Blend: Rooibos flavored with vanilla and apricot, blended with real fruit pieces
- Flavour: Tart hibiscus fruity notes with honeyed apricot sweetness
This tea is sweet and fruity – very pleasant and tasty, but not overly “sleepy” in mouthfeel or sensation. Still, it’s a lovely honeyed evening tea.
Full Review – Dreamtime Rooibos Sleep Tea
- Type: Loose leaf
- Tea: Rooibos
- Additives: Dried apple, hibiscus, apple pomace, sweet blackberry leaves, honey flavouring, roasted chicory root, citric acid, flavourings
- Flavour Notes: Tart, hibiscus, fruity, apricot, honey, medicinal
- Aroma: Honey, apricot, nuts, medicinal, dried apple, golden syrup, melted butter, flaky pastries
- Milk or Lemon: Neither
- Where to Buy: Whittard or Amazon
The aroma from this tea is… amazing! From the moment you pop open the jar, it’s utterly divine. Notes of honey, apricots and lightly toasted nuts swirl through the air. There’s a hint of medicine from the rooibos, but it’s not at all strong. Instead, there’s a note of dried apples and golden syrup. It’s buttery rich.
Once brewed, the colour is kind of underwhelming. It’s a velvety cloud of red brick or rust coloured tea in your cup. But once again, the aroma is drool worthy. Apricot jam dolloped atop flaky pastries with a sprinkling of pistachios. It’s sweet, but actually not overpowering.
Now, try not to be disappointed. The flavour isn’t quite as nice as the aroma. It’s tart with hibiscus fruity notes to begin with, then apricot sweetness sweeps in quickly afterwards. There’s a thick honeyed aftertaste and a medicinal tint too.
Overall, it’s a decadent and flavoursome herbal tea. But Whittard Dreamtime does not help me sleep. It’s just not a sleepy tea. So, as dreamy as the flavour is, I won’t have this before bed. Instead, I’d drink it in the evening as a luxurious treat.
How to Brew Whittard Dreamtime
First, mix up the tea leaf in the pouch, caddy or jar. The smaller pieces tend to settle at the bottom, so mixing it up ensures every spoonful has a little bit of every ingredient on it. Use two teaspoons of this blend for a standard mug.
Pop the tea leaf in the infuser of your choice (or use a teapot) and pour water directly over it. This tea is an herbal and fruit blend, so you can use boiling water straight from the kettle.
Whittard recommend a steep time of 3 to 5 minutes, but don’t worry if you’re a little over or under this timeframe – with herbal infusions, it doesn’t matter so much.
This tea is plenty sweet, so don’t add any extra honey.
Why Whittard of Chelsea?
Whittard of Chelsea are a reliable brand – one of my favourites, actually! They sometimes use flavourings (as is the case with Whittard Dreamtime) but mostly rely on whole fruit pieces. The quality of this tea is pretty good. It doesn’t have an organic certification, however.
As for the efficiency of the ingredients… it’s not amazing. It is missing all the most well-known sleep-inducing ingredients according to Sleep Foundation. I’m also concerned that it contains a lot of sugary fruits, mostly apple. Sugar before bed is not the best idea.
I think a swirl of chamomile flowers or swapping the blackberry leaves for lemon balm would be a good way to incorporate tisanes that have scientific evidence of aiding sleep.
So, Whittard Dreamtime is a nice evening drink… but I wouldn’t use it as a solution to sleep problems.
Summary
This tea is delightful and just amazing to drink. Make sure you inhale deeply before taking each sip, to admire the gorgeous aroma. The best place to buy this tea is on Amazon, for the easy checkout and quick delivery. See if you can find there using the button below.
Tea Recommendation
Technically, any tea that doesn’t contain caffeine can be consumed before bedtime without keeping you awake. So, if a nice fruity tea is just what you need to settle down in the evenings, you might like to read my review of T2 Fruitalicious next!
