Whittard Very Berry Crush Tea Review
Today is an unusual occurrence – very rarely do I have both the loose leaf and tea bag version of the same tea. But for Whittard Very Berry Crush, I have managed to get my hands on a small loose leaf sample from my nearest outlet shop, plus a teabag I saved from a variety pack.
So, let’s delve in. I will be using the loose leaf for this review as generally, the quality of the ingredients is superior to the teabag version. It also makes for prettier pictures, as you can really see those blue cornflower petals and whole dried elderberries.
If you prefer to brew teabags to loose leaf, don’t worry. You can either buy this in teabag format directly from Whittard of Chelsea (link below) or follow my guide to using loose leaf strainers.
Whittard Very Berry Crush at a Glance
Izzy's Rating
3.9/5
- Blend: Hibiscus, elderberries and grapes with summer berries
- Flavour: Full-bodied tart berry tea with strawberry, rhubarb and redcurrant notes
This tea is very juicy, rich and tart. If you like hibiscus, you will love this tea. I also appreciated that it wasn’t too sweet – an enjoyable rich dessert tea. It is caffeine-free too!
Full Review – Very Berry Crush Infusion by Whittard
Izzy's Rating
3.9/5
- Type: Loose leaf
- Ingredients: Hibiscus flowers, elderberries, grapes, sweet blackberry leaves, blueberries, blackcurrants, strawberry pieces, cornflower petals, flavouring
- Best as: A delicious dessert tea in the afternoon or evening
- Flavour Notes: Full-bodied, tart, hibiscus, strawberry, rhubarb, redcurrants, punchy
- Aroma: Tart, dark, dried berries, hibiscus, elderberries, currants, mint
- Milk or Lemon: Honey, if desired
- Where to Buy: Whittard of Chelsea or Amazon
Opening the packet of loose leaf tea, the aroma from the dried ingredients is very dark. I can instantly detect the elderberries but it is hibiscus that is dominating everything. This is to be expected, as most berry teas rely on hibiscus for that big punch of flavour. You can still detect some berries mingling beneath the hibiscus though, which adds a nice richness and depth.
Once brewed, this tea is a gorgeous magenta colour that my camera just cannot do justice. When you hold it in the light it brightens like a gemstone with such a wonderful depth of red-pink shades. The aroma took me by surprise though!
Yes, the hibiscus is the star of the show, but there is also a lightness to the tea. It’s as if mint has been added to give the tea that refreshing quality, but without actually imparting any flavours of mint or intense menthol.
The flavour is divine. Rich, full-bodied and juicily tart. Hibiscus is dominant, as expected, but there are also notes of sweet strawberries, tangy rhubarb, and astringent red currants. Together, this creates a very punchy and bold flavour.
Add to that flavour the moderately thick texture and drying sensation, and this tea is a real treat. It is equal parts indulgent and refreshing, not too sweet and not too bitter. Ultimately, this is a glorious dessert tea that brings summer berries to life.
How to Brew Summer Fruit Tea
Whittard’s instructions for Very Berry Crush are the standard instructions they give for all fruit infusions. Use boiling water and let the tea steep for 3 to 5 minutes. As I’m using loose leaf, I portioned out a 2g teaspoon for approximately 250ml of water. This is equivalent to a single teabag in a small mug.
3 minutes was my limit for this tea, and it produced a loud flavour. If you are looking for a gentler tea, you could limit the brew time to 1 minute and 30 seconds to reduce some of the hibiscus. But note that no matter how you brew this tea, hibiscus will always be the dominant flavour. If you like that, then my list of the Best Hibiscus Teas should be on your reading list next.
I recommend eating this not-too-sweet berry tea with a creamy dessert. Panna cotta comes to mind. I think that would really balance nicely with the tartness of the hibiscus and drying sensation at the bottom of the teacup.
Why Whittard of Chelsea?
Whittard of Chelsea are a favourite tea brand of mine and I am lucky enough to be an affiliate partner with them. This means that I receive a small commission if you click on their website link and buy some tea – this is at no additional cost to you. You should also know that I do my utmost to remain unbiased, which is why some Whittard teas have received dismal scores such as their Piccadilly Tea. I’m nothing but honest!
I also give credit where credit is due, and I have to say that Whittard Very Berry Crush is a delicious and perfectly balanced fruit tea. Although there is a little flavouring added, most of the ingredients in the ingredients list are detectable in either the flavour or aroma. I also love that you can see the whole elderberries and hibiscus petals in the loose leaf blend.
This tea is suitable for vegetarians and vegans but otherwise there are no organic or Fairtrade certifications on the box. The box itself is made from recyclable card and compostable natureflex, which is great. The loose leaf as well as the teabags themselves are also plastic-free and compostable.
Whittard of Chelsea Very Berry Crush can also be consumed iced. To do this, you just need to let the brewed tea cool and then pour over ice. Add some fruit slices and honey if you do this, as the cooler temperature will knock the minimal sweetness to an even lower level.
Summary
Overall, this is a tasty fruit tea and I can’t see any reason not to recommend it. The loose leaf version is superior and allows you to see the whole fruit pieces as it brews. If you only use teabags, then don’t worry – these are also tasty and are available to purchase in all the same places.
Tea Recommendation
This isn’t the only highly-rated berry tea that’s been reviewed here at Immortal Wordsmith! To satisfy your sweet tooth and discover the flavours of other berry varieties, make sure you read my Best Berry Teas next.