Berry & Burgundy

Ingredients:

Organic red raspberry leaf
Organic red clover
Organic red rooibos
Organic elderberries
*Black currant berries
Cherries
Organic rose hips
Organic hibiscus flowers
Organic ginger root
Organic orange peel

*grown by Seed of Life. Everything grown here is from non-GMO seeds, and raised without the use of any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.

What’s in the tea?

This tea begins with a foundation of red raspberry leaf and red clover. Red raspberry leaf is known to be an overall health tonic, for it’s full of immune-boosting vitamins and minerals. Red clover is known as a purifying tonic, which can help to detoxify the body and protect the cells from oxidative stress. Red clover is also rich in vitamins and minerals.

In this blend, these two herbal powerhouses partner with red rooibos tea. Rooibos tea, which is technically an herb, comes from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant, a native of South Africa. Rooibos is rich in antioxidants and good for the body in many ways, including digestion and skin. To make red rooibos tea, the leaves are cut and exposed to oxygen, bringing out the essential oils and giving the leaves their famous red color and rich flavor. Red rooibos has a sweet nutty flavor and caramel essence. Elderberries, cherries, and black currant berries join this nourishing trio for a warm rush of berry flavor and Vitamin C. The bright fruity taste of hibiscus petals and rose hips complements the slight tartness of the berries, and ginger root adds its immune-boosting properties along with a bit of wam spice.

This is a wonderful tea choice if you’re feeling a bit under the weather, but I drink it any time. This blend also makes a refreshing iced tea using your sweetener of choice, and a splash of lemon or lime juice.

Steeping Guidelines:

1-2 Tablespoons tea per 8 ounces water
Water temp: boiling
Steep time: 8-10 minutes 

Tea Story:

This blend came into being during a season when I was sick with a cold that didn’t want to leave. I wanted a tea that I could keep drinking throughout the day – one that would nourish my tired body as it struggled to fight its way back to health. I chose two of my favorite herbal allies – red raspberry leaf and red clover, added the berries and fruit my body was craving, and Berry & Burgundy was born. In some ways, it reminds me of a Burgundy wine, with its wine-rich color and blend of flavors. The arts of tea blending and wine making intertwine, in my experience. The proper harvest time plays an important part in the quality of the ingredients for both tea and wine, and both ask for a bit of respect and ritual during serving. It is during the tea blending process that I’m reminded of the summers I made wine – that intricate dance of balancing the foundation ingredients with the botanicals that will make up the middle notes and the top notes; the tasting and adjusting, scribbling notes in pencil, and trying again. Finally, there is that final cup where you lay down your pencil and sit with the teacup in your hands, knowing that this one is a good one. This is it.

The black currant berries in this blend are grown right here at Seed of Life. They are raised without the use of any synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and hand-picked at the peak of ripeness each July. I have seven plants which give abundantly, but the stock is somewhat limited. I currently have not found a good source for additional black currant berries, so when the black currant berries are gone this blend may have to wait for next year’s harvest.

But that just makes this tea even more special.

“I am a humble tea merchant,
pouring out the elixir of life
to the world.”

-Kakuzō Okakura

Please note: All statements regarding the healing properties of the plants in this blend have not been evaluated by the FDA. This tea is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. All ingredients are clearly listed. Do your research, use caution, and please consult a doctor if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking any medications. Some herbals may interact adversely with certain medical conditions or medications. Red raspberry leaf should be avoided during certain stages of pregnancy. Take your tea with care.