Rooibos Loose Leaf Tea
Rooibos is a tea that is not always as it seems; a reminder that appearances can be deceiving. Upon first glance, this ochre-colored tea with it’s deep, red palette seems like it would be bursting with robust caffeinated glory. It is however, surprisingly caffeine-free, despite it’s firey color and unique taste. Its defining traits are probably what brought Graceling by Kristin Cashore to mind, and why it would be an appropriate pairing. The main character Katsa in Graceling may seem like an intensely strong, killing machine, but in actuality there is much more to her than meets the eye.
Grown in South Africa, Rooibos is an herbal tea with a natural sweetness and earthy character. It has a smooth aroma like freshly picked shisha tobacco, the kind that lingers in a room full of hookahs, with aftertastes of fruit and honey. It’s a surprising tea, complex in its layers.
I’m about to delve in to Bitterblue, Cashore’s latest installment in the series and I imagine Rooibos will also go nicely with this story. She may not have hidden powers like Katsa, or Fire, but that doesn’t mean Bitterblue doesn’t carry her own secrets close to her heart. Unexpected, highly individual and multi-faceted, Rooibos tea is the perfect companion for Cashore’s leading heroines.
Tea Tasting Notes: warmth, citrus, pepper, tobacco, honey, red clay, earth, herbs
