Beauty Rest Herbal Tea from the Spice & Tea Exchange

Caffeine doesn't usually keep me up at night, even if I drink it close to bedtime, but just in case, I'm happy to have this tasty new Beauty Rest Herbal Tea from the Spice & Tea Exchange. A friend got this for me at the tea shop in St. Augustine, and these shops are all over the US, so I imagine many of you have passed by one at some time in your travels.

What's in this herbal blend? According to the company, it contains organic valerian root, organic cardamom, organic fennel, organic strawberries, organic sarsaparilla root, organic spearmint, essential orange oil, natural rose extract, and organic rose petals.

I loved the smell from the moment I opened the packet, and I (wisely) decided to make a small pot of the tea, sipping several cups before bedtime. This tea has such a soothing, gentle taste, with just a hint of the minty flavor I so enjoy, and for those of you who are caffeine-sensitive, this may be a blend you want to try too. Go here if you'd like ordering info.

Spiced Ruby Cider Herbal Tea

A friend who travels a lot was apparently thinking of me when she visited the Spice and Tea Exchange in St. Augustine, Florida, before Christmas, as she gifted me with several new teas from there, including this Spiced Ruby Cider Herbal Tea.

I was at a local coffee shop this week and was in the mood to order hot apple cider rather than more tea, which I've been consuming in copious quantities since it's been so cold and rainy here in Georgia lately. I enjoyed it so much, I decided it was time to try this cider-flavored herbal tea with the ingredients of the traditional mulling mix, hibiscus, and apple pieces.

It gave me that rich cider flavor I was hoping for, and only after I'd tried it straight from the bag did I follow their instructions to steep some in hot apple juice. Ah, even better! And now I'm wondering why I haven't ever thought of steeping some of my spicy teas in juice before now. If you've tried this tea-and-juice combo and have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them!

The sweet taste of fall

A friend who was recently in Highlands, North Carolina, brought me back some herbal tea from the Spice & Tea Exchange there. I've been to that shop before myself and was delighted to receive this Cinnamon Plum Herbal Tea.

This tea contains organic cinnamon, organic hibiscus flowers, organic currants, organic licorice root, and natural plum flavor.

When steeped, the tea has a nice dark wine color, and the taste is a refreshing plummy one with just a hint of cinnamon and a pleasant bit of tartness. My taste buds were ready for the fall flavors of tea, and this one was a great way to kick off the season. What's your favorite tea to sip in the fall? I'd love to have some new recommendations!