La Cucina - Tee & Gewürze

Gotta be in the mood for licorice root. First time I tried Klarer Kopf I made the “eugh” face it was so sweet. The flavor profile, for me, is best utilized on days like today — late afternoon, warm outside but not immobilizing hot. It’s like a spicy chai with a base of that licorice root, spicy ginger, ginseng (listed as taiga root), black peppercorns, and cinnamon with herbal accents from basil, eleuthero and yerba maté. I’m unfamiliar with guarana besides knowing it has caffeine. I think I could recommend Klarer Kopf if you make sure not to brew too long because of the licorice root. It has a really nice revitalizing flavor.

It was a rooty and yerba maté kind of day. Started off with ginseng oolong then moved to a can of Guayakí yerba maté when my head almost hit the desk at work. Then this. Here’s hoping I’m not up until midnight.

Thanks again for sharing, Martin, and to your friend Fabiana :)

I used all 10g from Martin in one go, which was between 4 and 5tsp in 10oz boiling water.
Smells so fruity and natural! Good amount of hibiscus gives it the perfect tart edge. I can also taste a pretty floral orange peel in the back of the mouth. The apple is abundant in the mix but not in taste. I don’t have much experience with fruit tisanes so it’s difficult to form an opinion. I enjoyed it and like Züri Leue Tee from La Cucina, this is also a great thirst quencher.

Thanks, Martin!

Prepared hot, 2 tsp to 8oz and guzzled. I drank it so fast I didn’t even pay attention, which I guess means it was a great thirst quencher. The fruits, leaves and flowers made what I remember as tasting like a sweet-tangy mix of natural strawberries? and rosehip-apple? with hints of florals and leafy herbaceousness. Martin aptly described the flavor as forest strawberry. I would have never thought of that.

Cold-brewed 3 tsp to 16oz was probably underleafed and had a much more noticeable herbaceous profile.

Thanks for sharing!

Third loose leaf tea I have received from my Swiss friend. Thank you for all three Fabiana!

I like the colour of the blend. I mean loose pieces of everything. In aroma it is raisins, but as well something bold. Somefruits. Maybe it is maracuja which is mentioned. Maybe oranges. Anyway it smells really great.

10 grams in strainer (I want it strong this time), keeping it all the time in. The water turned into deep red. In aroma it is really nice. Nothing acidic, but oranges and exotic fruits. Why not?

Finally, it is colder, so I can make first sips tasting notes. Sour. But pleasantly sour. Blood oranges, maracuja, as well quite sweet. Fruity mix, but not getting heartburn. Prepared this tea iced must be lovely. I have to try it.
Anyway, it is pleasant. Lots of fruits in, quite long mouth feel for fruit blend. I am not sury why, but it smelled (and tasted) a bit like sour cherries. But maybe my brain is just making shortcuts because of colour.

Overall, good tea for evening.

Another tea from my Swiss friend. She knows I am easily stressed out (and now I am). Clear head. What a simple name. I wonder how it turns out.

Opaque golden (not really, yellow is more correct) colour. Maybe it will clear off. I notice cinnamon, pepper in. As well some weird mix of herbs. Ginger is in as well.

Licorice. Yep, by first sip it is in. It is that weird sweetness there. It stings a bit as well; I blame ginger and pepper maybe. By taste it won’t be my favourite tea. That is clear even after first sip. But maybe it will calm my mind? Who knows?

No rating.

Okay. First tea from my Swiss friend. Thank you Fabiana! Not just only for teas.

They suggest 5-8 minutes. I wonder how much I will actually do. I do not want to care about it :). Maybe I will let it steep all the time.

Maybe I overleafed it. It seems that my biggest strainer is full and there is no space for expanding the leaves. Nevermind. Dry leaf aroma was so nice. I can not make any notes of it, it was so herbal, but with sweet notes as well. I am not really sure what I was smelling.

It started to turn red. Deep, clear red colour. Really vibrant red colour. It started to be more strawberry based, I think about forest strawberries. But it smells weirdly a bit as well. I am not really sure if my nose is not making a fun of me. But I notice aroma like a Brie cheese. Completely odd! It is not a bad thing, but; you know, you do not expect it in herbal – fruit tea. But the base is forest. Forest strawberries. Those small, red things that you eat to make your stomach thing that you ate something.

Flavour profile.
Yep, strawberries again. But it is not artificial. It is also bit refreshing due to peppermint. Maybe when iced it will be nice. Actually I expected it more herbal, but it is more fruity. The herbal is such a nice blend as well. It is not overpowering the strawberries, but certainly not unnoticed.

PS: Rating can be biased now, because I am bit regretting that we had just so little time together and I already miss her.

This is a mild tea. Very relaxing.

I have this every morning for breakfast. It’s mellow and comforting. I love the addition of puffed rice, which gives it a roasted flavour.