Republic of Tea Good Hope Vanilla Red Tea Review

A Tolerable Vanilla Tea

Summary : This tea isn't bad, but it isn't going to be my favorite anytime soon either. While no substitute for vanilla ice cream, this red tea that is heavily flavored with vanilla does at least taste better than the other vanilla black teas I've had.

Review : I love vanilla, particularly vanilla ice cream. True, that is a boring flavor to fall in love with, but well, what can I say...I'm simply boring.

But my lack of life notwithstanding, this love of all things vanilla has led me so far on a futile quest to find that perfect vanilla tea. Or perhaps phrased differently, the perfect vanilla tea that actually tastes somewhat like vanilla ice cream.

So far in my quest I've come away terribly disappointed. Indeed, most vanilla teas I've tried, usually various flavored black teas, end up being sipped a few times and then dumped down the drain.

Which is why, of course, I've become rather leery about trying new vanilla teas. However, this evening I was able to summon some courage to try a Vanilla Red Tea (red teas are rooibos teas) from the Republic of Tea. I've had excellent luck with their teas in the past, and with rooibos teas in general. So, courage gathered, I gave this tea a try.

Here is how the Republic of Tea describes things : "Rich in antioxidants, naturally caffeine free. Rooibos is indigenous to South Africa, often referred to as Cape of Good Hope. We offer a blend of Rooibos sweet vanilla beans with a hint of cream."

This tea contains the following ingredients : rooibos, natural vanilla flavorings, vanilla beans and natural cream flavoring.

The aroma of the tea was nothing particularly special. Which may not be a bad thing, as more than a few "memorable" aromas from other vanilla teas have been consigned to the depths of my kitchen sink. Still, despite the lack of a memorable fragrance, you could catch a whiff of vanilla, which I took as a good sign.

Well, let's start with the bad news. The "natural cream flavoring" that has been added notwithstanding, this tea is no replacement for a heaping scoop of quality vanilla ice cream. As such, my hopes...meager as they were to begin with...were dashed on the first sip.

However, in comparison to the myriad other vanilla teas I've had, this tea isn't too shabby. The tea has a strong vanilla flavor and, most importantly, because it is a rooibos tea and NOT a black tea, the tea has no bitterness or lip puckering moments. In short, this vanilla tea goes down far more smoothly and far more enjoyably than the vanilla flavored black teas I've had.

Recommendation : Sort of. Looking for a vanilla ice cream replacement? Too bad, you won't find it here. On the other hand, if you tend to like the flavor of those vanilla flavored black teas but despise the bitterness you get with them, this tea from the Republic of Tea just might have your name on it.

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