Is there any other street in the United States that conjures up as many exotic images as does Bourbon Street in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter? From Voodoo to Jazz and Burlesque to Mardi Gras, Bourbon is the street where anything can, and does, happen!
It was during one such visit that the Master Taster came up with the idea for this blend. While perusing the shops of the French Quarter one evening, he caught a whiff of toasty Vanilla drifting from an alley. The smell was so hypnotizing he felt compelled to follow it and soon discovered that it was coming from a small makeshift voodoo shrine someone had constructed. He decided to capture the enticing character he had experienced and blend it with pure, caffeine free, South African Rooibos to reflect the African roots of the voodoo he had stumbled across. The result is an exceptionally smooth herbal tea with mysterious character and subtle notes of fresh vanilla.
Rooibos (pronounced "roy bus") is made from the needle-like leaves of a caffeine-free bush native to South Africa. It is oxidized like black tea, and is a popular alternative to decaffeinated black tea. Good both hot and cold, it has a mild flavor and won't turn bitter with extended brewing.
Hot tea brewing method: Use 1 tsp. per cup and steep 5-10 minutes in freshly boiled water
Iced tea brewing method:
To make 1 liter/quart: Place 6 teaspoons of Rooibos into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the Rooibos. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the Rooibos into the serving pitcher straining the leaves. Add ice and top-up with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 teaspoon of Rooibos for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the pot, cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes. Pour into your cup; add milk and sugar to taste.
Disclaimer: Use caution tea will be hot when boiled water is used.
