Tazo Organic Spicy Ginger: a rooibos tea with a bite

There’s something about the taste of ginger and citrus– it’s a tasty blend. Tazo’s Organic Spicy Ginger meshes those flavors with lemon verbena, chamomile, fennel and licorice, to blend with a smooth green rooibos tea. The combination is tasty, a full flavor that stays with you after each sip.

To prepare this tea, boil water, and bring to 212 degrees (these are the directions on the box, I usually just let the boiling water sit for about 8 minutes). Steep for about 5 minutes for a smooth ginger taste, or add a little more time for a stronger spice. Add sweetener if desired; it tastes good either way.

When I sweetened it, I used a teaspoon of pure honey, which has health benefits in addition to tasting great. Ginger itself is a great addition to any diet. According to WebMd, the herb has many benefits, including intestinal and stomach pain relief, as well as treatment for respiratory issues. The chemicals in ginger “may reduce nausea and inflammation,” so this tea is good to have on hand at all times, especially during flu season.

This drink is very smooth, but also very strong. The sourness of the citrus and spicy taste of the ginger blend interestingly with the light green rooibos for a hefty flavor. One of my other favorite ginger teas is Bigelow’s Ginger Snappish, a holiday herbal mix of ginger and lemon. Where that tea is simply herbal, Tazo’s is a blended rooibos. The two are both very good, though extremely contrasting. Ginger Snappish is more lighthearted, adding lemograss, cinnamon, rosehips and citric acid to the mix for a more seasonal taste.