There are so many choices for the tea consumer, from a simple Earl Grey to the popular Green Tea. The true tea enthusiasts explore the palette-expanding realm of exotic teas. The choices between exotic teas are still abundant, although they can be a little more difficult to track down in specific flavors. Some people even enroll in exotic tea of the month mailing programs, similar to some wine enthusiasts. Different teas are sought after for a variety of different reasons. Some people seek out special teas for their health and/or diet properties, others seek out certain flavors that they have established a preference for, and others may just love tea and want to broaden their tea experience.
One of my personal favorite exotic teas is an African Redbush Tea. Also known as rooibos tea, bush tea, redbush tea, South African red tea, or simply red tea, it is derived from the rooibos leaf. It is full-bodied, sweet, and earthy. It has becaome much more popular with health-conscious consumers as it offers great antioxidant properties with its high levels of aspalathin and nothofaginand and its relatively low tannin levels compared with its black and green tea cousins. The rooibos leaf is also naturally caffeine-free, adding to it’s beneficial health properties with minimal drawbacks. There are some variations on fruit flavor mixes to further accent the sweet nature of the tea such as peach.
Another pleasant type of tea that I have experienced in my time is Licorice Tea. The tea, produced from licorice root, has a rich and unique base flavor. Another tea praised for it’s restorative power and health-beneficial properties, the base ingredient has been a staple in Chinese medicine for centuries. One particularly unique blend of Licorice Tea was a Licorice Mint Tea. It was a whirlwind of sweet and sharp flavors, bold and surprisingly satisfying. Through mixes with other teas it is also available in a few variations.
A very exotic tea that I have not been brave enough to try, is known as Three Snakes Gall Tea. The tea mixture combines a special tea scientifically mixed with the extracted bile of three specific kinds of snakes. Supposedly, the product has been tested in a few hospitals in China and was noted as having outstanding effects of dispelling wind and dampness, relieving fever and inflammation, promoting body fluid and relieving sore throat. It is noted as also nourishing the brain. How much of the clinical notes can be confirmed with certain accuracy is left to the scientists, but as far as exotic teas goes; this one is borderline taboo.
These are just a few of the many exotic teas that can enrich your tea enjoyment for many years to come. There are so many variations of red, green, and white teas that you can experience a new tea everyday. From Moroccon Orange Spice Tea to Egyptian Licorice Mint Tea, there are so many resources with the age of technology and global economy that create infinite access to exotic teas for the average consumer.
