Tea Journal · Herbal and caffeine free

Why fruit tea is sharp, and how to brew it so it is not

People buy a berry tea expecting it to taste like berries and are surprised when it tastes sharp. That tang is hibiscus, the flower that gives almost every red fruit tea its colour and its bite. It is not a fault, it is the point, but it does need brewing with a bit of care. Here is what is going on and how to get it right.

What is in a fruit tea

There is no tea leaf in most fruit teas, so they are caffeine free. The base is usually hibiscus flowers and rosehip, which between them give the ruby colour, the body and the sharpness, with dried fruit and berries on top for flavour. Crimson Berry is hibiscus, rosehip, berries and natural flavouring, and it pours a proper deep red.

Why hibiscus is sharp

Hibiscus is naturally high in fruit acids, the same family as the acids in cranberries and rhubarb. Brewed strong it is tart enough to make you wince. Brewed right it is bright and refreshing, like a good cordial without the sugar. The acid is also why the colour is so vivid.

How to brew it hot

One heaped teaspoon per 200ml, freshly boiled water, four to five minutes. Longer than that and the sharpness builds. If it is too tart for you, use less leaf rather than a shorter time, or add a spoon of honey, which rounds it off without hiding the fruit. No milk. The acid will curdle it.

Why it is better cold

Cold water pulls out the colour and the fruit but much less of the acid. Four heaped teaspoons in a litre of cold water, fridge overnight, strain over ice. It comes out tart, jammy and clean, with no need for sugar, and it is honestly the way I would drink it most of the year. A slice of orange in the jug is good. It is a very good drink for kids who want something red and fizzy looking without the fizz or the sugar.

A note on hibiscus

A few people prefer to avoid hibiscus, for various reasons of their own. If that is you, every fruit tea on the market is worth checking, since nearly all of them use it. Our caffeine free teas without hibiscus are Rooibos, Rooibos Kalahari, Honeybush, Peppermint, Chamomile, Lavender and Nettle.