My original intent for this post was to share tasting notes about two Plum teas from Rishi Tea that I’ve been sampling. Yet, as sometimes happens when writing about edibles, the focus stirred in a new direction.
After my initial tasting of both blushing beauties, I was perplexed. There is a tart nuance that at first I attributed to hibiscus, but as I drank more, seemed less familiar. Confounded, I perused the ingredient lists and pinpointed the shared culinary culprit: Schizandra berry.
A Google search reveals a cascade of information about a berry-bearing shrub of the Magnolia family native to China. Schizandra (aka Schisandra) is known as “Five taste fruit” or the likes because it encompasses five elements of taste: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and spicy. After reading the plethora of facts available online, and feeling overwhelmed by screen-upon-screen of links, I simply gather that these wonder berries are used to treat a range of ailments from asthma to liver health to complexion to libido. Schizandra is an adaptogen—an herb that acts as a bodily equalizer. These little red pellet troopers roll in to help relieve stress or insomnia as well as the opposing fatigue. Now I see why the shrub has been cherished for thousands of years!
I’ve been drinking both teas for weeks to note whether or not they adapt myself to myself. The timing could not be more perfect with the seasonal change, two weekend getaways and daylight savings sleep disruptor. After drinking each tea on separate occasions, I admit to feeling calm and focused, but not jittery. Both also surprise with bold fruity fragrances. These teas are light-bodied, sweet, toasty and tart. I sweeten with Stevia or honey and all is plum perfect in my cup.
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