Kimberley's Kyusu

Hey There Teacups! I’m back today with another Let’s Talk Tea post and this time around I’m going to be reviewing Obubu Tea Farms – Sweet Sakura Tisane. They very kindly sent me some of their teas to try but this Sakura tisane was also included in the box and while I know I should have gone straight for the green teas, I was so intrigued by the premise of a Sakura tisane that I just had to try this first and have it be the first of the bunch that I reviewed.

Here’s what the Obubu Tea Farms team have to say about this tisane on their website: “Light and silky, Sweet Sakura Tea has notes of springtime and strawberry. A visual feast, its stunning pink petals unfurl in the cup, releasing their floral aroma. This tea is made by preserving Japanese cherry blossoms in sugar. While the salty version is most commonly found in Japan, Sweet Sakura Tea offers a breathtakingly beautiful Japanese tea experience. Sakuracha (桜茶) is a very special, traditional Japanese infusion that is unlike any other. Sakura is the name for the famous pink cherry blossoms that bloom all over Japan in the spring. The flowers are mixed with ume plum vinegar and either salt or sugar, and remain in this mixture for a month. Cherry blossom tea is considered very special in Japan and is mostly served at weddings, as it is believed to represent new beginnings. Our Sakura tea comes from the beautiful seaside town of Odawara, Kanagawa. The blossoms are harvested between late March and early April, but the pickling process used to preserve them allows the tea to be enjoyed all year round.”

Tisane Tasting Notes

I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it on my blog before but Sakura is my favourite flower. Not only are they absolutely beautiful to look at but they also have a delicious flavour as well. I’ve had them in pastries, sweets, savoury Japanese dishes and of course other tea blends (mostly green tea based ones) and I simply can not get enough of them, hence why I was so excited to see that Obubu has included this in the package of teas & Tisanes that they very kindly sent me to try. This is an experimental tea, so they haven’t made many batches of it yet. Their method for preserving the flowers in sugar is still something new. They have not mentioned if they still use plum vinegar, but judging from the smell of the flowers when dry, I believe they have.

The blossoms open up beautifully and the liquor is a very pale pink with an ever so slight yellow tint. The aroma is mostly floral while the flavour is a bit more sweet and fruity. I will say I’m very glad that Obubu Tea Farms sent me the sweet version rather than the traditional salty one because as much as I enjoy Sakura I don’t think I would have enjoyed that much, I have much more of a sweet tooth so this one is perfect for me.

I honestly loved this tisane! It’s got a very light overall flavour but both the floral and fruity sweet notes make it an absolute pleasure to drink. I had it hot for this tasting session and loved it prepared that way but I think this would also be really nice iced as its a perfect tisane for spring/summer. With this having so much sugar on it I really expected it to be far too sweet and for that to overpower the much more subtle notes but it wasn’t overly sweet at all and very well balanced. You do have to make sure however that once you add the water you have to stir it otherwise all the sugar settles and the last few sips are insanely sweet.

These flowers are, of course, edible and after brewing I surprisingly really enjoyed them. They were still floral and fruity but the sweetness was lost and a delightful leafy note came through. I really enjoyed this tea and for as long as Obubu continue to make it I will most likely continue to repurchase it. If you’re a fan of Sakura or you are simply just looking for something new a different to try I would give this a go because it’s fantastic and I have no doubt that you will all love it just as much as I do.

Overall Teacup Rating: 5/5

If you want to find out more about Obubu Tea Farms and purchase some of this beautiful flowering tisane for yourself, you can do both here. As always if you have any questions at all either stick them in the comments or send them to me on Twitter/Instagram @teaisawishblog and I’ll answer them all as soon as I can.

Speak to you all again soon. Happy Steeping – Kimberley