This is the third of four teas in Adagio Teas’ Summer Teas Sampler. A couple days ago I reviewed The Secret Garden Organic Mango Green Tea—the first tea I truly liked from the Secret Garden Organic gift box. I’d already opened this 3 oz packet of Mango Melange, and liked the fragrance. But boy, are they different teas!
Like the other four Secret Garden teas I’d tried, the Organic Mango Green was simply green tea and natural flavors. It smelled and tasted like mango (also a little apricot and peach)—but it actually tasted fruity, nicely so.
Adagio Teas’ Mango Melange should be instead be called “Hibiscus and Rose Hip Melange”. Tho the smell within the packet itself has a slight perfumy whiff of hair pomade—just in the packet!—it’s mostly pleasantly sour. I found myself wondering how it would taste to have the packet be cold-brewed (no pun intended!) in some lager beer. There are some Northern Europeans who enjoy the juxtaposition of fruit and beer, and I think the flavors in this ‘melange’ would work with that.
Why? Because it’s lightly sour! Between the hibiscus, rosehip skins and dried fruit pieces, which are edible, none particularly taste like the mango this is supposed to be based on.
Once I added some sugar, though, there was more mango-y essence.
This has the bright red color of hibiscus, which is always eye-catching. Maybe after straining out the fruit, one could make some kind of mocktail out of this. It’s got possibilities. But even cooled, I found this tea more like a project one could make something out of, rather than a drink I’d want by itself.
I will neither “yea” or “nay” this. [>>CHANGED BY MY SECOND REVIEW OF THIS.] Mango Melange is more likable than the Key Lime Herbal, also in Adagio’s Summer Teas Sampler, but it’s still not an immediate hit which should have been included in a Summer Sampler. Maybe Adagio should come up with a more accurately titled “Teas Not For The Faint of Heart”, or “Not Your Usual Summer Teas” sampler. Then they could let this and Key Lime Herbal find their proper audience, while those of us who think more of Mai Tais and Fuzzy Navels can enjoy more predictable flavors of summer.
Flavors: Hibiscus, Pleasantly Sour, Raisins, Rosehip
