Product Review: Numi Savory Teas

Numi, an organic, fair-trade tea company that I love has recently released a new type of tea: Savory Tea. To be sure, savory tea is a little bit different, but in a lovely way. Most teas lean towards sweetness; even if you drink plain black or green tea, they still seem slightly sweet. But Numi has turned this idea on its head with clever blends of decaffeinated green tea, herbs, spices and dehydrated vegetables.

As with all their teas, Numi chooses organic and fairly traded ingredients and blends them into beautifully rich concoctions. With combinations like Broccoli Cilantro and Carrot Curry, these drinks are similar to drinking a cup of homemade vegetable broth. Some of the flavors seem weirder than others, such as Tomato Mint, but they all actually taste quite similar. Numi says of their savory teas, "It's not quite a soup, but more than a tea." Other flavors include Spinach Chive, Beet Cabbage and my favorite Fennel Spice. They also offer a garden sampler so you can try two of each flavor!

Savory teas are warming and soothing, and can be especially delightful on those very chilly days or when you think you might be coming down with a cold. For a richer flavor, you can stir in a teaspoon of miso or a handful of leftover grains. Savory teas like this are gentle on the digestion and feel so good! And because they are decaffeinated, you can drink them all day long to stay warm and hydrated.

Numi is also offering a fun contest featuring their Artisan Tea Blending Kit. You can blend your own herbs and teas into a unique blend the Numi might adopt as their newest flavor. If your blend is chosen you can win a trip to San Francisco and a tea tasting ceremony in their headquarters. (Sounds like a dream trip to me!). Enter on the link above.

What's your favorite tea for the cold weather?