This is a herbal tea that is sweet even without sweetener.  Which is how She prefers it.  He still adds a bit to his because, well, he has a sweet tooth.

HIM:  Extremely fruity.  I can’t put my finger on exactly which fruit, though.  It’s not a grape taste.  More like blackberries.

HER:  It has a sharp citric smell to it.  Very nice.  Aromatic.

HIM:  The flavor has shadows of Juicyfruit Gum.  Also shadows of wine – there’s a slight, but pleasant, tannin tang.

HER:  It tastes like hot, very strong black current.  Like Ribena warmed up.

HIM:  Yes, it tastes more like a hot fruit drink than a tea.  It’s quite yummy.

HER:  I think it’s groovy.

HIM:  I think it’s very groovy.  I think it would taste good iced, too.

HER:  Iced tea is an abomination.

HIM:  You only say that because you’re British.

HER:  I say it because it’s the truth.  Tea is to be enjoyed hot.  When it’s cold, you throw it away.

According to the Celestial Seasonings website, Wild Berry Zinger contains these ingredients: Hibiscus; rosehips; roasted chicory; orange peel; blackberry leaves; natural flavors of black raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, red raspberries, cranberries and cherries; citric acid and natural flavors (contains soy lecithin).

We start our reviews with this tea as, as She says, this is “real tea.”  It is the tea by which all other teas are measured.  According to Her.

He agrees because he knows She knows what she’s talking about.

NOTE – This is not the American version of Tetley Tea.  The closest thing you’ll find in the USA is “Tetley British Blend” and while it’s close, it’s not quite the same.  It will do, however, in a pinch.

HER:  In England this is known simply as “tea.”  It’s black tea with no Orange Pekoe.

HIM:  It’s very smooth and refined.

HER:  It’s hot, too.

HIM:  (He blows on it, and then slurps.)

HER:  (She laughs at his subhuman table manners.)

HIM:  It tastes like tea cookies.

HER:  Tea cookies?

HIM:  They’re oriental.

HER:  (She sips)  You know, when you drink tea, you can literally feel the stress leaving your body.

HIM:  (Tasting again)  I detect hints of walnut amid a very refined black tea tang.

HER:  My way [with milk] is better than your way.  It’s more traditional.

HIM:  I like it my way [black with sweetener] because it tastes like a cookie.

HER:  It’s definitely a groovy tea.  Way groovy – with milk and no sweetener.

HIM:  Groovy even without milk, but it needs sweetener.

According to the Tetley.co.uk website, this tea has three main components:

• Assam from India for body and strength
• African for the distinctive taste and red colour
• Ceylon for a smooth refreshing finish