Sacred Rose® - Beloved

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Review: Sacred Rose Beloved: The Twin Souls
Herbal Tea, Hibiscus Tea, Jasmine Tea, Pomegranate Tea, Sacred Rose Add comments
Dan’s Teaview Snapshot
Thumbs up! "Regardless the metaphysical leanings and purported effects of this tisane or its ingredients, this blend is a tasty herbal tea that I wouldn't mind having around hot or iced, at any time of day."
Dan’s Teaview: 8/10
Other Teaviews: Geoff gave it 9.1/10
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Sacred Rose is an interesting company, in that they are not your typical tea purveyor who wants to just sling some yummy teas, turn some cash, and call it a day. Their teas are specifically selected to "raise the vibrational frequency of humanity one cup of tea at a time". Their products are all tisanes - herbal teas - specifically selected because the company believes in the healing powers - spiritually, mentally and physically - of herbs. They aim for their products to be not only delicious, but "also utilized as vibrational remedies". You may choose to snicker and/or grin (or not) while considering that last phrase along with the fact that this blend is purported to be an aphrodisiac. Their products, on the whole, are labeled as Organic.

Beloved: The Twin Souls is a blend of damiana leaf, jasmine, hibiscus, hawthorn, pomegranate and wild cherry bark. Some interesting and unique ingredients, to be sure, but what most catches my interest is the damiana. Scientifically known as Turnera diffusa, damiana has a historical presence as having been used in teas for centuries. The properties of damiana are scientifically known to have a relaxing effect on the central nervous system. Studies of animals - and humans - have shown that it is apparently legitimately does increase sexual activity in certain laboratory subjects. While I can't recall a significant uptick in my libido during any of the post-cuppings I've imbibed, it does make for a unique and tasty beverage.

A 5-6 minute infusion using water just-under-boiling is adequate and appropriate. The resultant liquor is a surprisingly-deep and bright Kool-Aid-style red. The sweetly-floral aroma is familiar and pleasant. To my palette, the hibiscus and pomegranate play the dominant roles here. This is not unlike other hibiscus and/or pom teas I've enjoyed, but it does have a certain individuality to it - certainly from the other ingredients. I'm not sure what wild cherry bark actually translates to in taste, but there is a definitive black cherry-like flavor playing with the bolder flavors. The jasmine seems all but decimated in the cup. I also can't comment on the flavors of hawthorn or damiana, although reading that the latter has a "spicy" note to it makes sense, as I would label this tea much more of a "Zinger" than any of it's similar mass-marketed counterparts from Boulder's Celestial Seasonings.

While I did not feel like rushing to the bedroom after ingesting this tea, it does have a definitive relaxation property associated with it. The aforementioned damiana is the main ingredient blended into smokable incense products. While I have never tried those, this tea is a nice way to mildly mellow out the mind and body without feeling like a creepy burnout teenager.

Regardless the metaphysical leanings and purported effects of this tisane or its ingredients, this blend is a tasty herbal tea that I wouldn't mind having around hot or iced, at any time of day.

— To purchase Sacred Rose Beloved: The Twin Souls, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
Teaviews Member: Dan Dan
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Sacred Rose® Organic Herbal Teas - Beloved Review

An actual dialogue I had with my mother, paraphrased and abridged slightly:

Mom: "We picked up this tea for you in Cabo. It's a cactus tea!"

Me: "That's great!...Wait...it's not 'damiana', is it?"

Mom: "That's it."

Me: "Mom...that's an aphrodisiac."

I only know this because I'm no stranger to the stuff. Damiana is an unassuming shrub native to Texas, Mexico, Central and South America, and parts of the Caribbean. It's historical and medicinal use has primarily been in strengthening the libidos of both women and men. And - oh boy - does it work. I learned that by accident. No, I will not relate how I know that. Totally not PG.

Which brings us to Sacred Rose's Beloved blend, a "consummate alchemy aphrodisiac of damiana leaf, jasmine, hibiscus, hawthorn, pomegranate and wild cherry bark, blended under the Law of Resonance of the One Sacred Heart of the Creational Flame." Yes, that is verbatim from the tisane's profile.

Visually, this was a very striking blend. Bulbs/buds of some sort were the most prominent presence. Hibiscus strands and cherry pieces came in close second. Last were the various green herbs I couldn't identify on sight. Aromatically, the damiana was quite strong; it possessed a naturally woody/mint nose. Rounding out the scent were tart hibiscus and sharp jasmine. A very herbal-smelling blend.

Brewing instructions weren't present on the Sacred Rose site, but with herbal infusions that never mattered. A six-minute steep in boiling water did the trick. I did that with 1 tsp in an 8oz cup.

The liquor infused to a transparent but bold red, a clear mark of the hibiscus presence. The smell was like straight pomegranate juice - heated, of course. The flavor of this was shockingly pleasant. I was expecting a mouthful o' medicine but got a lovely berry taste. Sure, the hibiscus was quite tart, but the cherry and pomegranate added a bit of robust sweetness to the occasion. The fact that it also looked like a rose wine just made it scream, "PASSION!"

While I don't have much of a frame of reference, this was the best damn damiana-based blend I've ever tried. You hardly taste the woody leaf amidst the berrysplosion of taste. It also sweetens well, further adding to the juicy comparison. I'm not sure that's what the Sacred Rose folks were aiming for, but it's a good faux tea to have by candlelight...before breaking out the Barry White.

(Note: To add even further to the absurdity, I was taste-testing this on Valentine's Day.)

— To purchase Sacred Rose Beloved: The Twin Souls, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
Teaviews Member: Geoff Geoff
Teaviews.com Reviewer