Brand: Celestial Seasonings Flavour: Cinnamon Apple Spice

Ingredients: Cinnamon, hibiscus, chamomile, natural cinnamon and apple flavours with other natural flavours, roasted chicory, orange peel and roasted carob

Caffeine Factor: Caffeine-free

Organic Ingredients: Unknown Price Range: £2-3 Bags Per Box: 20

Review: This is a bit of a strange one. Celestial Seasonings are an American company currently based on Colorado. We're based in the UK, although Tulsi lived in Arizona, once upon a time. As soon as Tulsi smelled it, she identified this brew as Red Hots in a cup. It tastes like them, too. In other words: sweeties / candies (depending on your form of English).

We investigated this and discovered there are two different plants that get referred to as cinnamon: cassia and ceylon, both species of the same plant family. Cassia is a reddish-brown colour and the most common form of cinnamon sold in the US, while ceylon is brown and more commonly used in Europe. (Fun fact: ceylon is the form chefs regard as 'real' cinnamon.) We believe this tea must use cassia rather than ceylon. The result is a much stronger, sweeter flavour than we're used to from other cinnamon blends. Just like Red Hots (if you've ever had them), it's fiery in the throat - and not particularly pleasant, if you're no longer used to it (as Tulsi discovered). We brewed this for different times, to see if perhaps we had just left the bag in too long. We found that if you under-brew, there is no flavour at all, but if you brew longer, the flavour is overwhelming (and, for us, unbearable). You can't taste anything else in the ingredients list. It's named Cinnamon Apple Spice, yet there's no apple at all. It's strangely medicinal, as well - and really sweet - and the flavouring, although quoted as 'natural', makes it taste rather artificial. Worst of all, when you finish the cup, you feel dehydrated. In our opinion, this is an avoid - but we recognise that Americans, more used to cassia, might disagree. Still, if you're looking for apple, look elsewhere.

Best time of year to drink this: Winter, if it's your thing

Best time of day to drink this: After a meal, in place of dessert - it's just sooooo sweet!

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