Moscow Food Co-op Food Review
Echinacea
Tea
by Vicki Reich, from the March 2001 Newsletter
Is there ever a month that is not considered in the cold and flu season? I haven't come across one in Moscow. It seems like someone I know is sick every month. When people get sick there is one herb they often come looking for, and that is Echinacea. It's an immune system enhancer, but it also tastes terrible. So instead of buying Echinacea root in bulk and choking it down in some hot water, those smart tea manufacturers have made a wide variety of Echinacea teas, and that's what we tried this month.
We tasted six teas in all. The first cup was Yogi Green Tea Triple Echinacea and Kombucha. It had a good minty smell with a minty flavor and a slight astringent taste. The green tea in it gave your mouth a slightly dry feeling but it didn't have any taste of Echinacea. It had a light taste that everyone liked but no one loved.
The second cup was Choice Organic Tri Echs. This had a medicinal smell and a licorice taste. One tester thought it tasted like a tincture rather than tea. And someone else recommended adding honey and rum to improve the flavor. It definitely tasted like it was good for you.
The third tea was Traditional Medicinals Organic Echinacea Elder. This tea had a pleasant flowery smell, and was mild and mellow in flavor with hints of yarrow and chamomile. It reminded some testers of homemade tea and was very fresh tasting.
The fourth tea was Celestial Seasonings Echinacea Wellness. It had a good, almost perfumy, smell with a pleasant and slightly sweet taste (Stevia is used as a sweetener in this tea).
The fifth tea was Yogi Echinacea Special Formula. It had a nice minty smell, tasted delicious—with hints of licorice and cinnamon—and felt very soothing on the throat. This tea was the favorite of the evening.
The last tea was Celestial Seasonings Organic Green Echinacea Mint. It had a good strong minty smell. Because of the green tea, it was a little drying to the mouth but had an overall good flavor.
Most of the teas come 16 bags to the box; the Echinacea Wellness has 20 bags. The prices ranged from 18 to 24 cents per bag. As always, there was a wide difference of opinions but everyone liked the Yogi Echinacea Special Formula and the Traditional Medicinals Echinacea Elder. So next time you feel that little tickle in the back of your throat or a little bit of a sniffle coming on, pick up a box of one of our many Echinacea teas.
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