Harbor Breeze by Capital Teas is a refreshing fruity tisane. It contains a good bit of hibiscus so it’s a win if you like hibiscus but not so great if you don’t. It also contains apples, rosehips and other dried fruit, along with lovely calendula petals. The calendula petals are a beautifully sunny contrast to the deep magenta hibiscus, but don’t do much for taste. The apple bits, however, add a softer fruity flavor that mellows the hibiscus giving it better balance than some I’ve tried. It’s tart but not too tart. I find this to be a really satisfying combination when I’m craving a fruity hibiscus tisane.
Harbor Breeze by Capital Teas: a mini review
03 Nov 2014 3 Comments
in Herbal, Tea Tags: Capital Teas, harbor breeze, hibiscus, tea, tisane
aLightningbug 
Nov 04, 2014 @ 12:14:32
I suffer through the Passion Tazo tea if I need a beverage that is non-chocolate. Tea isn’t my thing. How does it compare? I like a fruitier tea if I must.
Nov 05, 2014 @ 08:18:08
I’d say Harbor Breeze is a little fruitier with more tart apple flavors. Both have hibiscus which tastes fruitty and somewhat tart, but I remember Passion being a little lighter on the hibiscus in both color and taste. Tazo’s Passion has a good bit of lemongrass which gives more of a herbal lemony flavor. It also has licorice root. Licorice root tastes nothing like licorice candy (which tastes more like anise), but it is naturally sweet and a bit earthy. You’ll have to steep a long time to get the full sweetness. I like both, but probably prefer the flavor Harbor Breeze by a hair. It tastes really fresh, clean, and bright.
The biggest difference may be that Tazo teas will be easier find and will usually cost less. The brick & mortar stores of Capital Teas carry mostly loose leaf teas and tisanes. The smallest container is 2 oz. You can also order tea by the cup or teapot to enjoy right then and there which can be fun. On their website you can order tea sachets of many of their offerings. And their stores carry a line that Capital Teas markets as enhancers for beer, wine, and other cocktails. The brick & mortar stores carry a limited number of tea sachets in their wine & beer section. The tea in those is exactly the same as the loose leaf tea of the same name. Harbor Breeze is one of the flavors available.
Nov 08, 2014 @ 12:06:51
And I had to taste Tazo’s Passion again because I wasn’t sure if I was remembering it right. Passion is tart! It has added citric acid which along with the hibiscus gives Passion a really tart citrus flavor. This brings out the taste of the lemongrass. I think it would be nice iced.
Harbor Breeze is less tart and has a good bit of dried apple. It has some dried orange too but it’s fairly subtle, so it doesn’t taste especially citrusy, more of a clean fruity with some depth. It also holds up fairly well for a second steeping depending on how strong you like it.