DRINKING RED

WHEN SOMEONE ASKS me what kind of hot tea I'd like to drink, my answer is always the same. Red. I don't mind black, and I actually love a lot of green teas. But red rooibos teasan is by far my favorite, especially when it's ultra-fresh, full leaf --  like Village Tea Company's Cherry Me Bloom Rooibos, a blend of red that includes acai, sour cherry, lemon grass and sunflower petals.
Inside each canister of tea are two cotton sacks filled with loose-leaf tea and a stack of unbleached paper teabags so you can make your own teabags. Brewed, the tea is ultra-velvety, with a sweet, floral aroma, and just a hint of cherry. If you're looking for a smooth drink for a cold day, this is it. The tea is $26 for two canisters on Amazon.com, which is perfect; one to enjoy, one to give.