Tazo Brambleberry

Aroma: This "herbal infusion" has a strong scent of honey. Oddly enough, there isn't any in it. Behind that aroma (probably coming from the apple and blackberry juices) is the faintest hint of the herbal blend, most notably cinnamon and peppermint.

Taste: This is an interesting combination of juice and herbal flavor, but the intricate accents of the herbs are largely lost in the potency of the marion (black) berry juice. The cinnamon and peppermint flavors do manage to rise up and get your attention every once and a while, but the juice is definitely the power-hitter in this one. And it looks like that's what it was made to be - it says on the label it's a "lively, full-bodied mouthful of sweet (juices)". I didn't read that part before tasting, so I was just expecting a lighter, more herb-centric flavor. The juice itself is quite tasty, and it lingers at the back of your throat for a good while to make sure you're doing OK. Now that's service.

Price: $1.45 at a local grocer. Available at stores nationwide.

Ingredients: An infusion of (water, hibiscus, cinnamon, peppermint, lemongrass, rosehips, orange peel, and natural lemon essence), cane sugar, concentrated apple and marion blackberry juices, natural flavors, and citric acid.

Other Comments: Wow, Tazo seems to be a little... how would you say it...full of themselves? There are TAZO-isms littered all over the label in every available place. I couldn't get halfway around the bottle without rolling my eyes at least twice. A sampling:

"Shake this bottle before opening to mix the real herbal tea inside in a swirling, joyous dance."

OK, I'm all for creative liberties in label making, but then look at this:

"TAZO BRAMBLEBERRY is (description of juices)... infused with hibiscus, cinnamon, and a pinch of amusement at the endless wonders in life".

Okaaaaay...
And another:

"Tazo is an enticing source of wonder, inspiration & antioxidants."

Come on, I know drink companies have to create a brand image for themselves, but this is getting a little crazy, don't you think? This is to the point of asking me to build a shrine to TAZO in my house. That better be some damn good tea.

Overall: If you drink it as a juice (which is how I rated it below), you'll probably be happy with it. If you drink it as a tea, you'll be a little disappointed. And if you're looking for a soft drink that guide you in the way of the Tao, evidently this is the one.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars.

-Danithius

***Review Rebuttal!***
The first scent I recognized was cinnamon, then the lemongrass and berry essences, but only got a faint hint of a honey smell.
This fantastic blend of apple, blackberry, and cinnamon conquered my taste buds in one fell swoop, leaving only a faint sour-berry taste that was not at all unpleasant.
Cinnamon can easily overwhelm the flavor of any beverage it is ‘infused’ with, but this one plays very nicely with its fellow ingredients, compliments rather than overtaking the flavors.
Overall, this is one of the best blended berry juices I have drank in a long time, and I believe I will be savoring this beverage again in the very near future.

Rating : 4/5 stars.

-WiseGuise