MARIAGE FRÈRES Rouge - Bourbon rooibos tea

I was expecting something thin, but the vanilla rounds out the rooibos into a really smooth cup. Five minutes is the sweet spot, and I love that it stays gentle even when I accidentally let it steep a little long.

Brewed it for exactly five minutes at 95°C like the instructions say, and the rooibos turned this gorgeous deep red with a vanilla note that's present but never pushy. It's become my afternoon ritual because it's so smooth and calming without any bitterness, even when I let it sit a little longer.

The vanilla comes through so softly against the rooibos that it feels almost creamy. I followed the 5-minute steep and the cup stayed delicate to the last sip, no bitterness at all. This one’s earned a permanent spot in my afternoon rotation.