Great Value Peach Rooibos Tea: A Sweet & Simple Sip

I have many beloved memories from my tour of South Africa, but one of the most distinctive is a moment etched into memory. An inside joke between a girlfriend and I collided with four people picking up cups of tea at the same time.

The tea? Rooibos. The joke? I’ll keep that private.

But the memory isn’t just rich because the moment latched onto that standing joke of Erika’s and mine – the setting, the timing, the emotion stands out because of the aroma of a perfectly brewed cuppa Rooibos.

And today, though the two are vastly different, I’m going to take a moment as a committed fan of Rooibos tea to share a review of an offering practically anyone in the USA can get for just a couple of bucks: Great Value Peach Rooibos. This Walmart brand offering is worth a comment or two, especially if you’re not sure it’s worth a buy.

What’s the Story Behind Rooibos?

Rooibos is a naturally caffeine-free red tea. It’s considered an herbal tea, but it is a specific type of tea unlike many other herbals which may be a mishmash of plants. Rooibos comes from one plant, the Aspalathus linearis, which only grows in certain regions of South Africa.

The tea itself is naturally antioxidant rich, has an earthy flavor, and works as a foundational tea for other flavors or as a stand-alone. My typical preference is standalone — a good, solid, “just Rooibos” cuppa is my most frequent choice. But many prefer to add something sweet or creamy to soften the earthiness.

What Does Great Value Peach Rooibos Actually Taste Like?

Great Value Peach Rooibos tea has a sweet, almost candied flavor that resembles dried peaches. It’s almost too sweet for me but I discovered that a little bit of sugar (weirdly, yes!) and milk tamps down the sweetness and makes it a smoother flavor.

The tea doesn’t contain any actual peach, but “natural flavor” (presumably peach), but the flavor is there. If you’re looking for authentic peach tea, you’re better off with something else like Stash Southern Peach (highly recommended!).

You also won’t likely taste much of the Rooibos in this tea. I don’t, even with my fairly sensitive palate. So if you’re not a huge fan of tea but want something sugar- and caffeine-free that’s a bit sweet, this could be the tea for you.

How Should You Brew Great Value Peach Rooibos?

For an overpoweringly peach experience (which I do recommend sometimes!), brew exactly as instructed, cool slightly, and drink straight up.

For a more dessert-like experience, add the hot water and let steep for about 7 minutes. Then remove the tea bag and blend in about 1-2 teaspoons of sugar (per 15 ounces of tea), and a quarter or a third cup of milk.

I’d also like to note that this makes excellent iced tea. It’s best made as a cold brew, though, so fill your container with cool or tepid water, drop in 1 teabag per 15-20 ounces, and cover. Place it in the fridge and chill overnight.

So, Is This Tea a “Great Value”? Who Should Buy It?

The sweet, candy-like Great Value Peach Rooibos tea is great for a lot of things. As mentioned above, iced tea, milk tea, and plain hot tea.

I recommend it for anyone looking for a cheap cuppa something sweet without caffeine.

I do not recommend it for someone looking for an “authentic” Rooibos experience though. The quality of tea itself is basic at best (if the brand wasn’t a dead giveaway!) and the peach that overpowers it confirms that.

Great Value Peach Rooibos Tea: A Sweet Sip of Comfort

It’s not a return to my beloved South Africa, but the Great Value Peach Rooibos is a nice evening cuppa comfort. I’ll buy this again and slowly work my way through the box again sometime soon.

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Looking for more tea to consider on your next shopping trip? Rita’s got plenty of reviews for you! You may also enjoy some of these other tea tales from our tea snob posse.

• Taylors of Harrogate Scottish Breakfast Tea Review
• My Morning Tea Routine – Positivity Corner
• Morning Tea on the Patio – Positivity Corner
• A Delicious Twist: Rita’s Review of the Ahmad Lemon-Lime Twist Black Tea
• Sister Teacups – Inspiration
• Pecan Praline Tea – a Review by Rita