This caffeine-free blend takes its name from feng shui, the Chinese practice of arranging people and spaces in balance with the flow of qi, or life force. The tea leans into that idea visually as well as conceptually: the loose leaf carries green, red, yellow, silver and blue pieces, standing in for the five feng shui elements of water, earth, fire, metal and wood respectively.
Underneath the concept sits a fruit-and-herb mix rather than an actual tea plant. The ingredients include apple pieces, goji berries, dragon fruit, lemongrass, blackberry leaves, nettle leaves, eucalyptus leaves, orange peel, carrot flakes, cornflowers and marigold petals, along with natural flavouring. In the cup that translates to a fruity character with lemon and orange running through it, berry and blackberry notes, a touch of goji and apple, and a rounded honeyed sweetness underneath. Nettle and lemongrass both have long histories in traditional herbal preparations across different cultures, though that is folk use rather than anything backed by clinical evidence, and the tea makes no claims to cure or treat anything.
Because there is no actual tea leaf involved, it is naturally free of caffeine, a reasonable choice for an evening cup or for anyone who wants the ritual of brewing without the stimulant. Tea and Coffee, who put this blend together, suggest steeping the loose leaf in a filter or infuser for around seven to eight minutes with freshly boiled water, longer than you would give a black or green tea. Drink it with honey or a squeeze of lemon for more sweetness, or leave it plain and let the mix of fruit and flowers carry the flavour on its own.
