Cranberries hit first, tart and bright, before the apple and fig round things out into something softer and sweeter. That's the shape of this one: a bold opening that settles into fruit-cake territory, with date pieces, almond, pumpkin, and a thread of cinnamon running underneath. A nutty note shows up mid-cup and lingers into a clean finish, which is part of what gives it that festive, dessert-adjacent character rather than tasting like straight fruit juice.
It's a fruit tisane rather than a true tea, since it doesn't come from the Camellia sinensis plant, so there's no caffeine at all — a reasonable choice for an evening cup or for anyone cutting back on caffeine. Tea & Coffee packs it fresh to order at their Kent-based factory, and the blend leans heavily on whole fruit and nut pieces rather than flavouring alone, though natural flavouring is included alongside the fruit.
To brew it, use loose pieces in a filter or infuser, pour water at a full boil (100°C) over them, and let it steep for around 7 to 8 minutes — enough time to pull the flavour out of the larger apple and fig pieces. It's meant to be drunk plain, without milk or sweetener, so the fruit and spice can carry the cup on their own. The blend also holds up well cold: left to steep and then chilled, it makes a decent base for iced tea, especially given how prominent the cranberry and apple notes are early on.
Because of the almond and pistachio content, it's worth flagging for anyone with nut allergies — this is one to check the ingredient list on rather than assume is safe. Beyond that, it's a low-calorie alternative to a sweeter drink, more about the combination of fruit, nut, and spice than about being especially virtuous, and its lack of caffeine has made it a pick some reach for later in the day or when avoiding stimulants altogether.
