Glow by kyth + kyn
Herbal Infusion / Straight
$11.99 for 1 bag (5 servings)
First Impressions
I was first introduced to kyth + kyn in November, at the 2018 Vancouver Tea Festival. The idea behind kyth + kyn is to modernise traditional Chinese medicines, in particularly when it comes to the teas and soups. This concept really spoke to me because a lot of the ingredients being used in kyth + kyn’s tea blends were familiar to me. They’re ingredients that I grew up drinking (begrudgingly…), but now that I’ve grown up, I’m more appreciative of the flavours and the purpose behind the ingredients.
The ingredients for Glow are in separate plastic bags (resealable), which come in a sealed paper pouch that is also resealable and is plastic lined. Glow consists of dried red date and dried goji berries – each in separate bags. The aroma of the ingrediets are sweet, they remind me of walking into Chinese medicine shops as a child in Chinatown – there’s just something really familiar about it. Red dates have more of an aroma than the goji berries do, but I think that is par for the course.
kyth + kyn lists some of the positives about the ingredients on their product page for Glow. Red dates are high in vitamin C, help to regulate blood circulation, and contain flavanoids and sapoins (which promote sleep and relaxation). Goji berries have been in the news a lot lately because they are a super antioxidant, and they also help to promote healthy liver and kidney function, promote healthy skin, and also help to relieve stress and anxiety.
Preparation
kyth + kyn recommends combining 1 tablespoon of red dates with 1 teaspoon of goji berries in hot water, and then allowing it to steep for 15 to 20 minutes. I did measure out the ingredients and then tossed it into my teapot. I used 100°C (212°F) water since the temperature wasn’t specified. I let Glow steep for 20 minutes (and nearly forgot about it because it’s such a long steep time!).
First Taste
Glow steeps to a beautiful bright yellow, although it’s more of an orange in the teapot. It reminds me a bit like sunshine. The aroma from the tisane is mildly sweet and smells like dates primarily. The flavour of Glow is a nice balance between the red dates and the goji berries. There’s a slight tartness from the goji berries that is off-set by the sweetness from the dates, which lends itself to be quite tasty. I found the flavour to remind me a bit of apples, it just has that freshness to it that reminds me of biting into an apple.
A Second Cup?
I attempted to resteep Glow. It is an herbal tisane, so I found that it didn’t resteep well at all – which was to be expected. The first resteep was very watery compared to the initial steep, I would say that Glow is good for just one steep.
My Overall Impression
I loved kyth + kyn’s Glow. Perhaps it’s because this tisane blend reminds me of my childhood, or because I just really enjoyed it – but I’m giving Glow a full four cups for the flavour, the balance between the goji berries and red dates, and for just being a good cup of tea. I love how kyth + kyn outlines the properties of the ingredients so I know what I’m drinking and what it’s good for. Pro-tip, you can eat all the ingredients if you want to (or toss them into a soup to get more out of it).
Curious about the cup rating system? Click here to learn more.