Cool Herbal – Herbal Tea, 10 bags

Cool Herbal from A.C. Perch's Thehandel, cool and caffeine-free

Cool Herbal from Perch's Thehandel is an herbal tea made from licorice root, peppermint, apple pieces, and lemongrass, available here in a box of ten bags. The infusion sweetens itself because the root provides the sweetness, so no additions are needed.

Cool Herbal is the caffeine-free herbal infusion from Copenhagen-based tea house Perch's Thehandel, a blend of whole, dried plant parts. Ten pyramid bags are individually wrapped in the flat box, where you can already smell the lemongrass through the packaging.

Mint, licorice, and a piece of apple

The aroma rises cool and herbaceous from the pot, first the peppermint, followed by the bright, almost soapy-fresh lemongrass. In the cup, it is a pale yellow-green, and the first sip is surprisingly well-rounded for an infusion completely without sugar.

The sweetness comes from the licorice root, and it tastes different from sugar—broader and longer-lasting, with a quiet hint of anise in the background. The apple piece adds a fruity acidity, and the mint finishes with a coolness that lingers on the palate for a moment.

Those who take the bag out early will get mostly mint and freshness; those who leave it in will get more of the root. Nothing becomes bitter, as there isn't a single leaf of the tea plant in this blend, meaning there are no tannins.

The apple pieces are the quiet part of this blend; they provide a mild sweetness that takes the sharp edge off the herbs. They don't give off much aroma, but they do provide a fruit acidity that grounds the licorice and prevents the infusion from tasting like candy.

After dinner, before bedtime

One hundred-degree hot water and a five-minute steeping time are enough; the infusion requires no further effort. Because it contains no caffeine, it fits perfectly into the hour after dinner, when a black tea might shorten your night.

After a heavy meal, the mint acts like a clean break, and the sweetness makes dessert unnecessary. Brewed cold with plenty of ice and a slice of lemon, the tea becomes a non-alcoholic dinner companion for those moments when water is too bland and juice is too sweet.

Ten bags are enough for a week with one cup in the evening, which is about the amount needed to find out if this kind of herbal infusion suits your own evening routine. Afterwards, you will be able to taste the difference between the fresh mint and the cool pull that only the menthol adds.

Those who drink it often can reach for the box of twenty-five bags, whereas the Rooibos Vanilla is caffeine-free and creamy. Both are available on the shelf with loose-leaf tea and bags.

The root that sweetens by itself

Licorice is a legume from the Mediterranean and Western Asia, whose roots reach up to a meter deep and are harvested only after three to four years. This is also what is used to boil down the raw material for licorice candy; here, the root is simply sliced and dried before going into the bag. The Danish preference for licorice is well-known, and this infusion shows the same affection in its gentlest form.

Its sweetening power far exceeds that of household sugar, which is why only a small amount is needed in the blend. Perch's Thehandel balances it with mint so that the sweetness remains bright rather than sticky. More from Copenhagen can be found in the Perch's Thehandel collection.