Sweet Apple & Lemon – Black Tea, 25 bags

Sweet Apple and Lemon by A.C. Perch's Thehandel, fruity and bright

Sweet Apple and Lemon by A.C. Perch's Thehandel is a Chinese black tea with apple pieces and hibiscus, complemented by notes of bergamot and quince. The pack of 25 pyramid bags is enough for a whole summer full of iced tea.

Sweet Apple and Lemon is a flavored black tea from the Copenhagen tea house A.C. Perch's Thehandel. Apple pieces and hibiscus—which colors the cup red—rest upon the Chinese tea base, accompanied by a citrusy note of bergamot and the ripe sweetness of quince.

Apple, hibiscus, and a lemonade-like freshness

Once brewed, the blend smells of baked apple and citrus peel, and the hibiscus turns the color reddish within a minute. On the palate, it is soft and lively, with an acidity that is more reminiscent of lemonade than tea.

The black tea remains the steady foundation; the apple contributes a mild sweetness, and the quince provides a ripe, almost autumnal depth beneath it. If you steep the bag for less time, the fruit remains at the forefront; if you give it more time, the tea base stands out more clearly. Both have their appeal, and you will quickly know which of the two versions you prefer in the morning.

The apple pieces in the bag are dried and swell up again in hot water, which is why they only truly become flavorful after one or two minutes. This makes the Perch's Thehandel blend an obvious companion for crumble cake and butter cookies, and in autumn, it pairs well with anything that smells like the oven.

The black tea that belongs in a glass during summer

Freshly boiled water, steeped for five minutes—that is how the blend enters the cup hot. However, its grand appearance is when served cold, with plenty of ice, a few apple slices, and a sprig of mint in the glass.

To do this, brew a large pot in the evening, leave it in the refrigerator overnight, and strain it in the morning; then you have a supply ready for the whole day. When cold-brewed, the tannin note is milder, while the fruit acidity remains clearer.

The 25 pyramid bags made of cornstarch are individually wrapped in cellulose, which is especially important for fruit pieces as they otherwise quickly lose their aroma. If you prefer it more citrusy, try the Green Lemon and Ginger, and for smaller quantities, the same blend is available as a pack of ten bags.

Why the hibiscus colors the cup red

What is called hibiscus in this blend is botanically the fleshy calyx that remains on the plant after it has bloomed and is then dried. It contains red pigments and a strong fruit acid, which is why it has long been considered a drink in its own right in North Africa and the Caribbean.

In the bag from Perch's Thehandel, it performs two tasks at once: it adds color to the glass and keeps the sweetness of the apple and quince in balance. It gives the infusion the subtle resistance that invites you to keep drinking, turning a friendly fruit tea into one with character.

You can find more fruity varieties from the Copenhagen range in the A.C. Perch's Thehandel collection.