Sonho Caribenho

The dried mango and papaya pieces actually hold up after steeping, so I get a real bite of fruit with every sip. The cinnamon comes through just enough to warm it up without drowning out the melon, and it’s become my afternoon go-to.

I was skeptical about fruit tea with cinnamon, but the melon and papaya really come through sweetly while the fennel and star anise keep it from being cloying. The dry mix smells like a tropical punch, and it brews up a deep ruby color that’s gorgeous in a glass mug.

The cinnamon adds a nice warmth that balances the tropical fruit notes without overpowering them. I was a bit surprised by the star anise at first, but it grew on me by the second cup. Brews into a beautiful deep red color from the hibiscus.