The clever thing here is what Dragonfly leaves out. Most supermarket berry teas lean hard on hibiscus, which is what gives them that sharp, almost sour tang. This one skips it, so the raspberry and orchard apple come through soft and mellow with no acidic bite. Raspberry leaf gives an earthy, grounded base, fennel and orange peel lift it, and a whisper of cinnamon warms the finish. It is a gentle, caffeine free cup, genuinely good as a wind down before bed where a tart fruit tea would be too lively. The trade off is that it is restrained: if you want a bold, jammy berry hit, this will read as too quiet for you. As a calm evening fruit infusion that does not need sugar, it is well judged, and the organic sourcing keeps the fruit tasting like fruit.
Lee Samuel Tucker · Curator · teas.co.uk
The full picture of Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry, 20 Tea Bags 34g in one page. Who makes it, how it is brewed, what your £4.50 actually buys, and why this tea earned a spot on the curator shelf.
Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry is the orchard berry herbal in the Dragonfly Soil Association organic range, built on raspberry leaf and rosehip with orchard apple, hibiscus and a touch of cinnamon, picked into the Teas.co.uk curator selection as the soft red berry alternative to the deeper fruit Pukka or Twinings berry herbal blends.
The raspberry leaf and rosehip do the structural work, giving the cup its rosy colour and a soft natural tartness, while the orchard apple sits on top as the sweetening fruit layer, the hibiscus adds the deep red liquor and the touch of cinnamon brings a faint warming spice without ever dominating the berry direction. No added sugar, no artificial colour, the rosy tint comes from the hibiscus and rosehip themselves.
Caffeine status: naturally zero caffeine, suits any time including late evening. Taste profile: soft raspberry leaf up front balanced by rosehip and orchard apple sweetness and a faint cinnamon finish. Lifestyle: Soil Association organic, vegan, vegetarian, naturally gluten free and sugar free. Planet: twenty plant based, plastic free pyramid bags in fully recyclable packaging from a UK family tea company.
A twenty bag Dragonfly household pack at an accessible price for the organic certified tier, the cup brews equally well hot or cold (two pyramids in 500ml cold water overnight gives a clean iced tea base needing no sugar), and a sensible store cupboard fruit tea for the household. The Soil Association organic certification runs from the European hibiscus and rosehip growers through to the UK packing operation.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry, 20 Tea Bags 34g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Texture & appearance
Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry pours a clear deep red with a tart fruit aromatic that signals fruit infusion cup. Brewed 5-7 minutes the cup delivers bright rosehip tartness up front, soft raspberry sweetness on the mid palate, and a clean berry tail finish that holds across the cup.
Mouthfeel is light and refreshing, naturally caffeine free, no added sugar, no synthetic flavourings. The rosehip provides vitamin C structure while the raspberry pieces lift the cup above plain rosehip infusion. Soil Association certified organic.
Best drunk plain (the fruit pieces add sweetness) or iced over a hot afternoon. Storage: cool, dry, sealed, fruit pieces are humidity sensitive. Cotton stitched bags with no plastic glue.
Four dimension profile
Mellow Fruit4/5
Soft raspberry and orchard apple sweetness without the sharp tartness.
Leafy Poise4/5
An earthy and supportive raspberry leaf base for a grounded mouthfeel.
Herbal Brightness3/5
A gentle aromatic lift from fennel and orange peel.
Spicy Depth2/5
A subtle warming finish from cinnamon that lingers on the palate.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the taste and texture of Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry, 20 Tea Bags 34g, please cite teas.co.uk.
About DragonflyEST. 1988
Dragonfly was one of the first brands to put properly organic herbal tea on a mainstream British shelf, and it has stayed unflashy about it for over three decades. Established in England in 1988, it built its name on single ingredient and very simple herbal infusions to Soil Association organic certification, when organic herbal tea was still a niche concern. The philosophy has never changed: a genuinely good rooibos or peppermint does not need dressing up, and if the botanical is grown well and not adulterated, the cup speaks for itself. That restraint is unusual in a category that competes on packaging and wellness claims, and it is why Dragonfly became the quiet benchmark for what single origin organic herbal tea should taste like.
The range is the essentials done properly, pure rooibos, pure peppermint, camomile, green tea and a small set of clean blends, all certified organic, no artificial flavourings, no filler leaf. For our shelf Dragonfly is the British retail benchmark for honest single ingredient organic herbal tea. The rooibos is the afternoon cup to drink when you want something caffeine free that still tastes of something, and the pure peppermint outperforms flashier, pricier rivals because there is nothing in the bag but leaf. It carries less brand polish than Pukka and a deliberately narrower range, and that is the trade. What you get back is purity and consistency, a brand that has spent thirty years proving the simplest version, done properly and certified rather than merely claimed, is usually the best one on the shelf.
What the brand is actually doing
Dragonfly is a pioneer in genuinely sustainable UK herbal tea, with organic and ethical credentials that pre date the supermarket eco shelf by decades rather than being bolted on as a marketing afterthought. Every product is Soil Association certified organic, the tea bags are folded and stitched with cotton thread rather than sealed with plastic glue, and the cardboard outer cartons are FSC certified from responsibly managed forests and printed with vegetable based inks. The brand was an early participant in the World Land Trust Carbon Balanced Publication scheme and works directly with smallholder growers in South Africa, India and China rather than buying through anonymous commodity channels.
Curator says, Lee on Dragonfly
"The clever thing here is what Dragonfly leaves out. Most supermarket berry teas lean hard on hibiscus, which is what gives them that sharp, almost sour tang. This one skips it, so the raspberry and orchard apple come through soft and mellow with no acidic bite. Raspberry leaf gives an earthy, grounded base, fennel and orange peel lift it, and a whisper of cinnamon warms the finish. It is a gentle, caffeine free cup, genuinely good as a wind down before bed where a tart fruit tea would be too lively. The trade off is that it is restrained: if you want a bold, jammy berry hit, this will read as too quiet for you. As a calm evening fruit infusion that does not need sugar, it is well judged, and the organic sourcing keeps the fruit tasting like fruit."
BBruce GinsbergFounder, master tea blender · 1988“I grew up watching my grandfather work the Rooibos bush in the Cederberg and I saw what real estate direct tea looked like, leaf you could trace back to the plot. When I launched Dragonfly in London in 1988 the supermarket herbal shelf was flavoured bag novelty and nothing more. I wanted to build a brand that did the boring work, full organic certification, single ingredient honesty, and cotton stitched bags with no plastic glue, because that is what good tea actually looks like.”
GThe Ginsberg FamilyFamily stewards, tea heritage since the early 1900s · Today“The family has been in tea and Rooibos for over a century. Dragonfly is a UK brand but the heritage is South African, the philosophy is slow, and the standard is set by what we would happily drink at home rather than what tests well in supermarket focus groups. Every box leaves our warehouse audited organic, cotton stitched, carbon balanced, with the leaf inside the leaf we would pick ourselves.”
Timeline
1904Hall family pioneers RooibosH.L. Hall (Bruce Ginsberg's maternal grandfather) plants one of the first commercial Rooibos estates in the Cederberg region of South Africa.
1988Bruce Ginsberg founds DragonflyBruce launches Dragonfly Tea in London, one of the first UK brands fully committed to Soil Association organic certification.
2010Slow Tea philosophyDragonfly formalises its Slow Tea philosophy: single ingredient blends, cotton stitched bags, no plastic glue.
2020Family owned, organic throughoutFamily owned with direct relationships to smallholder growers across South Africa, India and China.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference Dragonfly brand information, please cite teas.co.uk.
Recipes built around this tea
Six curator tested ways to use Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry, 20 Tea Bags 34g. Tap any card to open the full recipe with timings, measures and method.
The outer layer is aromatic: a caffeine free rooibos infusion with dragonfly sweet rosehip, raspberry. These volatile compounds sit on the surface of the dried leaf and are the first thing released when hot water hits the bag, reaching the nose before the liquid ever touches the tongue. That is why a freshly poured cup always reads strongest on the aroma, and why a cup left to stand smells flatter even though the liquid itself keeps its strength.
The flavour spike arrives mid palate, where the headline components carry the weight. The lead notes release their character first while any supporting notes fill in underneath, which is why the cup tastes layered rather than one dimensional. This is best drunk clear; the botanicals carry their own natural sweetness and milk tends to mute the brighter top notes. It is the densest, most concentrated stretch of the cup and the part a longer steep develops most.
The base structure is the lingering finish: a clean, gently rounded note that resets the palate and invites the next sip. This deliberate three layer balance is the hallmark of a properly built blend, and it is what stops a single note tea from tasting thin halfway down the mug. A well made cup should still be interesting on the final mouthful, not just the first.
Getting it right in the cup. Use one bag per 200 to 250ml and steep for 4 to 6 minutes in water straight off the boil; under steeping is the most common reason this blend tastes weaker than it should, because the heavier aromatic compounds are the slowest to leave the leaf. Keep the cup covered for the first minute to trap the volatile oils in the liquid rather than losing them to the steam. Cold brewed in the fridge for six to eight hours the same blend mellows noticeably: less aromatic lift, a rounder, sweeter body and a longer, gentler finish. Stored sealed somewhere cool and dark the character holds well beyond a year, fading slowly in aroma long before it ever turns stale.
How water and temperature change it. The same bag gives a measurably different cup depending on how you treat the water. Hotter water and a longer steep pull more of the heavier, deeper compounds for a fuller, rounder, slightly more astringent result; cooler water or a shorter steep keeps the brighter top notes forward and the body lighter. Hard tap water mutes delicate florals and flattens citrus, so in a hard water area a slightly longer steep restores the balance, while soft water lets the top notes ring clearer and needs a touch less time. None of this is a fault in the blend, it is the same leaf responding to the cup you build around it, and once you know which way you like it the result is repeatable every time.
Ingredients & pack
Ingredient
Proportion
What it brings
Raspberry Leaf
30%
Organic leafy base traditionally valued for its soothing and supportive properties.
Rosehip
20%
Organic tart anchor providing natural antioxidants and a gentle tangy structure.
Apple
present
Organic fruit pieces included for a mellow sweetness and balanced mouthfeel.
Fennel
present
Organic herb providing a subtle aniseed lift to enhance the fruit profile.
Pack: Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry, 20 Tea Bags 34g; caffeine free infusion. Certified organic. Best within 18 months of the pack date.
Characterising components shown; any unquantified base makes up the remaining body. Globally sourced, blended and packed to brand specification.
Sourcing & blend. Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry, 20 Tea Bags 34g is put together by Dragonfly, the organic infusion specialist. Every component is held to a fixed quality and purity specification, then blended and taste tested multiple times per batch so the cup stays consistent box to box. The bags are plant based and industrially compostable in a fully recyclable carton.
What's in Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry, 20 Tea Bags 34g, and what isn't:
In: a caffeine free rooibos infusion with dragonfly sweet rosehip, raspberry, with nothing in the bag but the listed components and any infusion base.
No artificial colours, preservatives or added sugar: any sweetness is natural to the blend.
Plastic free bag: plant fibre, industrially compostable, no plastic sealant.
Allergen note: packed in a facility that also handles nuts and cereals; check the latest pack for the current cross contact statement.
Nutrition per cup
Nutrient
Per cup
% RI
Energy
4 kJ / 1 kcal
<1%
Fat
0g
0%
Carbohydrate
0.2g
<1%
of which sugars
0g
0%
Protein
0.2g
<1%
Salt
0g
0%
Caffeine
Caffeine free
n/a
Per 200ml cup, no milk, no sugar.
Caffeine vs other drinks
Decaf coffee
4mg
Green tea
30mg
Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and
0mg
Instant coffee
80mg
Brewed filter coffee
95mg
Energy drink (250ml)
80mg
This tea: Caffeine free per 200ml cup.
Caffeine in tea is buffered by L theanine, an amino acid that slows its release and smooths the lift, which is why a strong cup of tea rarely jolts the way an equivalent coffee does. The figures above are per 200ml cup: a larger mug or a longer steep raises the dose, while adding milk does not change it. Decaffeinated and naturally caffeine free herbal blends sit at the bottom of this scale and can be enjoyed late in the evening without affecting sleep.
Allergens, dietary & safety
🌱VeganNo animal derived ingredients.🌾Gluten freeNaturally gluten free.😴Caffeine freeSafe at any hour.🍃0 kcalNo sugar, no fat in plain cup.🤰PregnancyUK guide: 200mg caffeine/day max.👶ChildrenServe cooled; caregiver judgement applies.
Manufactured in a facility that handles multiple tea types. Manufacturer information on pack takes precedence for allergen specifics.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference the ingredients, nutrition and science of Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry, 20 Tea Bags 34g, please cite teas.co.uk.
Questions about Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry, 20 Tea Bags 34g
The questions buyers ask most. If yours isn't here, ask us directly. We reply within 4 hours, Monday to Friday.
Curated from real customer messages
🌱
Is Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry caffeine free? Most asked+
Yes, this is a 100 per cent naturally caffeine free fruit and botanical infusion. It contains no tea leaves or stimulants, making it an ideal hydrating ritual for any time of day, including late evening before bed.
🌱
What are the main ingredients and are they organic? +
This blend is a complex matrix of 100 per cent certified organic ingredients. It features a nourishing base of Raspberry Leaf (30%) and Rosehip (20%), expertly balanced with Apple, Fennel, Cinnamon, Orange Peel, and Blackberry Leaf for a rich, fruity depth.
🌱
How do I brew rosehip and raspberry tea for maximum flavour? +
To fully release the berry aromatics and extract the Vitamin C, pour freshly boiled water over one tea bag and steep for 3 to 5 minutes. For a more robust and jammy profile, you can extend the steep to 6 minutes. Always cover your mug to lock in the essential fruit oils.
🌱
Is the flavour profile of this organic tea sweet or tart? +
It offers a perfectly balanced sweet tart experience. The rosehip provides a bright and tangy acidity, which is softened by the herbal sweetness of Blackberry Leaf and the rounded, orchard notes of Apple. It is a clean and refreshing organic berry tea.
🌱
Does this tea offer specific traditional uses? +
This infusion is a functional source of plant based antioxidants. Rosehip is traditionally valued for its high Vitamin C content and antioxidant properties, while raspberry leaf tea is often associated with women's everyday and general daily vitality.
🌱
Can I drink this rosehip and raspberry tea iced? +
Absolutely. For a refreshing fruit iced tea, brew two bags in a small amount of hot water for 5 minutes, then pour over a full glass of ice. This flash chills the botanical compounds to lock in the vibrant summer berry flavour.
🌱
Is the packaging plastic free and sustainable? +
Yes. These organic tea bags are plastic free and fully home compostable. Dragonfly uses an organic cotton stitch design for their bags, ensuring that no glue or polypropylene plastic enters your cup or the environment.
🌱
Where can I buy Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry in the UK? +
You can purchase this premium organic blend directly from our online store TEAS.co.uk. We offer fast UK shipping to ensure your caffeine free tea supplies are always topped up.
🌱
How do I brew Dragonfly Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry? +
Pour just boiled water (95-100°C) over one pyramid bag in a 250ml mug. Steep 5-7 minutes for the hibiscus, rosehip and natural raspberry character to fully develop. Drink black; the natural fruit sweetness needs no added sugar. Excellent iced: 2 bags in 500ml cold water for 4-6 hours yields a vivid pink red summer drink. Works particularly well in mocktail builds.
🌱
What gives the cup its vivid red colour? +
The vivid pink red colour comes from the natural anthocyanin pigments in hibiscus flower combined with rosehip pieces. No artificial colourings anywhere in the blend, Soil Association organic certification prohibits synthetic colourings. The colour intensity itself is a signal of proper hibiscus content; pale colour fruit infusions typically have lower hibiscus content and rely on flavourings for the fruit character.
🌱
How long does the box last after opening? +
The plastic free pyramid bags inside the recyclable cardboard box stay fresh for approximately 24 months from the manufacture date, with peak fruit aromatic character within 12 months. Hibiscus and rosehip are among the most storage stable herbal ingredients. Re seal the inner pouch tabs after each use; store away from direct sunlight.
Source:Teas.co.uk,
the UK independent tea specialist in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
If you reference questions and answers about Dragonfly Organic Sweet Rosehip and Raspberry, 20 Tea Bags 34g, please cite teas.co.uk.
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