New Tasting Notes
2025 Steepster Advent Swap: Day 2
What a throwback! I haven’t had good ol’ Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride in at least a decade, possibly more like 15 years. Man, I used to love all the Celestial Seasonings holiday blends, especially this one, Nutcracker Sweet, and Candy Cane Lane. <3
Today I’m not getting much flavor, to be honest, even though I used two tea bags. It’s a little bit musty and a little bit sweet, with some very faint vanilla sugar notes and a distinct chalkiness.
So fun to have this again!
Flavors: Chalky, Musty, Sweet, Vanilla
knittingopera Swap Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 2
Theme: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Song: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
One of Marjorie’s own custom blends! Honestly, I wasn’t a huge fan. This has a bit too much of Adagio’s black tea in it for me, which I don’t enjoy. It tends to have all the downsides of Ceylon but not a lot of flavor, and it upsets my stomach. Otherwise, it’s mildly pumpkin spiced with an undertone of rooibos. I don’t notice the caramel or butterscotch? Just not a good match for me today.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=O1x-hOOrl5E&si=Q4_T0I0v39IoQWUx
Flavors: Acidic, Astringent, Brisk, Metallic, Pumpkin Spice, Spices, Tannic
Preparation
i used to loveeee this tea and still do but trying it without any milk was a bit of an odd experience… it just tastes very strongly of mint. once you add milk, though (a touch of oat in my case) it has a really lovely, festive, candy-cane-y taste. had it in my green & brown mug while drawing up my 4-page tort outline.
Herbal and Decaf Traveling Tea Box, Summer 2025.
Goji Lime. Basilur.
Paper tea bag with a string-tag produced a deep red-brown infusion. Pleasant goji and lime aroma, with notes of hibiscus and orange. The flavor of this tisane did have a modest tartness, with a forward goji and orange, and added complexity of lime, in a background of tame hibiscus with notes of rose hip and something sweet— possibly the stevia leaf? I have never had goji fruit before, but there is something sweetly fruity in this tisane that I really like! When sweetened with sugar the taste transformed into a slightly tart fruit salad with notes of juicy fruit chewing gum! Gosh, it’s really tasty and difficult not to swill quickly! The aroma was long-lasting, as was the finish, wherein the lime notes re-emerged. Basilur did a great blending job here, and I can recommend and give a rating of 91.
Flavors: Fruity, Goji Berry, Hibiscus, Lime, Orange, Rosehip, Sweet
Preparation
Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer – Day 2
Ooh, another tea from a company I’m fond of, yay! The raspberry here is just the right level of tart and not particularly sweet, and it pairs nicely with the mint. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this was great after a big lunch. Even better as a tea soda. Very happy with this one.
Advent Calendar – Day 2
Next year I really need to have an unflavored advent calendar, because it’s so nice to have a break from all the flavor-y things ha ha. This is a lovely vegetal and very nutty sencha with great umami from the added matcha. Really tasty spinach and edamame notes, and a touch of refreshing astringency on the tail end. It just feels so restorative…
Flavors: Beany, Butter, Creamy, Cut Grass, Edamame, Fresh, Green, Nuts, Roasted Nuts, Smooth, Sweet, Toasty, Umami, Vegetal
Preparation
Casting Whimsy Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 2
This is nice! To me, it’s more of an orange spice tea than cranberry orange, as I don’t notice the cranberry at all. But that makes sense, given it has orange flavor but only dried cranberries. It’s very mellow, but not weak. Orange is the strongest flavor, bolstered by a touch of sweet cinnamon. Not sure what kind of black tea this is, but it has a good balance of briskness and flavor.
Flavors: Acidic, Brisk, Cinnamon, Citrus, Orange, Sweet, Tannic
Preparation
Stash Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 2
Toasted Vanilla Caramel
This is very toasty indeed, it has a very dark burnt sugar sort of flavor to it. I don’t notice the vanilla at all, and the burnt sugar paired with a fairly brisk base is honestly a bit much. It’s not awful, but not one I would want to drink again.
Rating: 55
Flavors: Astringent, Brisk, Burnt Sugar, Caramelized Sugar, Tannic
Preparation
It seems we had this tea in the very same time with Leafhopper but I am writing a note a little later, as I went distracted a bit. Also we did very similar steeping parameters. It would be fun to prepare it together and share the impressions with each other right away.
Well, I have to agree that vendor’s notes about aromas are just right. Honey, fig, little smoke, wood. I would add another description and that would be tobacco after making the leaves wet.
The flavours are pretty much similar and it was nice and fruity and while I couldn’t point out the fruit on the first sight, it was the fig. I need to have more experience with this fruit apparently. It was very round and sweet, however a bit longer steep turned it a little drying, exactly how Leafhopper notices too.
In conclusion, it was very tasty and enjoyable tea from a little less common terroir of production and maybe just because that I am biased — and raising a rating because of that. I have used all 5 grams for 100 ml gaiwan.
Preparation
I don’t think I would have named the fruit as fig if I hadn’t read the vendor’s description. I’ve tasted that note in Yunnan black teas and have had trouble identifying it.
I agree, it would be fun to prepare the teas the same way. I’ll look at tomorrow’s tea and let you know how I’ll steep it.
Okay. How about 195F, 250 ml, and 2, 1.5, and 3 minutes? Since I don’t have a 250 ml teapot, I’ll need to use my Finum infuser in a 250 ml cup, but it should work. What do you think?
Sounds good to me. I will use my plastic infuser I use usually. And yep, you’re right… I wouldn’t recognize exactly fig either, but seems to be apt. I took both teas by now and it seems like an interesting combination. But what’s there? You all will see tomorrow!
Will you use all 5 grams at once?
I was actually thinking about that. If I use 4 g, I’ll have 1 g left, which is not much to work with. I did the math and it looks like the ratio is 1 g of leaf to 62.5 ml of water, so I think 2.5 g should be good for 150 ml. That would allow me to do two sessions. Did you say you already drank the tea for tomorrow?
This exchange is delightful!
No, I haven’t got it yet. I was just thinking how to split up the amount we have here. 150 ml will be a little tricky to get, but not unreal. Let’s do it that way: 150 ml / 2.5g / 120s, 90s and 180 seconds steeps.
Herbal and Decaf Traveling Tea Box, Summer 2025.
Passion Fruit Orange. Basilur.
Tea bag with string-tag. Pleasant orange aroma, with notes of hibiscus. The flavor of this tisane did have a modest tartness, with a forward orange and background of tame hibiscus with notes of rose hip and something— possibly passion fruit? Overall, it was nicely balanced and enjoyable to drink. The aroma was long-lasting, while the aftertaste exited the stage quickly. Basilur did well here, and I can recommend and give a rating if 78. The juicy orange flavor improved and intensified with a scoop of sugar and as the infusion cooled.
Flavors: Juicy, Orange, Passion Fruit, Rosehip, Tart
Preparation
Day 2 of my AliasHali advent
Since I put together the advent Ashman and I are drinking for breakfast out of mostly teas we already owned, I wasn’t planning to review them each day, but this one is a surprise and I haven’t had this tea in ten years!
My experience this time is quite unlike a decade ago. The last note I made said the citrus was an aroma rather than a taste, but this time there is a ton of citrus taste. It is very good and made several steeps to enjoy on this rainy and gray December day.
AC Perch 2025 Advent Day 2: Chingwo
I can smell the most subtle hint of smoke in both the dry and steeped tea. There’s no mention of this in the notes. The tea itself has some sweetness, but the smoke overtakes it for me (I suspect strongly this is definitely a me issue).
Lex gave this one an F (gross, no, never again) XD.
This could very possibly be my first tea from Laos. I know One River and maybe The Steeping Room sometimes carry tea from this region, but I don’t think I’ve ever tried any. I steeped 5 g of leaf in 120 ml of 195F water for 45, 60, 75, 90, 120, and 240 seconds, plus some long, uncounted steeps.
The dry aroma of these long, dark leaves matches the vendor’s description: honey, fig, smoke, malt, and wood. I get notes of malt, wood, honey, fig, smoke, grain, and caramel. My relatively long 45-second steep brought out some tannins, even though I was using five grams instead of my usual six. Also, fig is a great description for the round, fruity notes I often find in these types of teas. The next steep has hints of fig, but more notes of honey, hay, malt, and especially wood. It’s a bit drying if held in the mouth for any length of time. Steeps three and four are still round and fruity, with some apple hints as the tea cools. Subsequent steeps feature honey, malt, hay, wood, tannins, earth, and smoke. The tea fades into earth, malt, smoke, tannins, and wood.
I could easily mistake this for a Yunnan black tea. Its rustic, fairly uncomplicated profile was pleasant on this cold winter day. It got a bit too drying for me on occasion, but the flavours were nicely balanced and those leaves were beautiful.
Flavors: Apple, Caramel, Drying, Earth, Fig, Grain, Hay, Honey, Malt, Round, Smoke, Tannin, Wood
Preparation
Pocked this up on sale while Christmas shopping yesterday. The kids like chamomile tea and prefer the convenience of bagged tea, so it made sense to grab it even though I have some loose in the cupboard.
Unfortunately, the teabag had a tiny hole, and the flavor is bland and slightly grassy with a faintly metallic finish. To be fair, as it is on sale it may be old, but I suspect it would never be my favorite chamomile even if fresher. The kids don’t seem to mind so I will leave it for them and keep the good stuff for myself!
Flavors: Chamomile, Grass, Metallic
I know no Italian to recognize what the name means; but outer wrapper design is very nice, showing white calla lily on the left side and orange lilium on the right side, both on dark purple (Bordeaux) coloured background. It is not looking festive, but very nice nevertheless.
The sachet in was a little bigger than yesterday I suppose? There was nice amount of black tea, two, pretty big, pieces of orange peel and rose petals. Smmells quite floral with citrusy notes.
After a session I found out they used Chinese and Indian black tea and the base was very tasty indeed; with orange notes of peel as well as the notes of the floral elements, especially when cooled. While I generally enjoy more robust teas, I think it would clash with the rose? And I just keep wondering, if there is other floral aromas that I just could not detect?
Preparation
I’m going to guess Garden over the Wall? Ha ha, but I don’t know Italian either. I have started learning some though, as I’m going to Napoli for Christmas!
Description on the backside of the outer wrapping: “Blend of black tea with notes of bergamot and red fruits, inspired by the secred garden of Helmsley Castle in the heart of Yorkshire, the original setting of the Secred Garden novel.”
I feel uneducated. Helmsley Castle? Never heard of it. Secret Garden — maybe I heard it, but haven’t read it.
And bergamot and red fruits? Where they are in tea?
knittingopera Swap Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 2 (my pick)
Theme: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Song: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Ingrid Michaelson
For our swap advent, we alternated between more open-ended prompts, and specific songs. So today is a song day! I chose this tea because, even though it’s called Pumpkin Spice, really it reminds me more of eggnog. It has a strong nutmeg flavor, which along with the creaminess, is quite noggy. And since this song is about a holiday party, the classic boozy Christmas beverage seemed perfect!
Although I will say, this cup is actually giving pumpkin pie. Oh well, that’s mentioned in the song as well! I’m getting a bit more of the allspice and ginger I think. Still tasty!
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=7E3rKDoPO3M&si=y9FK36ygXRgJC2_E
Alongside, I’m enjoying Bonne Maman’s Fig Cardamom Spread on a leftover Thanksgiving roll. It love fig, so it’s nice. The cardamom is fairly subtle. When I try it plain, there’s an odd almost ashy note to it? But it’s not noticeable on the roll.
Flavors: Allspice, Brisk, Creamy, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pumpkin Spice, Spices, Sweet
Preparation
Simpson & Vail Advent – Day #1
I am already late on the advents this year! oh no! I get to join in the advent fun this year, as I WON an advent directly from Simpson and Vail in a lovely giveaway. I really appreciate that. Thanks so much, S&V! The first tea is one that I have never had before, so that is exciting. (I am such a fan of S&V that I was a bit worried it would be teas that I had previously tried… but luckily they have SO MANY tea options, that can hardly actually happen.) And to start with a National Park blend! I don’t think I have tried any of those yet, but definitely have wanted to. Sadly, this one reminds me a little bit of their Mary Shelley blend, in which the flavoring is blackberry and isn’t really my thing, as it tastes like chalky vitamins to my tastebuds. HOWEVER, the flavor here should be huckleberry with no blackberry in sight. It almost tastes the same to me though. Maybe the bearberry leaf tastes like blackberry leaf? And some of the other ingredients are unique (birch bark, juniper), but I’m not really tasting them under whatever type of berry is here. Possibly this isn’t as bad as the Mary Shelley blend, but I expected more here…
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 3 minute steep
I didn’t realize anyone else had the same problem with berry flavor that I do, LOL! It makes me think of berry Tums… XD
Sometimes berry flavor is well done, but other times, it’s just all chewy vitamins to me. :)
Same! And S&V’s blackberry is a chalky one to me as well.
I won their summer giveaway of a few tins of their new iced tea flavors… in typical fashion, I haven’t gotten around to drinking them yet!
ha, nice. The tea in tins should last longer though!
Day 2 of the Mariage Freres Advent 2025.
Royal Purple is a Kenyan tea with a beautiful amethyst-hued liquor. Taste is similar to some oolongs; very mineral, reminiscent of wet rock, and in a way almost grapey or wine-like. Quite a savoury tea, but with hints of soft fruit (particularly apricot) also. Definitely not one I’d have picked out for myself, but definitely intriguing and a varietal I could be tempted to explore more in the future.
2025 Bird & Blend Advent: Day 2
It’s grey and rainy outside, but also quite cold — it’s one of those days where if the temperature would drop just a couple degrees, we’d be getting a gorgeous snowstorm. Instead, it’s just nasty cold rain.
Tea is, of course, the antidote to the rain-when-it-should-be-snow blues. I wasn’t super enthused when I opened today’s box, because I don’t care for bergamot. But! I actually and legitimately like this one! It’s citrus-y and pleasantly tannic, with some lovely creamy vanilla notes rounding it out. I am truly enjoying drinking it while I lounge on the couch reading. I’m soaking up my last month of post-grad-school, post-internship freedom before starting a new job as a therapist in January, and I intend to fill it with lots more tea and books and crafting projects. I’ve got a snuggly beagle to my left, and although I wish my little fuzzball pup were still here and curled up to my right, I am generally content.
Flavors: Bergamot, Citrus, Creamy, Tannic, Vanilla
Herbal and Decaf TTB
Basilur definitely makes the best rooibos blends I have tasted! I grabbed this one Bec my stomach was feeling a little off this morning. Probably too many sweets this weekend combined with the stress of travel, Christmas shopping, and a teething baby! This was a good choice to settle my stomach. It’s a mild tea, with distinct flavors of orange, ginger, and to me, toasted rice. Not quite what I expected and I am not sure where the rice flavor is coming from, but very enjoyable!
Flavors: Ginger, Orange, Toasted Rice
Preparation
This is an interesting tea that I am happy I tried. Until now, I have had the sticky rice herb mixed in with pu-erh, but not yet with green tea. In a sense it should work, green tea can be quite vegetal and savoury. And it does, but still this particular blend would not be one I would buy again I think.
It emphasizes nutty and floral aspects in the aroma, while the taste is bitter, vegetal and sweet with a decent umami and complemented by this curious rice-like touch from the herb.
