New Tasting Notes
It seems that this tea puzzles me.
Once it was fine; once it was bad. And today, in advent calendar it tastes like something different and fine.
I have steeped all 5 grams western today morning and steeped those in 80°C water (a little colder, actually) for 2 minutes.
I have received a tasty cup with lots of fruity, tropical notes, which were pleasing to drink. As of now, writing this note much later, I can’t recall exact fruits. The base was a little rough though. While not exactly bad, it was a bit astringent and maybe a little bitter for me. But it was strongly prepared, that could be the cause.
Anyway, it was fine… though agian not a tea to keep in the cupboard.
Preparation
Adagio Advent Calendar Day 4
This was nice, with an earthy spicy flavor. I think my problem with these cinnamon rooibos teas is that I compare them to Good Earth’s Sweet and Spicy, and so far, nothing beats that one. So this is a perfectly good tea but I will not be ordering this one.
Adagio Advent Calendar Day 5
This was quite tart due to the hibiscus. I am NOT a fan of hibiscus because to me it is simply sour. Others may find the zing of hibiscus to be pleasantly tart.
I was able to finish most of the cup, but this will certainly not be a re-order for me.
Preparation
December Sipdown Challenge Prompt – a flavored green
I ordered some tea as Christmas gifts and threw in some small amounts of various teas that are new to me to add to our homemade advent to make it more exciting.
Ashman didn’t what we were drinking and after breakfast I asked if he liked it. He said that he did, and found it an unusual flavor profile for a green tea and felt it tasted like oatmeal cookies. I can see that!
I get mostly creamy vanilla and a boozy flavor. The color is sunshine yellow, which was welcome on this second heavily overcast day in a row.
While I liked it and don’t mind drinking the rest, I don’t think I would repurchase just because it is an unusual profile and not one I prefer on a green base. Glad to have tried and had something a little different for sure!
Day 6 of the Mariage Freres Advent 2025.
Polo Club Blue Sublime is an oolong tea, not usually my favourite but this one is so juicy and fruity it’s impossible not to like. The delicate strawberry-rhubarb flavours intertwine beautifully with the lightly vegetal, floral, and mineral notes of the oolong, and the whole thing is deliciously smooth and silky. Definitely one I’d have overlooked had it not been in the calendar.
Day 6 of the Dammann Freres Advent 2025.
Cinnamon Roll is a flavoured green tea. There’s some cinnamon and quite a roasty green tea, but I feel like the pastry aspect is missing, and there’s not enough sweetness to mimic icing. Not quite what I was expecting.
This one does actually taste of gingerbread biscuits, which is a pleasant surprise. I just wish the black tea base was a bit maltier and more robust, because as it stands it’s quite thin-tasting and that’s the only thing that lets this one down. The flavouring is on point.
Sad! That’s how I felt about Salted Caramel by Harney. The flavoring was nice, the tea base was sooo thin and weak. Maybe add a spoonful of a good black tea you like?
Advent tea!
This one is a boring cinnamon orange tea with not enough of either to overpower or make it an interesting cup. Good enough for a breakfast brew on a cold day, but not something I need in my cupboard.
Trying a couple of the Twinings Christmas blends today. This one smells so delicious even through the wrapper, minty and creamy as the description promises. Once brewed, however, I find this to be mostly peppermint with just a hint of vanilla. Barely there, really. I was hoping this one would be at least similar to, if not better than, Buttermint but unfortunately it’s not. Nice enough, but not quite what I was hoping.
2025 Bird & Blend Advent: Day 6
This would be a lackluster but inoffensive generic, semi-artificial “berries and cream” blend if not for the hibiscus, which takes it from lackluster to unpleasant. :( I feel like a Grinch griping about the B&B teas two days in a row, but come on… the hibiscus here feels so unnecessary! It just makes the whole thing way more tart than it needs to be.
Not a fan!
Flavors: Artificial, Berries, Cream, Hibiscus, Tart, Watery
Herbal and Decaf TTB, Summer 2025
Since my husband was feeding the baby this morning, I had a chance to sit in my rocking chair looking out the front window at yesterday’s snowfall. When I sat down and looked out, I was surprised to see a deer looking back at me! We looked at each other for a bit before she apparently decided I wasn’t a that and went back to nosing around the yard and nibbling at some of the greenery that hadn’t been covered by snow while I sipped my tea. Eventually, she ambled off into the trees.
Looking hereon Steepster, I see that this is a decidedly unpopular tea. I was a little surprised as I really enjoyed it! Hibiscus and orange dominate, which are both flavors I love. There are also notes of lemon and mango. There’s definitely a bit of citrus zest in the flavor as well, but not to much for my tastes. It makes a very pleasant and flavorful cold brew.
Flavors: Citrus Zest, Hibiscus, Lemon, Mango, Orange
What a magical morning! I am glad you had a tea you enjoyed with such a peaceful scene and a little break!
Sipdown
Another tea that went into the homemade advent for a sipdown! This is a lovely Earl Grey and it is on my Christmas wishlist, so it might be back on shelf soon. The bergamot is steong but natural, not a face punch. This is one you can get hooked on for breakfast and find yourself drinking it day after day.
Sipdown
We got a sipdown from last year’s batch but the new is already here. Hooray! One of Ashman’s favorite strawberry teas.
Sipdown
Finished the tin by including it in the homemade advent. Naturally smoky but not like a Lapsang, just a hint for backbone. Love it. Will repurchase for the umpteenth time.
Sipdown
This is a great breakfast tea and I can make three steeps to combine in the time that most teas make one steep. It is awesome for those days when I forget to start my tea and the food is ready to serve and I don’t want to wait eight to ten minutes for my tea to steep twice.
Malty, cherry wood, and doesn’t even need milk. Well done. I hope it will be back on shelf soon as I put it on my Christmas wishlist!
2025 Bird & Blend Advent: Day 5
Bleh. Leaving my rating of 55 from a few years ago, and I stand by my previous review: This is far too hibiscus-forward, yet also somehow weak? The mulling spices seem one-note and flat, not bold and fresh.
Flavors: Cinnamon, Clove, Hibiscus, Watery
Good for a black tea but didn’t really taste any flavors
Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 5
Hibiscus time! This is actually not bad though. It’s well-balanced, tart but not overly sour, very juicy in a forest fruits kind of way. It’s not necessarily specifically cranberry to me, but I think the flavor is in that general area. I wouldn’t go out and buy it, but as far as hibiscus blends go, it’s decent.
Flavors: Berries, Hibiscus, Juicy, Red Fruit, Sweet, Tangy, Tart
Preparation
Simpson & Vail Advent 2025 – Day #5
Another one I have been able to try recently! This sample seems to have a lot less cherry flavor than it did before… This one should be my jam in theory, but I feel it needs more smoke, more cherry, more drama overall to match Sherlock’s drama. I don’t mind revisiting this though. Speaking of Sherlock teas, I ALMOST placed a black friday Adagio order, but actually fell asleep and missed the sale as I was trying to decide. Probably for the best…
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 18 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 5 minute steep
Advent Swap tea!
I like that this isn’t too clove heavy, but there’s something at the end I can’t put my finger on. Just doesn’t finish well. Otherwise an enjoyable cuppa.
