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Cameron B. drank Vanilla Sunrise by Zappyo

3986 tasting notes

Yay, I finally got my hands on a Zappyo tea! I’ve been wanting to try them since their launch last year, but just never got around to ordering for whatever reason, shipping cost maybe? They do have a free shipping threshold, but I would need to buy 4-5 bags to reach it, and at 70g each that’s quite a commitment ha ha. So I was excited to find this flavor on Amazon, being sold directly from Zappyo.

I couldn’t recall whether green maté prefers cooler water, so I kept it to a conservative 185°F and steeped for 5 minutes. I will say I’m surprised by how subtle the flavoring is here. The orange is definitely there, getting some tartness from the added hibiscus. The vanilla pokes its head out a little at the end of the sip, adding a nice creamy aspect. But really the strongest note is the yerba maté itself, which has a lovely soft earthy flavor that reminds me of freshly fallen leaves and sweet dry grass, perhaps with a touch of hay. It tastes healthy, but in a good way.

Overall it’s more soft and subtle than I was expecting! But I do find yerba maté delicious so I’m happy that it gets to shine here. The orange and vanilla do give just a touch of a creamsicle vibe, and make it taste slightly sweet without the addition of sugar. The hibiscus is very well restrained, which I appreciate. The more I sip, the more I like it.

Definitely interested in trying more flavors in the future, namely the lemon and mint versions! But first, sipdowns! :P

Oh, I almost forgot, I thought I would try participating in Mastress Alita’s sipdown challenge! So this is my “tea from a Canadian company”!

Flavors: Creamy, Dry Grass, Dry Leaves, Earthy, Hay, Herbaceous, Hibiscus, Orange, Smooth, Sweet, Tart, Vanilla

Preparation

185 °F / 85 °C 5 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron! I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January Sipdowns: 6
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 6

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I’ll also often use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however. I also enjoy maté, rooibos, and honeybush. I love matcha and drink it often! Fruit tisanes are not a favorite, but I’m always willing to try them.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially passionfruit, mango, and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura, chamomile, and elderflower. Osmanthus is also a favorite of mine. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing