1498 Tasting Notes
Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer – Day 25
Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating today! I hope you are having a fun, drama-free day full of tasty treats and great gifts.
Gotta agree with Kelmishka on this one – I don’t understand how this peach-ginger blend is supposed to be gingersnap-y. It’s pleasant! I just feel like it’s more suited to a summer cold brew than a winter cookie vibe. Very candy-like peach with just a hint of ginger at the end.
I’m so glad I did the advent calendar exchange this year! AJRimmer included a lot of fun, interesting, thoughtful blends. Thank you AJ!
Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer – Day 24
Ooh, I’d wanted to try this one. Clementine – check. Creamy vanilla note – check. It’s good hot, but even better as a tea soda. And now I want some fresh clementines…
Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer – Day 23
Can’t remember the last time I had panettone, but it’s basically fruitcake, right? This blend definitely leads with orange and cranberry flavors. There’s no actual cranberry in here so I assume that’s the schisandra berries making themselves known – I don’t know what schisandra berries actually taste like. What really impresses me here though is the rich bready, cakey note that comes in at the end of the sip and lingers long after. I’d love to see that flavor combined with vanilla, maple, and cinnamon…
Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer – Day 22
Oat milk latte. This just tastes like crystallized ginger. Which is a snack that I quite enjoy, so actually that’s fine! But I’m not picking up on the other flavors. Perhaps the flavors would be clearer without the oat milk?
Plum Deluxe Hanukkah Sampler (caffeinated) – Day 8
Last tea in this sampler is called “Festive Flame Black.” It’s a cranberry/cinnamon/orange blend. The cinnamon in this one is quite strong. I think most people would find it imbalanced, but I love love love cinnamon so this is a winner for me. Cinnamon up front, with the cranberry and orange sweetness coming in mid-sip. It’s more balanced hot, so that’s probably the best way to prepare it.
Plum Deluxe Hanukkah Sampler (caffeine-free) – Night 8
Last tea of this sampler is a Peach Butterscotch rooibos blend. It’s a candy-like peach flavor with a really nice, creamy butterscotch flavor coming in halfway through the sip. One of my favorites from the whole box and a great way to end it.
I’ve been getting the Plum Deluxe samplers for a few years and I always enjoy them. It’s a good combo of new blends and returning favorites. I don’t love every single one, but there are blends that I do deeply enjoy and few, if any, that are actually unpleasant to drink. My one complaint remains that the sample pouches are a staticky plastic that leaf always inevitably sticks to. Annoying, but the merits outweigh the annoyance and I’ll probably get this again next year.
Plum Deluxe Hanukkah Sampler (caffeinated) – Day 7
Playing the “how did this tea get its name game” with today’s blend: Menorah Bright. My theory is that it’s because the blend has nine ingredients (not counting the base teas and natural flavor), corresponding to the nine candles on a menorah. This is very fruit-heavy, so I thought it’d be good iced and did an overnight cold brew. The overall impression here is “fruit punch.” Apple, orange, lemon, mango, and a hint of strawberry come through at various points in the sip. I really expected this to be too muddled given how many different fruits are in it, but it’s surprisingly not at all. More like the flavors take turns. I can see this being really refreshing on a hot day!
Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer – Day 21
Mmm, another comfy cozy dessert-y tea. AJ made a note that she thought a tea reminiscent of hot chocolate would be perfect for the season, and I agree. Especially with oat milk. Just wish I had some mini marshmallows to throw in! I’ve seen the notes about the 52teas hot cocoa/marshmallow blend and am looking forward to trying that one. At this point, I’m saving the 52teas advent to brighten up January. Which means it won’t be a surprise, but on the other hand it’s like I’m getting a preview of what to get excited about!
Anyway, this tea. Very chocolate-y. I didn’t notice an almond/marzipan flavor before looking at the tea description. But now that I’ve seen the description, I do get a hint of marzipan at the end of the sip. That might just be psychosomatic though. Whatever, this is delicious and a very easy drinker. Not getting much astringency from the base – just a bit of dryness at the end.
Plum Deluxe Hanukkah Sampler (caffeinated) – Day 6
Didn’t take notes while drinking this, so working from memory. But I remember really liking this one, particularly the distinct pecan note, cinnamon, and sweetness. This is the kind of dessert-y tea that makes me feel all comfy cozy.
