14 Tasting Notes
I received this with Sleigh Ride and Santa’s Secret as a Christmas package. Sleigh Ride was the clear winner of the bunch and Santa’s Secret was the loser; which put Merry Cranberry as the silver medal. I didn’t find this tea to be as tart as sleigh ride and didn’t detect an overt green tea taste, however it’s pleasant enough to keep around as a tangy alternative to some of my other teas.
The dry tea is comprised of incredibly large chunks of cranberry, so much like banana nut bread and forever nuts, it’s not always the most economical tea.
The aroma is what sold me on this tea and it was my first experience with a rooibos, and what an introduction it was! I’ve played around with a few different sweeteners and I actually will throw a dash of real maple syrup in the cup as a treat.
Once steeped, it still retains the maple smell which for me is half the enjoyment of having a cup of it.
Tried this straight for a second time and I’m still not seeing what all the fuss is about and where the flavour is! I have a little left in my sample, so I might try mixing in some milk/sweetener next time. I’m not sure if its this particular flavour or if I just don’t like chai in general.
My first experience with Earl Grey and it’s still my favourite. Love the light citrus/bergamot flavours and I’ve noticed I can leave the bag in the pot for an extended time without it going bitter.
It’s a comforting, basic tried and true favourite and great for after dinner and dessert.
This is another personal favourite from David’s Tea. I do agree with some of the negative aspects reported here: occasionally there is an oily residue on top, it does make a mess in the steeping ball/basket and you do need to pack a bit more in there to get a stronger flavour. Given the large size of the pieces, it isn’t the most economical tea, but it’s a nice treat.
With that being said, the banana nut aroma is delicate and a great accompaniment to a morning muffin. I also find that you don’t need to add any sweetener and this is one of the few that I drink ‘straight’.
I received this as part of a Christmas three pack with Merry Cranberry and Sleigh Ride. Sadly, I think Santa’s Secret is that I’m getting a lump of coal because I did not like this tea at all!
(Actually, if I’m truly honest my first reaction/exclamation was ’What foul trickery is this?!")
While it had a peppermint and (almost) cocoa scent that I’ve come to associate with other teas, I didn’t find that the taste matched the smell. It was a bit bitter, like a dark chocolate peppermint patty gone wrong. I’m glad I only got a small sample of this, because it won’t become a staple for me.
I don’t know if it’s the cold, or if my taste buds are malfunctioning, but I didn’t get a pumpkin vibe from this tea at all. Maybe I didn’t steep it long enough or made it too weak, but I found it to be an average, not particularly noteworthy drink. I’m going to give this another go before I make a final decision!
As I start writing reviews, I find that I am woefully ignorant on discerning complex flavours and using proper terminology. I say this because the first thing I exclaimed (to myself) and promptly messaged ( to a friend) after drinking this tea was:
IT SMELLS LIKE HAPPY!
There you have it.
Fruity, lighter tasting with a candy/bubblegum scent, this is one of my favourite offerings from David’s Tea and always makes a great cup of pick-me-up.
