Oh dear lord, I can’t believe how hard it was to find CS’s holiday teas this year! I’ve been checking around for the past couple weeks and NONE of the major grocery stores had any. Finally I stumbled across them in a small natural-foods store, yesterday. Go figure.
I’ve actually never tried this particular one before so I was curious and intrigued by the description. In the box and while it was brewing the tea wafted fragrant and mouth-watering odors of vanilla with a hint of spices across the kitchen. Actually, I think it would make a lovely room-spray or perfumed candle.
I drank it without milk or any other additives this time, just so that I’d be able to experience the flavours unimpeded. First of all, for a tea that has an Assam base the black tea is surprisingly mild and easy-drinking, which is unusual since I’ve always had to add at least some milk to Assams to make it palatable. I’m still getting a hint of that characteristic malted flavour though and mixed with the vanilla it’s almost like caramel.
The vanilla is the most prominent flavour, it swirls delicately around the tip of the tongue with each sip. There’s also a slight hint of spices in there – maybe cinnamon or cloves? All in all it seems like it’s a pretty retiring sort of tea with no strong flavours that really stand out. And I don’t really mind it that way – sometimes it’s nicer NOT to be hit in the face with the taste of your own tea. ;D
