618 Tasting Notes
This tea smells like jasmine, passionfruit and peach – very much reminds me of summer.
Sipping… this has such a nice fruit flavor. I love the passionfruit paired with the jasmine. The jasmine isn’t too strong, but sits in the background. It gives off just enough flavor so you know it’s there, but not enough to overwhelm the cup. While this tea is light and refreshing, I’m not sure if I’m in the mood to drink such a summery blend. It would be perfect for the warmer months, but not for the winter.
December 13 – Advent 2014
While I’m excited to see a rooibos blend, I’m not really sure if I’m going to like this one. It smells very much like children’s Motrin.. liquid orange in a small plastic cup.
Sipping… oh, good! It isn’t as weird and medicinal as I thought it would be. The orange is light, fresh and pairs beautifully with the wood from the rooibos. It seems that the dry sharpness from the rooibos works really well with bringing out the tangy bits from the orange. I also love that there is a bit of sweetness in the background that makes me think of cheap, watery orange juice – that comforting hit of sugar and citrus.
I am enjoying this tea much more than I expected. Would I buy this again? Possibly, but it seems like it’s one of those teas I would enjoy in smaller amounts and only when the craving strikes.
December 5 – Advent 2014
The scent of this tea reminds me of Marco Polo from Mariage Freres… strawberry candies with black tea in the background.
Sipping… I was expecting a stronger strawberry flavor, but this is actually very nice. The strawberry sort of blossoms on your tongue after the sip and leaves you with a bright tartness. The black tea seems more on the earthy side, but that could be because rhubarb is present. Rhubarb always tastes a bit like earth or dirt for me.
I’m really impressed by this cup and would possibly buy more of this in the future. A great first cup of the day!
December 11 – Advent 2014
I was a little disappointed to see this tea bag only because I recently had a similar tea yesterday. I think that I would have been more okay with two similar teas if I spread them out over the course of a few days, but I’m playing catch up.. so now is the time to drink it!
I’ve decided that Earl Grey teas are a once in a while tea for me. Two teas that are Earl Grey-ish in a week may be a bit too much. That being said, I think this would be a great choice for someone who loves orange/citrus oils and black tea.
It’s bright and smooth. This cup even leaves that tingling feeling that you get after eating an orange wedge. I can see a splash of milk adding a more comforting dimension, but it’s lovely without. Given the choice between this one and the Earl Grey Yin Zhen I had yesterday, I think I prefer Gout Russe. It’s mild, sweet and citrusy.
December 6 – Advent 2014
This one smells weird right out of its package. I’m not sure exactly how to describe it… faintly smells of green tea, orange, spices and something doughy? Luckily it doesn’t smell like Play-Doh, but it still smells strange.
Sipping… I taste a light orange flavor and the mild green tea base. The spices/doughy bits hide behind everything and really just contribute a strange flavor. It’s not terrible, but it’s very weird. If I gulp down this tea, I do get more of a sweet fruit flavor and something that reminds me of bubblegum.
I wouldn’t purchase this tea in the future, but it’s nice to try something interesting.
December 10 – Advent 2014
I’ve tried this tea using the recommended 1-2 pearls, but haven’t been impressed.. so I’ve made this morning’s cup with around 5-7. We’ll see if it makes a difference.
Right away, I can tell that the scent is much stronger and very sweet. Sipping… yep, definitely better with more pearls! This is smooth, sweet – hints of caramel, hay and wood. It’s actually a little chalky which I found to be the case with fewer pearls. I love how this has much more body and it’s so smooth! Yum.. would definitely buy these again, but not sure if the value is there since I have to add so many pearls to get the delicious cup I want.
The plain tea bag smelled like Play-Doh which wasn’t a good sign. After water has been added, it does smell much more like Christmas – cinnamon, spices .. maybe some orange thrown in. Not sure how I feel about this one, to be honest.
Sipping… hmm.. there’s a lot going on in this blend. I taste cinnamon and orange, but also something that reminds me of a cookie? I’m not sure.. there’s something doughy tasting in this cup.. it’s almost like completely plain dough with spices and orange. The Play-Doh scent remains, sadly, and really dominates everything. The green tea base is smooth, not astringent and very soft. I’m happy to have tried this one, but it’s far too strange for me.
December 7 – Advent 2014
Yuck – I’ve had teas that smell like play-dough before. I haven’t figured out what it is, but it’s happened to me most often with white teas.
This is the first time I’ve smelled Play-Doh.. but I’ve read that others have experienced it before! It’s really strange to have such a gross smell in a tea!
This tea smells so yummy! It reminds me of a juice box I had when I was a little kid… some kind of fruit punch, only more delicate. I get the feeling that this one could get very bitter if oversteeped.
Sipping… mmm, the flavors in this tea are so special and so unique! I taste the passionfruit, but also the lovely rose. The two blend together flawlessly! They are so well balanced that the tea doesn’t taste like perfume when it very well could. The white tea stays in the background and really only comes out at the end of the sip. I’m glad that it’s not bitter, but adds just a little sharpness to the fruit and flowers.
I never would have thought to purchase this tea, but it’s delicious and unique! Quite tasty.
December 8 – Advent 2014
Preparation
I’ve been falling so behind on the advent calendar days, so I will be drinking some in reverse until I’m all caught up! This is today’s tea, though, so at least I can begin with this one.
I’m not a huge fan of Earl Grey. Sometimes I’ll be in the mood and it will be delicious, but most of the time, I’d prefer something else. This cup smells rich and the black tea is strong. I can’t pick up on the white tea yet.
Sipping… the first thing I taste is a bit of bright, bitter orange peel quickly followed by the black tea. It tastes a bit like your standard Earl Grey only it is perhaps a bit smoother. For someone who isn’t wild about Earl Grey, it isn’t bad, but perhaps a little boring.
December 9 – Advent 2014
