Advent 24, 1 of 2 :)
The cherry flavoring is different than any of the other blends featured in this year’s advent calendar. It’s maraschino, as opposed to plain ‘cherry’, and I can certainly smell it as more of a cough syrup note than a fruity, bright cherry. Not to worry, though, since that medicinal aroma smooths out in the tea. There is a soft, sweet undercurrent of caramel and the brightness of the pineapple, while I can’t necessarily taste it, lifts up that big, round cherry middle. The orange seems to be a solid link between the pineapple and cherry.
I get the feeling this is the same black tea base used in most of these blends. I can taste it’s woody briskness and love its smooth, thick body. I’ve never tasted tobacco in these black tea blends but here I think the maraschino cherry flavoring interacts with the black tea to produce a tobacco tone.
This is probably my favorite of the cherry flavored blacks that have been part of this advent season :)
Flavors: Caramel, Fruity, Medicinal, Orange, Overripe Cherries, Pineapple, Smooth, Thick, Tobacco, Wood
That sounds pretty much good! Hmm, cherry + black tea, without any cough syrup? And pineapple with orange. I guess it says Christmas to me, or at least festive!
By the way, you got a message from me here on Steepster :)