Mistletoe & Wine

ashmanra’s monthly sipdown challenge
February 2023 → a tea swap tea or gifted tea

A gift from Courtney! I’m not always a fan of hibiscus when it’s hot, but I was feeling a little excited about this one with its reference to mulled cider. It also smells very festive with the cinnamon and citrus. It tastes a bit dusty, that hibiscus dusty flavor (not sure how else to describe it really). I think I might enjoy this one better cold, but even if I don’t I know James will love it!

Bird & Blend Advent Calendar 2021 – Day 14

Interesting, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this one from B&B before. Sounds like a standard hibiscus & spice tisane though, at least from the ingredients. I used both sachets for 12 ounces of water, as the sachets looked a bit sparse.

Yep, pretty standard. Strong hibiscus flavor with a bit of fruitiness and a touch of spice. Clove, I would think, and perhaps some cinnamon. Something is adding some sweetness, though I couldn’t say what from the ingredients. The apple maybe?

Anyway, I don’t see much difference from the other two spiced hibiscus tisanes that we’ve already had in this advent…

Bird & Blend Advent Calendar 2021: Day 14!

This one just doesn’t excite me, and it might be my least favorite of the advent calendar so far. I’m a big fan of mulled wine; in pre-covid times, my partner and I host an annual holiday party that always features mulled wine and mulled cider, and I love both of those hot bevvies. This approximation just doesn’t do it for me, though. Sure, you’ve got your typical mulling spice blend (a bit heavy on the clove, to my taste), and I suppose the hibiscus and lime combo adds a tartness that somewhat approximates the red wine element. But it’s really sour, and a vinegary tang keeps hitting me at the back of each sip. And where’s the mistletoe?! Or is it just part of a clever name, with no reflection in the blend? Boo!

I had trouble finishing this cup—especially because it got more sour as it cooled!—and that’s a rarity for me. :(

B&B Advent 2021 Day 14

This one has a unique flavour, that I’m not necessarily a fan of. I’m thinking it’s the wine flavour that is meant to be here that’s not my favourite. I’m not completely sure what mistletoe tastes like, or if I’m getting it here.

The third Xmas tea of Bird&Blend I bought in July and enjoy now…and I´m really enjoying these Xmas teas so far : their name really suits the cuppa! I´m not sure where to find the mistletoe, but plenty of people would mistakenly take this for a real mulled wine. Both in nose as in mouth it´s identical, only I seem to enjoy it more ;-) …with the mulled wine, I always seem to regret my decision to have it after a few sips!
Looking forward to the other B&B Xmas teas I still need to try…

This one is tart and warmly spiced. Maybe there’s a coolness in the aftertaste that contributes to the mistletoe feeling? I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would. I prefer this one cold. The 20g didn’t make many servings, but this is one I’d consider ordering again.

Somehow, this tea rests in my cupboard and I haven’t touched it yet; just opened and I guess I prepared it once for my brother who wanted caffeine free alternative. He is like my guinea pig for some teas, I don’t really like.

But, this one I haven’t even touched. I haven’t got it yet. And the leaflet is buried somewhere in my tea related bag (full of empty pouches, empty tea bags and so on).

So, “wine” tea? Interesting… let’s try. 5 grams, 400 ml mug… and song with same name:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZCEBibnRM8 I guess Bird and Blend used it as a name on purpose.

How weird to listen Christmas song (carol?) in February.

To the tea: Brew itself reminds indeed a wine. Red mulled wine. Dark red, clear. Even aroma reminds it. I guess it was the goal of the mixologists there. Aroma and brew itself is winning; but the taste, for me one of the most important part – is okay only.

I mean, it is not bad at all! It is like mulled wine, but somehow, quite muted. Quite watery, tart… something is missing. I don’t really know what is it; but it is missing there. Maybe more cinnamon? Less hibiscus to be used? Some actuall wine flavours?

Day 1 of the 3 day winter storm is over. I think we have about 5 inches so far. The wind is supposed to pick up tonight and then we’ll get two more days of snow. Church is already cancelled for tomorrow, which is good, because there is no way I could get out of my parking lot. Maybe 16 inches of snow in total for this storm by 3pm Monday. Welcome to North Dakota.

It was really pretty earlier. The snow was big fat flakes falling straight down. Snow falling vertically is pretty rare up here. Most often it comes down at a slant, or even purely horizontally. I sat in my chair with my knitting and tea this afternoon and watched it. It was very relaxing. As long as I didn’t think about having to unbury the car, it was relaxing. I don’t drink, really, so this tea (Mistletoe and WINE) is as close as I get.

The tea is a pretty, wine color from the hibiscus. The last cup I had the hibby wasn’t as prominent. This cup was quite a bit more sour. So sour I didn’t finish it. I shall try another of my B & B subscription teas tomorrow afternoon, when I will watch the snow driven along by the wind and listen to it howl. Fun times.

Sipdown 44-2021
A pretty standard spiced hibiscus blend. Not loving this as much as the last time I had it.