4592 Tasting Notes
DIY Lupicia Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 10
A favorite of mine from their holiday collection! I love the combination of the subtle warm spices with the bready base and just a touch of cooked apple and cranberry. It tastes like apple pie or some other delicious baked good, but in a soft and authentic way rather than a flavor-y one. Just so cozy, and wonderful for fall and winter!
Flavors: Apple, Bread, Brown Sugar, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cranberry, Dry Leaves, Smooth, Soft, Spices, Stewed Fruit, Sweet, Warm
Preparation
Stash Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 9
Winter Espresso
A coffee-flavored black tea. There is a touch of some sort of sweet note to it as well, more like a coffee-flavored candy than straight up espresso. The black tea is tasting slightly cardboardy, and is a bit brisk for me.
Rating: 62
Flavors: Acidic, Artificial, Astringent, Brisk, Cardboard, Coffee, Paper, Roasty, Sweet, Syrupy, Tannic
Preparation
DIY Lupicia Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 9
It had been a while since I’d had this one, and I liked it more than I remembered! I love muscat grape flavoring, and the citrus adds a bit of additional brightness and pep. All on a lovely and authentic sencha base that’s vegetal yet mellow, and a great foil for fruity flavors. Delightful!
Flavors: Bright, Citrus, Cut Grass, Grapes, Juicy, Savory, Smooth, Spinach, Sweet, Umami, Vegetal, White Grapes
Preparation
DIY Fava Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 9
I’m not a huge fan of primarily nutty teas, as they tend to be a bit too decadent/rich for me. But this is actually quite pleasant, with a slightly buttery pecan flavor alongside a woodiness that I think helps tone down the richness. I don’t taste the cacao outright, but perhaps it’s adding a bit of depth and some toasty base notes. I wouldn’t buy a full size, since it’s just not my type of tea, but I’m enjoying it much more than I expected to. :)
Flavors: Bourbon, Buttery, Nutty, Pecan, Rich, Smooth, Toasty, Woody
Preparation
knittingopera Swap Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 25
Theme: A song with Christmas in the name
Song: The Twelve Days of Christmas by Perry Como
Yay, the first tea advent finished off! Only four more to go… XD
This one didn’t have a ton of flavor to me. I assume it was likely old, since I know Adagio’s flavored black teas to be quite potent. It’s a mix of their Christmas, Cinnamon, and Candy Cane, so it should have a strong spice and peppermint flavor. As-is, I think I’m mostly getting sweetness from the candy cane pieces (there were extra added) and a hint of peppermint. There’s a slight chocolate note as well, so it ends up tasting sort of like a very mild chocolate peppermint black tea.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=DYYDfFU1xO8&si=CIhanoZiikaLvNPC
Flavors: Candy Cane, Chocolate, Peppermint, Sweet
Preparation
knittingopera Swap Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 24
Theme: Silent Night
Song: Oíche Chiúin by Enya
I’m always nervous when I see DT, but thankfully this one is stevia-less. It’s quite lovely actually, soft and sweet with a rich and slightly candylike pear flavor that makes me think of pâte de fruit. I don’t think I notice any spice, but maybe it’s just adding a hint of warmth here. Mostly it’s pear and apple, and definitely reminiscent of poached pears. Lovely!
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=31c2LE67bOY&si=WI7sbypfUWbXepKF
Flavors: Apple, Candy, Fruity, Jam, Pear, Rich, Sweet, Syrupy
Preparation
knittingopera Swap Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 23
Theme: A song that mentions Santa
Song: Santa, I Been Bad All Year by Benny Grunch & The Bunch
Okay, so I was going to give this one a second chance despite hating it in my DIY Fava advent, but the dry scent actually made my stomach turn, so I decided otherwise ha ha. The song is very fun though!
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=bJxF6mKUtNI&si=wojZ7F-21Zw1W1o9
knittingopera Swap Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 22
Theme: Jingle Bells
Song: Jingle Bells by Jim Reeves
I think this is just the Harney tea of the same name, but since I can’t be sure, I made a new entry for it. Dry, it had a lovely and tart cranberry scent, but in the steeped cup, much of that is lost. The cranberry is (sadly) subtle, and I taste more of the black base than anything. Orange is not noticeable at all. It’s been a while since I’ve had the Harney one, but I recall it being disappointing in the cranberry department as well. :(
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=2QGI2wOlTUs&si=7GA7oF4XSjTZ250R
Flavors: Cranberry, Earthy, Hay, Smooth, Thick
Preparation
knittingopera Swap Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 21
Theme: A nostalgic song
Song: I Wonder as I Wander by John Rutter
Another one that is very light on flavor, similar to Ciao Amaretto. They were both in DIY teabags, so I wonder if that had anything to do with it… Anyway, I do taste a bit of the promised blackberry flavor, but I certainly wouldn’t know there was supposed to be bergamot or cream here. Mostly it’s a very mild blackberry black tea, with a rather acidic base. There’s a hint of an herbaceous or green note as well, maybe the foliage of the blackberry bush?
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=mF3s_yCWYm0&si=mutH71xx8j4VTu6q
Flavors: Acidic, Berry, Blackberry, Brisk, Green, Herbaceous, Metallic
Preparation
knittingopera Swap Advent Calendar 2025 – Day 20
Theme: Do You Hear What I Hear?
Song: Do You Hear What I Hear? by Bing Crosby
A throwback from Deb! I know I’ve had this one previously, but couldn’t remember what I thought of it. It’s a pleasant enough tea, and I appreciate that there’s no maple or brown sugar, as most of her teas seem to include it. I do taste hints of panettone – a slight butteriness, a touch of orange, and a hint of syrupy sweet raisin. But they are all quite mellow, since there are no added flavors, so mostly it’s the black base with a slight suggestion of panettone. Very pleasant and mellow cuppa though! Thankfully the base is smooth and has decent flavor. My previous rating of 68 stands!
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=FhTnDaEmA5k&si=oPr_1gZmLttDKtp0
Flavors: Bourbon, Buttery, Citrus, Dried Fruit, Orange, Orange Zest, Raisins, Smooth, Syrupy, Woody
