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Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar – Day 6

This one is a rooibos “matcha” (it doesn’t actually contain any matcha, just powdered rooibos). Wow – I could smell the berries as soon as the water hit. It did come out a beautiful purply-red color.

To me, the blackcurrant is too strong here, and it’s quite candylike. There’s also licorice root, which doesn’t help with the candy aspect. The beetroot and rooibos both taste very earthy, with some additional woodiness from the rooibos. I don’t think I taste goji berry? But I’m not entirely sure what it tastes like either.

In my opinion, the combination is odd. The blackcurrant is almost medicinal tasting because it’s so strong, and the licorice root doesn’t help there either. Rooibos can also taste somewhat medicinal. So overall it kind of reminds me of a blackcurrant cough drop, heh. Not my favorite.

The Bonne Maman jam for today is Cherry-Blackberry (Cerise-Mûre) spread. I love both of those things in jam, so it sounds delicious to me. Confession: I don’t really feel like toast today, so I’m just eating little bits of jam with a butter knife. Don’t judge me! XD

Yum, I love this one. I would say both flavors are present in equal measure. Perhaps the cherry is a little bit stronger. They make a delicious pair, both with enough tartness that the jam isn’t overly sweet. I’m sad that none of these advent calendar jams are available for purchase…

Flavors: Black Currant, Candy, Earth, Licorice, Medicinal, Sweet, Wood

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
derk

Contact Bonne Maman when you’re done with the calendar and let them know your favorites. They’re probably looking for feedback on what to release next.

lizwykys

These Bonne Maman mini updates are so fun! I currently have Bonne Maman blueberry that is super yummy.

Mastress Alita

I have never tried Bonne Maman, but definitely want to. There is this one stall at the Boise Farmer’s Market that makes such lovely jam and I have such a hard time deciding on a jar or two on my yearly visit each year. An advent calendar like that would be so up my alley.

ashmanra

I love Bonne Maman. I can not imagine how fun an advent calendar from them would be. I want toast NOW!

ashmanra

Seriously, I am going to make toast now. I have some Bonne Maman Cherry Preserves calling me.

lizwykys

haha! <3

okay, scrape that toast, boys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJmKStqugMc

Cameron B.

@ashmanra – Cherry is one of my favorites, too!

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Comments

derk

Contact Bonne Maman when you’re done with the calendar and let them know your favorites. They’re probably looking for feedback on what to release next.

lizwykys

These Bonne Maman mini updates are so fun! I currently have Bonne Maman blueberry that is super yummy.

Mastress Alita

I have never tried Bonne Maman, but definitely want to. There is this one stall at the Boise Farmer’s Market that makes such lovely jam and I have such a hard time deciding on a jar or two on my yearly visit each year. An advent calendar like that would be so up my alley.

ashmanra

I love Bonne Maman. I can not imagine how fun an advent calendar from them would be. I want toast NOW!

ashmanra

Seriously, I am going to make toast now. I have some Bonne Maman Cherry Preserves calling me.

lizwykys

haha! <3

okay, scrape that toast, boys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJmKStqugMc

Cameron B.

@ashmanra – Cherry is one of my favorites, too!

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron! I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January Sipdowns: 6
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 6

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I’ll also often use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however. I also enjoy maté, rooibos, and honeybush. I love matcha and drink it often! Fruit tisanes are not a favorite, but I’m always willing to try them.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially passionfruit, mango, and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura, chamomile, and elderflower. Osmanthus is also a favorite of mine. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing

Location

Austin, Texas

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https://www.instagram.com/tea...

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