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Cameron B. drank Mince Pie Matcha (Rooibos Version) by Bird & Blend Tea Co.

3986 tasting notes

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar – Day 24

Happy Christmas Eve! And the last day for advent calendars, aww… Although I’m not too bummed – I haven’t been feeling tea-ish since I’ve been sick, so I actually have a few sachets that I skipped to catch up on in the next couple of days.

B&B really seems to like these rooibos “matchas”… I’m not sure if it’s because they think the added flavors wouldn’t go well with green tea, or if it’s a caffeine thing. Either way, I find it annoying that none of their three holiday “matchas” actually contain matcha…

I removed a couple of big chunks of dried apple from this before whisking in the water. With soy milk added, the color is a pale terra cotta. Hmm, well I do like this much better than B&B’s Mince Pie tea. It has strong flavors of sweet orange and apple, with some mild spicing in the background. Clove isn’t mentioned in the ingredients, but perhaps it’s in the added flavoring, because I definitely taste it. There’s also cinnamon and a bit of licorice. Overall, it’s perfectly pleasant. There’s not a lot of flavor from the rooibos itself.

The last jam from the Bonne Maman calendar is Sweet Orange (Orange Douce) spread. Well, not a fortuitous turn of events for me, as a non-lover of marmalade, but I’ll give it a try. It’s quite a bit more liquid than the other spreads from the calendar. It does have a pleasant and sweet orange flavor, but it also has the orange peel which contributes its characteristic bitterness. I’m sure it’s a lovely marmalade, but it will never be a favorite of mine!

Flavors: Apple, Cinnamon, Clove, Cookie, Licorice, Orange, Orange Zest, Pastries, Spices, Sweet

Preparation

Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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tea-sipper
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I think it’s just a good thing that you aren’t burnt out on advent calendars and you aren’t sick of them yet! You must be a true fan of advent calendars. haha

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tea-sipper
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I think it’s just a good thing that you aren’t burnt out on advent calendars and you aren’t sick of them yet! You must be a true fan of advent calendars. haha

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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