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Cameron B. drank Blueberry Matcha by DAVIDsTEA

3986 tasting notes

DAVIDsTEA Matcha Advent Calendar – Day 6

Yay, we’re back to actual matcha instead of treats! Not that I didn’t like the matcha white chocolate, but I admit to being a bit disappointed when I pulled it out of the little drawer yesterday morning… At least it gave me a chance to sip down one of my other lingering matcha samples! :P

Anyway! Prepared this with 12 ounces of water, then topped with 4 ounces of milk. DAVIDsTEA recommends waaaaay more milk, but I can’t imagine being able to taste the matcha that way since it’s already quite mild. I did taste this before I added the milk and it was pleasant enough (and not as sweet and the peach, whew), but I just really felt like having a nice blueberry muffin-esque beverage so I went ahead and made it creamy!

This is very yummy though. I can still taste the matcha and it has a nice grassy flavor with vegetal notes and I still get a hint of umami as well. The milk makes it taste like green tea Pocky, and I’m not complaining! There is a tinge of bitterness at the end of the sip as I would expect. The blueberry here is quite tasty, and I’m not sure I’d say it’s entirely authentic-tasting, but it’s a good balance of the fresh fruit with a slight candylike intensity that makes it pop a bit more. It’s sweet, but not over-the-top. The sweetness works well for this preparation, but I’m not sure I enjoy it when preparing these matchas plain. I’ll certainly try that preparation several more times over the course of the calendar, but today’s flavor just screamed “latte” to me! Or in my case, sort-of latte… ;)

Today’s Bonne Maman advent jam is Sweet Orange-Passion Fruit Spread. I’m not normally a big fan of marmalade, as I find it a bit too bitter from the peel, even though I generally enjoy orange. This mostly tastes like marmalade, with a bit of passion fruit as a top note. So it’s not a favorite for me, though I’m sure someone who enjoys marmalade would like this very much!

I love tasting the matcha after the jam, as it makes it taste less sweet and then I like it even more! ;)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIdu81dgjRA/

(today’s advent teas: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIdqxdfAjbO/)

Flavors: Bitter, Blueberry, Broccoli, Candy, Grass, Seaweed, Sugar, Sweet, Umami, Vegetal

Preparation

175 °F / 79 °C 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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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