3986 Tasting Notes
Sipology Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 8
This is an interesting one – cider makes me think of apple, but here they meant cider spices apparently. There is apple as well, but just as a filler. It ends up being quite strong on the ginger, which is not necessarily what I think of for cider. It actually reminds me a bit of a cranberry ginger ale. It’s cherry, not cranberry, but still similar.
I hate to say it, but I feel like this could use some hibiscus? It doesn’t have any at all, and I feel like because of that it tastes rather flat. There’s no real dimension to the fruit flavor, if that makes sense. Still an enjoyable blend though.
Flavors: Apple, Cherry, Earthy, Effervescent, Fruity, Ginger, Sweet
Preparation
Thésaurus Tea Fandom Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 8
Another very light tea, but this at least has some flavor. Mostly I taste the vague fruitiness of hibiscus, with a bit of cherry and a light rose finish. It’s not my personal favorite, as I don’t love cherry or rose, but thankfully both flavors are quite subdued.
Pleasant enough tea, though I can’t taste the green tea at all.
Flavors: Cherry, Fruity, Hibiscus, Rose, Sweet, Tart
Preparation
Beach House Teas 12 Teas of Christmas 2023 – Day 8
I combined this tea with the Kyoto Obubu Hojicha Gold to make a sort of spiced hojicha.
It came out a bit less spiced than I intended, but was still very tasty. Smooth and toasty hojicha with a touch of grassiness mixed with warming cinnamon and clove. This particular hojicha is a bit greener than usual because it’s made from spring sencha leaves. Still has those familiar autumn leaf and wood notes though, with the spices giving a bit more sweetness and warmth.
Quite enjoyable! In the future I’ll have to try more hojicha chai experiments. :)
Flavors: Cinnamon, Clove, Sweet
Preparation
DIY Kyoto Obubu Advent Calendar – Day 8
I combined this tea with the Beach House Teas Mulling Spices to make a sort of spiced hojicha.
It came out a bit less spiced than I intended, but was still very tasty. Smooth and toasty hojicha with a touch of grassiness mixed with warming cinnamon and clove. This particular hojicha is a bit greener than usual because it’s made from spring sencha leaves. Still has those familiar autumn leaf and wood notes though, with the spices giving a bit more sweetness and warmth.
Quite enjoyable! In the future I’ll have to try more hojicha chai experiments. :)
Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Grass, Hay, Mineral, Roasted, Smooth, Toasty, Woody
Preparation
Tea at the White House Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 8
This just tastes kind of… vague? I think a hot toddy has lemon and honey? I guess I can see the honey part, and maybe a teeny tiny hint of lemon. But that could also be the natural acidity of the black tea.
Anyway, it’s not bad? Just doesn’t taste like much other than a generic, somewhat astringent black tea.
Flavors: Acidic, Astringent, Honey, Metallic, Tannic
Preparation
Compagnie & Co Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 8
Ooh, this is my favorite kind of Earl Grey – the kind where the bergamot brought some other citrus friends to the party. :D
Really nice blend, in particular I’m tasting a sweet and bright orange flavor. I do also get the bergamot in the background adding an almost lime-y note, and probably the lemon blending in as well. The base is earthy and smooth, most likely a Chinese black tea.
Just lovely, and really an ideal tea for the morning.
Flavors: Bergamot, Citrus, Earthy, Lemon, Orange, Smooth, Sweet
Preparation
Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 8
Blue matcha today! Personally I find this a bit weird, but at least the butterfly pea flower doesn’t seem to affect the flavor much? There is a slight grittiness to the texture, but it’s not noticeable as a latte.
Otherwise, it’s a pleasant vanilla cake sort of flavor. Quite buttery with a sweet and creamy vanilla note. Not my personal favorite as I prefer fruitier matcha flavors, but still very enjoyable.
Flavors: Butter, Cake, Grassy, Smooth, Sweet, Vanilla
Preparation
Beach House Teas 12 Teas of Christmas 2023 – Day 7
So I’ve tried a few white chais, and they never seem to live up to my expectations ha ha.
This one is pretty much all anise. All I can taste is the fennel and star anise, and the hay-like notes of the white tea. And I do like anise, but there are supposed to be a bunch of other spices here as well, and I wish I could taste them.
So still a decent enough tea, just needs a bit more balance IMO.
Flavors: Anise, Fennel, Hay, Smooth, Star Anise, Sweet
Preparation
Compagnie & Co Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 7
I’m never excited to see a jasmine green tea in an advent, but I do always enjoy them.
This is a somewhat subdued example. The green tea is quite earthy and smooth, not quite gunpowder level earthy, but moreso than your usual generic green base. The jasmine is very natural, and unusually light. Usually I find jasmine teas to be heavy on the jasmine, but this one is almost heavier on the green tea. A touch of astringency in the finish.
Overall, very mellow and a welcome cuppa after a day of far too much working.
Flavors: Astringent, Dry Grass, Earthy, Floral, Grassy, Hay, Jasmine, Smooth, Sweet
Preparation
DIY Kyoto Obubu Advent Calendar – Day 7
Oooooh, was excited to see this one today!
It’s a bit like gyokuro lite, ha ha. Thick and creamy texture with an intense spinachy punch to the tastebuds. Very powerful umami as well, without tasting like seaweed. It’s the sort of tea that makes you feel like you’re drinking the essence of the earth, as ridiculous as that sounds. Very brothy and restorative, but also a bit sweet .
Nom.
Flavors: Freshly Cut Grass, Green, Silky, Spinach, Spring Water, Sweet, Thick, Umami, Vegetable Broth, Vegetables, Vegetal