3986 Tasting Notes
Tea at the White House Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 7
This definitely does not taste like eggnog to me, I don’t really get nutmeg at all. It has a waxy quality to it, and reminds me more of some kind of vanilla-flavored ChapStick.
Never a fan of green & black blends either, you either have to steep it at a black tea temperature which causes the green tea to be bitter or astringent, or steep it at a green tea temperature which causes the black tea to not contribute much flavor.
Flavors: Artificial, Creamy, Sweet, Vanilla, Wax
Preparation
Sipology Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 7
This actually has a nice, deeply roasty coffee flavor. Sadly, I can’t drink it due to the stevia being very noticeable.
Oh well, I count myself lucky that there are only a couple of these “naturally sweet” blends in the advent.
Flavors: Bitter, Coffee, Roasted, Stevia, Sweet, Toasty
Preparation
Thésaurus Tea Fandom Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 7
I’m already grumpy and this is making me grumpier. Tastes more like rooibos than black tea, and I get almost none of the spices. Maybe a touch of the anise? Nothing resembling chai or blueberry or waffles.
Harrumph.
Flavors: Anise, Rooibos, Sweet, Thin, Watery, Woody
Preparation
Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 7
Man, work is really being a pain in the ass today, and it’s interfering with my advent sippage. :(
I like this one – just a mix of matcha and cocoa powder. Has a well-balanced flavor with about equal parts of each. Just lovely as a latte, like a matcha chocolate milk ha ha. Texture is also quite good for having cocoa powder in it.
Would consider getting some of this, but it looks like they don’t even offer it on their website at the moment. Might have to try mixing cocoa powder with some of my own matcha instead.
Flavors: Cocoa, Earthy, Grassy, Smooth, Sweet, Toasty, Umami
Preparation
Beach House Teas 12 Teas of Christmas 2023 – Day 6
The first of (probably) multiple mulled wine herbal tisanes.
Mostly this just tastes like straight hibiscus though. There is a little bit of clove, but I don’t think I notice the orange at all. It’s a slightly clove-y hibiscus bomb ha ha.
Definitely not a favorite!
Flavors: Clove, Hibiscus, Metallic, Musty, Sour, Tart
Preparation
Tea at the White House Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 6
The classic “Forever Nuts” style fruit tisane.
I haven’t had one of these in a while, but it’s really hitting the spot at the moment. Maybe it’s because I needed a little influx of sugar for an afternoon pick-me-up, heh. Nice balance of sweet and a hint of tart, and the apple-cinnamon combo makes it remind me of apple pie. Or maybe an apple crumble with some toasted sliced almonds in the topping.
Nice enough tisane. Not something I would order for myself, but enjoyed it more than I expected. I seem to be saying that a lot lately! :P
Flavors: Almond, Apple, Butter, Cinnamon, Pastries, Smooth, Sweet, Tart
Preparation
DIY Kyoto Obubu Advent Calendar – Day 6
Ah, yes. This is the quintessential sencha to me – unshaded, spring pick, lovely dark green needle shape.
Such a lovely rounded vegetal flavor without being too intense (although I like the intense ones as well). Mostly getting fresh, sweet grass, lightly steamed spinach, and a mellow sun-warmed hay note. Some creamy edamame as well, giving it a bit more body, along with a light nuttiness. There’s a soft floral note in the finish, something very mellow like wildflowers.
Just yummy. :D
Flavors: Astringent, Bitter, Creamy, Floral, Fresh, Freshly Cut Grass, Grass, Hay, Nuts, Silky, Smooth, Soybean, Spinach, Squash, Vegetal, Wildflowers, Zucchini
Preparation
Sipology Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 6
When I saw this, I was reminded of a similar tea from Teavana that had something to do with macaron. I think that one was an herbal though, and this is a white tea. Neither was actually anything like a macaron lol.
To me, this tea is more cotton candy, with a side of fruitiness. It has a powdery sweetness to it, and the beet root makes it steep up a pretty medium shade of pink. There’s a slight raspberry candy-esque fruitiness going on, but mostly getting that airy cotton candy sweetness. I barely taste the white tea at all, perhaps just a touch of a hay flavor.
It’s fine, but not something I would drink. A bit sweet for me, and that powdery quality is reminding me of fruit-flavored Tums LOL.
Flavors: Candy, Cotton Candy, Fruity, Hay, Raspberry, Red Fruits, Sugar, Sweet
Preparation
Thésaurus Tea Fandom Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 6
I think I should’ve used less water with this one, it came out very light in flavor. Usually I would use about 8 ounces for a teaspoon, but maybe I should go down to 6 for these Thésaurus blends…
Anyway, mostly I taste the hibiscus, but there’s also some beet in there, which is interesting. Maybe a bit of a red fruit note? It’s difficult to tell with the hibiscus in the forefront.
Just a meh for me, not great and not bad either. At least the beet kept it interesting ha ha.
Flavors: Beetroot, Fruity, Hibiscus, Red Fruits, Sweet, Tart
Preparation
Compagnie & Co Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 6
Was surprised to see this so soon after the plain Ceylon.
I’m admittedly not a vanilla black tea person, but this is quite nice. It’s not too heavy, and there’s not an overbearing woodiness that I sometimes find with bourbon vanilla style teas. The vanilla does taste quite genuine, and it has a rich creaminess to it that makes me think of crème pâtissière. The black tea is also quite light, and its more acidic, astringent qualities actually become refreshing when paired with the more decadent flavoring.
Not something I would drink regularly, but pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.
Flavors: Acidic, Astringent, Creamy, Custard, Light, Sweet, Tannic, Vanilla
Preparation
I love being surprised by blends that wouldn’t usually appeal to me. Were they not in a sampler or advent calendar, I’d never have the opportunity to be surprised by them, since I’d never buy them on their own. Yay!
Vanilla ChapStick! I don’t think I’ve ever been so immediately put off from trying a tea as with that description haha