191 Tasting Notes
Backlogging from yesterday.
I tried this with 1 tsp cacao nibs. The cacao nibs definitely added something, but it wasn’t as chocolaty as I had hoped. It had a full-bodied bitterness and a very subtle sweetness. I added milk and sugar to the second steep, which was a bit more of the dessert tea I was going for. The chocolate flavor was subtle, but I’m going to try it again sometime, maybe with rooibos or Ceylon black tea.
I’ve been relying on bags more heavily lately since I broke not one but two of my tea infusers! Well, one is still usable if I use it very carefully. :)
Somehow I just can’t get away from my spiced seasonal flavors in the morning. This, Stash’s holiday chai, or Twinings spiced apple chai are in heavy rotation. Only one mug’s worth left of this one! (cue Mr. Bill) Ohh noooo!
I’m not a green tea drinker, but I wanted to try something different this morning. This tea is quite nice. No astringency that I could detect. It is smooth with a subtle sweetness and vegetal flavor toward the end of the sip.
Oh, I totally forgot how good this is! I totally passed by all the Celestial Seasonings holiday flavors at the store since none of them really struck me, but I just had a cup of this at a work event, and it was delicious! It gets sweeter and spicier the longer you steep it – this is the only tea I can think of where I leave the bag in while I’m drinking. The flavor is quite similar to Good Earth’s sweet and spicy tea.
Sadly, this isn’t tasting quite the same for me at work. I guess it might really need boiling water, rather than whatever comes out of the hot water spigot from the coffee machine.
Say yes to boiling water:) This one definitely needs it.
Boiling is not convenient at work, sadly. But, this did taste better as it cooled a bit—I think my stainless steel mug kept it hotter and I taste the apple and spices better when the tea is a little cooler.
I gave this another try, and I guess I’m just not a fan. The pumpkin flavor is just too odd on the first steep. I’m not sure how to describe it except lemony. I only steeped 3 minutes this time. Oh well. I definitely prefer Bigelow’s pumpkin spice.
That’s funny (and massively sad and unfortunate)… I definitely don’t get lemon and can’t even fathom how one could lol. It sounds odd, but maybe a longer steeping time would do the trick.
I’m going to have to check out Bigelow’s pumpkin spice, then. Thanks for the tip!
Unfortunately I did try a longer steep last time. I think this one just doesn’t work for me— maybe the “lemony” flavor is the pumpkin combined with too much ginger or something? Oh well!
I forgot to add the other day that I did try a 2nd steep of this – plenty of pumpkin flavor left, and very tasty with soymilk and sugar. I didn’t get that “lemony” flavor from before. Maybe it was just my tastebuds being a bit out of sorts? I’ll reserve judgment for my next 1st steeping. :)
The aroma is awesome – perfectly pumpkin pie, and the first few sips were delicious! As the cup went on, though, the pumpkin flavor became a little too much. It almost tasted lemony, strangely. But, I only added a tiny bit of soy milk and no sugar, and I might have steeped it a bit too long – probably more than 5 minutes. I’ll give this another try, for sure. I think it would be best with a good splash of milk and a spoonful (or more) of sugar, but we shall see!
I actually LOVE that this is insanely pumpkiny… this is the 1st pumpkin tea I’ve had that hasn’t disappointed me. I even steep it for 8 min when I drink it clean, 9 when I add milk (half milk, half water)- never sugar. I haven’t gotten a lemony quality though… luckily!
