429 Tasting Notes
2025 Steepster Advent Swap: Day 9
I love that the dry leaves look like spindly spider legs! Tastewise, this is very pleasant. There’s no bitterness or astringency at all; it’s quite light and smooth. It’s almost salty, like heavily diluted seawater — but again, in a pleasant way. I do get an edge of smokiness, too, which adds a little depth.
The smokiness disappeared on my second steep, and now it’s almost sweet, like the ghost of salted caramel.
Another highly drinkable tea!
Flavors: Caramel, Light, Mineral, Salt, Smoke, Smooth
2025 Bird & Blend Advent: Day 8
This blend is, apparently, inspired by Van Gogh… and it’s clearly been retconned into some kind of holiday connection? Because of the name, which is vaguely Christmassy? It’s all very tenuous. And it doesn’t help that because it’s in a tea bag, you don’t get to see the colors of the blend, which are (again, allegedly) what give it the connection to Van Gogh (that and the inclusion of sunflower petals).
Brewed up, it’s pale magenta from the hibiscus, but it smells largely of sage to me! Which is bizarre, because there’s no sage in here. But I’m definitely getting savory sage-y notes. I think the lavender and eucalyptus are combining to create sage. Ha. There’s also some citrus, and a zip from the hibiscus. The apple pieces are totally lost to my palate.
This mostly feels muddled to me… there’s a lot going on without a real “hero” flavor. That said, it’s kind of growing on me!
As a side note, I wish the B&B calendar had more caffeinated options and fewer herbals/rooibos blends. They have an entirely separate caffeine-free calendar, so I feel like this one should be heavier on the caffeine!
Flavors: Eucalyptus, Hibiscus, Lavender, Lemon Zest, Sage, Savory
My theory is that this started as more of a wellness blend that was later flipped into the Van Gogh inspiration named after The Starry Night. The flower petals match the painting colour scheme, but the ingredients have a very Cold & Flu feel. I don’t think there’s much of a Christmas connection at all.
Yeah, that seems to make sense! I definitely get the “cold and flu” vibes.
The ingredients of this one are interesting, but it took me a really long time to finish my 25 tea bags of this!
I can imagine! It’s something you definitely have to be in the right mood to enjoy.
2025 Steepster Advent Swap: Day 8
Another OBTC blend I’ve been wanting to try!
This is definitely quite nutty, although I’d be hard-pressed to identify it as pecan-specific nutty. I think a large part of the nuttiness comes from a natural flavor that doesn’t quite agree with me, because I’ve noticed it elsewhere and often feel vaguely offput when I encounter it.
Other than that, I do get a bit of butteriness, which feels appropriate. There’s also cinnamon and a bit of cocoa, both of which take away from the “pecan pie” vibes, IMHO. I also find the lingering sweetness from the licorice root to be a bit off-putting. I do like the pu’erh base; it’s present but not overwhelming.
I like the idea of this blend quite a lot in theory, but it’s just not gelling for me as a whole!
Flavors: Buttery, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Nutty, Sweet
I liked this one, too, but like you, I am firmly convinced that cinnamon does not belong in pecan pie. My Aunt Nancy’s recipe is gospel. :)
I agree, pecan pie does not have cinnamon! Though I also don’t like pecan pie… XD
I love pecans (how ever you choose to pronounce them!) and I like pie but not strong cinnamon, and I want to like pecan pie, but the cloying caramel base and dearth of pecans in most pies disappoints. Since you are the closest thing to an expert that I know, @gmathis, can you point me to a recipe with loads of pecans in a mousse-like custardy base? :-)
I LOVE pecans and things with pecans and chocolate with pecans and pecan turtles and pecans…you get the idea. We even have a pecan tree but the squirrels steal the nuts.
I just saw a recipe for pecan pie with maple syrup and honey instead of corn syrup and I want to try it! And I agree – no cinnamon in pecan pie!
Also, TeaEarleGreyHot – as much as I love pecans, I do not seek out pecan pie though I will eat it. It is sooooo sweet. Ours down here have lots of pecans, though.
There is a nearly small business call Southern Supreme that has gone big that sells “more nuts than fruit cake”. There is so little dried fruit but it is packed solid with walnuts and pecans! I love it, and am going to try to adapt a recipe to make it myself!
The recipe I grew up with is treacle-y and syrupy instead of moosey :)
I am laughing at the “expert” reference, but thank you kindly. Anything beyond “measure and stir” is way past my comfort zone!
@ashmanra, if you do end up with a nice copycat recipe for the fruity nut-cake, please share with me! I love making banana bread with black walnuts. I think those flavors go well together!
2025 Bird & Blend Advent: Day 7
Yikes, this one is weak as hell! Weak rooibos, weak (though not terrible) cocoa flavor, nonexistent cream but maaaybe a smidge of vanilla. Meh.
Rereading my first note on it from four years ago, I mentioned a mustiness from the coffee beans. At least that wasn’t a problem this time around!
Flavors: Chocolate, Cocoa, Red Rooibos, Watery
2025 Steepster Advent Swap: Day 7
I’ve seen this tea reviewed a few times, and every time it crosses my dashboard, I think that it sounds intriguing and worth a try — so, thanks to Michelle for including it in the advent swap!
“Intriguing” is probably a good word for it. I mostly smelled cinnamon and cocoa in the dry leaf, whereas brewed up I’m smelling both those ingredients plus a bit of vanilla and a gentle hay-like chamomile. It tastes of cinnamon and a very light milk chocolate laced on a light chamomile. The green chile is incredibly mild, but comes through at the veryyy end of each sip as a light and tingly heat.
I think I can see (err, smell/taste) the sort of cinnamon-sugar cookie inspiration, but I don’t think the blend really screams “cookie” overall. Still, it’s different and surprising and really quite lovely.
Flavors: Chamomile, Cinnamon, Hay, Milk Chocolate, Vanilla
2025 Steepster Advent Swap: Day 6
Today’s advent pull from Michelle definitely makes up for the lackluster B&B oolong from this morning!
I accidentally oversteeped the first cup, but got it right on the second. This is so good, and I can see how it could become a daily drinker! It’s just a little bit malty and bready, with hints of molasses and brown sugar. Almost no astringency here.
Smooth, tasty, and eminently drinkable… what a winner!
Flavors: Bread, Brown Sugar, Malt, Molasses, Smooth, Sugarcane
2025 Bird & Blend Advent: Day 6
This would be a lackluster but inoffensive generic, semi-artificial “berries and cream” blend if not for the hibiscus, which takes it from lackluster to unpleasant. :( I feel like a Grinch griping about the B&B teas two days in a row, but come on… the hibiscus here feels so unnecessary! It just makes the whole thing way more tart than it needs to be.
Not a fan!
Flavors: Artificial, Berries, Cream, Hibiscus, Tart, Watery
2025 Bird & Blend Advent: Day 5
Bleh. Leaving my rating of 55 from a few years ago, and I stand by my previous review: This is far too hibiscus-forward, yet also somehow weak? The mulling spices seem one-note and flat, not bold and fresh.
Flavors: Cinnamon, Clove, Hibiscus, Watery
2025 Steepster Advent Swap: Day 5
Such pretty leaves! Dry, they remind me of calendula seeds — tightly curled and toasty-golden (though without the little nubs of calendula seeds).
Steeped, I’m enjoying this one quite a lot. It’s terrifically smooth and honey-like, but with enough of a “bite” to keep things interesting. I’m getting a bit of woodiness and sweet potato, but just a little. Yum! Thanks for sharing, Michelle!
Flavors: Honey, Smooth, Sweet Potato, Woody
