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The aroma was unfortunately ruined by something near it but the flavor has remained intact. I can see why they called this French Breakfast but I think it would have been even better without the vanilla. The black base adds a nice woody touch with oak barrel and walnut tree bark while the rose petals round it out nicely. Actually, now that I’m on my second session I’m realizing that the vanilla almost gives it some bourbon flair. On a side note, I apologize if my last few notes have been a tad on the touchy side. My lil brother got married this past weekend. I am happy for them and the wedding was beautiful but its been an emotional rollercoaster. My sister tried to change my hair appt to have my hair done the way she wanted it to be and I had prepared a speech but they only gave time for 2 speeches. I’m really trying to be positive but there are other things too that my emotions are just doing crazy up and downs.

I thought I had ruined my first cup of this because of something I had in the cup previously but I know I rinsed it fairly well. This just seems to be a weak sample maybe? I will re-evaluate if I get a change to try a fresh sample.

Advent Tea 1. Thank you Devon for the box! A very medicinal tea in the aroma. Lemon myrtle and a slight grassy note, also candied lemon pieces and a slight woody note. The flavor is also much like the above, however, the aroma is quite a bit stronger. The vanilla is there but not strong, though the aftertaste reminds me a bit of what vanilla does in flavoring and the mint is kind of weak in my opinion. It makes for an interesting brew. One I have not tried before, though I’m not sure it suits my palate. Despite that, I believe they did a good job of blending the ingredients.

My brother is getting married tomorrow. I’m super excited for him. But tonight we are Matteo’s for the groom’s dinner. They offered coffee, I asked for tea. Should have picked the black tea. This one has either been sitting in the tea chest for a bit or is just that bad. Sorry but the metallic notes bite and the grassy notes are too sharp. Nope.

Old Tea Bag Sip Down
Part 9. Last one. For real.
This one was hiding. The bag looks fairly beaten up but not in too bad of shape. Should be decent. Oh. Ooo. The aroma coming off the liquor as the tea steeps is quite nice. Notes of earthy honey, cream of wheat, and those lovely woody Keenum notes. This is actually quite lovely. Would be even better fresh and loose but heck this is much better than I thought it would be. My only reason for rating it in the 60s is simply because it is not very strong. This could be due to it being an older tea bag, which I am fairly certain of. Beyond a small lack of character, the flavors hint at malt, some cream of wheat, a bit of lacquer, and a gambit of woody notes.

Choice number two from the tea table at the Bowls for BrainPower event. Cardboard. Plain cereal. Very boring. Astringent. Blah.

Color me surprised. At our Bowls for BrainPower Power event to help feed kids. Instead of a coffee table they have a tea table! It’s just tea bags. Only two types. But it’s tea! So of course. I had to try some. Never heard of this brand. Not impressed with the plastic on the outside of each of the bags. The teabag looks okay. The aroma is decent. The wet leaf is CTC so nothing impressive. I’m assuming it’s not true bergamot oil. The astringency is puckering and not entirely pleasant. Flavor overall is decent. Drinkable but not something I would seek out to buy.

Old Tea Bag Sip Down
Part 8. Last one.
This is the oldest-looking bag in the bunch. The floral notes have definitely diminished but there is enough there to be able to tell that it is chamomile without even looking at the bag. The liquor aroma reminds me of cardboard and sweetened apple juice. Probably mixed together by a three-year-old. Oh, and how kind, some wood shavings were added too. The flavor is weak but apple juice and the floral notes still hit.
Well, this was an interesting sipdown. Green tea bags X. Black tea bags okay. Herbals, fine but not amazing.

Old Tea Bag Sip Down
Part 7
More chamomile. Uh… so this one has been steeping for around 30 mins now. I made a cuppa while prepping the pizza dough and then got a hankering to play Pistol Whip and promptly forgot. The water is now tepid. As is the flavor. It’s not bad despite the fact that it’s been steeping for really long. It just tastes old. If it was fresh I can sense this would be a nice cup for one of those days when your throat needs some extra help. But I can’t say I’d reach for it at any other point.

Old Tea Bag Sip Down
Part 5 & 6
Well, this is interesting. My parents had two of these but they both have different packaging. The first looks like the picture attached to this page. Yellow cream color and the second has a maroon box in the middle. The second one certainly beats the first in the dry aroma. The bergamot is very strong.
1: Wet aroma is lacking. Slightly woody with a hint of citrus. Nice liquor color. Rose and dark cherry wood. This must be the older one. It tastes like it’s been sitting for a few years too long. Vapid with a hint of citrus.

2. Wet aroma is kind of woody with a hint of bergamot. A hint darker than its predecessor with the same colors. Olf in flavor with a higher amount of bergamot flavor. A lingering camphor feeling along with a woody note.

So far I have learned that black and herbal teas last longer in tea bags then green does.