Gingerbread Festival

This came highly recommended to me after my disappointment with Williamsberg Ginger Cake. Since I got another Harney gift certificate, I felt it was the perfect time to give it a try.

After opening the tin, I wasn’t sure what to think. It didn’t really smell like much I could recognize. However, once I poured hot water over one of the teabags, I could instantly smell ginger. The taste is pretty much all ginger. There might be a bit of clove in there, but I am unsure. However, I am not getting much of any other flavors here. I think a bit of cinnamon and vanilla would be welcome additions but I’m not getting either.

I also think it needs a bit of something more. I tried with with a little piece of stevia sweetened chocolate (another Christmas gift) and yes, I believe some sweetness is exactly what might be missing. As I am one who doesn’t like to put sweeteners in my tea, this is a little disappointing.

I wanted to love this one, but the flavor was so muted and indistinct at first. Luckily I kept trying! When I used two teabags for a relatively small mug, things drastically improved. Now I finally taste that molasses-heavy cookie I wanted! I’d say the spices could still be a little stronger, but now I like it. My partner thought it was extremely good, and the friend I bought a tin for enjoyed it as well. It really does taste like a gingerbread cookie! I may have to get this one again sometime!

2025 Steepster Advent Swap: Day 16

Mmm, this is tasty. It really nails the bread (err, pastry?) aspect of gingerbread in a way that many other so-called gingerbread teas don’t. I think it has to be brewed strong to really shine, which I don’t mind. Otherwise it does feel a bit thin.

Last year I noted that it was a bit on the sweet side, but I actually think the suggestion of sweetness works because it evokes the molasses aspect of gingerbread.

Raising my rating this year!

2024 Holiday tea #15

Somehow I had a note typed up and it disappeared… I always wanted to try this one due to so many of you that are fans here on Steepster.  Thanks to Cameron B, I finally get to try it!  The scent is JUST LIKE gingerbread.  The flavor is too, but somehow the fragrance is more prominent than the flavor.  Two delicious steeps.  However, I really wish the sort of base for a gingerbread flavored tea was a much deeper, darker black tea.  It’s a bit light. That would be my only complaint here.
Steep #1 // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 minute steep

TeaTiff TTB #2

There was a single sachet of this tea in the box, which I took along to my dad’s house to brew on Christmas day. While not quite up to the standard of my all-time favorite Gingerbread Rooibos from Market Spice, this was quite a respectable gingerbread blend! Not too heavy on the ginger and with a nice sweet, buttery cookie note. And the black tea base was welcome after staying up way too late on Christmas Eve!

Most companies get the ginger part right but completely miss the pastry side of their gingerbread/cookie teas. (Yes, this means you, Bigelow Ginger Snappish. Sorry.)

Our H&S friends have nailed both elements accurately. Not so much ginger it burns; and just enough “cookie” to make it believable without being cloying. Nicely done. Thanks, ashmanra!

September Sipdown Challenge – tea from a favorite vendor

After getting started with grocery store hot tea bags long ago, a friend confided that Harney and Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice was her guilty pleasure. I decided to get it for her for Christmas, and Barnes and Noble was having a buy one get two free sale on the Historic Royal Palaces tins. I picked up a Royal English Breakfast for us and the rest is history.

Having nice sachets on hand is why the new neighbor, Sandy on here, decided to take me to A Southern Season to be introduced to the world of bounteous assortments of loose leaf, and then it was Harney and Sons Golden Monkey that took me from a tea with milk and sugar person to a sans additions tea drinker. It was Queen Catherine that converted my bestie from a coffee only person to a mainly tea person.

So Harney and Sons is dear to my heart.

I am loving this blend. So often anything called Gingerbread has so much ginger or clove that I really dislike it. This one is perfect.I had it sans additions today with lunch, though it is awesome as a latte. It is perfect to lend a cozy feel to yet another super cloudy day.

I noticed that this steeps up light which got me wondering what the base is. I wonder if tossing a teaspoon of the Queen in would make it even richer. Or a teaspoon of Vanilla Black or Vanilla Comoro? Honestly that sounds heavenly and I am out of both of those, but I expect that won’t be for long, especially now.

I really shouldn’t since Superanna is bringing me some Warm Bread Pudding tea from her vacation in a few days…somebody talk me out of it.

2022 sipdown no. 62

This sample came from the lovely Cameron!

This one is quite reminiscent of gingerbread. The black tea base is unassuming and works really well. I would consider ordering this.

Wow this tea smells great! Not sure what the black tea base is, but the ginger tickles my tongue and the molasses cookie lingers at the end. Both steeps were delicious and I might need to order this one!

One of my favorites! I try to keep it stocked all year. It’s sweet, indulgent, and has the ginger zip I love without too much spice. The only bad this was that I steeped it in a nordic mug this morning and only used one bag so it was a smidge watery but it gave me an excuse to have another cup!