EDIT 1/17/15:
Having these side by side I can say now that even though the ingredients are exactly the same – they don’t taste the same. Me and my friend Mickey sat down and drank both the Downton Christmas & Comfort and Joy several times back to back and concluded that, yes, they do taste very similar, but there are subtle nuisances to each that make them their own. That’s not to say that you need them both – like I said they do taste very similar and comfort and joy is an easy switch for those who love the Downton Christmas and are afraid you won’t get anymore once it’s gone. My favorite of the two is Comfort & Joy. The Downton Christmas is just a weaker version, but still very good!
EDIT 9/16/15:
I’m not really sure what The Republic of Tea is playing at. As I commented earlier, this tea tastes quite similar to their “Comfort and Joy” tea. On a lark, I read the ingredients on the tin of the Downton Christmas Tea ….
Ingredients
Fine black tea, cinnamon, natural flavors, cloves, licorice root and apple pieces
Then, I went to their website and looked up the ingredients for “Comfort and Joy”…..
Ingredients
Fine black tea, cinnamon, natural flavors, cloves, licorice root and apple pieces
In the exact same order! I don’t have the foggiest WHY the company doesn’t just say that “Downton Christmas” is “Comfort and Joy” repackaged. Hmmm, I think I know.
Downton Christmas – 36 bags $12.00
Comfort and Joy – 50 bags $11.50
OH, and the same thing goes for Mrs. Patmore’s Pudding Tea and Vanilla Caramel Cuppa Tea …. same ingredients, same order.
WTH!?!?! So basically you’re paying more money for the exact same tea except in a collectible tin and less of it.
ORIGINAL POST:
Very good! Although, if I remember correctly, this tastes similar to The Republic of Tea’s “Comfort and Joy” (It’s been a while since I last had some). If you like that, you’ll like this.
Tastes like Christmas in a cup to me, I can’t wait to have this all winter long.