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Cameron B. drank Random Steepings by Various Artists

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DIY Herbal Infusion Advent Calendar 2024 – Day 1
Name: Citrus Fizz
Ingredients: green honeybush, lemon, grapefruit, basil, thyme
Movie: Die Hard

Totally forgot to write a note for this last night! Instead of buying a hot chocolate advent, this year I made a DIY advent with 25 homemade herbal infusions, to enjoy with my holiday movie each night.

This first one was a lovely, pleasantly tangy citrus tisane. Green honeybush is so tasty, and I hope we start to see it in blends in the future. I purchased it out of curiosity, when I was ordering regular honeybush from Davidson’s. It has such a nice, mellow, and somewhat fruity flavor to it that reminds me of apricot. Anyway, a great base for a fruity blend such as this one. There was more basil than thyme, because to me thyme can be quite overpowering if there’s more than a tiny pinch. Just enough savory, herby flavor to add some interest and remind me of some sort of craft mocktail!

Only critique I have is there was some bitterness from the grapefruit. Obviously grapefruit is naturally bitter, but I wonder if I removed the peel before I dried it, if that would help reduce that quality. Something to try next time! :)

Also, I sent a copy of this advent to my sister, who expressed interest when I told her about it. She loved this one and requested a tin, LOL!

Flavors: Apricot, Basil, Bitter, Citrus, Fresh, Fruity, Grapefruit, Grassy, Herbs, Lemon, Savory, Smooth, Tangy, Thyme

Preparation

200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec 8 OZ / 236 ML

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2025 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- February sipdowns: 5
- Total 2025 sipdowns: 39

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia (or monkfruit, etc.).

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing