986 Tasting Notes
TTB #6
Chocolate-flavored teas aren’t usually my thing, but French tea definitely is so I gave this blend a go. What a lovely surprise! The chocolate flavor is sweet and rich and full-bodied with a note of vanilla in the scent and aftertaste. With a bit of milk, this made the perfect bedtime treat. Excited to be adding this one to my collection!
Flavors: Chocolate, Sweet, Vanilla
Preparation
TTB #4
This was a surprise! The go-to flavor for holiday blends seems to be spiced orange. This one definitely has some spice to it, but no citrus that I could detect. Instead, lots of malty black tea flavor and a bit of smokiness which blended nicely with the spice blend. A bit overpowering on its own, but quite delightful with a splash of milk!
Flavors: Clove, Malt, Nutmeg, Smoke
Preparation
TTB #3
I enjoyed this one! The flavor is surprisingly light for an Assam: sweet and smooth and fruity with just a touch of astringency. If I didn’t already have so many good straight black teas in my cupboard at the moment, I probably would have held on to this one. Hopefully it will find a good home with someone else as the box continues on its way!
Flavors: Astringent, Fruity, Raisins, Smooth, Sweet
Preparation
TTB #1
This was my first pick from the TTB, as I haven’t sampled much from Liquid Proust and am a huge Lord of the Rings fan! I was expecting this to be a smoky black tea, but it’s actually a black tea/puerh blend…disappointing to me personally, since I’m not really into puerh. The flavor is earthy and musty with a dry finish, reminding me of a forest floor blanketed with dead leaves. An interesting flavor experience (and actually fairly appropriate to the inspiration!) but not something I’d choose to drink again.
Flavors: Astringent, Autumn Leaf Pile, Drying, Earth, Musty
Preparation
I was sure after the first sip that I wasn’t going to like this one: it tasted like a straight-up hibiscus tea and I am NOT a fan of hibiscus. However, as it cools, the other flavors start to pop a bit more…I definitely get some cranberry and maybe even a hint of vanilla. Still not outstanding, but better than I thought!
Flavors: Cranberry, Hibiscus, Tart, Vanilla
Preparation
Not going to rate this one, as I’m not sure how old my sample is. I’m getting a weak apple flavor and a bit of cinnamon, but mostly the rooibos base coming through. Apple seems to be a hard flavor to get right in tea for some reason!
Flavors: Apple, Cinnamon, Rooibos
Preparation
I’ve tried a lot of bad lemon teas in my day, but this is a good one. The lemon flavor is smooth and bright and not too artificial..fake lemon can make me feel like I’m drinking a cleaning spray instead of tea! And I do get a bit of a “cake” note as well. This is one I’d definitely consider re-purchasing in the future.
Flavors: Cake, Lemon, Nutty