465 Tasting Notes
I brewed this nice and strong this morning, it’s an almost sipdown, I think I have about a tsp left. This does make a bold cup of Assam, coppery, astringent, and just a hint of a bitter aftertaste. It’s not very complex or malty, but it is a fair example of an Assam. Don’t think I need any more of this, but it was ok while sipping down.
Flavors: Astringent, Metallic
Tea advent – this is very nice, smooth, and yeasty. The first steep was a bit more balanced, with cocoa notes and no bitterness. Smells more cocoa than it tastes. The second steep is mostly yeasty and malty, like the grain mixture before its fermented into beer. There’s a striking difference between the first and second steep, I actually forgot it was steeping so it went a bit long, but that didn’t help the second steep retain much of the depth of the first. In all it was a yummy tea, glad I got to try it.
Flavors: Cocoa, Malt, Yeasty
A balanced blend where peppermint and cream are the stars and the black base takes a back seat. I got three delicious steeps from this with the peppermint fading a bit by the last steep. It’s not a very complex tea, but it does peppermint well and isn’t artificial. I’d be tempted to get more of this one!
Flavors: Cream, Peppermint
I was disappointed in the first steep of this tea, as it was rather bland. I tried a second steep, and actually forgot it was brewing, so it steeped a good while. It was very forgiving in that it was not bitter after oversteeping, and the blackberry was much more prominent. Overall it was just ok.
Flavors: Blackberry
I got this tea sample as an add on in my advent swap with SkySamurai, thanks!
There’s a lot going on in this tea, and not surprisingly it’s a blend of three different teas. The vanilla and chocolate flavors are subtle and not artificial tasting. There is enough spice to keep things interesting. I did two steeps and the dark chocolate was more pronounced in the first, but not bitter. The vanilla is coming through more in the second steep, along with the chai spices. A nice enjoyable warming cup that I might not need in my cupboard but I’d be tempted to add to an order.
Flavors: Cardamom, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Clove, Mint, Vanilla
Cardamom and clove chai? Yes.
Comforting? Maybe.
I wish this had more cinnamon or ginger, it’s kinda boring. I added some new sweetener I’m trying out, agave inulin powder, to the second steep. I’m more interested in how slightly sweet this is than the tea.
I think this one needs a new recipe worked up. I don’t think the flavorings held on like I hoped they would.
The first steep was a bit clove heavy, but then I did brew it strong. There is a caramel/apple flavored aftertaste. Second steep is much more fruity, lots of sweet apple, the clove is gone, and there is a slight caramel note. I did a third steep for 10 minutes, and it’s the most balanced of the three, no clove, but the caramel/apple/cinnamon is weaker but certainly still there. This was a nice warming cup but I’m not sure I need it in my cupboard.
Flavors: Apple, Caramel, Cinnamon, Clove
Advent tea
Anise was the first thing I smelled and tasted in this first steep. There is a sweet cinnamon note lingering too. Can’t taste any of the bitter, smoky mate, and the clove/cardamom you’d expect from a chai is muted as well. This is a nice warming cinnamon, licorice chai. A nice choice for a tea advent!
Thanks to steepster I can now scratch off to see what advent tea I am drinking instead of peeling the sticker off(and trying to decipher what is left underneath).
The first cup was yummy, chocolate and creamy, with a hint of mint at the end? Not sure about the caramel flavoring in the first steep, but it replaces the marshmallow in the second steep and I’m getting weaker chocolate with the caramel. Overall an enjoyable cup, but I liked the chocolate covered snowballs better. Maybe I just don’t think marshmallows belong in tea, they belong in hot chocolate. Glad I got a taste of this though, I am enjoying this advent.
Flavors: Caramel, Chocolate, Cream
It takes a bit if effort, and you might use a coin or knife, but she put scratchable stickers over the tea names. I put the tea in my infuser then I scratched to see the name. Makes a bit of a mess, but it’s better than trying to peel the sticker.