191 Tasting Notes
I was intrigued but skeptical about this herbal tea. I wasn’t sure chicory root and carob would do the job of a chocolate flavor, but I was pleasantly surprised! The peppermint flavor is strong and sweet, and there is a nice roasty, chocolatey note to balance it. It is not the most chocolatey tea I’ve ever had, but it is perfect for an after dinner tea. I am interested to try it with a little soymilk and sugar, although I think the flavors probably will be best on their own.
I have to admit I’ve never had rumchata, but I love horchata and rum flavor. This tea is a delicious tribute to the two. The combination with the toasted rice flavor of the gemaicha is perfect. This time I had it plain, but next time I might add some soy milk/soy creamer.
I was hoping for a variation on the Gingerbread Chai from a year or so back, and this didn’t quite deliver. It doesn’t have the spiciness of the chai. However, the sweet coffee cake flavor is delightfully apparent when the tea is not oversteeped, and there is a hint of spiciness. I recommend adding a little brown sugar — maybe next time I’ll be adventurous and try molasses. I would definitely recommend green tea steeping temps for this one (175F) to bring out the delicate flavors.
I have to admit that this reminds me a lot of Bigelow’s Lemon Lift. I actually really like that tea, but I somehow didn’t put together that a lemon chai would be similar to that. It makes me want to do a side by side taste test. I think this offering from 52teas is a little sweeter and more nuanced, but I could be mistaken. Either way, I do enjoy this tea hot and am looking forward to trying it iced, with soymilk and sugar, etc.
It’s a comfort tea sort of day. Is it weird that I’m drinking a winter holiday tea in the middle of summer? Well, no matter. I have mixed feelings that I seem to only have me bag left. I might miss the tea, but I could use the space. I used to prefer the Celestial Seasonings gingerbread herbal tea, but last winter I found I liked the subtle lemony flavor and cookie undertones of this one.
The first time I made this tea, I found the pu-erh flavor was too strong and I couldn’t taste the coconut. There was an overwhelming bitterness. This time, I tried steeping for a shorter time (2 and a half minutes), and result is much more enjoyable. The earthy pu-erh is balanced by the subtle sweetness of the coconut. The flavors come through best after the tea has cooled a bit, and I suspect this would make a great iced tea.
