I still don’t get the cherry flavor. Which I completely don’t get, because I had pieces of cherry in the dry mix I brewed. Anyway, today I got more of the vanilla flavor that people talk about, after it had cooled off. It seems like a lovely white, I don’t dislike the base. I just don’t get why I miss the flavor boat on this one. I even brewed it for five minutes just to try and get the flavor. Argh.
Preparation
People who liked this
Comments
I do get the cherries on this one, and I steep for 4 minutes at 175 (I have the Breville one touch, which is the only reason I know that…). So maybe a tiny bit colder on the water? Also, the flavor is more of a cherry almond than a pure cherry in my experience – if that helps at all as far as pinning down the flavor.
I don’t, however, get the pancake taste from the pancake breakfast blend unless I add sweetener to it – it’s a black tea with a strong maple scent if I leave it unadulterated. I added that because I saw that the pancake blend was one you managed to taste fully.
Maybe with both teas it’s a case of just having taste buds sensitive to different things? Or maybe it’s in the preparation method/steep time? That pancake blend is one I’ve been trying to get right for a while and it’s eluded me so far – if you have any tips I’m open to it!
Anyway, sorry that this was both very long and very unsolicited – feel free to disregard it. I just wanted to let you know I totally get the frustration of knowing you are SO CLOSE to an amazing cup of tea, if only you could just figure it out! :)
I will try going slightly colder with the cherries jubilee on the next go-round. I did notice on a lot of the tasting noes that people did 175 degrees, so maybe that will do the trick. That whole not-getting the flavor business? It’s like not being invited to the cool kids party all over again.
As far as the pancake breakfast tea goes, mine had cooled quite a bit before I actually had any. That was when the buttery, pancakey flavor came out. Before that it was more the maple syrup with hints of the other flavors. I was amazed at how much more clear the different flavors were once it had cooled. Which is rather sad, since I’m a fan of piping hot tea (which may be why I miss so many flavors).I don’t tend to taste what I’m “supposed” to taste. I read all these tasting notes, and rarely do I get what other people get. Sometimes I think (okay, wish) that it was just other people blowing smoke and that I’m not unusual in my lack of “I taste X feature”. I don’t know that my sense of taste is discriminating enough to pick up different flavors. Sometimes I think that while I want a sophisticated, nuanced palate, the reality is my palate runs more toward Cheez Whiz and Bud Light.
Thanks so much on the pancake breakfast advice – I do like my tea to be hot and I tend to try and drink it before it cools too much, so that could definitely be why I’m missing out.
My palate is still being developed with respect to tea, in that I can get a flavor if it’s been suggested, but I won’t be able to place it without the extra help most of the time. I am enjoying the learning process though – that’s half the fun of tea drinking I think. Outside of tea, my palate normally runs on the Cheez Whiz/cheap beer spectrum as well. :)
Anyway, good luck with the Cherries Jubilee – I’ll look forward to your next tasting note!
I do get the cherries on this one, and I steep for 4 minutes at 175 (I have the Breville one touch, which is the only reason I know that…). So maybe a tiny bit colder on the water? Also, the flavor is more of a cherry almond than a pure cherry in my experience – if that helps at all as far as pinning down the flavor.
I don’t, however, get the pancake taste from the pancake breakfast blend unless I add sweetener to it – it’s a black tea with a strong maple scent if I leave it unadulterated. I added that because I saw that the pancake blend was one you managed to taste fully.
Maybe with both teas it’s a case of just having taste buds sensitive to different things? Or maybe it’s in the preparation method/steep time? That pancake blend is one I’ve been trying to get right for a while and it’s eluded me so far – if you have any tips I’m open to it!
Anyway, sorry that this was both very long and very unsolicited – feel free to disregard it. I just wanted to let you know I totally get the frustration of knowing you are SO CLOSE to an amazing cup of tea, if only you could just figure it out! :)
I will try going slightly colder with the cherries jubilee on the next go-round. I did notice on a lot of the tasting noes that people did 175 degrees, so maybe that will do the trick. That whole not-getting the flavor business? It’s like not being invited to the cool kids party all over again.
As far as the pancake breakfast tea goes, mine had cooled quite a bit before I actually had any. That was when the buttery, pancakey flavor came out. Before that it was more the maple syrup with hints of the other flavors. I was amazed at how much more clear the different flavors were once it had cooled. Which is rather sad, since I’m a fan of piping hot tea (which may be why I miss so many flavors).I don’t tend to taste what I’m “supposed” to taste. I read all these tasting notes, and rarely do I get what other people get. Sometimes I think (okay, wish) that it was just other people blowing smoke and that I’m not unusual in my lack of “I taste X feature”. I don’t know that my sense of taste is discriminating enough to pick up different flavors. Sometimes I think that while I want a sophisticated, nuanced palate, the reality is my palate runs more toward Cheez Whiz and Bud Light.
Thanks so much on the pancake breakfast advice – I do like my tea to be hot and I tend to try and drink it before it cools too much, so that could definitely be why I’m missing out.
My palate is still being developed with respect to tea, in that I can get a flavor if it’s been suggested, but I won’t be able to place it without the extra help most of the time. I am enjoying the learning process though – that’s half the fun of tea drinking I think. Outside of tea, my palate normally runs on the Cheez Whiz/cheap beer spectrum as well. :)
Anyway, good luck with the Cherries Jubilee – I’ll look forward to your next tasting note!