70

Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer: Day 3

Deb always does the most with her blend names… and this one is actually quite restrained! :D

I have an odd weekly schedule these days. I’m at my internship M/W/F, then home T/Th for freelancing, homework, etc. Today is a home-day Tuesday, so I’m snuggled up on the couch with two dogs, one blanket, one cup of tea, and one bowl of oatmeal. It’s a bright, sunny day, but windy and cold, and I feel super cozy.

…however! After settling in, I got started on some freelance editing and neglected my tea and oatmeal. So I’m only just trying this tea now, and it’s lukewarm. Ah well. All the better to taste the flavors.

First impression is that this is a pleasantly mild spice tea. I’m getting ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon most predominantly, but they’re not overwhelming. The rooibos comes through very faintly, and more in scent than taste. There’s definitely a lightly bready note that’s evocative of cake (oops, sorry, “snack cake” XD), but I’m not getting any caramel except on the verrrrry back of a sip, and the vanilla is also minimal.

It’s interesting that this is a black/rooibos blend, because it really lets the spice cake flavors shine. I think I’d prefer a smidge more black tea to give it a bit of backbone, but that’s personal preference.

Overall it’s pretty smooth and pleasant, and not too sweet despite the maple and sugar. Deb suggests making it as a latte, and I bet it’d be excellent that way.

A very nice and seasonally appropriate mornin’ tea!

Flavors: Bread, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger, Rooibos, Smooth

Courtney

This sounds like a lovely day, even with lukewarm tea!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

People who liked this

Comments

Courtney

This sounds like a lovely day, even with lukewarm tea!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

(she/her)

I was an anxious child who didn’t like change, so when my parents flew across the country for my grandfather’s wedding and left us kids with my aunt and uncle, I was a nervous wreck. Our first night at their house was tough. I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and padded into the kitchen, where my aunt was puttering around. She could tell I was distressed and offered to make me a cup of tea. It was just Celestial Seasonings’ peppermint tea, but it was exactly what I needed. The tea itself, the comfort it represented, the ritual of making it… I was enchanted. I’ve loved tea ever since.

I’m partial to strong, intense flavors and prefer loose-leaf to bagged, but I also appreciate the convenience of bags and sachets. I mostly drink my tea straight but once in a blue moon I’ll add a little plant-based milk, generally oat.

I live in Maryland, USA, with my partner, three dogs, and one cat. I’ve actually been a Steepster reader for years and years, but only started posting in late 2021. :)

When I’m not drinking tea (or sometimes WHILE I’m drinking tea!) I’m reading, rewatching comfort shows, going for a run, knitting, embroidering, hiking, or puttering in the garden. You can find me on Instagram at @kelmishka. (My account is private, but feel free to send a request!)

Favorite ingredients, flavors, etc.

Maple (all-time fave flavor!), vanilla, caramel, and all things dessert-y

Jasmine, lavender, violet, and most floral flavors

Most spices, although I go through phases and sometimes get bored of generic-feeling winter spice blends

Most fruity flavors

Matcha and other vegetal flavors

Not-so-favorite ingredients, flavors, etc.

Bergamot (I tolerate it, but it just doesn’t do it for me)

Hibiscus

Overly artificial flavors (banana, coconut, mango)

Overly herbacious blends, although this varies!

Stevia, monkfruit, and other sugar-alternative sweeteners — blech

Chocolate — it’s hard to get it right in tea, though I love real chocolate!

Animal products, including honey (long-time vegan checking in!)

My ratings

90-100: The best! Will almost definitely repurchase.

75-90: Really good, and potentially worthy of a restock.

60-75: Decent, if not terribly memorable.

50-60: In the “meh” range, but possibly for personal taste reasons.

35-50: I’m not a fan, and this is not very good tea.

20-35: Varying degrees of bad.

1-20: Actively bad. Like really bad. I can’t imagine anyone disagreeing.

Location

Maryland, USA

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer