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Advent Calendar from Kaylee: Day 20

Ooh, this is mellow! There’s a mild mushroomy earthiness with a bit of leather aroma. Lots of minerality as it cools. Tasty!

Yawn Advent Calendar: Day 19

Not much to say about this one. It does indeed smell and taste like cardamom, although I was sad that there weren’t any actual cardamom pods/seeds in the blend. The black tea base is pretty weak and unobtrusive; I’d like a little bit more flavor there.

It’s fine but I wouldn’t seek it out again; I’d be more inclined to add cardamom to a favorite black tea of my own.

Advent Calendar from Kaylee: Day 19

OK, so this is a review for “Red Fruits” from Alice’s Tea Cup. This blend is VERY SADLY not for sale on their e-store, so I can’t provide any details for a new listing or look up the ingredients. I say “VERY SADLY” because it’s really good! It’s a black tea laced with jammy berry flavors and manages to strike a great balance between the inherent taste of the tea and the sweet berry notes. I drank it a few days ago and don’t have detailed notes, but I’m looking forward to savoring the remainder of the packet!

There’s a “Black Fruits” blend online that includes black currants, blackberries, and blueberries, and I bet that one’s yummy too.

Advent Calendar from Kaylee: Day 18

After so many flavored blends in my advents, it’s nice to receive a straight tea! I’m enjoying it this morning with the offcuts from a batch of orange biscotti I made last night. I finished the first semester of my (part-time) grad program Monday night, so I’m finally able to do some holiday baking. I’ve already got loads of goodies to bring up to my family in Rhode Island!

Anyway, this tea is simple and unfussy, which is sometimes exactly what one needs! It’s quite smooth and bright, and just a bit tannic. I typically prefer maltier and more robust black teas, but I certainly wouldn’t mind having something like this on hand for folks who prefer something a bit lighter and more crisp.

12 Teas of Christmas: Day 8

I fell hard into the late afternoon slump and went to my advent corner to find something appealing. Once I scratched off the label for today’s surprise from the 52Teas box, I knew it was exactly what I wanted!

This is a beautiful tea that smells really delightful, and I love the flavor inspiration. Brewed up, I’m getting mostly toasty notes from the rice, layered atop a gentle grassiness. The fresh mango flavor is subtle and only comes through on the back of the sip. The coconut only comes through as it cools; the mango is also more noticeable at that point — it reminds me of a slightly unripe mango with a bit of astringency. I think I want a littttle more body to it, but it’s still quite pleasant.

12 Teas of Christmas: Day 7

I really like this one! It smells amazing — first there’s a bit of maple, then some allspice, then, when you inhale reaaaalllly deeply, CARROT! Yum! Plus, the carrot bits are just adorable.

Brewed up, it’s a little heavy on the allspice for my taste; it’s overpowering the maple. I’m also finding the base really drying (which isn’t a bad thing, but just worth noting). Overall, though, it’s a really thoughtful blend and a delight to drink. Perfect for a chilly Wednesday.

Yawn Advent Calendar: Day 18

I was not thrilled to find a fruity hibiscus tisane and put off drinking it for a few days. But it’s actually pretty good, all things considered! The tartness works with this flavor profile, and I actually am getting cranberry notes followed by a mellow honey-like sweetness from the apple. It doesn’t really excite me, but it’s fine for what it is.

Advent Calendar from Kaylee: Day 17

I accidentally left the teabag in too long the first time I drank this, and it tasted like straight-up lemon floor polish. Not good! A second steep revealed a bit of the mild green base, but it still smelled acrid. I shall abstain from rating this one.

Advent Calendar from Kaylee: Day 16

My partner and I shared a few pots of this pu-erh on Sunday night, and it was a pleasant way to wrap up the weekend! I’m pretty new to pu-erh, but I really enjoyed the earthy, almost mushroom-y scent and flavor of this one. And the cute little “bird’s nest” shaped cake didn’t hurt, either!

I didn’t get much rose at all, either in scent or taste, although I could see some petals peeking through the cake.

Advent Calendar from Kaylee: Day 15

I always expect to dislike blends with cayenne/chili and then end up enjoying them! This one was quite flavorful, between the zing of lemon and the kick of cayenne. A nice little kick in the pants!