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The #cuppateaathon on Instagram ends Sunday so I’m trying to get in another prompt. This was about drinking a tea from your favourite mug. I wasn’t sure if the mug I picked was actually my favourite, but it’s the one I thought of when I read the prompt.

Since the mug was the focus, I could go with any tea so I did my random number generator to randomly select a tea. This was the randomly selected option. I have to say, I don’t love it. It was a touch astringent and sort of flat maple nut flavour. Just meh. I think it’s going into the swap box since someone else will probably enjoy this more than me.

There is a coffee shop near my office (several actually) called Mos Mos. People really like it but I have always ignored it because I don’t drink coffee. I got curious the other day though and noticed they had a pretty extensive chai latte list. So today while procrastinating at work, I decided to pop over and grab a Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte to meet the #cuppateaathon prompt: “Drink a Fall Blend”. However, I wasn’t wholly convinced I wanted to commit to Fall yet so I also grabbed an Iced Mango Chai Latte. Check out the pic here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUfx_hcr0cf/?utm_medium=copy_link

I started with the Mango first. It is not bad but it is very sweet. Distinctly mango, but mango syrup rather than the fruit. Mango syrup with a touch of cinnamon. And it is super creamy. It’s like a crazy smooth and creamy mango ice cream sprinkled with cinnamon.

The pumpkin spice tasted odd at first. I even made a face when I drank it. It is also very creamy and is making me think pumpkin pie. So that’s good if you’re into pumpkin pie. Like normally I expect the spices when I order “pumpkin spice”, but not the actual pumpkin flavour so that threw me – hence the face. I think this one is actually the better of the two options though.

Sipdown (211)

I wanted a black tea for the #cuppateaathon but it was late so I didn’t want a super intense black tea. This seemed more parts other ingredients than black base so it fit the bill. Thank you Sil for sharing!

This is fruity and minty. I get lime and mint mostly but some other fruits underneath. Nice enough but it doesn’t really stand out to me as super exciting or memorable. Still glad I got to try it.

Sipdown (212)

I drank most of this when sick in case my taste buds were off, but I left one serving to try when I was not sick. Having that now I am fine with this being a sipdown. It is sort of pear, a lot of cinnamon, and mostly rooibos base. Also I think the base is on its way out because its getting that gross quality that stale/old rooibos can sometimes get. So its fine but a good time to be sipped down and not a tea I need again.

This tea is up against Chocomint by Palais des Thes in my tournament today. Check out the note for Chocomint here: https://steepster.com/rachel12610/posts/423102

I think I sabotaged this because I might have forgotten about it and let it oversteep slightly. And yet, there is no bitterness or any signs that it was left too long. So I appreciate the forgiveness of this tea.

I appreciate the oil dots on top less. Given the appearance, it is less oily in the mouthfeel but does build as I keep drinking. I think that is why I prefer this as a latte since that helps cut the oil while still boosting the Andes chocolate-inspired flavour (since it is made with cut up pieces of Andes in it). The base serves as a good foundation to boost the flavour which is more chocolate mint simultaneously than Chocomint which is more chocolate that melts into a mint after taste.

I think I am appreciating the lightness of Chocomint just a bit more today and so it will take the win. Honestly though these are pretty on par and probably could have gone either way depending what I was in the mood for.

Final battle of the first round of my mini tournament is this tea, Chocomint vs Dirty Girl Scout by The NecessiTeas. Check out the tasting note for Dirty Girl Scout here: https://steepster.com/rachel12610/posts/423103

This is an oolong chocolate mint tea that goes with cacao pieces instead of actual chocolate to get the flavour across. Between the base and the cacao, this is at a slight disadvantage based on my preferences. That said, it is a cleaner/lighter mouthfeel than Dirty Girl Scout. It brews up lighter and no oil dots on top.

Tastewise it is smooth and very natural tasting. Dark chocolate with a slight mint finish. It makes me think of an after eight with a hint of floral from the base. This is compared to a more Andes inspired milk chocolate mint of Dirty Girl Scout.

Both are pretty even so ultimately it was based on my mood and today the lighter/cleaner flavour is speaking to me more. Chocomint wins!

In the battle between this tea and Matcha Key Lime Pie by Dessert by Deb, this tea pushed ahead. Both are bright citrus dessert blends but the matcha in the other weighs it down just a touch. Check out the review of Matcha Key Lime Pie here for a more thorough overview of the how the teas compare: https://steepster.com/teas/dessert-by-deb/97915-matcha-key-lime-pie?post=423050

Today’s round in the tea tournament is this tea, Matcha Key Lime Pie vs Lemonberry Whip by 52 Teas aka Battle of the Citrus Dessert Teas. Check out the tasting note for Lemonberry Whip here: https://steepster.com/rachel12610/posts/423052

I purposely skipped over this battle yesterday so that this tea could do double duty and be both my tournament tea and my #MatchaMonday drink. And keeping on trend with my own Matcha Monday tradition, this got paired with this week’s read: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. Check out the pic of that here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUVZeBhLZSJ/?utm_medium=copy_link

This tea is nicer than I expected. Sometimes I get nervous with matcha blends but this is both dessert-like without being overly sweet. I get more lime in the scent than the flavor but its there. What took me by surprise is the pie crust element that seems to be coming through. I think it is from the coconut which is buttery and creamy and thus helping convey both the crust and the filling simultaneously. It’s quite nice actually.

Actually both this tea and Lemonberry Whip are quite evenly matched – sweet but not overly so. Still feel like you are enjoying dessert. Bright citrus notes in both. I find there is a slightly umami/grassiness from the matcha that isn’t really my preference and for that reason, Lemonberry Whip just pushed ahead. Both are good options though.

Pitting this tea against 52 Teas’ Radioactive Marshmallow and both are lovely. Check out my tasting note for Radioactive Marshmallow here: https://steepster.com/teas/52teas/97295-radioactive-marshmallow?post=422987

Both teas are new to me and I started with Radioactive Marshmallow. I genuinely didn’t think this tea would be able to put up much of a fight but its holding its own. Like Radioactive marshmallow, this is simple – smooth honey and a medium-bodied black base. Where the marshmallow sits on top of the base, the honey sort of lingers underneath. That makes the start of the sip a little more earthy/woody. It ends on a sweet honey note that lingers on the tongue.

Both are solid options but I think Radioactive Marshmallow squeaks ahead just because I tend to reach for marshmallow teas more often than honey and that tea puts flavor first and base second. As someone who drinks flavored teas more often, that means I will likely reach for it more but both are really nice.