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It seems nice and smooth, no harshness that I am detecting either hot or cold and it is standing up well to full boiling water for steeping purposes.

However, I honestly can’t really identify what I am tasing. Its not quite a roasted flavor, but it has some similar vibes.
There’s a little sweetness as it cools, though less noticeable when hot.

Overall, not really my thing, but there’s nothing objectionable about it.

Made a cold brew over night and it does tone the bitterness down, but its still there sitting right outside of tolerable.

Most people are still going to want to add a sweetener of some kind.

Mixed about 50/50 with an orange pekoe cold brew. Flavor is unsurprisingly diminished, but there is still some of the flavor there. Bitterness is tamed, but still there in the aftertaste.

Might be able to sip it down this way.

Hot, this isn’t bad. While I wouldn’t agree with honey tones, I do get a bit of a sweet vibe, maybe more towards fruity than honey.
The texture is smooth and there is a bit of thicker mouth feel than I would have normally expected.

As it cools, however, the flavor turns a bit. Its a little harsher and drier. Not bad, but less pleasant than it comes across as hot.

There might be a generic spice type scent to the leaves and brew, but nothing comes across in the flavor.

Its ok and I’ll finish my sample, but not something I will repurchase.

Its not bad. Not great, but not bad. I suspect its the citrus/vanilla combination that keeps it from being a favorite of mine.

I mostly buy it because its an office favorite and I enjoy watching others enjoy it. :)

Cinnamon Oolong is no longer offered and I used my last bit for a final pot today.

Happy because I get to drink it today.
Sad because today is the end.
sniff

Usually with these blends I can’t really tell much about the individual teas that are in them. but for this one, I could.

First sip and my immediate response was, OMG that’s foul!

Second sip and I kept thinking about lawn mower clippings and over boiled greens of an unidentified type.
Isn’t this supposed to basically be an earl gray? Isn’t there supposed to be bergamot in it?

And then I looked at the ingredients. That’s right, this is a black/green blend which might explain some of the flavors I’m getting. But its completely overriding the bergamot almost completely and I didn’t realize that was possible.

Even as it cools. I sip and I think maybe there might be some bergamot there and then BOOM!!!! BOILED GRASS IN YOUR FACE!

And I thought bergamot could overpower just about anything. :)

Have tried this a couple of times now but first chance making notes.

First steep does have a lovely raisin flavor to it. A little sweeter than I would like, but its nice. Base seems to be nothing special. It doesn’t fight with the raisin flavor but doesn’t seem to have much of its own to add into the mix. It does seem smooth and isn’t competing however.

Second steep is much less raisin. Base still seems smooth and still not adding much to the experience.

Third steep I very badly over stepped because work.
There’s no raisin flavor now. Base is harsh and a bit bitter. Kind of expected that.

Overall, this is ok. Think of it as a flavored tea. The first steep is pleasant and then it drops from there. I recommend one steep and then move on to something else.

I want to like this so much.
Opening the tin is a delight and smells so wonderful.

This time I tossed the tea into my pot which still has the leaves I’ve been steeping all day. I thought maybe a bit of an extra base in there might help.

Freshly piping hot and it smells so good. Even the taste is good with that lovely warm ginger.

But as it cool the ginger steps back and the orange and especially clove take center stage. And I just can’t tolerate that combination. Actually I suspect its more the clove than anything else. I’m really developing a dislike for it.

Having this mixed with another black tea isn’t really making any difference.

I’m planning on another order next fall. I’ll have to give Gingerbread Festival a try and see if it suits me better.

I’ve been having a cup or two in the evenings and I am still really enjoying myself.

Maple is what I’m noticing the most now, both in scent and flavor with ginger and cinnamon in the background. I do wish the ginger was standing out just a little bit more.

This isn’t an excellent tea, but it has been a lot of fun to drink, especially with this cold snap we’ve been getting. It brings up images of being curled up under a warm blanket while its cold, wet, and blustery outside.

It does not resteep well. The flavor is weaker on the 2nd, and the 3rd is just hopeful thinking more than anything else. But none of this is surprising for a flavored tea.

While not my thing personally, I can completely see this as a latte, steeped strongly, with maybe a hint of sweetener to enhance the maple.

I suspect this will be a rebuy next fall.

2022 mini

Really should stop expecting that I could make notes on anything on a Monday morning, regardless of how early I get into the office.

Mostly drunk cold because Monday, but I only have one mini left and I want to try to get something in.

Its ok. Not really my thing. Had an interesting flavor when it gets cold but I’m just not able to put a name to it. Gets a bit astringent when it gets cold too. I don’t think it was this noticeable when it was warm.