Gingerbread Brulee

Next packet of old holiday tea!

The dry leaf has a nice, ginger-forward chai aroma… I smell ginger, clove, and a subtle nutmeg aroma. Brewed 3g in 350ml 205F water for 3 minutes. The base teas lend a lot to the warm aroma, with a strong malty/baked bread undertone. Perhaps slight notes of citrus and honey, as well. The spices aren’t as overwhelming in the brewed aroma compared to dry, but they do tickle at my nose, with a warm and delicious scent. They are popping more as my teacup cools to drinking temps.

There is a nice, breakfasty base here, with a prominent ginger flavor… it’s strong, but doesn’t burn the mouth, with a sweetness there rounding out any sharp spice edges. I get a lot of the clove flavor on the sip as well. Other than the tea having a gentle sweetness to it, I’m not tasting anything I’d personally peg as creme brulee.

It’s nice… smooth enough to drink plain with no issues, but I think this will also make a nice latte, as well, which I plan to try as well.

The main flavor I taste is ginger with a decent black base underneath. You know, this really reminds me of a Teavana flavor. Maybe it was their gingerbread tea. It’s been too long. Anyway, the flavors are decent, but I do wish the brulee from the title were present in some way. When there are gingerbread teas that are so good, like B&B’s gingerbread chai, I don’t find myself craving this too much. It’s a perfectly fine tea. I don’t mind drinking it, it’s just not #1 in its category.

Mastress Alita’s sipdown challenge – December Theme: Holiday Teason Tea #17

additional notes: An advent tea from a few years ago… I wanted to try this one again with other steeping parameters, as it was one of my least favorite of Anne’s blends ever… probably because it is focused on ginger, which is not my thing at all and the first time around it mainly reminded me of ‘Ginger Cola’.  It was a little better this time, but still reminded me of ‘Ginger Cola’.  The tint of the brew itself LOOKS like cola.  A bit of the other elements are popping in though, with a delicate steep — not really “brulee” though…  I don’t think the parameter change resulted in much of a flavor change.  I will raise the rating from 67, but this was never going to be a favorite blend of mine. 
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 25 minutes after boiling // 1 1/2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 5 minute steep
Other holiday teas:  Bird & Blend – Mrs Claus’ Raspberry Prosecco (18)

This is a delightful gingerbread tea. Honestly one of the best balanced gingerbread flavors which is warm and spicy but awesomely like a cookie. I am not getting brulee 100% but I suppose that sweet is what is keeping the spice in check.

Somehow my face is burning as I drink though. I think I’m wind burned. Or perhaps I’m just in dire need of moisture.

(52teas (Anne) 2022: 245) [Final tea drank in April]
2022 Sipdown 117/365!

Never really got the brulee aspect of this tea; just a mildly gingery black. Pleasant but mostly unremarkable.

Slowed down a bit on the 52teas drinking front, with only 47 this month. I’ve been drinking somewhat less tea due to being sick (and having my sick toddler at home more), and because my 5-month-old has been significantly more fussy/only taking 30 minute naps. I’m cautiously hopeful that the tide has turned on all of these cases and I’ll have the time and inclination to drink more tea again (important because I have a nice, large batch of new 52teas coming my way very soon!!)

no sipdowns today. Need to fortify myself for today’s adventures. Not only did i do too much yesterday, but i didn’t sleep that well and today is going to be along one. Baby shower without my other half for HIS cousin (he has to work) then dinner with friends after that. Pulled this one out to try again since i know it was a decent cup of tea the first time even if it wasn’t “brulee” still not getting brulee, but the gingerspice is still a nice cup. hoping i can remember to try this as a lattee eventually as well as i think it would fare really nicely that way.

12th Day of Christmas Teas

This blend makes a nice spiced cup; with a milk substitute I found the dessert-like (caramalized sugar) qualities come out more but the ginger spice is neutralized a tad. Either way, it’s a comforting tea.

I meant to finish the last of this up in my travel mug for my first day back at work on Thursday. However, when I arrived my coworkers encouraged me to take another day or two off, as my eyes are still kind of pink and infrequently gross (those coworkers are going on a trip in a couple weeks and reaaally don’t want to catch anything). I went to the Doctor’s instead, who told me that 1) it was caused by Strep, 2) the antibiotics I was given meant my eyes shouldn’t be contagious anymore (so I could’ve technically worked), and 3) returning Monday isn’t a bad idea because I have a cough, which is also unlikely to be contagious (yay sinuses?). So.. I drank the tea at home, and that was fine too I guess.

I guess 11 days in isn’t too late to make some more New Year resolutions!

I know I’ve been pretty rough on 52teas, but this one and the Banana Pancakes one have sold me! This was fantastic! Gingerbread teas often disappoint me in not having quite enough bite, or else (less commonly) going so far overboard they hurt to drink. This was perfect! Spicy fragrance with the taste to match – truly delicious and truly gingerbread. It somehow had that cake taste, it wasn’t just a spicy chai. Well done! (Now if only I had discovered that in time to order more, lol!)

12th tea of Christmas

my first whiff of this tea was all CLOVE and I whispered ‘yessssssss’ to no one. this is so tasty. to me, this is Christmas in a tea. ginger, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, there’s some nice custard-y flavours in there too. I’m going to have to try this with almond milk later. yessss.