Pink Prosecco

Drank this sample coldbrewed… it probably needed more leaf than I used per batch but I wanted to stretch it to a few liter pitchers.

I enjoy wine teas as it is a beverage I can’t have due to my chronic migraine diagnosis, though this one misses the mark for me, because it lacks that sort of “effervescent” mouthfeel of an “alcoholic” tea. But despite that disappointment, there is a gentle fruitiness to the flavor and a silkiness to the liquour, with a subtle sweet floral undertone… oddly enough, the flavor most reminds me of strawberries and cream. It looks like the actual red fruit in this blend is raspberry, but it lacks any tangy/tart elements that would make me read the note as raspberry over strawberry… the hibiscus doesn’t seem to do much in terms of flavor and only in color. Perhaps if I had made a stronger infusion and treated this more as a fruit tea in terms of the amount of leaf I use instead of as an oolong it would’ve been a bit punchier, but I’m not upset with the soft strawberry and floral notes I am tasting.

Definitely could’ve been improved by that effervescent “wine” note, though.

I had a lovely Festivus yesterday consisting of naps with the cat, reading manga, a bubblebath with cheerful Celtic music playing in the background, and ordering in pizza. Happy holidays to all, whether you are a traditionalist or more off the beaten path like me. :-)

I had Prosecco only once and that was after very long and tiring inventory check (part-time job) while I was hungry, tired and wanted to be home. I got drunk from that little bottle quite a lot, more than I wanted to admit… but that’s trouble of being hungry and drinking. My fault. So, that said, I can’t really recall the taste, but it wasn’t that bad at all.

This tea wasn’t much similar as much I can recall. I had it in the morning, but it was that forgettable, that I completely forgot writing a note and thinking about the tea.

It wasn’t bad. But calling it Pink Prosecco? Not sure… it was nicely flavored red fruits tea. I noticed raspberries that are in, and some orange peels. Good, at leasted it tasted like the ingredients. Some decent tartness from hibiscus, welcomed, but overpowering the oolong. Actually I haven’t thought I was brewing some blend with actual tea in!

I will finish the pouch. But nothing is telling me I should order a bit more of this tea.

Sipdown! (17 | 469)

This one is sort of just bland.

Even highly overleafed, it still tastes a bit weak. And the taste is mostly just mild hibiscus and rosehips with some apple. The oolong is present only as a sparkling minerality and a thicker mouthfeel.

Meh.

Discovery Advent Tea #20
Reminds me of a Teavana blend. Kinda sweet like stevia. Nutty with slight chai spice.

A sample from the sale!  What a magical blend this sounded like: oolong with the unique combination of pear, raspberry, orange blossom.  Sadly hibiscus.  I can tell the hibiscus is TAMED though, as the brew always results in a gorgeous blush pink color and not the bright red of hibiscus overload.   The brew is lovely to look at in a clear mug.  However, there is a bit of tartness that tends to take over anyway. I hope some of this tartness is from the raspberry. I can’t really taste pear or orange blossom which is a shame.  The aroma of pear is certainly in the blend and I know B&B can do pear teas well (Jasmine Poached Pears).   It reminds me of another of B&B’s blends —  I’m not sure which, but it’s another blend with the promise of great flavors but the result is just a slight sour fruit flavor… no hint of oolong… there are so many big fruit pieces here, so I’m just a bit disappointed.  Two teaspoons should be plenty flavorful for a mug. Full disclosure: I’ve never had prosecco.
Steep #1  // 2 teaspoons for full mug // 20 minutes after boiling  // 1 minute steep
Steep #2  // 13 minutes after boiling //  2 minute steep
Steep #3 // just boiled // 3 min