Traditional Plum Pudding (Holiday Series: Yule)

i promise you that there ARE teas other than butiki teas in my cupboard though i’m pretty sure the ratio, at least in terms of sheer volume leans towards Butiki, Verdant and Upton at the moment. I apparently just got on to a Butiki kick earlier and haven’t gotten off. I still have a few samples that i’d like to try so i suspect there will be other non Stacy teas coming soon but we’ll see. Mostly i’m trying to take some time today to get working on the teas that I haven’t had a chance to really sit with and savour lately.

So this tea…I have no idea if this is close to plum pudding, but i do rather like the plum and spice that this tea provides. I had a cup of this with a small piece of brownie and the chocolate only served to enhance and bring out the plum notes. Delicious!

I cheated and sipped before writing anything.

Yum.

I’m getting hints of spice, creaminess, sweetness. My only complaint?! It is too subtle! Perhaps I will try using more tea and a shorter infusion next time to get out a bit more flavour, because I’m quite liking what I’m tasting. I was very skeptical of the infusion temperature (gotta look to see which oolong is the base…) but it seems to have worked pretty well here. Like others, I also don’t really know what plum pudding is supposed to taste like, but I can envision that the proper combination of flavours is present in here, just very subtly.

Looking forward to experimenting more with this one!

ETA: Just finished the last of this up cold (well, room temp but my room is like 17C). Deeeeeelicious. Got more flavour. I’m so looking forward to trying another cup!

It is mostly Dammann December up in my tasting notes, but I did actually have something different yesterday for breakfast.

I’m still trying to hold steady to my no more than 75 teas rule, which presents a problem as I have a huge Butiki order coming in, and a need for all the Dammann teas. So, cleanout time has been commenced. This is not a sipdown but I only have a cup or so left and wanted something holiday-y and rich so it fit the bill.

Served with milk, no sugar. 2 tsp. to a 10 oz. cup.

The milk always helps this get more of a pudding-y texture. It is quite fruity with some good bread notes, a hint of spice. The sips aren’t consistent, some more flavorful than others, but it did give me a cozy holiday cup to celebrate that I will be off work for 5! whole! days!

Sipdown (175/179)!

I thought this would be a nice way to start off my morning and, surprise, it was a sipdown too! That’s pretty awesome; I’ve been trying to work my way through this one – and I’ve sent it to several people as of late in an effort to decrease my supply of it.

I do really enjoy it though, even if I don’t plan on restocking: while it’s good it’s just not so great that I feel the need to have it around yearly because it’s not really an “everyday” kind of tea. Maybe I’ll make an exception and order it again around Christmas, though.

This cup was especially delightful because it was plummy with wavering notes of orange and spice in just the right amounts to give it some depth and life and then the sips finished off on a rum soaked bread type of note. It was a great final memory to have of this blend.

Farewell TPP: another Butiki blend out of the cupboard so I can make way for many more! That order is getting even closer to becoming a reality…

I kind of forgot I owned this tea – found it in a quest for an oolong blend to drink at the bottom of my tin full of Butiki Teas.

OMG I’m so cranky after cleaning the kitchen! After that, I needed something oolongly with a piece of polvoron (filipino shortbread cookie). Very tasty! Weighty, cream, plum and a bit of savory notes at the end. Back to being cranky in the kitchen.

Thank you so much for the sample Stacy!! This is so unique, and smooth! yummm. I have no idea what plum pudding is supposed to taste like. However, this is certainly not what I imagined.
The first steep was… kinda odd. Wondering if I should have rinsed it?
As it cooled, I got alot of citrus. I actually thought I took the wrong mug, as mum likes her tea really light, with a slice of lemon. You know that drying sensation that sometimes accompanies Darjeeling teas? the one that’s made stronger with a pinch of lemon? Yep, that’s what I taste.
The second steep is much better. Still very citrusy, but there is a slight eggy pudding note as well.
I suspect that I got an extra chunk or ten of orange in my scoop so won’t rate this just yet. Looking forward to a third steep :)

I think I need to use more leaf next time and be a little more careful about steep time. (A variable temperature kettle will defintitely be put on my Christmas list this year) The flavor of both the tea and plum was very light. I was kind of expecting more spice too.

What I did get from the plum was nice a natural- a little bit tart, but nothing a little brown sugar couldn’t fix! Reserving judgement on this tea until I try different steep parameters.

I’ve never had plum pudding, but I really wanted to try this tea. Smelling the dry leaves, it’s amazing and delicious baked Christmassy scents. This doesn’t 100% transfer over to the steeped cup, but then I’ve been eating dinner and drinking a soda while also sipping on this tea. My tastebuds don’t know which end is up.

As the tea cools, it’s getting a little… bitter or something. But it’s practically cold and I didn’t use a fine strainer, so there is a little bit of dust in the bottom of my cup.

I do like the delicate desserty flavour. The flavours seem to all support each other, and none specifically stands out, except maybe the rum. Maybe. I’ll have to try this with sugar next time.

I also don’t think this will do so well in a travel mug. Oh well. A tea to enjoy after work or on the weekends – I can get behind that.

(Also looks like I used WAY too hot of water. Oops. I steeped it like I do black teas.)

Harpy HolidaZe, everyone!

I placed an order with Stacy @ Butiki on thurs, & it actually came today! Thanks, Stacy! You are awesome!

My main reason for ordering was to get a few more of those cute little Earthen Gaiwans she carries. They are absolutely adorable & 2 of them will be for gifts. Of course, I had to get a little tea also, so one of the teas I got was this Plum Pudding. I don’t really get into a lot of flavored teas, & I have no idea what plum pudding tastes like. I added a little stevia to mine, and it is fruity, a rich stone-fruit taste. There’s also some orange, & a little cinnamon in there. It’s sweet & slightly tart, & delicious!

Actually it reminds me of the stewed prunes I used to make, which included prunes (of course), water to cover, a sliced up orange, & a cinnamon stick. You can also include a lemon instead of an orange. Let it simmer until the prunes plump up & the remaining juices are thick & sweet. You can also cook it in a crock pot over night. You can also include other dried fruits. I made a variation once that was dried apricots instead, with thin slices of ginger…
We used to eat these in the middle of a bowl of oatmeal, or on buttery toast, or in a bowl full of yogurt, or by themselves. Thanks for the memories!

Stacy RULES!
Thanks!!!!

Dry this smells like a glorious Plum/Cream Pudding flavor!
It infuses to a warming orange/brown color.

After infusing this smells like Plum, Sugary/Creamy Pudding, a bit of cinnamon/sugar, and a hint of citrus. It’s an aroma all of it’s own! Ahhh!

Oh my!
It’s not shy!

It’s right around medium strength and is a cross between a weaker black and a medium strength and slightly roasted oolong. It has a lovely base!

It has an amazing custardy type taste and texture. Yes! First it’s the pudding likeness then followed by the plum, then the orange, a bit of spice, and a little floral hint, too. The after taste is a combo of the Pudding, Plum, and Cinnamon – it’s really fantastic!

The sugary notes play around with you a little – and pop in and out – throughout the sipping experience!

WOW!

Just. Wow!

The more I sip this the more I like it! The flavors bounce around a little but all stay within the product description, too!

Really Wonderful! LOVE this!