Custard Apple (Cherimoya) Herbal Tea

This is hands down my favorite ATM. Its so delicious, its a decadent treat. For those that have tried cherimoya, this taste like the fruit in the best possible way. I love having it as a latte, its perfect. It has a smooth creamy silky taste, with the hint of desert apple and cream.

This is my evening cup tonight. A small sample from Plum Deluxe. It’s quite nice. Green rooibos tends not to have the heavy woody flavor, which I appreciate. Red Rooibos is good for heavy spice teas, but this is fairly light and dessert-y, and the red rooibos would have ruined it. It is good, but as it cools it ends with a slightly soapy flavor, which may be the rose petals. Not a fan of floral teas. So I will not be ordering any of this. But glad I got to try it.

Sipdown (196)

Made this as a hot tea last night. Left the tea steeping in it and only took the teabag out today in the afternoon. I’m only now drinking it.

This is fine. Sweet apple. Fairly crisp apple actually. The slightest touch of creaminess but not overtly custard.

Well, after Googling “Cherimoya” (I’m Idahoan, any fruit or veg more exotic than the humble potato is likely something I have never heard of or tasted) I am very wary about this tea… many sites are comparing the flavor of this South American fruit to banana, and anyone that takes the time to read what I write here on Steepster knows I am the one person that hates banana teas. But… it isn’t just like, a general dislike. We’re talking extreme aversion. To the extremes that if someone is eating a banana in the same room as me I’ll retch, or if I smell the peel in a breakroom garbage can, it’ll set off my gag reflex. Everything about the taste, smell, texture, and even artificial banana sets me off. I don’t know why I’m this way. No other food is like that for me.

So, here is this cup of green rooibos (and I really like green rooibos!) steeping in front of me. I don’t smell banana coming off the cup, at least… more of a pineapple/papaya aroma, with a slight hint of stonefruit. I taste… mostly peach? Yes, I think I’m tasting peach, with this sort of tropical (that pineapple/papaya flavor) aftertaste. A little pear-like, as well. Maybe my Idahoan palate just doesn’t really know what to compare this fruity flavor too. Surprisingly, I’m not really even getting apple, despite the fruit being called a “custard apple.” But I can’t taste banana, at least.

I’m not sure how I feel about it… what I’m tasting is like a weird fruit salad combination, and while I like any of these elements in their own right, I’m not sure how I feel about this peach/pineapple/papaya/pear salad. It is definitely interesting, and I’m glad to expand my palate in that regard, but I don’t think this is something I would care to have around… maybe as iced tea? Hmm… With this small of amount of leaf I prepared a warm cuppa, but I am now thinking that perhaps this would have sat better with me as a cold brew. If we ever cross paths again, perhaps!

Plum Deluxe Advent Calendar – Day 5

Okay, I had no idea wtf a cherimoya is, so I had to look it up. The descriptor I found said something like a combination of apple, pineapple, banana, peach, and something else? Which sounds like a lot, lol! But this smells nice and it’s green rooibos, yay, so I’m excited to try it!

Well, I definitely get apple and a little bit of sweet pineapple. I would definitely say pear is in the mix for me as well, and I can understand why someone would say banana.

But mostly it’s apple, and it’s a lovely cooked apple with just a hint of cinnamon and a nice big glug of crème Anglaise over the top. It also sort of reminds me of apple pie with French vanilla ice cream melted over it… Needless to say, it’s yum!

I had this with my two advent chocolates for the day – the DAVIDsTEA matcha advent had a salted caramel matcha-infused white chocolate star, and the La Maison du Chocolat advent had a few dark chocolate-covered almonds. A really nice pairing actually, as they had a great contrast and played well off each other.

The matcha white chocolate was decadent and creamy, of course, but there was a sort of slight texture to it that I assume was salt? There was a nice salty presence to it as well which was delish. I wish there had been more matcha though, as I didn’t really get a matcha flavor at all… The chocolate almonds were so good because the almonds were really nicely toasted and had such a rich nutty flavor, and the dark chocolate really contrasted well with its more bitter notes.

Yum, amazing evening snack! That is all. :D

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIcCdMsAGkz/

(today’s advent teas: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIbA7q0g6Fu/)

Advent Day 5

It’s been a long time since I’ve tasted cherimoya, but I feel like I’m getting some of it in this cup. I recall it being custardy in flavor. The rooibos is a little drying. It’s an okay fruity cup, but could use something to make it pop. I’m also in a shitty mood and it’s hard to be present and appreciate much in this tea. Sometimes I think I’m meant to live remotely in the woods instead of in a city.

Plum Deluxe Advent Day 5
(backlog from yesterday)
Yay! Very happy to see this, as I really loved the sample I tried last week. This is just as good, if not better, than the first cup. Definitely something I will be repurchasing.

The apple flavor is quite delicate. I definitely see where this tea is going. Mild spices, but mostly just sweet apple. It’s really light and refreshing. This is the way I wish more apple teas could be!

Cold Brew Sipdown (1542)!

Y’know I meant to find some cherimoya this summer and then I never got around to looking for it out at the market. My loss, for sure. This was a nice reminder of that unique and delicious flavour though. It’s not a great match but it does certainly have the combination of golden apple and a silky kind of custard/cream alongside those fresh green rooibos notes. Makes me want proper cherimoya even more though. I’ll try to remember next year…

Tangy, like a sour apple, sweet like a pineapple, and creamy with a a fragrance of banana is how I characterize the cherimoya. While this tea is not an exact replicate, its flavor profile is right there. I am glad it isn’t an artificial scent. The woodsy green rooibos allows this tea to be resteeped with a lingering flavor that still comes through. I coldsteeped my cup after brewing with hot water. Not a must-have but definitely try it if you like a unique fruity herbal blend.