Tender Loving Care

Day 9 of the Plum Deluxe herbal advent calendar. This one’s particularly refreshing cold. Lots of nice mango and citrus flavor. It’s not particularly sweet, which I think is part of the reason why the flavors don’t come across as juicy the way that fruit flavors sometimes do. I like it exactly as it is, though.

I can feel the care! Another sampler from the mail-order Portland Tea Festival this year. The orange peel and lemon peel stand out, and I think I taste a hint of mango at the end of the sip. Good for enjoying at the end of a long day while catching up on anime. Nice blend!

Cold Brew Sipdown (225)

T is for…Tender Loving Care

This is not a favorite. There is definitely apricot here but also citrus. Unfortunately the citrus is pretty pithy, which takes you out of it.

I did not enjoy this tea very much. I didn’t hate it. I got mild flavors, but I couldn’t identify them. That is not the tea’s fault. That is my blasted nose. Possibly i under leafed it. I used only 2/3 of the sample packet because my tea cup is only 6 ounces. So this is definitely not a re-order for me.

I actually ordered myself an ounce of this along with the advent calendar, so I’m hoping I enjoy this sample since there’s more on my shelf! Last year the advent samples were in resealable tiny bags, but this year they’re not resealable, which I don’t love since sometimes I wouldn’t have the whole sample at once. The flavor is mostly that of green rooibos. There’s some very mild fruitiness, maybe peaches or oranges. It’s refreshing cold, but I wish the flavors were a little stronger. I’ll probably steep it stronger with my ounce of it.

Plum Deluxe Advent Calendar – Day 1

This is so fun, there are several people doing this calendar at the same time! I love reading everyone else’s thoughts. :)

This is an interesting one. I get a noticeable lightly roasted pecan flavor from this? Which wasn’t mentioned by anyone else, or anywhere in the description. I have no idea what sea buckthorn berry tastes like, but I’m sure it’s not pecan…

There’s also a sweet orange note that reminds me a bit of vitamin C tablets, and I think I’m getting a little hint of mango as well. Or maybe it’s apricot?

Anyway, it’s mildly sweet and slightly herby with orange. And I get pecan, though no one else does. So there’s that… XD

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

Plum Deluxe Advent Day 1

A green rooibos! I’m smelling and tasting maple, but there’s definitely nothing that would indicate that in the ingredient list. I’m getting a bit of orange peel, that’s becoming more and more apparent as the cup cools. A bit of a slightly synthetic lemon flavor peeking through as well. Overall not too excited about this one.

Brewed this as my evening tisane, the full sample packet in a small 500ml teapot. Just left the teabag is, as I tend to do with my evening tisanes.

The light orangish colored brew smells a bit herbaceous and slightly cinnamony, with strong citrus notes as well as some tropical fruitiness. The flavor is strongly orange, with some citrus tang and a very pithy orange peel vibe. There is a sweeter fruity note as well, I’m getting a subtle touch of mango and stonefruit, but it is definitely playing second fiddle to the strong citrus orange. I love the green rooibos base and wish it were utilized more! A lot of times fruity/citrusy flavors like these used on red rooibos end up bringing out a “medicinal” note in the rooibos to me, which I don’t get when those flavors are paired with green rooibos. It’s mellow, slightly grassy/hay-like, and just a touch woodsy (which I think with the flavors here I’m reading more as a cinnamon taste for some reason!)

It’s a pleasant evening cuppa. If I had more, I’d probably enjoy it cold brewed.

Advent Day 1

Dumped this entire packet in my cup before realizing it may have been meant for two cups. Too late now! I’m very appreciative that this is a green rooibos. Way nicer than /red/ rooibos. It smells bubblegum like when dry and very orange when steeped. It also tastes very orange. I know there are a lot of different fruit in it, but they all blend in to support the orange. The rooibos is pretty mellow. It’s a good cup, but not one I’d buy.