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Wrapped up yesterday with this interesting blend. It feels like a tropical fruit punch in scent – a strong scent both dry and steeped. The flavor is not as intense, but it has the notes I’d expect from the scent. I’ve got to admit to being generic about tropical fruit because I don’t know many of them, and I couldn’t even tell you if I’ve tasted dragonfruit! I taste tropical fruit with a good sweet/tart balance that leans a little more toward tart, and it’s all smooth and tasty. I really want to try this one iced, so I’ll be buying more.

BrutaliTeas Advent, Day 6

I put this off about as long as I could yesterday, but I really do want to keep up with these three advents, so I went ahead and steeped it in the evening. Just my luck, a double coconut day.

You know, for a coconut tea, this one really could have been worse. While the primary scent and taste are definitely coconut, it’s a blend I can best describe as smooth. I see why it would be a dessert tea, but it’s also not overwhelmingly sweet. I managed about half of this before I was completely over it.

Plum Deluxe Advent, Day 6

Just wasn’t doing too well on the tea front yesterday. After two general misses, I went for this one (avoiding an expected miss from another advent calendar as well), and it didn’t work for me.

Hot, it has a little bit of a fruit element, mostly overpowered by a sweetness that must be the custard – and rooibos. As it cools I get nothing but rooibos (well, maybe still a hint of sweet, but not enough to override wet wood). I know I do like some rooibos blends even with red rooibos, but I’m starting to get really nervous about the rest of these!

Bird & Blend Caffeine & Caffeine-Free Advents, Day 3

Let’s start this by saying that coconut and I are not friends. It’s close to a number one flavor to avoid for me, though I’m trying to remain open-minded about all the teas I approach here.

The dry scent was herbal, and I got something a little spicy. After a 4 minute steep, all I smell is coconut. When sipping, I do get fruit up front first – apple, and hibiscus comes through as well. But the aftertaste is once again all coconut.

I wouldn’t say it’s a bad tea if you’re okay with a coconut flavor, so it’s not a “not recommended” or anything. But I’m going to avoid it in the future for sure, assuming it is something that is or will be available outside the calendar.

DAVIDsTEA Around the World Advent, Day 6

I’ve been excited for this one for a couple of days and decided to break it out this morning while going through a mountain of papers. The tea started as a light mint with a strong, sweet background note – something a little off-putting, but not undrinkable. When I let it get cold, however, it turned into cold artificial white chocolate with no mint to be found. No thanks.

sipsby bagged advent, Day 4

I wrote this yesterday and forgot to post it – oops.

I’m learning from past mistakes and starting to steep these straight teas on the short end of their recommended timing, so this one was 200 at 3 minutes. I was startled by how the water turned immediately deep brown as I poured – very pour-over coffee vibes. Definitely could have gotten away with less leaf.

It’s a strong, black tea. I got astringency and bitterness right up front. I’ve been sipping while reading other tasting notes, trying to figure out where I might notice “malt” or “honey”, but it’s just – black tea to me. While it reminds me visually of coffee and definitely has that acidity in the flavor profile, it’s otherwise tea all the way.

I feel like this has more potential for me as an iced tea; I want something stronger for a black iced tea before I dilute with ice and fruit and other flavors. I was too cold today to try it that way though, and hot it’s just not working for me.

DAVIDsTEA Around the World Advent, Day 5

My partner wanted to help out and added water without the timer, so this steeped for…. who even knows, but at least 10 minutes. Still, it avoided the extreme bitterness I was afraid of after the steep. I am mostly getting almond and something floral, which I assume is the rose. This is probably my least favorite of the teas so far in the advent, but it’s not bad, and I don’t even know if that’s the tea’s fault!

BrutaliTeas Advent, Day 5

This was a lovely light tea to start off my wildly hectic day. The cinnamon and orange come through in a pleasant and subtle scent. I noticed more apple and orange in flavor, with just a hint of the cinnamon at the end. I’d be happy to drink more of this, but I don’t know that I need to buy more.

Plum Deluxe Advent, Day 5

This was the final tea of a very busy weekend. I waited to steep it up until my partner could try it too, because it’s both his favorite berry and his favorite band, so if it was a hit I knew we’d be ordering more.

It’s a good berry, though my partner didn’t realize it was blackberry at first – he named blueberry instead. (He wants me to note that may not be a commentary on the tea, but perhaps his tongue). I don’t love the bitter edge to the tea. There’s definitely an herbal vibe here, though I wouldn’t have pinpointed sage out of the taste so much as the scent.

In all, a pleasant tea, even more so as it cooled, but just a touch too bitter for me to want more. Partner is divided, so I think it will stay out of the rotation for now.

BrutaliTeas Advent, Day 4

I love a smoky tea and was pleased that the smell and flavor live up to the fireside name. I tend to associate the flavor here with campfire; my partner leans more toward pipe tobacco. Either way, the smoke is dominant (even to the point where I don’t notice the rooibos!) and a little bit of something sweet stands out especially as it cools. I had some of this from the subscription that I just hadn’t gotten around to trying, and I’m very glad of that now.

Plum Deluxe Advent, Day 4