Cameron B. select Send Message

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65
drank English Breakfast by Kusmi Tea
4366 tasting notes

Kusmi Advent Calendar – Day 7

What a gorgeous sachet wrapper! It’s a bright and happy orange, perfect for a breakfast tea. :D And it helps me be a bit more excited to try it, as I’m not generally a huge fan of breakfast blends…

I quite like this, actually. I can really taste the Assam, with its malty and raisiny intensity, and hints of tobacco. There’s definitely Ceylon here as well, which I’m less a fan of. I’m not even sure how to describe it, other than tannic and somewhat acidic? Is this what people mean by “brassy”?

Anyway, it’s quite smooth for a breakfast tea, with only a little hint of pleasant bitterness, though I can imagine it taking milk well also. This isn’t something I would ever order, as I prefer specific black teas over blends, and generally I’m more partial to Chinese and Taiwanese black teas overall. But I enjoyed my cup this morning, and it’s definitely a nice way to start the day!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIgP0shgydS/

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

Flavors: Astringent, Bitter, Grain, Hay, Malt, Metallic, Raisins, Tannic, Tobacco

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 8 OZ / 236 ML
6 comments
Show 4 previous comments...
amandastory516 4 years ago

How strange- this isn’t the tea that I got today :/

Dustin 4 years ago

That is odd! I wonder if it got swapped somehow with another day.

Cameron B. 4 years ago

Really?! I just checked and I definitely opened #7. I wonder which one is the right one! XD

amandastory516 4 years ago

I double-checked as well, and I definitely opened #7. It looks like mine is wrong, though!

Cameron B. 4 years ago

You got the “special edition” calendar! ;)

amandastory516 4 years ago

It seems so. Lol.

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Comments

amandastory516 4 years ago

How strange- this isn’t the tea that I got today :/

Dustin 4 years ago

That is odd! I wonder if it got swapped somehow with another day.

Cameron B. 4 years ago

Really?! I just checked and I definitely opened #7. I wonder which one is the right one! XD

amandastory516 4 years ago

I double-checked as well, and I definitely opened #7. It looks like mine is wrong, though!

Cameron B. 4 years ago

You got the “special edition” calendar! ;)

amandastory516 4 years ago

It seems so. Lol.

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Profile

Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2025 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- May sipdowns: 13
- Total 2025 sipdowns: 90

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia (or monkfruit, etc.).

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing

Location

Austin, Texas

Website

https://www.instagram.com/tea...

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