Cameron B. select Send Message

343 Followers / 336 Following

Cameron B. drank Gingerbread Chai Matcha by Bird & Blend Tea Co.

4065 tasting notes

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 22

Ah, finally a rooibos. I expected more of them, to be honest, but it seems like B&B has gotten out of the habit of making “tea powders” that don’t contain any matcha, which I’m glad about. This one has rooibos, but it also has actual matcha as well.

It’s okay. Honestly, I don’t taste the matcha at all, mostly I get earthy ginger, licorice root, and hints of other spices on a rooibos-y base. It doesn’t taste at all like gingerbread to me (but neither does their Gingerbread Chai), more of a strong gingery chai since there is no cookie or molasses element here.

Not bad, but certainly not one I would purchase.

Flavors: Earthy, Ginger, Licorice Root, Spices, Woody

Preparation

Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

I Like This

11 likes

0 comments

People who liked this

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, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- June Sipdowns: 13
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 62

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.

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