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Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 12

Ooo, another straight black tea! This one had lots of golden tips and a lovely bready aroma. The flavor is an interesting mix of malty and fruity…raisin bread is the closest comparison I can come up with. It’s a bit more delicate than the teas I typically lean toward; I like my black tea robust and full-bodied! But still a very enjoyable cuppa on a cold winter’s day.

Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 11

I was excited to see a black tea today! I don’t recall ever trying a Himalayan-grown tea before, so was curious to see what it was like. It brewed up to more of a blond color than the deeper reds and browns of the Chinese black teas I favor and the flavor is definitely softer and smoother than I was expecting…almost like an oolong? But the flavor is lovely! Dried fruit and malt with a buttery finish. I would absolutely drink this again!

Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 10

Labeled: iHerb Black Currant

I’m happy they didn’t decide to throw hibiscus into this blend to mimic the currant flavor! But to be honest, I’m not getting a ton of currant. During the sip, it’s mostly just a smooth unremarkable black tea and then there’s just a hint of that dark berry coming through at the end of the sip.

Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 9

Labeled: TeaTiff Karkade Herbal

I was not familiar with the term “Karkade” to refer to hibiscus, so this tea taught me something new! And I have to admit, I enjoyed this more than a typical tea with hibiscus. For some reason, it seemed a bit sweeter and less acidic than expected. Still not my favorite, but I finished my cup!

Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 8

A straight white tea was an interesting change of pace from the advent teas I received so far and the dry leaf on this one is lovely: looks like pure buds with lots of nice downy texture. The first sip was a bit too hay-like for me, but as it cooled I found myself enjoying it more and more! It’s surprisingly malty for a white tea with quite a bit of body and a slightly spicy finish that I haven’t experienced before. I kept wanting to go back for more and my cup was gone in no time. This is my favorite tea of the calendar so far and one I’d definitely consider repurchasing!

Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 7

Labeled: Russian Black Currant

I could smell the hibiscus as soon as I opened the little baggie. :( I brewed it up anyway and gave it the old college try, but yeah, this one is NOT for me. Whatever other notes might be present are absolutely buried in the tart, acidic hibiscus flavor. It is a very Christmassy color, though!

Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 6

Fun to see a winter/holiday themed tea in the advent calendar today! I was a big fan of Teavana’s White Chocolate Peppermint rooibos back in the day, so I was curious to see if this might be a dupe. Turns out this one has spearmint in it as well, so it’s VERY minty! I don’t really taste the vanilla, but I’m happy that I also don’t taste the rooibos base at all. As a cozy winter tea, I think I would have preferred a bit more creamy vanilla to smooth things out. But I do think this would make a super refreshing iced tea!

Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 5

This seems like your classic jasmine-scented green tea; I don’t notice any other flavors in play here. While I’m not a huge jasmine fan, I’m pleased that this one has a very balanced flavor; the jasmine isn’t overpowering or too perfume-like.

Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 4

Labeled: Japanese Midori Green

I’m not always the biggest fan of green tea; particularly Japanese, as I find it often has a more aggressive, grassy flavor. But this one was a pleasant surprise! I stuck to a 2-minute steep and the resulting brew was smooth and almost buttery, reminding me a bit of a green oolong. I was trying to pin down the flavor and I think it reminds me the most of baby spinach…which is my favorite salad green, so no complaints. A nice surprise!

Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 3

I’m afraid I didn’t get much cherry or vanilla from this one! It seems to be the same mellow, smooth black base tea from yesterday’s blend, but what flavor I noticed actually came across more nutty than fruity. There’s maybe just a hint of cherry in there, but it’s actually reminding me more of marzipan.