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Devon Bartholomew Advent Day 2

I’ve only tried a handful of blackberry-flavored teas over the years and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this one! No hibiscus (hallelujah!) and nothing overly sweet or artificial. Just a smooth, mellow black tea with a strong blackberry aroma and a light blackberry flavor. Personally, I would have loved an even stronger flavor, if that’s possible without it getting overly artificial. But this was nice cozy cuppa today and I’m guessing it would also be a lovely summer iced tea!

Devin Bartholomew Advent Day 1

Labeled: Shady Maple Spearmint Herbal

Swapping homemade tea advent calendars has become a bit of tradition for me these past 5ish years and I always look forward to opening the daily packet and trying new teas in the lead-up to Christmas!

I was pleased to see a mint tea right off the bat…so festive! I steeped it up in the evening and sipped while decorating our Christmas tree with my husband. My steeping may have been to blame (it was a small sample and I used a big mug) but I found the mint flavor a bit muted for my tastes.

TeaTiff TTB #31

I kept a few small 1-cup samples and single teabags from the box to throw in my desk drawer at work, this being one of them. I love almond flavoring and don’t tend to care for cherry, so amaretto is always hit and miss for me. This one, unfortunately, is a miss. The flavor definitely tips more cherry than almond and is pretty mild overall. The base tea is rather brisk and astringent, leaving me wishing I had some milk to smooth it out. Not a fan!

TeaTiff TTB #30

This one smelled nice, but the flavor was too light for my preference. Super smooth, a bit sweet, a bit floral, but just not much depth of flavor.

TeaTiff TTB #29

This is my favorite oolong…and one of my favorite teas!…that I tried from this TTB. I’m not educated enough on oolong to know what Guei Fei means or what it’s “supposed” to taste like, but this one reminded me of a Yunnan black tea in the best way! It had that distinctive buttery-smooth mouthfeel of an oolong, but the flavor was much more robust than I’m used to, with a bit of maltiness and a hint of sweetness. I’d say the flavor reminded me of a slice of toast with honey. My second steep was as delicious as the first and I think these leaves still have more to give! I’d definitely consider purchasing this one at some point in the future!

TeaTiff TTB #28

I pulled a few small oolong samples from the TTB to try before sending it off. This was one that had barely enough for 1 Western-style mug left. I’m guessing someone who enjoys floral tea would love this one, but for me it was that really intense floral flavor that borders on drinking perfume, so I wasn’t the biggest fan.

TeaTiff TTB #27

Mmm, this is nice! It almost reminds me of a black tea with its rich, toasted bread flavor. But it also has that distinctive buttery smoothness of an oolong. I haven’t tried much from Rare Tea Company, but most of what I’ve had has been exceptional. I would definitely consider ordering this one in the future!

TeaTiff TTB #26

This reminded me a LOT of one of the chai blends Teavana used to always have on sample at their stores…I think it was called White Ayurvedic Chai? I liked that one, but didn’t love it, and I feel the same about this blend. It’s very pleasant, with a well-balanced mix of spices on a light, smooth white base tea. Nothing too exciting, but an enjoyable cup!

TeaTiff TTB #25

I’ve never tried a tea with jalapeño in it, so I had to give this a shot! I actually quite enjoyed the balance of smoky and spicy, but the sour note coming through from the hibiscus somewhat ruined the experience for me. Still, such an interesting blend!

TeaTiff TTB #24

This is one of the smoothest, lightest black teas I’ve ever tried! The flavor is quite fruity with a bit of citrus brightness followed by a lingering honey sweetness. Though I tend to prefer something more robust, I really enjoyed sampling this one!