I’ve heard terrible things about this tea, so it was with trepidation that I opened the packet. I think we’re okay, though. I can smell warm, ripe pineapple, coconut, and a sort of slightly sour red berry scent. I’m guessing it’s the hibiscus or the rose hip, although I don’t think it’s decidedly either. The dry mix taken together does have a bit of an odd scent, but, to be honest, I find that with most Adagio teas.
So, on to the tasting. Brewed, this smells mostly of pineapple, with a bit of an undertone from the hibiscus. I don’t think there’s anything I can’t smell hibiscus in, when it’s there. I was hoping the pineapple scent would come through into the taste, but it doesn’t really. Dasappointingly, as it smells almost like the real thing — and amazingly juicy to boot. Instead, this tea tastes primarily of coconut. There’s an odd berry-like taste in the background which is throwing me a little, but it’s not unpleasant.
After everything I’ve heard and read, I’m glad this tea turned out to be drinkable. Pineapple is one of my favourite flavours, so I’ve been looking forward to this for a while. It’s a shame the pineapple doesn’t really come out too much in the taste, but the smell is completely mouthwatering. The only thing I really can’t detect is the apple, but I guess I can live without that. I might take this to work tomorrow and try it with some honey, but I’m pretty happy with the way this turned out. One of Adagio’s better fruit blends, I think.
Preparation
People who liked this
Comments
I’m pretty sure there were batch issues with this one. I was one of the people who brewed up a horribly nasty cup of this, so much so that Adagio is probably blacklisted from me forever…
Even now, it has a slightly funky taste (and smell) about it. I think it’s just the way the pineapple/coconut are interacting with the hibiscus and rosehip (really not a happy combination…), but I could be wrong. I’m sure you’re right about the batch issues, though. My cup was nowhere near as bad as yours sounds. I was worried about it right before I tried it, because it sounds so nice and I wanted to like it. I’m glad I do (or more or less, anyway!). I’m not a big Adagio fan, but if this had been terrible it probably would have been the last straw for me, too. It’s a shame when bad things happen to good tea!
I’m pretty sure there were batch issues with this one. I was one of the people who brewed up a horribly nasty cup of this, so much so that Adagio is probably blacklisted from me forever…
Even now, it has a slightly funky taste (and smell) about it. I think it’s just the way the pineapple/coconut are interacting with the hibiscus and rosehip (really not a happy combination…), but I could be wrong. I’m sure you’re right about the batch issues, though. My cup was nowhere near as bad as yours sounds. I was worried about it right before I tried it, because it sounds so nice and I wanted to like it. I’m glad I do (or more or less, anyway!). I’m not a big Adagio fan, but if this had been terrible it probably would have been the last straw for me, too. It’s a shame when bad things happen to good tea!