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Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer: Day 20

AJRimmer really did an excellent job catering to my tastes with this advent swap… I’m all about maple!

I really like this one! It’s warm and buttery and sweet, and the gunpowder base complements it well — I feel like it adds a backbone to the sweetness. I don’t necessarily get a strong maple flavor, though it is present… it’s more of a brown sugar-type sweetness. It could maybe do with a smidge more cinnamon, but honestly, this is one of the nicer DbD blends I’ve tried. (Though, admittedly, it’s tailor-made to appeal to my tastes!)

Simpson & Vail Advent Calendar: Day 19

Light, fluffy, gently creamy vanilla with a hint of peppermint. Maybe this is trying to evoke a candy cane? Or those pillowy, melt-in-your-mouth peppermints?

It’s not bad at all, but it’s not super exciting. 52Teas does this marshmallow-y, minty flavor profile so much better, with a lot more nuance.

Simpson & Vail Advent Calendar: Day 17

Okay, that red color is impressive! The tea itself… eh. It’s mostly flat smokiness with a whisper of bergamot on an unobtrusive base. Fine enough, but nothing too exciting! Although I do think a smoky Earl Grey is one I can get behind.

52Teas 12 Teas of Christmas: Day 5

I went into this assuming the POG was passionfruit, orange, and guava, but looks like it’s pomegranate, orange, and ginger — a more Christmas-y blend, I’m thinking (for those of us in non-tropical climes, at least).

This is super fruity and festive! It’s definitely get some zestiness from the orange, and I’m picking up lots of spices too: clove, cinnamon, and ginger. The pomegranate is a little trickier to detect.

I’m enjoying this lighter take on seasonal flavors!

Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer: Day 18

I brewed and drank this one knowing only its name, and I did not expect it to be so lemon-heavy! Having looked it up, I can just about get the “lemon cream” vibe it’s going for, but I’m not detecting the titular elderberry… and it’s definitely heavy on the lemon as opposed to the cream.

It’s very brisk, and the lemon is a bit sharp-ish for me. More berry would help round it out!

Tea Thoughts Winter Countdown: Day 12

I’ve been holding off on drinking this one till I had ample time to enjoy it. This morning I had some quiet time to myself before the animals awoke and required my attention, so I settled in for a readin’ and steepin’ session!

Mmm. I’m only a couple of steeps in (and I’ve already been interrupted by the furred ones), but I’m really enjoying this one so far. It’s super toasty and grainy, laced with some light mineral notes. It’s got heft without feeling heavy, if that makes sense. Just very cozy!

Simpson & Vail Advent Calendar: Day 18

Clooooves ahoy!

My partner tried this one blind and instantly detected apples and clove; he pegged it as a mulled apple cider-inspired tea. I can see that, although I get more of an apple juice vibe than a cider one.

I don’t really notice anything too plummy, though. It’s more generic fruit juice with a little hibiscus tang and a lotta clove. It’s OK but not really something I need to drink again!

(Re: the cloves, it probably doesn’t help that I’ve simultaneously got a simmer pot going on the stove, and it’s very clove-forward! I love cloves as a scent far more than cloves as a flavor.)

52Teas 12 Teas of Christmas: Day 4

Such a dang classic! This is easily my favorite Earl Grey variant, thanks to the liiiight bergamot and the deliciously creamy notes from the coconut. Bumping my rating up because I enjoy it so much.

Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer: Day 16

This is straight-up milk chocolate liqueur layered on a surprisingly mild base. It’s got light mineral notes and a hint of something almost cinnamon-like?! Quite an easy drinker!

I found myself wanting more of everything: more deep, rich, chocolate… more earthiness… but the description for this tea refers to it as a “gateway” pu-erh, which seems right!

Tea Thoughts Winter Countdown: Day 14

Hmm! I’m honestly not super familiar with chrysanthemum, and I suspect this is not the most high-quality place to start — but still fun! I was getting some kind of wet rag, chamomile notes when I sniffed the freshly brewed tisane, but thankfully there’s none of that in the cup. It’s mildly floral, with some hay notes, and then a cooling menthol effect at the end. Not sure I’m getting much from the goji berries, but maybe they’ll show up in my second steep!