I’ve been dreading writing a note for this one, since it’s the rare S&V tea that just isn’t good. This seemed like a really nice combination of flavors. I guess I missed the ONE Steepster rating that gave the score of a lowest of the low … a score of ONE. Don’t see that too often. The reviews on S&V’s site are much better. I also seemed to have missed that the base of the tea was green and not black. It doesn’t seem to be mentioned on the website or the pouch. When fresher, the leaves distinctly had the fragrance of all these lovely elements: orange, vanilla, jasmine. But now that the blend is getting older, it definitely smells and tastes like only BUBBLEGUM. The cup cools and the more I’m tasting bubblegum. And then the green tea is also getting a little bitter. But the bubblegum is so odd and not really what I wanted from this one. Second steep: more bubblegum. I think I have learned that some orange flavoring tastes like bubblegum, so I think that is the problem here. Can’t win them all.
Steep #1 // 1 1/3 teaspoons for a full mug // 40 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 32 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Comments
Uh oh, I have this one and haven’t tried it! And I totally get bubblegum all the time from some of Dammann’s orange + spice teas…
Yeah, I kept seeing your notes on orange tasting like bubblegum and thought of this tea! Hopefully you like this one better than I did…
I know what you mean! When there’s a S&V tea that I don’t like, I always find myself making excuses for it like, “Oh it was probably my fault, not the tea!” :P
Vanilla, orange and Jasmine must clash in my opinion. Especially vanilla and jasmine. Both very distinctive aromas and can’t imagine them both in one cup.
As you write can’t win them all. That’s right. Totally!
Uh oh, I have this one and haven’t tried it! And I totally get bubblegum all the time from some of Dammann’s orange + spice teas…
Yeah, I kept seeing your notes on orange tasting like bubblegum and thought of this tea! Hopefully you like this one better than I did…
If not, there’s always the compost heap, LOL!
I know what you mean! When there’s a S&V tea that I don’t like, I always find myself making excuses for it like, “Oh it was probably my fault, not the tea!” :P
Vanilla, orange and Jasmine must clash in my opinion. Especially vanilla and jasmine. Both very distinctive aromas and can’t imagine them both in one cup.
As you write can’t win them all. That’s right. Totally!
AJ – Yes, S&V is usually on point. This might be their first unlikeable tea for me.
Martin – Now that you mention it, some of these flavors do sound a bit odd together.