Holiday Blend

I really thought I sampled and logged this already but I’m thinking it was a straight-black base with flavoring instead of a black/herbal blend. I remember really enjoying that other one. This one is pretty good, too, but not as drawing for me…I think it was because of the minty notes being more intense in the other one. This one is not as flavored. It taste more herbally. The black tea base isn’t as pronounced. Perhaps this one is a more laid-back version. I can understand why – I know some people don’t care for mint and most people don’t like mint as much as I do so I totally understand this flavoring. It lingers nicely. Just a hint of freshness. This is pretty good!

Another teaboxB blend! thanks everyone! And another chocolate mint blend I’m sure to love. And I do! The mint and chocolate share equal stage time. The black tea base is nice, as all of the Simpson & Vail teas I’ve tried are. There is rooibos in this blend I was worried about (though I once said I wish there were MORE rooibos/black tea blends) but the rooibos doesn’t seem to be noticeable. My favorite part of this blend is the tiniest little flowers that I haven’t seen in any tea before!

I’m just reading the description right now and it seems like there is vanilla and not chocolate. However did I taste chocolate?!?!

Smells of peppermint. A pretty blend. The red and green does indeed look holiday-ey.

I don’t get any vanilla, though. Thankfully, I also get no rooibos. :) I was a bit nervous about ordering this because of the rooibos inclusion. While I like this, it won’t be a reorder. If I could taste the vanilla and peppermint both, I might. This is a decent black tea base.

Advent Day 19

Still catching up on advent notes. I enjoyed the scent of this more than the flavor- marshmallowy mint. Flavor was a bit lackluster.

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.

S&V Advent Day 19! I really couldn’t be sure what flavor this is supposed to be. Maybe I would say creaminess/nuts with a hint of mint? But it could be anything. I’m drinking it cool with milk and sugar, and it tastes desserty and nice, but not super special.

Advent Calendar 2024 – Day 19

Yay, more holiday! Literally this time, ha ha. I’ve never been a huge fan of any of S&V’s holiday black teas, and it makes me so sad. But it’s still fun to revisit them every so often!

This is actually better than I remember it being. Very mellow overall, especially since the black base is cut with rooibos. The peppermint is soft, and somewhere between fresh and herbaceous. I do taste vanilla (yay!), on about equal footing with the peppermint. It’s a lighter, more pillowy vanilla versus a richer, creamier one. Really enjoying it! I don’t know that I would go out and order a tin, mostly because the base is a bit musty and earthy, but happy to have a cupful today. :)

The jam… So today it’s Cherry-Honey Spread. It’s not a honey, it’s primarily a cherry jam, but has honey added. I took a peek at the back of the box, and apparently it’s chestnut honey. So I tasted this, and immediately it reminded me of something, but I couldn’t think of what. It took me a whole piece of toast and half of another to realize it somehow tastes like masa to me. Cherry as well, but definitely masa, even without the toast. Very strange association ha ha! I still enjoyed it, but it felt a bit like eating cherry jam on a corn tortilla (or a cherry jam tamale LOL)!

A sample of this tea came my way for review, and while I did enjoy it I found it quite surprising. The black base is very light, and so the peppermint and floral notes take the forefront. It’s an undercover black tea, and a nice way to enjoy the flavor of an herbal with a kick of caffeine.

You can see the full review at:
http://wordsabouttea.blogspot.com/2014/07/holiday-blend-by-simpson-vail.html