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Moving along these advents at my own speed and I’m really enjoying just letting that happen this year.

Another interesting national park tea that has faint echoes of the last, but is much improved in my opinion. Here I also get some slightly sweet hay, but between the green tea base and the blueberry it’s definitely more of a background flavor than a dominant one. I am picky about blueberry in general and I’m a fan of this version. It almost makes me feel like I’m eating a blueberry jam cookie.

Simpson & Vail advent day 3

BrutaliTeas advent day 2

This tea definitely lived up to its description as a mint chocolate tea. The mint is far more forward, but I like that in a chocolate mint in general, and I think it suits the tea. It’s smooth, and while chocolate teas are hit or miss for me, I don’t get any of that cloying sweetness. As the cup cools, the green tea is more noticeable in the initial sip. It’s a shame this is a sold-out seasonal blend, because I quite enjoyed it.

Adagio advent day 2

I expected something else given the ingredient list, but the cinnamon is the strongest flavor by far, and it’s more like hot cinnamon candy. Honestly, I’m not mad about it – I’ve wanted to find a tea like this without the rooibos base and here we are. Occasionally something else comes through – a hint of ginger, a bit of pepper – but it’s mostly cinnamon candy and I could see myself enjoying small cups of this as an occasional treat.

Plum Deluxe No Caffeine advent day 2

It’s interesting to read ingredient lists like this one, with two kinds of rooibos, coconut, orange, almond, when I’m really only getting a couple of flavors. In this one, it’s coconut. The coconut is smooth and compliments the rooibos, taking the woodiness away (though it’s still prominent in the scent). Unfortunately, coconut is another one of my least favorite flavors!

Plum Deluxe advent day 2

Always love trying to review the Plum Deluxe blends that aren’t here yet and are hidden on the website.

I tried this both hot and with the suggested cold brew method and was surprised to find I preferred the cold brew! Cinnamon is not usually a flavor I’d choose cold, but this was an excellent subtly fruity green tea with a cinnamon finish. The cinnamon stands out in the scent for all versions – the dry leaf, the hot tea, and the cold brew. I would buy this again!

Dammann Freres advent day 2

It felt a bit strange to go from a bergamot forward white tea (day 1 of this advent) to an earl grey where the bergamot felt more like an afterthought. It’s there in the scent, but I was underwhelmed. I got mostly a slightly bitter black tea with an aftertaste of bergamot. I prefer a heavier hand, so ymmv, but I’d definitely pick the Simpson & Vail version over this one.

Nio Teas advent day 2

It’s interesting to read the notes on the website about evaluating these teas. I’m hoping to learn a lot about tasting for green tea in particular. I’m not getting any of the supposedly “extremely fruity” element, either in the sip or the scent. I do get the “light and sweet” start, with a pleasant mellow grassiness in the middle. There is almost no bitterness in this first preparation where I would expect it most. I was surprised at how well the flavor held up in the second steep as well.

Simpson & Vail advent day 2

This tea is… hm.

Hay & hibiscus, with the slightest sweetness. I want to like it; usually a green rooibos is a better fit for me than red and hibiscus is a favorite. But it’s mostly giving me wet, tart hay. I couldn’t finish it.

The monkeys paw to my wish that this would not be a black tea! (And yet, I’m still glad it was here, since it’s exciting to try something so different).

Dammann Freres Advent Day 1

I was thrilled to finish with this tea, especially after feeling so overwhelmed with black teas throughout day 1. The scent gives mostly bergamot to me but in the flavor the mango stands out. I’m also a big fan of a white tea base in general. There was no savoring this cup – I enjoyed it far too much to wait!

BrutaliTeas Advent Day 1

After a lot of black tea I wasn’t terribly excited for this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. The coffee is a strong flavor over the black tea, though you can taste the tea as well. Not sure if the extra 5 degrees above recommended is what made it so bitter or if it’s just inclined toward bitterness (sort of feel like the latter seems more likely, but who knows). I think I generally prefer to keep my tea and coffee separate. Still, it was fun.