Fortnum & Mason Advent Calendar 2021 – Day 19
Ooh, finally a festive tea! I’m pretty sure this is one of the duplicated teas, so I assume maybe I’ll see it again on Christmas Eve. But with how inconsistent this advent has been, who knows? XD
This is mostly a fairly standard orange & spice type of holiday tea, though it also has cacao nibs so that’s a bit unusual. The citrus is the first thing that hits my tongue, and it has a lovely zestiness to it from the addition of clementine. I do taste the more classic, sweeter orange as well. Next I taste the very earthy Chinese black tea, and the spices start to trickle in. There’s certainly clove, and I’m picking up on the ginger as well. The combination gives a light tongue-tingling sensation. I don’t feel that I taste cacao here, even though cacao nibs are the second ingredient and there’s apparently also chocolate flavoring. I think it’s just being overpowered by the brighter citrus and spice ingredients.
Anyway, it’s quite enjoyable. I wouldn’t mind just a bit less clove, as it tends to build up a bit as I continue to sip. But I do enjoy the very acidic and bright clementine notes here, and how the citrus competes well with the spices.
I’m having double jam again today, as I didn’t end up getting to yesterday’s flavor. On Saturdays, I play board games with a group of friends at a game café in the late morning through the mid-afternoon, so a bit less time for tea-drinking and jam-scarfing yesterday.
Anyway! First off is yesterday’s (Day 18) flavor, which is Cherry-Christmas Spice Spread. What a perfect choice to pair with a Christmas tea, he he. I adore this one, it was one of my favorites last year and remains so today. Although I never understand why they don’t put it behind door 24, as I think it’s the only holiday-themed flavor? Anyway, rich sweet-tart cherries with just a kiss of warming spices makes for a scrumptious jam, and it pairs so well with butter on toast.
And then today’s flavor is Peach-Jasmine Flower Spread, which is new this year I think. The peach is sweet and juicy. I found the jasmine to be a bit too much when I tasted the jam plain, but I think it’s just the right amount when paired with toast. It adds a lovely soft floral top note. I will say, I find this jam a bit too sweet overall though.
Flavors: Citrus, Citrus Zest, Clove, Earth, Ginger, Mineral, Orange, Spices, Sweet, Tangerine, Tart
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Ooo what sorts of board games do you like? Board games are one of my other favorite hobbies (:
The chocolate does sound like a nice addition to the tea!
AJ – Our group kind of varies from week to week so we play a variety of things based on who’s there and how strategically-inclined/experienced they are, heh heh. Terraforming Mars is a personal favorite, but we don’t play it often because it’s a bit much for some people and also quite long with 4-5 players. :P
I enjoy Terraforming Mars too! I play most games with just my partner, so I feel like I’d be impatient waiting for my turn with bigger groups :P
Board games every Saturday morning sounds amazing; well-worth having to wait on some jam!
Ooo what sorts of board games do you like? Board games are one of my other favorite hobbies (:
The chocolate does sound like a nice addition to the tea!
AJ – Our group kind of varies from week to week so we play a variety of things based on who’s there and how strategically-inclined/experienced they are, heh heh. Terraforming Mars is a personal favorite, but we don’t play it often because it’s a bit much for some people and also quite long with 4-5 players. :P
I enjoy Terraforming Mars too! I play most games with just my partner, so I feel like I’d be impatient waiting for my turn with bigger groups :P
Board games every Saturday morning sounds amazing; well-worth having to wait on some jam!