Cameron B. select Send Message

347 Followers / 243 Following

Recommended

Cameron B. drank Hojicha Apple Cranberry Cobbler by Dessert by Deb

4308 tasting notes

Sipdown! (3 | 3)

This one was quite enjoyable. It actually reminded me of her popular Hojicha Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding blend that’s been around for a while now. I have a tin of that one, but it’s been a long time since I’ve made a cup, so I’m only comparing this to my memory. I’ll have to steep some up one of these days…

Anyway, it’s a smooth, toasty hojicha blend with warming cinnamon and a touch of sweetness from the brown sugar. I think the cinnamon raisin one was sweeter, now that I think about it, so this is an improvement IMO. There’s a touch of fruitiness, mostly apple. I found the hibiscus to be quite inconsistent for whatever reason, some cups had no tartness and then there was one that was almost like a fruit tisane lol. When the balance was right, it did sort of emulate cranberry. This last cup is pretty spot-on actually.

Would consider ordering more, if I were to order from Deb again. Not planning on it at the moment, as I don’t tend to love a lot of her teas, especially the newer flavored ones. Plus it took a long time for my last order to come, and by the time it did, I had lost the sense of excitement and was more annoyed that it was exploding my cupboard at the end of the year LOL! :P

Flavors: Apple, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Cranberry, Fruity, Hibiscus, Roasted, Smooth, Sweet, Tart, Toasty, Woody

Preparation

190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec 4 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

I Like This

12 likes

0 comments

People who liked this

Profile

Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2025 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January sipdowns: 24
- Total 2025 sipdowns: 24

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia (or monkfruit, etc.).

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing