397 Tasting Notes
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.
Flavors: Creamy, Light, Peppermint, Soft, Vanilla
Simpson & Vail Advent Calendar: Day 17
Okay, that red color is impressive! The tea itself… eh. It’s mostly flat smokiness with a whisper of bergamot on an unobtrusive base. Fine enough, but nothing too exciting! Although I do think a smoky Earl Grey is one I can get behind.
Flavors: Bergamot, Smoke
A smoky Earl Grey can be amazing…I highly recommend Churchill by The London Tea Room!
My husband literally just asked me about an hour ago if I had heard of The London Tea Room! He was looking for something else and was amused that they had a tea called The Naughty Vicar. I popped on here to look it up and reviews are very good!
Ooh, thanks for the tip!
Lupicia’s Earl Grey Grand Classic is amazing too! Oh and I also enjoy Murchie’s Queen Victoria, though it’s quite light on the bergamot.
Ahh, thanks!
52Teas 12 Teas of Christmas: Day 5
I went into this assuming the POG was passionfruit, orange, and guava, but looks like it’s pomegranate, orange, and ginger — a more Christmas-y blend, I’m thinking (for those of us in non-tropical climes, at least).
This is super fruity and festive! It’s definitely get some zestiness from the orange, and I’m picking up lots of spices too: clove, cinnamon, and ginger. The pomegranate is a little trickier to detect.
I’m enjoying this lighter take on seasonal flavors!
Flavors: Cinnamon, Citrus Zest, Clove, Fruity, Ginger, Orange
Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer: Day 18
I brewed and drank this one knowing only its name, and I did not expect it to be so lemon-heavy! Having looked it up, I can just about get the “lemon cream” vibe it’s going for, but I’m not detecting the titular elderberry… and it’s definitely heavy on the lemon as opposed to the cream.
It’s very brisk, and the lemon is a bit sharp-ish for me. More berry would help round it out!
Flavors: Acidic, Brisk, Lemon Zest
Tea Thoughts Winter Countdown: Day 12
I’ve been holding off on drinking this one till I had ample time to enjoy it. This morning I had some quiet time to myself before the animals awoke and required my attention, so I settled in for a readin’ and steepin’ session!
Mmm. I’m only a couple of steeps in (and I’ve already been interrupted by the furred ones), but I’m really enjoying this one so far. It’s super toasty and grainy, laced with some light mineral notes. It’s got heft without feeling heavy, if that makes sense. Just very cozy!
Flavors: Grain, Mineral, Rice, Roasted Barley, Toasty
Simpson & Vail Advent Calendar: Day 18
Clooooves ahoy!
My partner tried this one blind and instantly detected apples and clove; he pegged it as a mulled apple cider-inspired tea. I can see that, although I get more of an apple juice vibe than a cider one.
I don’t really notice anything too plummy, though. It’s more generic fruit juice with a little hibiscus tang and a lotta clove. It’s OK but not really something I need to drink again!
(Re: the cloves, it probably doesn’t help that I’ve simultaneously got a simmer pot going on the stove, and it’s very clove-forward! I love cloves as a scent far more than cloves as a flavor.)
Flavors: Apple, Cloves, Fruit Punch, Sweet
52Teas 12 Teas of Christmas: Day 4
Such a dang classic! This is easily my favorite Earl Grey variant, thanks to the liiiight bergamot and the deliciously creamy notes from the coconut. Bumping my rating up because I enjoy it so much.
Flavors: Bergamot, Brisk, Coconut, Creamy
Homemade Advent Calendar from AJRimmer: Day 16
This is straight-up milk chocolate liqueur layered on a surprisingly mild base. It’s got light mineral notes and a hint of something almost cinnamon-like?! Quite an easy drinker!
I found myself wanting more of everything: more deep, rich, chocolate… more earthiness… but the description for this tea refers to it as a “gateway” pu-erh, which seems right!
Flavors: Cinnamon, Earth, Milk Chocolate, Mineral
Tea Thoughts Winter Countdown: Day 14
Hmm! I’m honestly not super familiar with chrysanthemum, and I suspect this is not the most high-quality place to start — but still fun! I was getting some kind of wet rag, chamomile notes when I sniffed the freshly brewed tisane, but thankfully there’s none of that in the cup. It’s mildly floral, with some hay notes, and then a cooling menthol effect at the end. Not sure I’m getting much from the goji berries, but maybe they’ll show up in my second steep!
Flavors: Chamomile, Chrysanthemum, Cooling, Hay, Menthol
Simpson & Vail Advent Calendar: Day 16
Someone over at S&V must’ve been so pleased to realize that Jane Austen’s birthday is in December!
I’m a huge Austen fan and reread the canon every few years, and I was also lucky enough to take an Austen-centric class during undergrad (English major reporting for duty!). Her dry, understated humor and boundless wit always delight me, and I love how keenly (and often mercilessly) she captures the foibles of human nature.
Anyway, I was happy to see this one yesterday, although I only steeped it up this morning (while reading some Ursula K. Le Guin, haha). It’s a pretty sedate black base with bright, cooling spearmint predominating, and then some and creamy, pillowy notes from the vanilla — it’s more marshmallow-y than vanilla-y, in my opinion! I get a smidge of lavender on the back of a sip, but I could honestly do with more.
This is somehow refreshing and cozy, which I appreciate. I might consider purchasing it and adding some additional lavender from my own garden.
Flavors: Cooling, Creamy, Marshmallow, Spearmint
