Vanilla

Having just tested Vanilla Green (which was weak according to instructions), I decided to make this stronger from the beginning. I haven’t had much luck with Adagio’s flavored black teas, but this one does not cause an immediate “blech” from me. It is strong, but did I overdo it? Not sure, but the vanilla is probably making this ok for my tastebuds. To me, the vanilla is in the background and not overpowering, only adding some sweetness. I added a tsp. of honey to sweeten further.

The aroma was strongly vanilla, so I decided to slightly under-brew it so that it was not overpowering. This was unnecessary because the flavor was mild at best. The vanilla was almost non-existant, but it made for a very slight hint of vanilla flavor. Overall, a decent black tea.

This is one of the few flavored black teas by Adagio that I just do not like at all. This tea has a strong, strong, strong vanilla flavor. It’s so strong that it tastes fake and sweet to me- all I can taste is vanilla, no tea. I have to classify this tea as undrinkable, because I simply cannot stand the fake vanilla flavor.

I will do another review of this tea later when I’ve had it hot, but I’d like to tell you all that this is MY FIRST attempt at cold brewing! I had an essay due in at midnight, so at lunchtime I made up my tea in a regular water bottle and put it in the fridge, ready to take out as a treat once I’d handed in my essay. I used the vanilla because I thought it was a pretty basic tea to try cold-brewing for my first go, and it would hopefully be a nice sweet treat. Also I had to use like double the tea, and I really didn’t want to let go of that much of one of my fandom teas (they’re just the samplers). I tried a glass of it last night at about 2AM, after steeping for 14 hours, and was very surprised with how little tea I could taste. The vanilla was there, but no discernible tea taste. I have also come to the shock conclusion that maybe… Just maybe… I don’t really like vanilla?

I like it just fine with other flavours, but on it’s own, I’m not so sure. All I know is I struggled to finish the glass, but poured the rest of it this morning, after almost a whole 24 hours of steeping, and the tea taste is there now and it’s SO much better. Like seriously. So after a day in the fridge I think I can say that my first cold steep experience has been a success, I just wish I had used a different tea. (The vanilla hint is still a little too strong for my liking).

I’m glad I only got this as a sample, but if anyone is a vanilla fan (which I think most people seem to be) I think this would be a very good tea to cold-steep, as from memory I don’t remember tasting too much vanilla in my hot brew of this. I probably won’t be drinking the rest of this sample, if anyone in the UK wants it, I’d be happy to send it on down, although I’m not really expecting anyone to care too much about it. But there you go.

I completely agree with the description of this tea regarding vanilla ice cream. I love it, love it, LOVE IT. This tea, not so much. I’ve had it a few times before deciding to rate it and there’s just something the flavor I do not like. I can pick up on the vanilla but I’m thinking that it’s the black tea they use as a base that I am hating on. I have many black teas from Adagio that are just “meh” and a few (such as their peppermint one) that I really liked. I have a feeling this one is going to sit in the back of the cupboard until one day I spot it and have forgotten what I thought of it.

Another sample from Erin. Thank you!

A pleasant vanilla taste that dominates. There is still some tea taste as well, but not enough to pick out any subtleties. Rich amber in the cup.

Like most of Adagio’s flavored black teas, the aroma was overpowering when I opened the tin, but the taste was weak. I liked it, but I would still prefer a stronger flavor.

With nothing added to it the flavor seemed plain and a little astringent. The vanilla blends into the background tea base and is unimpressive.
Add milk and sugar and the vanilla pops out along with a rounded flavor profile from the tea base.
This is a crave worthy but just O.K. tea.

Part of my tea-exchange sampler for the season – this one’s a perfectly serviceable vanilla tea, but not one I need to keep in my cabinet. I’ll finish the sample, and move on.

ashmanra’s monthly sipdown challenge
March 2023 → a tea you won’t repurchase

I’m loving these sipdown prompts! Today’s tea is a general sort of vanilla black. It’s basic, nothing exciting. I’m enjoying it for the most part, though I did add one teaspoon too many. I think it would be fine with less. I still have one serving left, but I know this won’t be a repurchase. I have other vanilla teas I prefer, ones that taste of vanilla bean instead of vanilla flavoring.

I’ve just jumped on the Substack bandwagon, probably a couple years too late (as usual). Does anyone have any favorite writers there? I’m really enjoying the format. As if I don’t already have a hundred tabs open with unread articles and blogs. I just can’t seem to help myself.