3986 Tasting Notes

80

Sipology Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 13

GAH far too much work happening today, and not nearly enough tea drinking!

This is actually really good, definitely my favorite from Sipology so far. The flavoring is quite restrained, so I’m getting a lot of the actual peppermint leaf and coffee bean flavor. Not noticing a ton of chocolate, but I’m also bad at tasting natural chocolate/cacao notes in tea.

Nice smooth black tea with coffee and mint! Too bad I love Winter Cabin from Old Barrel much more, or I would be considering ordering some of this. :P

Flavors: Cacao, Coffee, Cooling, Fresh, Mint, Peppermint, Roasted, Smooth

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
Martin Bednář

While I am definitely not coffee drinker, it seems very nice. Peppermint and coffee and hints of chocolate just sounds somehow refreshing.

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82

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 13

Created a new entry for this, since the old version had a rooibos base. But apparently this year they reformulated it, and now it’s actually matcha! :P

This is quite nice, and very festive. The strongest flavor to me is orange zest, with some clove and other spices mixed in. I’m not super familiar with mince pies, but based on my limited knowledge, I would expect this to be more apple-forward? But that could be my own lack of experience talking ha ha.

To me, it’s a bit like an orange spice matcha, and I really like it! The zesty orange really brightens it up and makes it lovely for the morning. I can really taste the matcha itself as well, which I like. It’s smooth but still very prominent, giving it an earthy and grassy base.

Flavors: Citrus, Clove, Earthy, Ginger, Grassy, Orange, Orange Zest, Smooth, Spices, Sweet

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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65

Sipology Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 12

I steeped this one quite strong as fruit tisanes usually need it IMO, and wow did it come out sweet ha ha! That candied fruit is coming on strong. :P

Other than the extreme sweetness, there isn’t a ton of flavor. I do get a mild raspberry-esque fruity flavor, but there’s not really anything “cream soda” about it IMO. It’s more of just a very sweet, vaguely fruity tisane that lacks hibiscus. There is hibiscus in the ingredients list, but there certainly wasn’t much in mine, and I can’t taste it at all.

So sweet but not much else! :P

Flavors: Artificial, Fruity, Raspberry, Sugar, Sweet

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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62

Tea at the White House Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 12

So, this doesn’t taste anything like gingerbread ha ha. It mostly tastes like very earthy ginger root, with maybe a hint of some other spices. There’s a hint of sweetness, but nothing caramel-like.

Anyway, very earthy ginger rooibos. Not awful, but definitely not gingerbread either.

Flavors: Earthy, Ginger, Rooibos, Spices, Spicy, Sweet, Woody

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 8 OZ / 236 ML

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72

Compagnie & Co Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 12

This is nice enough, it reminds me of a similar tea from Dammann (Paul & Virginie I think?). Mostly red fruits, heavy on the strawberry, with a bit of a creamy vanilla note just smoothing out the edges. It’s a bit watery, I probably should have used 6 ounces of water instead of 8 for this one.

Pleasant for the evening, though I think I prefer Lupicia’s Strawberry & Vanilla if I wanted this type of tea.

Flavors: Creamy, Fruity, Light, Red Fruits, Smooth, Strawberry, Sweet, Vanilla, Whipped Cream

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec 8 OZ / 236 ML

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drank Thorn's Balm by Thésaurus Tea
3986 tasting notes

Thésaurus Tea Fandom Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 12

More orange blossoms today? :P

This smelled very rosy in the bag, I admit I actually recoiled a bit ha ha. It tastes quite floral too, but luckily I’m getting more of the orange and orange blossom than the rose. I don’t understand why there’s even black tea in here to be honest, I don’t taste it at all, and there was very little in my sample. I expected it to taste woodsy from the Labrador tea, but I don’t taste that either. Maybe I’m misremembering what it tastes like?

Mostly, it’s a very light tisane-like blend with orange and orange blossom, and a somewhat rosy finish. Not a favorite for me. :P

Flavors: Airy, Floral, Orange, Orange Blossom, Orange Zest, Rose, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 6 OZ / 177 ML

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90

DIY Kyoto Obubu Advent Calendar – Day 12

Ooooh, I love this one! Such an interesting mix of roasted sakura blossoms and mint.

I find the flavor a bit difficult to describe. There’s definitely the classic sakura flavor – light and ethereal, floral yet somehow savory, with just a hint of fruitiness. But then there’s the roast, which I feel like further accentuates those savory qualities and turns a very spring-like flavor into a more autumnal one. It doesn’t taste roasty per se, not in the same way a hojicha might. But it does create a deeper flavor. And then the mint comes in at the end and adds a refreshing, cooling finish.

Just lovely, and so unusual. I don’t think they have been making this one lately (I believe it was the creation of a specific person who no longer works there), but I hope they will bring it back at some point…

Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Cherry, Cherry Blossom, Floral, Fresh, Fruity, Mint, Roasted, Sakura, Savory, Smooth, Sweet, Toasty, Woody

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 8 min or more 5 g 10 OZ / 295 ML

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72

Beach House Teas 12 Teas of Christmas 2023 – Day 12

Last one from this set! Tomorrow, I’ll start 52teas! :3

I intentionally saved this for last because it sounded tasty and festive (I’m a “best for last” kind of person). I always get excited for candy cane teas even though I never seem to love them. This is no different. It’s really just a mellow peppermint black tea. The peppermint is nice and refreshing, no wet rags here. The black tea is nice at least, so still very enjoyable.

Maybe someday I’ll find a candy cane tea that I love? Maybe I only like the idea of candy cane tea ha ha…

Flavors: Fresh, Herbaceous, Malty, Peppermint, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
AJRimmer

I have this advent, but your mostly neutral reviews have not made me too excited to open it :P it’ll be a few months before I get around to it anyway!

Cameron B.

Ooh, I’ll be interested to read your thoughts though!

tea-sipper

My favorite candy cane tea is probably Angry Tea Room’s (so Adagio’s now). Not sure if you have tried that one!

tea-sipper

OH and then there was Della Terra’s Peppermint Bark (now EastIndiesCoffeeandTea.com)

Cameron B.

I’m not sure if I’ve tried Adagio’s plain, but I’ve tried it in a fandom blend and it seemed nice!

tea-sipper

I believe the blend that was Angry’s blend was just Adagio’s named “Candy Cane”. But I haven’t tried Adagio’s yet to make sure…

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75

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 12

Halfway through! The pace feels about right to me this year, which is a first ha ha. Usually I’m either like “what, already?!” or “only halfway?!” XD

This tastes very similar to their Mermaid Matcha to me. It’s a French vanilla sort of ice cream, with a rich and custardy flavor. Almost cakey really, with a butteriness to it. Now I’m wondering if this and Mermaid are the same, they both have carob powder… Hmm…

Anyway, it’s not one I would buy as I tend to gravitate more toward fruity matcha, but still very enjoyable to have once in a while.

Flavors: Butter, Cake, Creamy, Custard, Grassy, Rich, Sweet, Vanilla

Preparation
Iced 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
Roswell Strange

I also think they’re the same, aside from the Butterfly Pea Flower.

Cameron B.

I just saw that you said the same thing in your note ha ha!

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drank Silent Night by Beach House Teas
3986 tasting notes

Beach House Teas 12 Teas of Christmas 2023 – Day 11

This one sounded good until I saw licorice root…

And sure enough, there’s a strong licorice root sweetness that coats the entire mouth and makes the whole thing taste cloyingly sweet. I can barely even taste the mint, to be honest, mostly it’s licorice root and cinnamon. Sweet on sweet lol.

Nope! XP

Flavors: Cinnamon, Herbaceous, Licorice, Licorice Root, Musty, Sweet

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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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, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January Sipdowns: 6
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 6

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. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I’ll also often use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

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 also enjoy maté, rooibos, and honeybush. I love matcha and drink it often! Fruit tisanes are not a favorite, but I’m always willing to try them.

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

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially passionfruit, mango, and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura, chamomile, and elderflower. Osmanthus is also a favorite of mine. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

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

Location

Austin, Texas

Website

https://www.instagram.com/tea...

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