So, the boyfriend and I went to this local little store called Putnam Market to grab sandwiches for lunch (they have a bunch of assorted deli stuff and they sell a lot of condiments, bakery goods, etc). They carry a lot of Republic of Tea items and I was very happy to find several of their holiday teas! I’ve been perusing them casually on RoT’s website and hoping I could find them in a store somewhere. Hooray! I picked up this one along with Peppermint Bark, and I’ll probably go back for a couple more later. Anyway, this tea! For some reason, it’s loose leaf while all the others are in bags. Visually, it’s a mix of dark chocolate brown leaves, dried orange peel, rose petals, and various dried berries (cranberry, juniper, black currant). Dry scent is a lovely mix of fruity, spicy, sweet, and piney.
Once the tea is steeped, I can smell a lot more sweet and creamy vanilla/almond aromas, along with citrus and spice. Hmm… The flavor is quite light, maybe next time I’ll try a longer steep. I can taste light sweet orange and vanilla flavors, as well as a touch of spice (mostly clove). I wish there was a bit more berry presence here, though I do get a hint of pine from the juniper. I’m actually tasting a hint of bitterness here, possibly because I used almost two teaspoons of leaf for my 8 ounce cup.
Overall, this is a tasty cup that definitely reminds me of the holidays. Next time I’ll try a bit less tea and a longer steep.
Flavors: Almond, Berry, Clove, Orange, Pine, Spices, Sweet, Vanilla
