72
drank Joshua Tree by Simpson & Vail
4273 tasting notes

Advent Calendar 2024 – Day 2

Better get going on these advent teas ha ha. I got distracted chatting with a friend on Instagram, and now it’s 4:30 and I still have 4 more teas to go! XD

I was excited to see this one in the advent, because it’s actually the only tea in their National Parks series that I haven’t tried. I ordered the sampler at one point, but then they added this tea and Glacier after the fact. So hooray!

This is definitely an interesting one, as I might expect from the strange description (what does agave even taste like other than sweet?). I wonder if I should’ve used less water, because it’s actually a bit bland. Otherwise, not sure how to describe it exactly. There’s definitely an herbaceous taste, and something like dry grass or hay. Something almost starchy that I assume is coming from the yucca root. I do taste hibiscus, it’s not necessarily tart but there’s a hint of that rich fruity taste in the background. And then the finish is a bit honey-like, perhaps that’s the agave flavoring coming in? With some minerality as well. As it cools, it reminds me of OBTC’s Prickly Pear a bit, with a sort of melony flavor to it.

Definitely an unusual one. I don’t see myself ordering a tin of it, as it’s a bit strange. Not unpleasant, just not something I would reach for. Happy to have tried it though!

Flavors: Dry Grass, Floral, Hay, Herbaceous, Hibiscus, Honey, Melon, Mineral, Potato, Roots, Spring Water, Sweet, Thin, Watery, Woody

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML
whosbradpitt

Kind of relieved to read all of these reviews of this tea as strange, given that was my impression of it!

Cameron B.

I think if the flavors were stronger I would like it more, but that could be down to my steeping parameters.

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whosbradpitt

Kind of relieved to read all of these reviews of this tea as strange, given that was my impression of it!

Cameron B.

I think if the flavors were stronger I would like it more, but that could be down to my steeping parameters.

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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… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- December sipdowns: 1
- Total 2024 sipdowns: 157

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

Location

Austin, Texas

Website

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

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