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Advent Calendar 2024 – Day 12

Yay, a literary tea today! I somehow still haven’t tried S&V’s literary sampler, even though I’ve been wanting to for literally years now ha ha. Somehow it always ends up falling out of my cart in favor of other things! Ah well. I did sign up for their subscription box ($16 for 4 one-ounce packages, what?!) so maybe I’ll see some in there!

I was surprised to see that this has rolled green oolong in it. When a tea is a black/oolong blend, I generally expect the oxidized strip type, plus it’s not obvious in the photo because of how dark the oolong looks. Dry scent was completely heavenly. And I’m really enjoying the steeped cuppa too! It’s definitely mostly black tea, but I do get a bit of that oolong (assuming TGY) leafiness, minerality, and texture as well. The black currant is perfect – mellow but still very identifiable.

Very nice cuppa! Especially like the more mild black currant flavor.

The jam of the day was Apricot-Peach Spread. Apricot is probably my favorite conventional jam flavor, so of course I loved it ha ha. Nothing particularly special about it, but was happy to see a bit ol’ chunk of apricot in my jar. Would have loved more tartness and less sugar, but I tend to prefer the “more fruit/intense” types of jam anyway so no surprise there.

Flavors: Black Currant, Brisk, Green, Jam, Malty, Mineral, Silky, Sweet, Syrupy, Tannic

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
gmathis

Wish I would’ve had a cup in hand while watching “The Man Who Invented Christmas” this weekend!

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gmathis

Wish I would’ve had a cup in hand while watching “The Man Who Invented Christmas” this weekend!

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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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