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DIY Kyoto Obubu Advent Calendar – Day 23

Lovely, as always. Classic spring-harvested sencha with dried sakura blossoms and leaves. It has a fresh, grassy flavor with vegetal and umami undertones, and then that light, airy sakura just dances over the top, adding its delicate fruity-floral notes and that quintessential savoriness.

Just wonderful, and even more so during a chilly, rainy winter day. :)

52teas 12 Teas of Christmas 2023 – Day 11

What an interesting idea. I’m not sure I’ve had a lemon chai?

I do like it, though to me there isn’t quite enough spice to make it a chai – it’s more of a lemon black tea with a side of spices. It doesn’t taste like lemon meringue to me at all, more of a classic tart lemon flavor and a bit of an herbal note as well. As for the spices, I think I’m getting cinnamon and cardamom? But it’s a bit tough to place since the spice notes are quite light.

It’s a nice enough lemon black tea, maybe it needs the latte treatment to get those creamy meringue notes.

Sipology Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 23

I may or may not have groaned audibly when I saw this… XD Chocolate teas are already not my favorite, and I also don’t generally love chili in chai, and I’m very hit or miss on flavored puerh, depending on how funky it is… So not a great combo ha ha!

Honestly though, it’s fine. The puerh base is nice enough – mellow, deep, and earthy without any fishy or funky notes. Don’t love the chocolate flavoring, it’s quite strong and has that trademark boozy note that I just can’t get behind. The chili isn’t very noticeable, the only indication really is a slight tingle/warmth at the back of the throat, it doesn’t taste spicy on the tongue. But honestly I don’t get a ton of spice in general here, mostly just chocolate with a touch of cinnamon and the chili.

So I don’t love it obviously, but it’s drinkable. More of a Mexican hot chocolate vibe than a chai IMO, but would probably be enjoyable for someone who loves chocolate teas more than I do. :P

Tea at the White House Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 23

So at first I thought I’d already had this tea, but I guess I was thinking of the one with the same name from Sipology.

Unfortunately it doesn’t have much flavor to me? Like, I taste the tea itself, and it’s a bit brisk and tannic with a lot of acidity to it. And then there’s a touch of cream I think? But nothing remotely cookie-ish IMO. Mostly it tastes like strong tea.

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 23

Ooooh, I love Jaffa Cakes, and I often buy them at the supermarket!

Really though, this mostly just tastes like orange to me, and I don’t really pick up on the chocolate aspect. There is some cocoa powder in here, but just based on the color of the powder, it must not be that much. Still an enjoyable zesty, slightly pithy orange flavor, but I wouldn’t liked more chocolate for sure.

I will say I’m a bit glad to not be totally in love with it, since this one is no longer available. :P

Tea at the White House Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 22

I’m not a big marzipan tea fan, but this is actually pretty nice. Sweet and a touch fruity with sweet marzipan flavor. It is quite oily, there was a lot of either coconut or almond pieces in the sachet.

Certainly wouldn’t buy it, but I expected to hate it more. :P

DIY Kyoto Obubu Advent Calendar – Day 22

So Obubu has one field where they’ve started following organic practices, not using any pesticides or fertilizers, etc. But they haven’t gotten an organic certification (and I’m not sure they plan to), so they refer to these teas as “natural”, such as this one.

All that being said, this is a lovely tea. It’s so mellow and smooth, with sweet warm hay notes and crisp, dry summer grass. There’s a natural sweetness to it as well, and a gentle mineral quality. It doesn’t have any of the vegetal or umami qualities (perhaps a hint here) of a sencha, but it’s such a comforting and soft green tea, perfect for the evening.

I should really drink bancha more often…

Sipology Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 22

Not sure what’s that wintery about this, it seems to be a classic Moroccan mint, just with peppermint instead of spearmint.

It’s nice enough, smooth and mellow with a cozy toasty flavor from the gunpowder tea. Definitely tasting a lot of peppermint, and it is a tad bit more herbaceous than I would prefer, but still has a crisp, refreshing finish. No wet rag notes though, thankfully.

A fine tea, just a bit underwhelming, especially so close to the end of the advent.

Thésaurus Tea Fandom Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 22

This is just yummy. Ignoring the fact that it has butterfly pea (again), something is giving me notes of molasses or black sugar, and I guess it must be the black tea itself? And then on top of that, I can taste the tart blackberry and a bit of the lemon as well.

The whole thing is quite subtle, as there are no flavorings, but I’m really enjoying the end result.

52teas 12 Teas of Christmas 2023 – Day 10

Yassssss! This is the tea that I’ve most wanted to try when I’ve seen it in past years, so happy that it made it into this year’s box as well.

It’s very true to the name, with a crisp lemon-lime soda flavor and a touch of red berry. I wouldn’t say specifically cranberry, but generally those cranberry-flavored sodas don’t specifically taste like cranberry to me either he he.

Just really nice, and it does taste just like a cranberry Sprite to me. Which reminds me, I should buy some more cranberry ginger ale the time I’m at the store… :P