From one extreme to the other. This is another tea I’ve tried before, although not for a couple of years now. Dry, it does indeed smell like Christmas. I can pick out cinnamon, ginger, orange, maybe a hint of clove. It’s warming and spicy.
This one has a rooibos base, so I gave it about 4 minutes. I want to taste the spices, rather than have the rooibos overpower everything else. Brewed, this is a deep red-brown and smells strongly spicy. I suppose it’s a little like mulled wine, only sadly without the alcohol. I’m actually tempted to add a bit of brandy, but I’ll refrain for now. It also reminds me, interestingly enough, of the Lush shower gel I’m using at the moment — Glogg. I think it’s because it’s almost the same colour, and shares the same cinnamon scent. Thankfully, they don’t have soap in common.
Anyway, this tea doesn’t taste as “heavy” as I thought it was going to. The colour of the liquor is deceptive in that way. The rooibos really complements the spices — it’s earthy and slightly muddy tasting under the cinnamon and clove, which seem to come out most strongly of all once infused.
This is certainly a pleasant, hearty tea for this time of year, and a little different too, in not having a black tea base. I don’t usually go for gimmicky Christmas team because they’re generally spice-based, and they’re not flavours I particularly feel like drinking at any other time of year. This one is probably much the same in that respect, but I can be Christmassy when called upon. And when I am, this isn’t a tea I’d mind drinking.
Ah glögg! You don’t get much more Christmas-y than that! It’s THE Christmas drink around these parts. Sort of like a mulled wine with raisins and almond bits in.