Stupid Canada Post is still behind on deliveries and so I’m still waiting for my 12 days of tea to get here :‘( But I understand there have been a lot of unforeseen circumstances both before, and after, shipping and I’m being patient. I didn’t want to mention it because I know LiberTEAs has been ill and I don’t want her to feel bad, especially when Canada Post was not going to ship the package during November/early December anyway because of the strike.
In the mean time, I figured I’d try to get through a few seasonal teas from previous years. I just opened this pouch today (now than most of my chais are out of my cupboard and I feel there is room for one more open tea). I like the idea of pear and spices together as it reminds me of cinnamon stuffed apples and pears we used to cook over a campfire when I was a kid. Pears are also sweet/fruity but a bit milk, so the lighter base was a good choice.
Typical of my brewing habits, I let this steep in hottish (probably about 70-80 deg. C) water for about 10+ minutes because I forgot to time the steep. Then, I found it very bitter in the after taste so I added some vanilla soy milk. My ideal teas can withstand being left in the mug while I re-brew the leaves, and unfortunately this green is nowhere close to passing the test. Even with milk it is bitter and a touch astringent. I will be sure to go with a short brew time for my next cup, however I like my teas to not be super finicky because I can’t be bothered to measure the water temperature exactly or time steeps.
The spices are very nice in this chai blend. I tasted clove and ginger most heavily, but some cinnamon and allspice was there too. I’ve always found clove and allspice taste the same to me.
Flavors: Bitter, Clove, Ginger, Spicy
Aw, no fun on a very late advent. :/
@Arby, please check the PM that I just sent you.