Cuppa Geek

Advent Day 21, From the Depths of the Grab Bag. We’re a little behind, plus there’s more than 24 teas in the bag.

sniffs the packet "Oh. Oh boy. "

Would you like something else tonight?

“No, let’s do it.”

I brew it up.

“At least this smells similar to the candle we’re burning. (I think it’s lavender-scented) Maybe a little ginger in there? Smells nice.”

What does it smell like?

“It smells a little floral. Smells floral and a little spicy. And there’s something, um, something like ginger in taste and maybe something like lavender or something. I like it. It’s not too bad. The black tea is not real tannic. I like it. I think it’s pretty good. It smells so nice, like a potpourri. It’s got a little bite. I think it’s not these… picks up the bag of Flamin’ Hot Keto cheetohs she was snacking on I’d say it’s an 8. I could drink it again. What is that stuff the Persian tea has in it? (referring to this: https://steepster.com/teas/alvins-of-san-francisco/36266-persian-choice-royal-earl-grey). I can never remember that name. short pause Bergamot!”

It’s a simple tea. You pretty much nailed it. It’s Lavender Earl Grey.

“Alright!! OK!! Haha-HAHA! I like it, I like it. It’s a solid 8 for sure. Did it have any ginger in there?”

Nope.

“It must’ve been the cheetohs, haha!” burrrrrp

advent day 25 yes i’m a day late but yesterday was exhausting and amazing. lockdown starts today so we have almost a full month of nothing seeing mom and dad and not having help with kiddo. Ugh. Sucks, because outside of each other, we don’t actually interact with the outside world and haven’t for an eternity.

This was a nice apple chai even though it wasn’t for me because i’m apple tea-d out lol.

Show of hands…how many of you have zoned out while pouring water for a green tea and realized after the cup was half full that the water shouldn’t have been boiling? (Please let there be somebody besides me!) If there is a method for un-pouring improperly temp’ed water, please let me know!

Ah, well.

Fortunately, Cuppa Geek’s Comforting Cup turned out to be a Very Forgiving Cup as well. The orange and chai spices covered for any bitterness I may have caused by my blunder. Marshmallow root is fast becoming one of my favorite tea ingredients as well; it gently blunts the sharp edges of spices and tart things. All in all, this is tasty and reminds be of a spicier, edgier counterpart to old faithful Constant Comment (my barometer for all teas orangey and spicy).

Advent Day 20, From the Depths of the Grab Bag.

Kiki’s confused again by the smell of the packet. “Smells like butterscotch. Butterscotch again? I wonder what makes me think that.”

I sniff, I say it smells like vanilla and redfruits, medicinal.

“That must be what makes me think butterscotch — vanilla. I think because it may not be natural vanilla.”

You mean like vanilla beans?

“Yeah, yeah, I think that’s what I mean. It’s not like vanilla beans. But I do smell something red like cherries. It reminds me of cough syrup.”

“I think it’s— I like the black tea better with the vanilla, better than without the black tea. I think it’s got a little rosehip in there maybe. Some kind of fruity thing but mostly vanilla. I don’t know if it’s astringent from the rosehip or the black tea. And that’s basically all I’m tasting. It’s okay, I’d say it’s a 7. It tastes okay. So what is it? Black tea with vanilla?”

Well, it’s called Chocolate Covered Snowballs.

She makes a funny face. “Okay.” Finishes the mug.

It didn’t taste like chocolate to you?

“Now that you say it, I guess so. Not compared to that good chocolate we ate earlier this morning. I guess I should know that when it smells like butterscotch, it’s probably chocolate haha.”

There’s also berries in it. Blueberries.

“It had a little fruity but…”

And there’s peppermint and teeny tiny candy cane flakes in it.

“I didn’t smell ’em.”

There are no rosehips in it, so it was probably the black tea that was astringent.

“It’s still a 7. Merry Christmas!”

CuppaGeek Advent Calendar – Day 25

Merry Christmas Steepster!

I am starting my day with this bonus tea from the Cuppa Geek advent. Unfortunately, I don’t love this one. I blame the green tea base but also maybe the cider component. Something is just throwing me because I expect spices and then it cuts through with a different flavor that isn’t for me.

A nicely tangy apple flavored chamomile blend. Tang’s from the apple pieces though. There’s no hibiscus and I’m unsure about honeybush or cinnamon. So I just got out of bed to check the steeper basket and it is indeed only apple pieces and big, soggy chamomile flowers. I even took one teaspoon from the bottom of the bag and one from the top. I’m not complaining, though. The tea went very well with a couple of too sweet Hostess carrot cake donettes. And since I poked through the steeper basket, I also nibbled on some apple chunks.

Advent Day 20, From the Depths of the Grab Bag.

I’m falling asleep over here on the couch, so this is really short.

“smells tutti frutti juicyfruit gum.

tastes kinda peachlike, maybe some red clover

i like it, it’s good. it’s a good number 9. very tasty, very satisfying, i love it! apple! cinnamon?"

<me, sleepy> Baked Apple Pie

“tastes like apple pie, smells like apple pie. nine-plus.”

advent day 24

This was a nice treat since i’ve been jamming on the chamomille in this calendar. I also didn’t realise there were butterfly pea flowers in it so i was sooo confused for a split second when the brew was blue. Wouldn’t have noticed it but coincidentally brewed it up in my yellow mug heh.

CuppaGeek Advent Calendar – Day 24

It’s dark out so I guess I can officially say Merry Christmas Eve Steepster! It’s a bit of an odd year because even though I was drowning in advents, it doesn’t quite feel like Christmas. I think there is less lights and festive stuff to begin with and also since I don’t really leave the house – I wouldn’t know if there were. It’s just odd.

This tea, however, was not odd. It was good. It was peaches and cream and it was smooth and lovely. Heavy on the peach. I enjoyed it.

I received the following review by text from my Tennessee friend last night: “Orange Creamsicle is a winner!”

I heartily agree. My eyes rolled back in my head with pleasure when I sniffed the pouch…scent memories that go all the way back to the church camp snack bar orange push-up pops. (I chose to stomp out the accompanying memories of those embarrassingly tortured junior high summer camp romances. It would just spoil the experience ;)

Steeped at three minutes fifteen, the orange was spit-spot accurate in flavor with no tartness. It lost a tiny bit of the creaminess, but with a little half-and-half, I felt like I was drinking melted ice cream. Reached the bottom of the cup far too soon.

CuppaGeek Advent Calendar, December 24

Two pouches are remaining in my gift bag.

I have cheated a bit today. I turned all pouches with their transparent side to me and chose the most festive one today. Of course, no idea what they are. I think I chose indeed well!

I don’t know where to start. It’s amazing; caramel sweetness which isn’t cloying nor sickly sweet. Apple flavour which is just spot on, spices warmth just right (I have to disagree with Kiki). It reminded me a bit of some great apple pie (which I don’t recall having recently). Kind of deja vu?

Anyway, my cuppa wasn’t too clove heavy — so I can rate it high. And will do; and considering an order with pouch of this. It is that yummy! Probably best one from CuppaGeek I had in my Advent Calendar!

I really enjoy this as a cold brew. My last pitcher was almost 8g in 1L, brewed overnight. Lots of blackberry flavoring, not sweet but with a bit of tartness maybe from the freeze-dried raspberries. The lavender isn’t too strong for me — overbearing lavender can give me headaches but I’ve never had one with this tea. I think it tastes great with the blackberry flavoring. The black tea is strong enough to stand on its own while still supporting the blackberry and lavender. It tastes coppery like a Ceylon, which surprised me because it’s an Assam.

Blackberry Lavender tastes the same brewed hot as it tastes brewed cold. It’s a little tricky to get my preferred hot cup since the black tea brews quickly. A teaspoon in 8oz seems about right. I do prefer this flavor profile cold.

Guess who I made a cup for this evening?

“Hey! What is this tea? Oh I know, it’s one of those teas that I liked! What is it, berry, strawberry something? big wheezing laughs It smells kinda like cat spray!! more wheezing lulz, big burps It does smell like cat spray!! These (Steepster) people needed a refresher didn’t they? cackles Whoever you got it from— the cat might’ve pee-peed on the bag, haha! It tastes like strawberry jello! she seriously can’t stop laughing What’s it got, blackberry leaves? It’s raspberry! burps, yawns (non sequitur) Of course it has an outdoor smell, it all grows outside. AAAAAHHHH, that was good. I would drink it again! slams the mug down and cackles It was a happy tea. I like it and especially after eating those blackberries. I didn’t recognize it (the flavor of the tea) as blackberry but it was in the berry family, heh heh heh.”

Kiki loves it, I promise.

“Second steep is still really good. I can taste the floral lavender now.”

Advent Day 19, From the Depths of the Grab Bag.

sniffs packet repeatedly “Mmmm it smells good! Fruity. Strawberry? Some kind of berry?”

dunks the steeper, the one sent by CuppaGeek with a different order “Let’s take a smell. buries face in the steam It smells like incense doesn’t it??”

<me, digging the smell of this tea> I smell… hrm no, I think it smells like what was in the packet.

“In the packet? Yeah. K. It smells like strawberries, maybe a little blueberry or something. Incense-like.”

sip “Oh, it’s a little spicy.” sips more, looking confused

<me, offering advice> Maybe you should let it sit for a few minutes to cool down. With some black teas the flavor comes out more as it cools.

long swigs and sniffs “I like it. It smells good. I can’t tell what it is. … That was good. I liked it.”

<me, surprised> You’re already done?!

“Yeah that was really good. I liked it. I’d say it was a 9. deep belch MmM! I’d drink it again.”

<me, pressing, because I want to buy her a few of her favorites from this advent> And again?

“Yeah and again. Yeah. Look. Boom! sips dregs from mug Huh that tasted like licks lips perfume. It smelled so good. Very nice.”

Sipdown (311)

Sil sent me a sample of this tea, which I tried once before thanks to the Cuppa Geek advent. I didn’t really remember it though but it seems my experience this time is pretty consistent with my previous experience in that I get a pretty clear creamsicle flavor. It’s got great sweet orange popsicle flavor with a touch of creamy vanilla. This time around I am getting less honeybush than I believe I did last time which is an improvement. It’s quite nice actually. Upping the rating slightly from 72…

Thank you Sil for the chance to revisit this one!

CuppaGeek Advent Calendar – Day 21

I had a video chat with my friends today and decided to make a tea for that. I only had two of today’s advent teas left but I was saving them for the baking fun so I decided instead to make this one. This is the tea I pulled out to drink on day 21 of advents but didn’t quite get to it since I got caught up building my tea cabinet.

I was intrigued by my video chat which means I was more focused on that than the tea. However, I do recall I definitely got a clear creamsicle flavor. Sweet orange and vanilla cream combined. Unfortunately I also got honeybush which took me out of it a bit. With that said, I had another creamsicle tea today and I would say this was the better of the two in my book.

CuppaGeek Advent Calendar – Day 23

I think mini marshmallows are so cute but my sample had a lot and I think that might have hurt the blend a bit. This is just overly sweet with a tiny hint of berry flavor. Interestingly enough, the berry flavor isn’t actually overly sweet but instead hits the back of your throat with a tartness that is true to the fruit. I just wish there was more of that flavor and less sweet. Also less of the green rooibos base flavor which seems to make up most of the taste, along with the sweet, until that berry hits.

CuppaGeek Advent Calendar, December 23

It’s almost end of Advent Season and yet I am first one who writes about this tea?
Anyway, a very interesting blend — peach and raspberries aren’t common; on black tea base with a rose.

It’s tasty. Not my super-favourite tea to have a big stash of, but it’s nice. All three notes are there. Mostly the last one, rose followed with raspberrry fruitiness and juicyness. Yep, I felt it is a bit juicy. The peach is there too, though could imagine bit more present — but that would probably clash with raspberry flavour.

It was enjoyable, but bit weak. Maybe I am used to very fruity teas recently.

Cuppageek Advent Day 22

I read the reviews before I made this one, and saw gmathis’ recommendation to make it with milk. I wasn’t sure if she meant to add milk to the tea or to make it IN MILK, but you know I am up for lattes since cooler weather started so a latte it is!

I steeped it a pretty long time, maybe six minutes, and this time I did not add whipped cream since several people said it was super sweet. I thought it was very good! I didn’t taste too much apple, but mainly maple sweetness.

Thanks to Cameron B I have been obsessing over jelly and jam, and thanks to Youngest being on an applesauce kick I have been thinking about those cheap packs of apple jelly you get in little diners, so I had middle daughter buy some apple jelly today and that is what I drank this with – toast with cheap apple jelly. I could have chosen a better pairing because that was sweet with sweet, but it went together all right and I enjoyed it!

I would like this tea much more with a couple of slices of bacon or an omelette. Yum!

Advent Day 18, From the Depths of the Grab Bag.

Packet: “Butterscotch. Butterscotch again. Vanilla? That’s what makes me think butterscotch.”

Tea: “It smells like that African tea.” I guess that is something Kiki remembers my aunt drinking way back. I happen to be drinking plain red rooibos tonight so I had her smell my mug and she said, “Yeah! That’s the African tea this tea smells like.”

“Vanilla, it tastes vanilla-like. It’s alright. I like vanilla but I don’t like it in tea. It’s mostly black tea with vanilla. It’s a 7.”

Day 22 advent
This was a really nice cuppa today. Something about the berry and creamy flavour just sat right with me today.

CuppaGeek Advent Calendar – Day 22

I cheated slightly with this. I had grabbed another tea and then I saw the marshmallow and chocolate chip in the dry leaf of this and was like I want those flavors. I switched the one I had originally pulled (but not yet scratched) with this one. I excitedly scratched away the label and was happy to see Chocolate Covered Marshmallow scrawled across the label.

This is a nice tea. Very chocolate-y, though more semi-sweet than milk. It’s also fluffy from the marshmallows but I did expect more marshmallow flavor. It’s not quite as creamy or chocolate-y as I anticipated. It’s also not as sweet.

Strawberry and mint is a favorite summertime combo for me—the hotter it is, the more likely you are to find a jar cold-steeping in the fridge, but I don’t do it often in a mug. But as it was at least warm and sunny enough to hang sheets out on the line, I decided to give it a wintertime whirl.

This time around, it didn’t go quite as planned. Either I oversteeped (a definite possibility) or the little Advent packet didn’t quite contain the right balance of ingredients (that happens with chunkier teas when you have limited space and can’t pack it all in there), and it ended up a little on the bitter side.

Your experience may vary—this has great potential for fruit tea lovers!

Hmm, I had 5 pouches left. I guess I made some arithmetic error. How typical.

Anyway, I let random.org to choose one from those 5 remaining. It decided for this one, so I opened it up, filled my tea bag and added water. After 4 minutes I was busy with scratching the label I found out what I actually brewed.

It was very tasty! A bold base with wonderful sweetness of peaches with creamy vanilla taste. They were complemting each other and well, I think I would need more of this blend to keep in my cupboard. It was just right with sweetness, I liked I could notice the base, so it was just right.