Flyest

Time to make notes for the teas I drank a few days ago for my birthday!

I started the day off with a favorite coffee-substitute oat milk latte. This also happens to be a blend made in my home country for ashmanra’s sipdown challenge. I didn’t realize it would be a sipdown when I went to make it, which is a bit of a bummer, but I still have some Not Coffee Vol. 1 and some Teeccino left so it’s not so bad. And I sent this one out in style – made in a favorite mug and savored to the last drop. The nutty roastiness of the chicory works so well with the cinnamon and nutmeg! Oat milk adds a creaminess that really brings it all together (probably washes out the vanilla but is a plus-up overall so I’m willing to make the trade).

Sipdown! Still not entirely sure what black cohosh tastes like, despite it being the first ingredient. The internet tells me that it is bitter and somewhat astringent. If that’s present in the cup, I can’t make it out under the other flavors. The clove is super prominent here, followed closely by a tart orange, with a hint of cinnamon. While I don’t mind clove, I prefer it to be more subtle. I find this blend likeable enough, but I don’t know that I feel the need to stock it.

Geek Steep S3E15 – Daredevil

Cold Brew!

This is the tea that I drank while recording the episode. I went cold just because I thought this would taste better that way – it’s a simple blend with hibiscus, chili, and lemon peel. Bright and tart with a bit of a berry-ish profile from all the hibiscus. I’d love more chili to contrast the acidity in the blend, but it’s easy going. Like a sorrel.

Obviously the inspiration here was just the red associated with Daredevil. Not over thinking this one – it’s playfully on theme!

Sipdown, and had it as an iced tea for ashmanra’s sipdown challenge. I brewed it hot and then let it cool. The aroma of the loose leaf is primarily floral, with maybe a hint of lemongrass. Once it’s brewed up, more of that tart lemon comes through in the scent. As for the taste, I get a savory, almost earthy flavor that I assume is the butterfly pea flower. That’s definitely the dominant note, with a refreshing lemongrass note coming in at the end of the sip and lingering afterwards. I really have to search for the jasmine, to the point that I think I’m imagining actually detecting it at all. Like all butterfly pea flower teas, this one is a fun color, and the flavor is a nice change of pace from a lot of the typical herbal blends, but I don’t personally love it enough to restock.

Sipdown (2164)!

I got this tea in a sampler from Flyest and, true story, I put off trying it because I thought it was intended to be a lactation blend. When I did try it, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s kind of pithy, medicinal and a bit bitter but also very soothing and warming. The combination of ginger, cinnamon, orange and lemon wasn’t necessarily “innovative” but it was just kind of feel good in the right way where it seemed, as I drank the tea, like I was doing something kind for my soul.

Sipdown! I oversteeped this last cup, but it was still enjoyable. The front of the sip is all tart hibiscus, followed by juicy, tart lemon, and wonderful heat from the chili. This is a blend that definitely demands attention, in a good way.

Sample from the last TTB. Though I love Teeccino, I have not loved other companies who make coffee replacements. I also don’t like coffee, so maybe that’s most of the reason. This is just too savory and unpleasant. I tried to cover it up with milk and sugar, but it’s simply not good. I shared it with someone who really liked it, so I guess it’s just down to preference, but I could only drink a sip due to my dislike. The only ingredient is roasted chicory root.

Alas, vol. 1 is no longer part of Flyest’s regular offerings, but there was a limited release a few months ago and I snatched up a few ounces. This is still my favorite coffee-alternative tea. It’s simple, bold, roasty perfection. Roasted dandelion root is just one of my favorite flavors and this is a particularly well executed version. It would have to be – that’s the only ingredient so there’s nowhere to hide! I’ve been drinking a lot of this while grinding through a major project at work this week, and it has been a good companion.

Was super glad to pick up a sampler from Flyest when they were available a month or two ago before promptly selling out. The up side of samplers is not getting stuck with a lot of a tea you don’t like, but the down side is having a tragically small quantity if you do like it. Break out the Shakespeare, because this blend is both fantastic and a sipdown. The dominant flavors are pretty clearly the citrus – lemon and orange – but the ginger makes a brisk appearance mid-sip and the coriander lends a touch of spice. Absolutely fantastic, and since it’s an herbal I don’t have to worry about overdoing my caffeine intake.

Sipdown (1842)!

I didn’t look at the ingredients of this blend super closely before steeping it, so mentally I was really prepped for something more juicy and fruit forward. My first sip was a weird one because of that, since this has much more of a prominent note of clove. It’s pretty soothing and slightly medicinal (in a nice way) tasting and the combination of spices with a very natural note of pretty unsweet orange (but not bitter/pithy) was actually very pleasant once I had kind of bounced back from the initial shock and surprise.

I wish I had another cup worth of this. I feel like it’s something I’d need to experience once or twice more before feeling comfortable committing to buying a full bag, but I see promise with this. It’s a bit like that “Constant Comment” orange/spice profile that’s so popular around the holidays, but less intense and a bit more orange forward. Also more elevated feeling.

Sipped this one last night and it was, as advertised, relaxing! The blend is quite simple but I think it actually is that simplicity that makes it so effective. Lots of sweet and fresh spearmint notes, with just a hint of cinnamon and a hint of floral rose. Didn’t taste the chamomile at all either, which was super appreciated. It was just nice.

Sipdown (1803)!

To be honest I expected this to be a lot more of an elderberry focused blend than it ended up being, but as someone who’s not usually a fan of turmeric or ginger teas I have to say that I was highly impressed with how well balanced the earthiness of the turmeric and the heat of the ginger were with this more medium-ish level syrupy and fruity elderberry taste. Overall, this definitely felt healthful and soothing but it didn’t dip into that unpleasantly medicinal or aggressively muddy and spiced territory that it veeerrrryyy easily could have! By the end of my mug I was sad that I only had the one cup’s worth sample – a good sign, given that I usually just obsessively want to taste one of everything when trying a new company & after that am ready to move on to the next exciting thing…