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78

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 24

And last one! How so? Happy Holidays everyone!

Accidentaly (?) I have this tea as the very last tea from TakeT and yesterday they wrote on their FB page it is a perfect gift for Christmas. Blended just for joulu and it looks very nice. Reading the ingredients which contain, among others and green tea: orange, mistletoe, sandalwood — a combo that says indeed a woody, festive tea for me, but let’s see. I have hoped for some fir (or other corniferous) ingredients, but only sandalwood is the woody ingredient here.

But you know how it is when there is all the Christmas cheer, you have hardly time for your cup. So, while others were drinking coffee (and one hot chocolate), I was drinking my cup of Fir Tree.
Honestly, it is smooth, grassy green tea with strong orange flavour, nice rose aroma nad a little woody finish. Very simple to drink and green tea seems to me being high quality as it was indeed lovely grassy note with freshly cut grass scent. There wasn’t much of anything that was reminding me Finnish forest, but definitely it was just orange green tea with nice ingredients included.

Preparation
170 °F / 76 °C 3 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML
Michelle

Happy Holidays!

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75

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 23

Well, this is chery-flavoured rooibos. Nothing much to write about; but cherry could be a bit stronger in my opinion and rooibos was fine.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML

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82

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 22

This sounds lovely, but it seems that the puerh was a bit too strong. Maybe my sample haven’t got enough of the peaches; as those are in flavour, but the base was overpowering them in flavour.

But it was nice puerh, not funky or stinky; a little peppery maybe? The peach and cream note was there, but as I wrote beforehand, not strong. But it was there…

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML
gmathis

I would never have thought about combining peaches with pu-erh, but I think I can envision that!

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86

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 21
Day behind. But just posting day after :)

First of all, there are sad news in my country, maybe you have noticed.

But to the tea without further ado. This is lovely tea, with mostly raisins/grape and mostly red currant note. Do you read that Courtney? Red currant tea!
They say it is with champagne aroma, but haven’t noticed that here as well and I am happy. And the red currants were distinct in flavour, so, very happy with this tea!

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML
ashmanra

I am so sorry to hear of this tragedy, Martin. It breaks the heart.

gmathis

I did see the headlines. Timely reminder for me to pause and pray for the families who are hurting right now.

Michelle

Sad news indeed. I try and remember all the good people in the world and here on steepster that are uplifting, even in the face of sadness.

Kaylee

So tragic. I hope the families, friends, and survivors find comfort and healing in this difficult time.

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80
drank The Lure of Yuzu by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 20
Green rooibos + Yuzu. Happy to see this base; as it is rather hard to get any green rooibos in my country and this Finnish company seems to carry a few at least.

I am not sure if I noticed enough yuzu; as it contains also apple pieces which make it quite sweet and maybe overpower the yuzu a bit. But there was some pine-y note, just not as refreshing as I have thought it will be.

But hey, we can’t get everything great and awesome… I am actually glad enough that I have found green rooibos blend.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML

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70
drank Sunshine Mate by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 19
Back on track! Yay!

Ok, it seem I won’t sleep this night. Black tea, now a mate, well both high in caffeine. But actually, I was so tired today after work (which is strange as I haven’t done much), so extra caffeine boost is fine.

I really like that they have combined many different bases in this Advent. Mate for second time, most being black (but that’s common for Finnish tea blending) and actually just one was a fruit blend? At least it is not a show of hibiscus and rosehips.

This one is fine, but not so good as Happy Mate was. that one was creamy and refreshing, while this one was just a bit more sour / lemon filled mate. The mate they use is great though as it is definitely not smoky and not mineral as they often are… thus much more acessible for beginning drinkers, including me.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML
gmathis

I bet the lemon is a good camouflage for the mate.

Kaylee

I’ve had this problem too! It’s hard to keep control of caffeine intake AND keep up with advents.

Martin Bednář

Lemon is definitely a good camouflage for the mate. Refreshing and high in caffeine. What else?

Luckily I don’t have to watch much the caffeine intake, as the worst what can happen is I won’t sleep. But nothing else.

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72
drank Me and My Coconut by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 18
Day behind.

Black tea? Check
Coconut? Check (and loads of it)
Pineapple? Check (in flavour)
Added aromas? Fail. But I don’t mind it.

Pleasant, highly coconuty tea (25 per cent of blend are coconut shreds!) and I have noticed something like pinepple when cooled down. It could be more of this; but maybe it would be too much pinacolada like?

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML

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81
drank Once Upon A Time by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 17
Day behind. Yes, I am still one day behind. Will I make it back to the track today? I dunno.

This is a lovely, refreshing blend with hints of raspberry flavour. I may have used too cold water; but green/white tea blend deserves it and I didn’t wanted to ruin the experience. The raspberry, could be a bit stronger. If I didn’t know there are raspberries, I would say some generic red berrries. With that description goji berries are definitely described well.

But I can imagine drinking it on hot summer days.

Preparation
165 °F / 73 °C 2 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML
Kelmishka

It’s so easy to fall behind! :D

Martin Bednář

One busy day and… you are behind :D

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80
drank Happy Mate by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 16
Day behind. Yes, I am still one day behind.

I admit, I read Mate as that Aussie word for friend for first time and somehow it still holds in my head though I know it is Yerba Maté.

Putting a Maté to the Advent calendar is highly uncommon in my opinion and I just wonder what ingredient should make it happy.

Anyway, steeping it between 5 and 10 minutes seemed verya long for me, but I did that. I did 7-8 minutes steep and I have admit the aroma from my steeper was lovely. Slightly citrusy like lemongrass being in (it’s not) and a bit of mineral notes. The flavour was different though and it was smooth and somehow creamy, with no mineral notes, but the citrusy note was still there. And definitely it wasn’t smoky anyway. A very nice surprise!

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 7 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML
blueeyedsurprise

Sounds nice, I like it when a company makes an unusual choice in their assortments.

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70
drank Black Cherry by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 15
Day behind

Well, I had higher hopes on this tea. It is quite strong black tea base, some floral notes and in aroma cherries are very prominent, but in flavour it is sadly quite weak and the base tea actually overpowers it with its malty character. I assume that cherry can be tricky, to make sure it is not cough syrup like, but a little more here would be nice.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML

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70
drank Montmartre by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 14

I have no idea what to expect from this white tea blend. When I have steeped it there are somehow classical white tea scents and flavours as well. Hints of fruitiness; seems to be rasperries, but it definitely wasn’t raspberry forward. Rather I have noticed slight peppery notes; maybe both from rose buds and peppercorns.

Fine, but nohing exceptional. Interesting name though!

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 30 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML

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88
drank Williams by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 13

I will state a single sentence. This tea is a must, when placing next order.

It’s strange, that I generally don’t like the pear as a fruit. But in a tea, it is second tea I have and again well done. I really like it and maybe it is because so simple ingredients — black tea, pears (15 %) and rose petals. The rose is making it a bit aromatic and floral, but it’s not noticeable in the flavour. The pear is and quite highly. Quite buttery, fresh pear with hints of their astringent (probably the most correct word) flavour.

It is a pear tea with a pear flavour. Is there more to ask for?

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML
Tiffany :)

Ooh, I love pears! That sounds like a delicious cup. :)

Martin Bednář

I have already two pear teas that I need in my cupboard. Both.

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drank Rooibos Pipari by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 12

Rating on hold as I don’t think I received a proper sample. Considering all the spices pictured I have received maybe those small bits which seems — based on the flavour, ginger.

It was nice rooibos with ginger, but as I wrote above, there certainly should be more spices and I didn’t get them in my pouch. Based on the list of ingredients, I believe it could be something like gingerbread.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 6 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML

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82
drank RhuBarbie by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 11

As I have no sisters, and my nieces doesn’t play with Barbies, it is hard to say if the hue of the tea is at least, similar. But it is nice color somehow, pinkish-red and clear. But funny name considering this year movie industry hit.

Based on the aroma I have been expecting tart tea, but it is not! Instead it is indeed nicely fruity tea where I do notice apples, beet root and hints of blackberries; but also sweet-sour rhubarb and I would bet there are some red fruits. But that’s maybe the hibiscus, which isn’t present in flavours too much (or if at all).

The mouthfeel sadly, doesn’t last long. It is strong, but it fades very quickly. That’s sadly a flaw for me in this cup. But probably only one and it is definitely interesting change of pace in all the black teas I had recent days. Actually, it surprises me a bit that it is very first fruit blend in my Advent and we are almost in the half of them.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 8 min or more 10 OZ / 300 ML

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78

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 10

Well, and after 3 days we have here the black tea version.

I have been on a day-trip to local open-air folk museum, so I have prepared it in thermos and drank all day long. The thermos I got from derk holds the hot tea all day long. Thank you, it is indeed lovely gift from you (I have used it like this for very first time!)

Well, actually this tea flavour and aroma wise is very same as its green counterpart; just the base was, naturally more robust and almonds were weaker and vanilla was stronger. That could be because a bit different ratios as well, though.
It was nice, but not my preferred flavour profile.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec
derk

Cool, glad you got to use the thermos. It’s big and bulky and looks unabashedly American in design but it’s the best for keeping beverages hothothot! How was the folk museum?

Martin Bednář

The folk museum was fine, but a bit crowdy for me. There was Christmas market, so it made sense. But from buildings and speeches of guides it was a bit annoying. Also, the paths turned into ice quite fast, so it was a bit tricky.

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72

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 9
Actually TakeT celebrates today 7 years of existence; so happy birthday. Their 7 Years tea seems to be a blend of black teas, lapsang souchong, whisky aroma and saffron.

But their 1 Year tea is a blend of green oolong, milky oolong and yellow rosebuds — I don’t count any other flowers that aren’t contributing to the flavours.

Well, it is quite mineral for me, sadly not much milky as I have hoped. The rose gives a peppery note a bit, but overall, it was like a quite normal and nice daily-drinking oolong. Not bad, but nothing I need to order.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 4 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML

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80

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 8

Well, it is a good and nice EG, but on the other hand it doesn’t deliver any new impressions. The base was strong and robus, no cheap Ceylon tea definitely, as it was rather a bit bready and chocolate-ly. And bergamot and lemon oil didn’t made any offensive notes, moreless perfectly blended to make it drinkable by the crowd.

But for me… it was one of the many Earl Greys. Fine, but nothing special.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML

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78

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 7

Sorry, my Finnish knowledge is short about the name of this tea and I don’t feel it is correct (the color is correct, name as well, but why to speak about snout of someone?)

Anyway; definitely sounds interesting and they have also a black tea version of the same tea; saying it is Petteri’s Red Snout (Punakuono). But in fact, it is a pretty nice and straightforward green tea with creamy vanilla and hints of almonds. Not a prefered flavour profile, but it wasn’t bad, so… so what.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML
ashmanra

Odd thought here but could it have anything to do with Pinocchio? The words are very similar.

Martin Bednář

Interesting idea ashmanra, Finnish word for Pinocchio is Pinokkio But it could be play with words, somehow.

ashmanra

Oooh so Punakuonois the word that looked a bit like Pinocchio to me but that is the black tea version so I am probably totally off base there!

Martin Bednář

Well, it could be original and then with play with words they changed just the “color”.

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75

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 6

Somehow, I just can’t get into writing notes today, so they probably will be short and curt. On the other news, I found a direct line of my ancestors up to 1582, which I find amazing. And tomorrow off to work.

This morning tea was quite nice, full of fruity sweetness; cherries to be exact. I think it could be strong almost to the medicinal flavour, which is generally disliked. There were hints of cocoa, so together it reminded me cherry flavoured pralines a bit. Or a griotte?

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML
Michelle

Wow that’s a long way back to know who your ancestors are!

Martin Bednář

Indeed, I think it is highly uncommon.

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80

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 5

It seems that May Day is important for Finns and they celebrate it greatly and honestly I had no idea until today.

Anyway to the tea — this tea is a green tea with tropical flavours and I think that both are delivered and presented well. I also contain red currants, a berry somehow typical for Nordic countries and it adds a little of the sweet tartness to that tropical papaya and pineapple flavours.

The base tea is good, nicely grassy, but not overpowering the fruit flavors I wrote about above, luckily it wasn’t the drying hay as often found in green tea blends here.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 3 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML

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84

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 3
TakeT doesn’t number their sample pouches, so I just picked one randomly and today it is this one.

An apricot tea? Well, it’s a bit uncommon, peaches are usually more often. But tihs actually contains apricots and I see bits in my sample bag.

I used all of it, though I think I could split it up for two sessions as it was quite strong, so I did short steep instead. Yes! It is definitely apricot tea with apricot flavour and apricot aroma. The tea base seems to be good one, though not much present in flavour. I am a bit sad they don’t write the origin of their bases, because I definitely don’t feel this is “just a Ceylon base”, as it was lacking the briskiness; but it’s not CTC, but FOP maybe. And that makes me happy.

But I liked that it is supposed to be an apricot tea and it is an apricot tea with apricot flavour — no other fruits here, as usual. I am highly considering ordering it.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 2 min, 0 sec 10 OZ / 300 ML
Dustin

There is a hojicha that Lupicia does that is flavored with apricots and cinnamon. I love it so much!

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82

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 2
TakeT doesn’t number their sample pouches, so I just picked one randomly and today it is this one.

Black tea with caramel? Those are so often a miss for me. And gold sugar balls. Definitely, it’s going to be very sweet. But this one had actually caramel cubes (looking on you, Bonfire Toffee by B&B), so maybe it won’t be that bad.

It isn’t — base tea is actually quite brisk and strong, caramel note is nice and a little milky and also I notice some other sweetness reminding me vaahterasiirapi (maple syrup). It’s not listed, so it is maybe my taste being a bit off or it’s the “aroma” listed.
Considering getting a pouch of this for drinking when having a sweet tooth.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 4 g 10 OZ / 300 ML
tea-sipper

Yeah, I’m glad I’m not the only one still missing the caramel cubes in Bonfire Toffee!

Martin Bednář

I never had the Bonfire Toffee with caramel cubes. Once I get this, would you like to try some tea-sipper?

tea-sipper

Oh no, that is even more sad that you remember the caramel cubes and were never able to try Bonfire Toffee with the caramel cubes! Thank you very much, but I will pass on the Gold Candy Rain for now. I didn’t reach my sipdown goal AT ALL this year. I appreciate the offer though.

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72

Advent Calendar from TakeT: Day 1
TakeT doesn’t number their sample pouches, so I just picked one randomly and today it is this one. It’s not even on their website, so I went through their Facebook gallery and found it; so I could rewrite the ingredients too.

Herbals… well, as I am still sick, it won’t hurt for sure. Thyme, moringa, lemon peel… it all sounds quite good. And functional against my illness.
Well, flavour-wise it is naturally herbaceous, but I think that apple pieces did its part of making it sweet and lemon peel making it a bit refreshing, but mostly I notced a bit bitter moringa in this tea. Thyme, sadly, not at all.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 8 min or more 4 g 10 OZ / 300 ML

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72
drank The Best Rally Tea by TakeT
1839 tasting notes

A sipdown! (M: 5, Y: 28)yes, a backlog from April.

If there was a prompt — your weirdest tea, this would be a great fit.

I don’t know what was different that day, but:
Yes it had salty licorice taste.
It was a bit chewy somehow.
My smell sense detected a tarmac a bit.
It was somehow true to name as it was indeed like a motorsports paddock. Can’t explain that at all. Maybe a little smokiness from it? But no gasoline in aroma (haven’t tasted that, so can’t say that about flavours).

Would I re-order? Probably not. But fun to try.

Preparation
10 OZ / 300 ML
gmathis

Tarmac tea—-ouch!

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