Day 11 DavidsTea 24 Days of Tea advent calendar – Alpine Punch. I’ve been on a fairly sad run of teas lately with the DT calendar. Not being the biggest rooibos fan I out this one off for a few days before trying it. At first pre-brew sniff I thought it had some potential. Very coconut-y, which is good in my books, though I know it’s not for everyone. My main concern reading the ingredients list during steep time was the “natural and artificial almond cream flavouring”. Not almond flavouring, which can be a bit of a warning sign already, but almond cream flavouring. Having established a few days back in the advent calendar experience that the use of ‘cream’ by DT generally means this is something I am going to hate, my expectations were adjusted towards Low.
Upon lifting out the brewing basket, the first thing I smelled was those lovely spices (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper) followed quickly by that creaminess I was worried about. But, to my delight and surprise, that creamy note stays pretty pleasantly in its proper place as a base note and slight aftertaste. I think the spices and the woody rooibos really help to balance it out. Without those the almond, coconut, and apple would be just too dang much with the sweet and creaminess. But, with the addition of some spice, it all comes together very, very nicely!
I dig this tea & I am relieved and happy to come upon a Winner after a string of advent disappointments. Pretty decent odds I’ll actually purchase this one, lovely winter warmup tea!
Flavors: Apple, Coconut, Spices, Sweet, Wood
