Day 16 DavidsTea 24 Days of Tea advent calendar – Sleigh Ride. First off, I’m just gonna say that I like hibiscus. A lot. I think it might have something to do with growing up in Florida. I also like tart. I prefer it to sweet, even. So this tea — despite smelling on first, pre-steep whiff exactly like the potpourri in my aunt’s guest bathroom circa 1987 — is totally up my alley. I was concerned it might be overly sweetened (like Forever Nuts, which I had an almighty fight with to make palatable). My fears were not realized, though. Yay!
This tea’s got a nostalgic quality for me too, in that it reminds me in the mug of some Celestial Seasons blend I used to drink in university many, many moons ago. I couldn’t begin to tell you which one, but it called back a really awesome time in my life. That, plus my unabashed, shameless love of hibiscus means I’m giving this mofo a high ranking.
The coconut, apple, and roasted almond lend a sweetness to balance out the tart & the cinnamon pulls it right into holiday/winter territory. It’s tropical, but not in an ’I’m on a beach’ way, more of an ’I’m drinking a tropical apres-ski warmup drink in mid-winter’ way.
Hibiscus haters, just do not even bother with this tea, as that is definitely the strongest note here, by far, and you are going to despise this. However, us lovers of what I think of as a subgenre of tiki teas: you’re gonna dig this one. Would also be very good as a mixer base with rum and a little agave and squeeze of fresh lime. I’m gonna have to buy this one to try out exactly that combo.
Flavors: Apple, Cinnamon, Coconut, Hibiscus, Tart
