Holiday Tea-son! Tea-sipper reminded me of this one, which I got from Meowster’s cupboard de-stash last summer. I still need to try it, so may as well now! Adagio’s flavored blends can be quite hit-or-miss with me, because sometimes I seem to have issues with whatever brand of flavoring they use, and while I’m not willing to do business with that company anymore because of their anti-LGBTQ+ practices, I’ll at least still sample previously acquired Adagio teas in my collection. So, let’s see how this one stacks up…
The brewed tea is a burnt sienna color, and smells spicy, sweet, and slightly smoky to me… the aroma actually reminds me more of a Yunnan tea than a Ceylon, huh. The base tea is actually surprisingly nice for being a Ceylon, which is typically not my favorite; there is a very mild astringency, but it is very mild, and many Adagio teas I’ve had in the past have gone a little overly robust/too astringent for my tastes. This is right in my pleasant zone. It’s a bit malty, with some subtle citrus and smoky notes. The sip is not overly spicy, which I appreciate; I’m getting more of a warming cinnamon flavor rather than a ginger punch, and the cinnamon at least isn’t that overwhelming artificial “red hot” flavor that I dislike. In fact, I wouldn’t mind just a touch more cinnamon and a bit more of a ginger note (not something I say often, but the spice actually seems a little too underwhelming here). I do like that it is a bit sweeter, which reads more cookie-like than many gingerbread blends that go too spice-heavy.
But it still doesn’t really make me think of gingerbread… mainly because, yup, I’m getting that “Adagio flavoring” issue… they put their orange flavoring in this, didn’t they? * checks * Well, the ingredients claim it has orange, and I’m not seeing obvious orange peel in my leaf, so I’m assuming it is flavoring. Every single Adagio tea I’ve ever had that is orange-flavored I get this weird aftertaste that is overly artificial, slightly metallic, and coats my tongue oddly. I get that from their almond flavoring, too. If it isn’t from orange, it’s at least from something that is in this tea, because I’m noticing it. It isn’t as bad as I’ve had in the past, because I think that flavor isn’t used as strongly in this blend as the teas I’ve had that were specifically orange-flavored teas. But it is leaving me with this sour metallic feeling in my mouth I don’t like. Meh.
I tried the tea as a latte, too, hoping that some sweet vanilla almond milk might temper that sensitivity I seem to have to Adagio’s flavoring. It was certainly an improvement, but I was still noticing it. I have a pretty big bag of this, large enough I’d feel bad binning it. If you like this one (or just want to try it) and are within the US, feel free to contact me and I’ll gift it to you.
Flavors: Artificial, Cinnamon, Citrus, Malt, Metallic, Smoke, Sour, Sweet
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Well I KNOW we both had the exact same tea from Meowster. I loved it, you hated it. Different tastes, I guess. haha
I have a known sensitivity to certain flavoring agents that Adagio uses in their teas. I get this reaction to many of their flavored blends. It’s almost like an allergy, really.
The only other person I know that gets this same reaction is AJRimmer… oh, and my Mom, but then her tongue may be quite similar to mine, hahaha. And I don’t get it from ALL their flavorings (off the top of my head I know the cream flavor and the rose flavor didn’t cause it, but the orange and almond have). I don’t know how to describe it except it feels like there is a metallic aftertaste in my mouth and like a coating over my tongue. I’ve had this problem with flavorings from other companies too (specifically with mango flavorings), so I know it’s some reaction I have to certain artificial/natural flavorings, but since those are never listed (like brands or what is included in them) I have no way of knowing exactly what it is that causes it for me. Just luck of the draw!
If no one else wants it, I was staring at my pouch yesterday thinking a few teaspoons wasn’t enough. haha.
Sure, no problem! I can get it out the next Monday off in my work rotation (that isn’t a holiday, obviously!)
But PLEASE if anyone else wants it, please take it!
Can you fill me in on Adagio’s anti-LGBT practices? I have no idea what happened, and Adagio is one of very few companies that have a warehouse in the UK so they were one of my go-tos when I started out. I definitely don’t want to give my money to a company that does shitty things, though.
I’m asexual, so I consider myself part of the LGBTQQIAAPP+ community, so some of the things I’ve heard about their CEO’s treatment of LGBT employees have me no longer buying their teas (I will sample their stuff through trades/anything I have in my cupboards before I found out this news, I just no longer will give them my money). I’m not about to tell anyone else what to do with their money, it’s just how I feel being a part of that community myself. But here is a link from a former Adagio employee chronicling the mistreatment of several Adagio LGBT employees by the CEO, if you’d like to read it:
https://twitter.com/elliottjunkyard/status/980876681597673473?lang=en
Thanks for the link. I’m not a part of the community myself (or at least not that most other people would count me) but I cannot stand bigotry. Thanks for the info ❤️
One of the A’s is for Allies ❤️
I’ve never heard that addition before! I like it (:
Well I KNOW we both had the exact same tea from Meowster. I loved it, you hated it. Different tastes, I guess. haha
I have a known sensitivity to certain flavoring agents that Adagio uses in their teas. I get this reaction to many of their flavored blends. It’s almost like an allergy, really.
The only other person I know that gets this same reaction is AJRimmer… oh, and my Mom, but then her tongue may be quite similar to mine, hahaha. And I don’t get it from ALL their flavorings (off the top of my head I know the cream flavor and the rose flavor didn’t cause it, but the orange and almond have). I don’t know how to describe it except it feels like there is a metallic aftertaste in my mouth and like a coating over my tongue. I’ve had this problem with flavorings from other companies too (specifically with mango flavorings), so I know it’s some reaction I have to certain artificial/natural flavorings, but since those are never listed (like brands or what is included in them) I have no way of knowing exactly what it is that causes it for me. Just luck of the draw!
If no one else wants it, I was staring at my pouch yesterday thinking a few teaspoons wasn’t enough. haha.
Sure, no problem! I can get it out the next Monday off in my work rotation (that isn’t a holiday, obviously!)
But PLEASE if anyone else wants it, please take it!
Can you fill me in on Adagio’s anti-LGBT practices? I have no idea what happened, and Adagio is one of very few companies that have a warehouse in the UK so they were one of my go-tos when I started out. I definitely don’t want to give my money to a company that does shitty things, though.
I’m asexual, so I consider myself part of the LGBTQQIAAPP+ community, so some of the things I’ve heard about their CEO’s treatment of LGBT employees have me no longer buying their teas (I will sample their stuff through trades/anything I have in my cupboards before I found out this news, I just no longer will give them my money). I’m not about to tell anyone else what to do with their money, it’s just how I feel being a part of that community myself. But here is a link from a former Adagio employee chronicling the mistreatment of several Adagio LGBT employees by the CEO, if you’d like to read it:
https://twitter.com/elliottjunkyard/status/980876681597673473?lang=en
Thanks for the link. I’m not a part of the community myself (or at least not that most other people would count me) but I cannot stand bigotry. Thanks for the info ❤️
One of the A’s is for Allies ❤️
I’ve never heard that addition before! I like it (: