10891 Tasting Notes
Last T Kettle blend of the night! I’m excited to be ending on one that looks to actually be more of a unique to T Kettle creation…
There’s a catalog blend from MTC called “Bourbon St. Vanilla” and I feel like this probably started as that tea, but it’s definitely a bit different – especially in the very gorgeous visual of the tea. I really love how they incorporated all the colours of Mardis Gras into the visual of the blend; it’s such stunning story telling and tie in to the name. The Bourbon St. Vanilla blend, while not the most exciting flavour, does kind of feel exciting in a similar way – it’s named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but the name is also a riff on that “bourbon vanilla” profile that was quite commercial and popular at one point. This takes that wordplay to the next level, and I respect it.
The taste is similar to the fondant-like or “doughy” vanilla flavour that I experienced in their Birthday Party blend – it may even be the same flavouring. I personally do not like that style of vanilla type flavour, but I know there’s a large amount of people who respond really well to it so it makes sense I guess to keep it consistent. Not an unpleasant tea overall, and preferable to me over Birthday Party – but not something I’d feel compelled to have again.
But, again, I just think this is a super fun interpretation of that classic MTC blend. If more of T Kettle’s blends were in this vein, I think I’d have a lot more fun with their approach to tea…
…this is basically just like a less intensely sweet version of T Kettle’s True North blend, which is their other maple rooibos blend. Because, y’know, they needed two of them!? I honestly prefer this one, the other way cloying. However, it’s a bit of a sad maple flavour. Not a half bad tea overall though.
Oh… no.
This is clearly meant to be Cold 911, but it’s a very weird take on it. Definitely does not have anywhere close to the same level of Vick’s Vapor Rub “punch” to it and I suppose for some people that would be good in terms of taste, but it definitely isn’t as effective in terms of the wellness benefits, y’know? Like I don’t drink Cold 911 for the taste typically – I taste it because I want to feel face fucked by the eucalyptus.
The issue I have with this tea though isn’t primarily the lack of intensity. It’s that it seems to have a cream note/flavour in it!? And I just don’t understand why you would want a peppermint/eucalyptus tea to taste creamy!? It’s like straight up toothpaste and I just cannot handle it.
My mind is elsewhere tonight, so apologies if tasting notes are… jumbled…
This isn’t anything exciting, but dang if it doesn’t taste like 90s nostalgia! It’s got that distinct hibiscus tartness that it sort of trying to replicate the taste of berry, but in this case it mostly succeeds in conveying the flavour of a very tart and juicy strawberry. I want more kiwi, but I do get some and that’s just enough to poke my in the nostalgia bone. More body would be nice, I’m skeptical if this could hold up to being iced – but overall I did enjoy the blend.
In today’s episode of “What the hell is up with T Kettle’s copy writing!?” I’m both trying to figure out what their obsession with comparing things to tasting like toast is while also trying to mentally digest the phrase “full frontal lavender”…
The tea itself was pretty nice though – I think the lavender tastes pretty nice quality. It’s clear and pretty strong, but not soapy or too much like perfume, and it works nicely with the honeyed notes of the rooibos. It’s pretty straight forward – I did not taste much in the way of coconut. I didn’t mind the simple and well executed single flavour note. I’m not a massive lover of lavender, but if I was in the mood for it I think this would definitely satisfy that craving!
Noticing a trend with some of the straight teas from T Kettle in that so far the overwhelming majority of them have been inoffensive but incredibly flat/bland without much life to them. This is definitely true here – no off notes to speak of, but the tea was so unremarkable that I just cannot remember what it tasted like. It’s almost as if they’re all just super old and stale…
Gongfu!
I absolutely adore the strong syrupy medicinal orange flavour of snow chrysanthemum with all its weird quirky undertones, like the occasional dill note. Yunnan Sourcing has a black tea cake pressed with it as well, called “Drunk on Red” – that’s one of my go to favourites that I seem to be able to enjoy no matter my mood or how I brew it. Sadly, these Dragon Balls live in the shadow of that glorious tea. The tea session was alright, but lacking. I think it needed even more Snow Chrysanthemum, tbh…Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLu3iWWA07D/
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG9G9zQOKuc&ab_channel=GradyStrange
I was very happy that my pouch of Snow Chrysanthemum from Vitalleaf lasted so long, I have a scoop or two left that I will savor. I found an Etsy store selling Snow Chrysanthemum but it’s not as spicy as the Vital leaf. I’ll need to experiment with more flowers in the brew to see if I can get a comparable cup. Mountain Herbs was the Etsy store and it took two months to get it from China.
Honestly not much to say here because this flavour combo is so classic and so overdone that I feel like I’ve tasted practically every variation of it under the sun. This tasted just fine, and not offensive like some of the other teas with bergamot that I’ve tried from T Kettle thus far. It’s not really a tea type that I personally seek, and if I was feeling a EG Cream like this I think I would want one with a much stronger cream flavour – this was fairly mild. However, I have no complaints aside from the intensity of the cream which honestly not a complaint. Just a personal preference.
Sipdown (1328)!
What makes Turkish Honey different than other honey!? I guess it probably doesn’t matter, this tea didn’t taste anything like honey anyway – but it was really good! The aroma of the teabag (yes, I am the weirdo who smells the teabags) was all sweet almond/amaretto but the steeped tea? Surprisingly complex!
It’s obviously quite sweet, and that’s fair and expected for a nougat flavoured tea. It’s got the the rich sweetness coupled with the strong almond notes and those just go hand in hand, but it’s also a little creamy and a bit bitter like burnt sugar. Everything is in just the right proportions for nothing to feel too heavy handed but all the flavours are crisp and clear, and well defined. I’d actually buy this, if I had any clue how to.
Sipdown (1329)!
Had this one earlier today and it was surprisingly quite tasty. It’s 100% an orange tea over anything else, and a strongly flavoured/sweeter one at that – but I love the mixture of that kind of dense candied orange with the honey and mineral notes of the rooibos, and there is a denser sort of undertone that could possibly be called figgy.
Not anything exception, but very nice for a bagged tea and a good break in my day.
(I think Davids should copy any unique T Kettle blends.. hardy har.)