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Adventageddon Day 10 – Tea 1/4

Gongfu!

I thought this tea was super rich and fudgey! In addition to being a bit of a malt bomb, the intense dark cocoa and warm freshly baked bread notes (with walnut undertones) were so dense and packed in. I’ve really been craving black tea all weekend, so this was a really perfectly timed out session!

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0sEWVnuQOF/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpQv5NXFCAg

Adventageddon Day 9 – Tea 4/4

I wasn’t really in the mood to brew anything gongfu today so I decided to make one of the two dragon balls included for today as a big Western style pot of tea instead. It was actually quite a bit nicer than I expected it to be. The liquor has a thick syrupy quality to it that feels appropriate for the surprising notes of amber maple that are coming through. In addition to this sweeter component, it’s also quite fruity with a distinct ripe peach note that compliments a subtle creamy undertone and a more woody finish. Pretty complex, even for this Western style of steeping. I wasn’t really in the mood for a white tea at all when opened up my advents this morning, but I’m definitely having a very good time with it.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0pgjjIuitc/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xc7gCuGcXg

Adventageddon Day 9 – Tea 3/4

Another one that I already own! It’s okay though, I absolutely knew this was going to happen when I picked up this advent…

I remember that the last time I tried this I was very confused by the presence of orange in the blend and I couldn’t really decide if I liked it or not. This time around I knew the orange would be there and I still can’t decide what I think of this tea. It’s a very weird carrot cake ingredient. A shame, too, since the mix of spices is so nice and that frosting type of note is really spot on and delicious.

WHY ORANGE!?

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0pgjjIuitc/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNmHGdKAW6c

Adventageddon Day 9 – Tea 2/4

Steeped up both packs of today’s tea as a nice, big Western pot that I could drink while watching up on the Doctor Who 60th Anniversay special episodes.

For only nine days in I feel like the amount of stone fruit flavoured teas has been quite high, though that’s certainly not a complaint. Maybe it feels higher because there’s been a lot of stone fruit jams too (some of the best ones so far, IMO). What I found funny about this one was that even though it’s mango and apricot it just tasted so dang peachy to me. Like the peach ring gummy candies but without the malic acid.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0pgjjIuitc/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rizcm_Q4l2U

Adventageddon Day 9 – Tea 1/4

I know so many people who would have been disappointed to see a plain rooibos in an advent, but I was stoked. This was my standout today. Though I do love a nice rooibos on its own, I think this was my favourite mostly because it made for a deliciously elevated cuppa when paired with some hazelnut crackers, burrata, and today’s honey. Yes, that’s right – as a lovely surprise, today’s jam was actually a sweet and golden honey!! As the rooibos itself was rich and nutty with a natural sweetness, this just worked so serendipitously. Not as nice as Wild Grown Rooibos from DT (my fav plain one – so nutty), but really pleasant!!

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0pgjjIuitc/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCOOjL1vvLM

Adventaggedon Day 8 – Tea 4/4

This was pretty good and, honestly, the second day in a row that a lavender blend came in clutch for me during a particularly stressful afternoon. It was interesting doing it on a back to back day with another fruit and lavender tea (the Fortnum one). Obviously there’s differences in tea base and fruit flavours – in this case more in that “red berry” sort of vein with a little bit of a more distinct pomegranate flavour. Even still, this is the one I would have expected to like more since I have many other berry and lavender teas that I enjoy a great deal. However, I do think I enjoyed the brighter, juicier flavour of the apricot and lavender combo more than this… Which surprises me!

Now, let’s be clear – this is still 100% a tea profile that I can very much get on board with and would totally purchase for myself. It wasn’t overly floral/perfumey tasting nor was it too sweet, and the earthy full bodied density of the pu’erh was such a good anchor for the jammier forest berry notes – with the lavender as this lighter, aromatic element. There was a lot of dimension to the cup overall! So, another win from Plum Deluxe!

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0m_Wc4uXps/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0qm88fIL8k

Adventageddon Day 8 – Tea 3/4

Gongfu!

Well this is a blast from the past! I don’t think I’ve tried anything from Octavia Tea in years and, looking at the rating I’ve given this tea in the past, it seems like I enjoyed this oolong a fair bit. I enjoyed it today too, but I think it’s a good example of how my tastes have refined within the last few years – especially as I’ve gotten to be just a bit of a yancha snob. I say that because, though I liked the bittersweet dark cocoa notes that accompanied the more mineral flavours and roast of this tea, I found it really hard to look past the slight coarseness of each infusion. The astringency that was rougher around the edges and less pleasant. The ever so slight metallic twang to the finish.

Now, mind you, I was also rushed to enjoy this session as I only had a half hour break in between meetings – so that surely factors in here too. And, ultimately, it was still a good tea.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0m_Wc4uXps/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNPw8jNpkIA

Adventageddon Day 8 – Tea 2/4

Today was one of the busiest work days I’ve had in months, so when I saw a simple and straight forward Assam from F&M this morning I was just relieved. Was it amazing? No, but it was solid and that really full bodied, brisk and super malty profile with a splash of milk was so grounding and just perfect for the chaos of the day.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0m_Wc4uXps/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SFvCNlziwY

Adventageddon Day 8 – Tea 1/4

The best tea I made today was absolutely this one. Essentially I whipped up a very fancy layered matcha latté using today’s jam and this sweet and creamy butterfly pea flower infused matcha. I haven’t made it in ages, but today’s matcha is actually one I already own so I knew exactly how rich the vanilla cake-like flavours were, and with the peach jam it was almost like making a fancypants version of a Peaches & Cream iced latté!

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0m_Wc4uXps/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rq6dC2T6J8

Adventageddon Day 7 – Tea 4/4(ish)

Gongfu!

So my fourth advent tea today wasn’t really a tea at all, but a teapot! However, none of my other teas today made sense to brew in said teapot which is why I’m logging this as an advent tea even though it’s really not. Also where the “ish” in my header today is coming from.

I really was delighted to unbox what is probably the most fun piece of teaware I’ve ever received in an advent or countdown!! I mean, how ridiculous is this piggy pot!? I think I’m in love – and it was a really good excuse to pull out a tea from another company to brew in it, which was just enough of a gentle switch up to my adventageddon routine. In this case, this more floral and smooth Tieguanyin, which is a tea in my stash I’ve been meaning to get around to trying for AGES now!

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0kaEKuO5Du/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGt0-J4xuaQ