Decided that I’d have this today for my breakfast tea! I’m probably going to need the energy boost since I’ll be venturing the public transit system to the University today to see Robyn! It’s not that I have anything against public transit (I depended heavily on it over the last year for work), it’s just that I have know idea what any of the routes are since this city is new to me. This is the only Mate tea I have stocked right now (but I’d love to find a few more), so for a guaranteed energy boost I have fairly limited options.
The dry leaf of this one reminds me of late nights spent camping; something about sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows and making s’mores then lying under the stars all curled up in a sleeping bag. It smells earthy, but a nostalgic kind of comforting earthy smell – if that makes any sense. The raspberry is definitely present in the dry leaf, but it doesn’t take over and instead compliments the mate really well. I’ll be honest, I don’t really distinctly smell the almond, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing and I’m sure it’s contributing to that ‘camping smell’ in its own way. My roommate hates the smell of this one, but that’s alright: it just means more for me.
Steeped, the liquor is a clear red/brown colour (or, at least, it would be clear if it weren’t for all the little bits and leaves that managed to get out of my tea ball – bleck!). My whole kitchen smells comfortingly outdoorsy (I should point out that I HATE the outdoors, so it takes a lot for something to smell ‘comfortingly outdoorsy’ to me). I can still smell the raspberry, but it’s more subtle now. I’m also smelling chocolate. Delicious.
Before I take my first sip I have to do something about all the extra leaves floating around, so I pour my tea into yet another mug, though this time through a strainer. My first sips remind me a little bit of an earthy coffee, with a lingering raspberry note and a bit of a chocolate taste. I know it’s not going to take me a long time to finish my mug this morning – which is good because I’m sorta in a rush to get ready (don’t want to miss my bus to the university).
It’s not the best tea in my cupboard; but it’s good and there’s a reason I keep it stocked! Definitely a nice start to the morning.
I’ve never tried resteeping this one, so I’m definitely going to try to remember to hold onto the leaves to resteep it later today. I’d also love to try it iced eventually, though I have a feeling this is probably a tea that I’m only going to enjoy hot.
