4352 Tasting Notes
additional notes: RESTOCK! I can attest, S&V is still blending this one up real well. The same as my sample from a few years ago. Though initially I did not like this blend… to be fair, I tried it from a teabox and who knows how old it actually was. Then a few years ago I tried it again in S&V’s holiday sample box and loved it. So it’s a lesson. A reminder that teas age, or blend recipes change. It’s probably a rare example of stevia used perfectly in a blend. It’s strong mint, but not too strong, not harsh peppermint… and amazingly blended with the perfect amount of sweetness that also seems to have a hint of cream to it. So good. ONE teaspoon is perfect for a mug.
Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – January 2025 Tea #1 -January 1 – Happy New Year! Drink a favorite tea to start the year off right!
This one might not be my ultimate favorite ripe, but I do consider ripe puerh in general to be a favorite. This is one I recently restocked so I thought it would be appropriate to finally finish the sample. So this will NOT count as a “unique cupboard sipdown”. I think a puerh tea is a good start to the year after way too much unhealthy food yesterday. I only recently learned (somehow?!) that puerh has probiotics, which is another added benefit to a tasty favorite type of tea.
2025 unique sipdowns: 0
2025 sipdowns: 1
Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – December 2024 Tea #9 – December 31 – New Year’s Eve: get one last sipdown for 2024
Finishing my old sample of this one, now that I have restocked it. Such a classic. I MIGHT be able to fit in another sipdown later today… we shall see. Overall, I kind of failed sipdowns this year at a mere 88 out of my goal of 150. Being mostly away from my tea collection was probably the reason for that. Just as long as I’m still enjoying tea, it was a good year in tea! I spent about $200 on tea this year, which is $200 more than I wanted to, but they were all small tea shops, so that is entirely okay with me. A happy and Healthy New Year to you all in Steepster land!
2024 sipdowns: 88
Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – December 2024 Tea #7 – A tea that was a gift
I received this as a gift this year, and I also previously had my eye on it — I think the vendor was at the fair this year. So, a great gift! It’s a great tea too. An decent chai, definitely. Most importantly, the base is robust enough. The base is Assam and Ceylon, so not just Ceylon here, which I can always appreciate. I think I notice at least four types of peppercorns in the blend, which is unique. The spices are spot on. It reminds me a little bit of pumpkin pie, but also it seems to have a hint of vanilla flavor, though there is NOT actually vanilla here. Just my tastebuds thinking so. The second steep really does lean into a squash note — so it seems even more like a pumpkin pie with these spices. I would say it’s an excellent balance of base black teas and spices. Really good stuff.
On another note, I did check out the sale table at the grocery store and they had TWO boxes of two different Celestial Seasonings teas. Though I’m wondering where they were in the store previously, if they made it to the sale shelf. I intentionally was looking for them a week or two ago! However neither box was Nutcracker Sweet, so I did not buy them.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 16 minutes after boiling // almost 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 minute steep
Flavors: Pumpkin, Pumpkin Spice, Spices, Squash, Vanilla
I haven’t looked yet, but I just bet S&V saved this one for the advent tea for Christmas day. Old reliable holiday blend! Always cozy and tasty.
Kwanzaa and Hanukkah tomorrow… many special days packed together this year! Happy everything to all!
2024 Holiday tea #15
Somehow I had a note typed up and it disappeared… I always wanted to try this one due to so many of you that are fans here on Steepster. Thanks to Cameron B, I finally get to try it! The scent is JUST LIKE gingerbread. The flavor is too, but somehow the fragrance is more prominent than the flavor. Two delicious steeps. However, I really wish the sort of base for a gingerbread flavored tea was a much deeper, darker black tea. It’s a bit light. That would be my only complaint here.
Steep #1 // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 minute steep
Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – December 2024 Tea #6 – A holiday or celebration tea
2024 Holiday tea #14
This COULD be worse, but after the magic of Angry Tea Room’s Candy Cane tea the other day, it’s just a bit of a let down. But it’s done and gone now!
2024 sipdowns: 84
2024 Holiday tea #13
The PERFECT candy cane tea. Always equal parts mint and cream. So good. Now that Angry Tea Room is no longer… this is Adagio’s Candy Cane tea as far as I can tell. Hilariously, the Steepster button says “currently unavailable” when this is a case where they can actually link to their own Candy Cane blend.
Flavors: Cream, Mint
2024 Holiday tea #12
Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – December 2024 Tea #5 – December 21 – Winter Solstice: drink a warm and cozy cuppa
I forgot this was the prompt day for a cozy cup, and had already steeped this up for the day, but this CERTAINLY is cozy. I would definitely think of this one when thinking of particularly cozy teas. It’s a good one to have on this snowy day. Happy solstice!!
I thought I remembered this having too much stevia for me, but I actually really enjoyed it in the advent!
Yeah, I think if I steep it with a flat teaspoon, it’s a perfect mug amount of stevia. I can see 1 1/2 teaspoons being overboard.
There’s a S&V order in my future, but definitely not in the near future ha ha! There were several teas in the advent that I liked more than I remembered (Caramel Walnut Shortbread comes to mind!).
yep, that Caramel Walnut is a cupboard staple for sure (and another one I just stocked up on.)