Berry Creme Compote

Picked up a sample of this one the last time I ordered from Adagio. I’ve been enjoying cold-brewed fruit tisanes lately, and since this is a limited Spring flavor I figured I would try it while it’s available.

It’s a nice enough mixed berries & hibiscus sort of blend. I did add a bit of sugar to the pitcher, as I usually do with hibiscus-heavy tisanes. I taste blueberry and blackberry in fairly equal measure. Strawberry gets a bit hidden by the stronger, darker berries, but is subtly present in the background. I don’t really get cream though – there is a bit of a smoothing of the edges, but I wouldn’t specifically call it creamy.

Good but nothing special to my tastebuds, and I already have some other berry and hibiscus blends that are similar, so not a reorder for me.

Very nice creme flavor with big chunks of apple, very enjoyable sip

If Celestial Seasonings made a zinger with a hint of vanilla and without the convenient bag, it would be this. Sure does taste like hibiscus, rosehips, and assorted berry flavorings. Mediocre as both a hot and cold brew.

B is for… Berry Creme Compote!

Definitely a bit more hibiscus in this blend that I remember so the profile leans tart however I think the hibiscus used has a pretty thick syrupy fruit quality to it (rather than being more sharp or mineral) so that plays well into the berry profile of the blend. It feels indulgent while still having those vibrant top notes – not always something that comes across in majority hibiscus blends. I like the cream flavouring used, though I only really taste it on the back half of the sip fading into the aftertaste. It completes the profile and adds a nice layer of complexity. It’s nice to not finish the sip on just hibby/mixed berries. Though, I do wish there was more cream – but it’s a solid tea.

I don’t often reorder teas, but I enjoyed this one so much last spring that I ordered a 3 oz bag of it when it reappeared this year. I love creamy berry teas. I’d compare this one to Bird & Blend’s Eton Mess (I drank them side by side because drinking one made me in the mood to have the other as well). I prefer it at room temperature so you can really appreciate the creaminess along with the soft berry flavor. It’s a flavor that lingers in your mouth that you don’t want to cover up.

The flavor smells rich and delicious, and it’s very berry right off the bat on the tongue. However, the primary response me and mine both wind up with is “very tangy”, and a little tongue-curling. Not too sweet; we had to add a lot of sugar in. That doesn’t mean it’s “bad” by any stretch. It’s not as full-bodied as the raspberry patch, but that’s a really good thing. That makes this tea light, super drinkable, still notably berry flavored without tasting fake, you know where it came from and its quality.. overall a great, mild-flavored tangy fruity tea. :D