Combray

Sipdown! And the last one from my November Sips by box.

This one is fairly good. I like the combination of the cardamom with the custardy vanilla, it almost reminds me of eggnog in a way. But the vanilla can veer a tad bit artificial and cloying, and I feel like the base tea is just wrong for these flavors. It’s sort of harsh and grassy with a definite minerality to it, which conflicts with the creaminess of the vanilla. A softer base would be better, maybe a nuttier green tea or even an oolong.

It’s good, but with limitations that hold it back from greatness!

This is my current cuppa, and it’s not bad.

In terms of August Uncommon’s flavoured tea selections, I think this might actually be the simplest one I’ve tried in regard to concept/profile. It’s a smooth, grassier tasting green tea with some nutty elements paired with an aromatic and very custardy vanilla that finishes with a hint of warming cardamom. Nice and easy drinking, some layers of flavours but doesn’t make your brain hurt trying to digest the concept. I do wish it was a bit richer, but I think that also might be my hatred of green tea flaring up and wanting to cover some of the grassier notes.

Fans of creamy things and with an appreciation for smoother, delicate/gentle teas will love this one!

This is really just as described. A slightly grassy (albeit very mild) green base, with vanilla and cardamom. Both the vanilla and cardamom are strong and distinct, and work very well with the green tea. I really do like this one, but find it a bit boring, and probably won’t be purchasing it again once my sample is gone.

I like the cardamon. The usual cardamon bite is mellowed out by the vanilla. The green base seems really light to me. I’m used to black tea leaving me with a sense of fullness that I’m not getting with most greens and it leaves me unsatisfied. Glad I tried this, but won’t reorder.

I was intrigued by August Uncommon when I saw ads on IG. I’d gotten out of the habit of drinking tea, but decided to try a few blends. Combray was the only green tea blend that appealed. The first time I prepared it, I brewed 3 teaspoons in 750 ml water and steeped for three minutes. The vanilla and cardamom were strong, but were overpowered by the bitterness of the brew. The steeping recommendations that come with the tea are wildly off the mark, in my opinion. Rather than using a tablespoon of tea, steeping for five minutes, using one teaspoon per 8 ounces is more than sufficient. The second preparation I made steeped for only two minutes, which yielded a much more pleasant tea. The brewed tea has a nice vanilla scent, and the cardamom vanilla flavor doesn’t overpower the green tea base. It seems fairly well balanced. I’ll probably buy more of this tea when I use up my current stash.

The time has come. I get to see what everyone is freaking out about when it comes to August Uncommon. I’ve already tried three but have been too lazy to write any notes until now. Since cardamom and I are BFF’s—and because I got only a sample of this—first August Uncommon tasting note it is.

Hot, the cardamom and vanilla are ultra present whilst the base is mild. Initially, the first sip won me over and I immediately thought that I should order more before it’s gone. As this started to cool, however, the vanilla/cardamom and base are swapping places, and this becomes more vegetal.

The second cup I’m enjoying right now isn’t as creamily vanilla-esque as yesterday evening’s. I’d say I added less leaf than yesterday but tried to keep the rest of the steeping parameters the same. I’ll gladly finish the sample size but no more for me. I hands down prefer DAVIDsTEA’s Cardamom French Toast.

Second night this month when I haven’t slept a single minute and involuntarily witnessed the sun rise. Brain please shut up?

Sipdown.

This was a sample that Sil gave me when we met at the Toronto Tea Festival. I know that August Uncommon has some unusual blends, but I’ve never really cottoned on to the idea of mixing green tea and vanilla, or green tea with chai spices. This has green tea, vanilla, and cardamom.

It smells lovely, I will give it that — vanilla and spice and cake. But the taste is pretty much what I was expecting: vegetal and vanilla. It was smoother than I expected, but it didn’t quite win me over.

I decided to copy Sil today and try this tea, since she sent it to me recently. :)

It’s interesting. This is the second tea of theirs I’ve tried, and I’d call this one boozy as well. Not AS boozy as the other one, thankfully.

The vanilla is loud and clear. The green base isn’t too vegetal or marine, although it’s definitely more vegetal than marine. It’s definitely cakey. Ohh, I want to bake a cake. But I’m doing a “healthy food” challenge. So maybe no cake for me.

Anyways, this is interesting and I’m mostly enjoying this cup. I’d like it better without the flavours that are making me think it’s full of booze.

Thanks so much for sharing it with me, Sil!

Got this one to work today. Steeped for 3mins. Vanilla and cardamom come through in deliciousness. the cardamom is more subtle but adds to the vanilla and makes this tasty for me…when i steep it right haha