Market Spice

Another SIPDOWN today

This one is older than I care to admit. It has to be at least 4 years old.. I think?
Anyways, I used my whole sample again, which made this one SUPER strong. DT teas need to be a perfect spoon (2.5tsp) for 16oz of water, but I’m noticing with other companies I don’t need nearly as much. Not sure if that’s a reflection of the tea leaf quality or what, but because I’m use to using so much, I ended up overleafing this one. I used the whole sample, and I probably should have done less as this one is crazy strong now. I had to add milk and coconut sugar because I didn’t like it straight up because of the way that I did it.

So, this one is interesting to compare to the last one I drank (DT’s Satsuma Spice Cake). This one has orange in it as well, but again, it is barely noticeable in this one. I really am only getting the spices out of it.

If I didn’t know about the orange and only took this one as a spice tea, I would probably love it, but expecting orange and not getting any, I don’t know if I really want to get this one again. It’s a very nice spice tea though.

This is a lovely blend that feels quite Holiday-appropriate. (I’m not sure whether it’s meant to evoke said season or not, to be honest!) The scent reminds me of those seasonal shops that (used to) crop up in North American shopping malls around the winter season, where upon entering one’s senses were assailed by the scents of cinnamon, apple, mulling spices, etc. Those scented baggies of pine cones? It reminds me of them – but without so much of the muskiness. (While the connection mentally of cinnamon and apple is there, the ingredients list neither, but rather orange peels, cloves, as well as peppercorns.)

Brewed up, the similarity remains, but is toned down to levels I consider much more pleasant. None of the flavours are at all sickly-sweet, as they can be with similar teas and with some of those shops, or candles – but the association is strong enough to give the impression of the holidays and those scents and tastes we’ve often come to associate with them. With a little milk, it’s subdued just a touch more, and the experience is one of a much more gentle impression, clear and persistent without getting lost, but without ever becoming too sweet, overpowering, or cloying.

There’s a little “oomph” I feel might be missing somewhere – this blend is lovely, but it doesn’t quite stand out either. It’s got charm but it’s almost forgettable – indeed, I had 50g of this hanging around my cupboard and it was only a similar tea running low that reminded me that I had this somewhere – if only I could locate it, it might serve as a good back-up. Maybe if the orange, for example, came through more strongly, it would have left a stronger impression – something to stand out and shine against the lovely backdrop of the rest.

I must have underleafed this. My cup was smaller than normal since I’m at the boyfriend’s place and he only has a few mugs. (or room for mugs, or else I’d bring some!)
So using a regular teaspoon seemed too much. Next time I’ll know better.
There was a peculiar tartness that I once associated with astringency, without the mouth dryness. Very ceylon-esque.
Adding milk helped a bit. Hmph. I had planned to make my next cup with a bit of eggnog, but now I feel like it needs another go as a regular tea. But I only grabbed a sample… what to do, what to do?! #firstworldproblems