Comfort Blend Decaf Black Tea

Day 16 of the Plum Deluxe herbal tea advent calendar! Since the black tea is cut pretty finely, I only brewed this for about three and a half minutes, though I did leaf generously. A lovely cinnamon aroma wafts up as it brews, and that slightly spicy cinnamon kick is reflected in the sip too. Unfortunately, that’s basically all I can taste. The mouthfeel is watery and the base tea doesn’t seem to have any noticeable characteristics. This is the rare Plum Deluxe blend that I have found to be a true disappointment. While some have been just ok or needed extra TLC, I don’t think any have been completely flat, even with a relatively “short” steep. I can smell/taste other things, so it’s not covid, and I’ve only had this for a couple of months so it’s not age. Maybe I didn’t get a representative sample?

One thing I appreciate about Plum Deluxe teas is that they offer decaf versions of some of their blends. I’m a fan of spiced teas, and really enjoyed their Comfort Blend tea. But I enjoyed the decaf version more, since I could drink it in the evening or on days when I didn’t need the caffeine boost.

The scent in the bag is zippy and sweet with lush orange peel and snappy cinnamon. Both flavors a suited to pair with the tanin-y black tea base. Brewed, the spiciness mellows out, letting the tea flavor itself come to the forefront. The orange peels add to the natural citrus flavors in the tea, while the cinnamon brings a specific warmth and sweetness.

The ginger and cloves are thankfully a bit to the background, as those ingredients have a tendency to take over a blend if not used sparingly. I like ginger and cloves, but if I wanted to taste a tea with them, I would go for a chai. I prefer this tea when I want something warming but with flavor beyond the traditional chai flavors.

The orange is the crown jewel in this blend, separating it from chai teas, and adding an uplifting brightness to my mug.

Same review as the caffeinated version, which I’ve attached here. The good news is that this tea does not suffer from using a decaf tea. However, it’s still somewhat blah and bland.

The fragrance on this is just amazing – luscious orange and spices, in a nice balance with each other. Unfortunately, the flavor falls a little short. It’s still good, but not as divine as promised. I don’t get any vanilla from this, and the tea base is a bit musty or earthy for these flavors. Again, it’s still good – maybe the fragrance was just so wonderful that I am let down by a perfectly adequate flavor.