Caramel Walnut Shortbread Rooibos

Simpson & Vail Advent Calendar – Day 14

(originally written November 14th)

Ooh, another green rooibos blend from Simpson & Vail. These have been my favorites so far from the advent box, which is rather unexpected.

This one is quite pleasant as well. It’s interesting that it almost tastes like a red rooibos to me with the added flavors. The caramel is deep and almost toffee-like. It is also buttery, almost in a buttered rum sort of way. The caramel and butter together almost remind me of a dark butterscotch, which is lovely. There is a bit of walnut here as well, and I would definitely identify it as walnut over other nuts.

I would absolutely guess that this was a red rooibos from the taste! Obviously it’s not, but I think the richer flavors are tricking my tastebuds. But I really think this green rooibos tastes a bit woodier than usual.

I got two ounces of this yummy tea from tea-sipper, and I absolutely demolished them. Green rooibos is definitely the best base for herbal dessert teas since it doesn’t get in the way of the flavors. With this tea, I’d say it didn’t necessarily evoke the flavors it was meant to, but it did taste generically dessert-like and sweet. I’ve loved almost every Simpson & Vail tea I’ve received in exchanges, and I have a big order in my cart ready to go…I just have so much tea, I feel like I’m not allowed to order more. Such inner turmoil!

Another sample from tea-sipper! I love caramel-flavored teas, so I was excited to give this one a try. The scent is absolutely heavenly! Warm and sweet and nutty and buttery…it definitely suites the name. For me, the taste didn’t quite live up to the scent. I definitely get the walnut coming through strongly along with hints of caramel. But I would have loved an even stronger caramel flavor and more of the buttery shortbread flavor I was smelling. Perhaps this one needs sweetener to fully bring out its potential? Don’t get me wrong, this is a delicious tea! Just not quite the amazing flavor experience promised by the aroma.

Here’s one for the fans of dessert teas and green rooibos! I’m trying to envision the three elements here as I’m smelling the dry leaves and tasting the tea. Caramel. walnut. shortbread. (Sounds like a delicious combo as is!) It’s definitely caramely in both scent and flavor. Spot on caramel all around. There are hints to the fragrance and the flavor of something else… possibly walnut and shortbread. It is slightly nutty and buttery, but the sweet caramel takes over. But the caramel makes it a dessert tea on its own! It works pretty well considering it is only green rooibos, flowers and flavoring. The second steep the next night was just as flavorful. It doesn’t hurt I was sipping it while eating Keebler’s “shortbread” elf cookies. :D Another lovely dessert tea from S&V!
Steep #1 // 1 teaspoon for a full mug// 10 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 3 minute steep