Oookay, this one is SOCLOSE to being SOGOOD. It’s got a surprisingly rich and heavy mouthfeel, with loads of spicy-sweet-bready-cakey goodness. I definitely understand the carrot cake inspiration in the sense that carrot cake is often kind of dense and nutty and sweet, and those are the vibes I’m getting here. It’s definitely a dessert tea — there’s sugar in the pineapple bits and the hazelnut brittle, but I think the sweetness works to balance out the strong notes of cinnamon and clove (?) and to evoke sweet icing. I rarely purchase or drink tea with added sugar, but it makes sense here, I think.
Unfortunately, the whole effect is diminished by a burst of surprising tartness, probably from the orange slices and/or orange essence (and maaaybe the pineapple bits, but I doubt it because they’re sweetened). Don’t get me wrong; orange zest/juice in carrot cake is lovely and really complements the earthiness of carrots, but here it’s just far too strong! “Tart” should not be a main descriptor of carrot cake, IMHO.
On the plus side, the second steep is far less tart, so that’s something. And I think you could pick the orange slices out of the blend pretty easily. But still, it’s unfortunate.
Flavors: Bread, Cake, Cinnamon, Clove, Orange, Orange Zest, Roast Nuts, Sweet, Tart
