It's tiiiiiiiime! I have opened door one of the T2 Advent Calendar and ooh strawberries and cream!
Hibiscus, apple, rosehip, strawberry pieces, blackberry leaves and yoghurt crispies (yes there's yoghurt in this).
I'm definitely getting the berry and rosehip. Tiniest hint of cream. Smells delectable and good strong flavour (a lot of these tisanes are feeble). Very pretty dark pink in the mug.
It is time for Day 2! It's Melbourne Grey which promises to be familiar yet complex like the city itself (okay then).
Black tea, vanilla flavouring, bergamot flavouring, cornflower petals.
Bit perfumy (I'm not an Earl Grey fan though). Bergamot scent is clear, not getting any vanilla.
Flavour is mostly black tea. There's a hint of floral to it, and a vanillay aftertaste.
The floral gets a bit soapy after a while, I think I'd prefer just the vanilla and bergamot, both of which are quite nice in both sip and aftertaste.
My god I'm writing these like my opinion on tea is anything 😂
Day 3! Jade mountain, a flavoured green tea. I'm not a huge green tea drinker mostly because i never think of it. This is not brewed at the suggested 80°C because my kettle doesn't do that fancy stuff. It's not boiling water though.
Contains Genmaicha (which is green tea with roasted rice) with hazelnut, cocoa husks, blackberry leaves, almonds, carob, chicory root and "flavourings".
Smells, in the bag, like the triangle chocolates from Quality Street.
I'm mostly getting roasted rice, flavourwise. It smells of more things, I'm just not picking them up. Perhaps my palate has been ruined by 70,000 cups of good strong Yorkshire Tea...
Day 4! Sleep Tight a "perfect night time brew".
Lemon balm, lavender and rose petals.
The dry bag smells like dried hay. Or dry grass, if you didn't have a horsey upbringing.
The brewed tea smells of ..something. Smells sort of generally herby. No lavender or rose.
Flavour is also "generally herby". I'm not getting lavender or rose. Perhaps the slightest whiff of citrus. Some minty hints. It tastes weirdly strong yet not really OF much. It's quite nice though.
Minty Hints would be a great band name.
Day 5! Go Go Goa.
Black tea, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, orange peel, pink pepper and "flavourings".
It smells amazing, like a sweet Christmassy biscuit (cookie if you must).
Taste is delicious. Sort of a chai undertone, but with a sweetness. It tastes warm and a bit spicy with the sweet lingering a bit after. It's really really good. Might have to order some of this one.
Day 6! Morning Sunshine. It's afternoon now, I am a rebel.
A mix of Assam, Darjeeling and Rwandan estate black teas. According to the blurb it is robust, fruity and malty.
The bag smells like strong black tea, no notes or sniffs of anything. Just a tea smell that knows what it is about - being tea.
Flavour is very strong, and yes there is some maltiness in there. Aftertaste is just strong tea. It's good, it's a waker upper for sure. Like being slapped in the face with a tea bag.
(I'll note here I am adding a dash of milk to the black teas, but no sugar).
Day 7? Day 7! Green Rose.
Green tea with currants, mango, rose petals, papaya and cornflower petals as well as "flavouring".
Wary of the cornflower, let's see.
Tea smells fresh and fruity, very summery. A tropical smell. Scent is a better word than smell I suppose.
Can't distinguish any individual fruit flavours, it's just broadly fruity with a hint of rose. The cornflower doesn't seem to be making much of an effort which suits me.
It's a gorgeous drink on a hot day. It's not THAT hot here but the humidity is upsetting, but this is a nice fresh tea for just such an occasion. Apparently also good chilled.
It's going on the "might order more" list.
Day 8! Night 8, as it's a bed time tea. The Dreamer.
Rosehip, lemonbalm, lemon verbena, rose petals, orange peel, sunflower petals, calendula petals, hops, valerian, cornflower petals, "flavouring"
Quite a mix of things in this one. Dry bag smells of hops, valerian and a bit of citrus.
Brewed tea smells of hops and valerian. It's not tempting, I have to say.
Okay fine I'll drink it. You're very mean to me, btw.
I'm getting the orange, but not much else. I've left the bag in for ages so it should be up to strength (I leave herbal bags in). Is warm a flavour? It tastes warm, and a bit orangey. There's other flavour in there, but the only one I can actually point at and say "Ahah! There you are!" is orange.
It tastes better than it smells, that's for sure.
Day 9! French Earl Grey.
Black tea, hibiscus, bergamot flavouring, rose petals, sunflower petals, mallow flowers, "flavours".
They encourage drinking this black, so I am.
Smells of roses. Not picking up much bergamot, if any, but a strong scent of rose and a hint of fruit.
Flavour is floral. Very floral. Definitely getting a lot of rose in there. I'm going to be honest with you, I have no idea what sunflower petals taste like. I could be tasting them, I have no idea. I am an uncultured swine.
It's not TOO floral, it's not soapy like floral flavours can be. It's alright, I don't think I'd reach for it again but it's a nice different flavour for a change. The tea is a decent strength too.
Day 10! Just Peppermint.
Contains: Peppermint.
Bag smells of peppermint, with the slightest hint of peppermint.
Brewed tea has a strong scent of peppermint. With a good deep sniff, I can also detect peppermint.
Flavour is very pepperminty, with perhaps a whisper of peppermint. Definitely picking up the peppermint on this one.
Peppermint.
Day 11! Sticky Date Delight.
Rooibos, caramel, roasted chicory root, figs, marigold petals, dates, "flavourings" (oh they're back). Also rice flour, which is from the dried fruit.
Bag smells of sweet dates, bit of caramel scent in there. I'm drinking this one black. So bold of me.
Brewed tea smells warm and sweet, mostly caramel.
Flavour is caramel heavy. Little bit of fruity sweetness, but mostly caramel.
It's decent. I'm mildly enjoying it. Probably wouldn't buy a whole box of it. Would be nice after a meal when you want something sweet perhaps.
Day 12! New York Breakfast.
Black tea, cinnamon, vanilla, "flavours". It's supposed to taste like pancakes, presumably New York Pancakes.
Bag smells (bear with me on this) like the cough syrup I had as a kid. Not vanilla or cinnamon, something else.
Tea smells of vanilla, quite strongly. I've added milk.
Flavour is black tea, with a cinnamon after taste. Merest hint of vanilla, which I suspect I wouldn't detect if I wasn't looking for it.
I do not feel like I am drinking a pancake.
Day 13, and a Friday the 13th. Look out for ladders.
China Jasmine. Green tea and jasmine.
Bag smells, see if you can guess, of jasmine.
Very strong jasmine flavour in the tea, though it claims to be scented and not flavoured. This is a lie. It tastes of jasmine, with some green tea under it. Very floral, but not soapy.
Quite nice and fresh tasting, would definitely have again.
It is day 14, I have stuff to do but first, tea! Singapore Breakfast.
Pu-erh black tea, genmaicha green tea (that's the one with the roasted rice), coconut chips, artificial pandan flavour, "flavours".
Both the bag and brewed tea smell strongly of roasted rice, which is a very nice scent.
Flavour is strongly ricey, with a hint of coconut. The coconut is not really putting in a ton of effort, but I suppose it IS December and it's been a long year.
I do like it, I think what I'm liking in this is the genmaicha (which was in an earlier one I enjoyed) so I might just track down some of that.
Day 15. Lemongrass and Ginger.
No "flavours" etc in this one, just lemongrass and ginger.
It's not a tea I drink regularly not being a huge ginger fan. I don't mind it, it's just not a flavour I choose often unless it's in something like a sauce or stir fry.
Bag and brewed tea both smell strongly of ginger, surprising no one.
The ginger and lemongrass balance is about perfect so the ginger isn't the boss. It's there, but it's behaving itself nicely and letting the lemongrass have a shiny moment too.
Day 16. Chai.
Fairly standard chai mix. Black tea, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, star anise and "flavours".
I do like Chai, got a chai pot and everything but I never make it because of smell complaints.
Bag smells warmly of cloves, as does the brewed tea but the brew also has the other spicy bits coming through.
Clove definitely putting in the work in the flavour, but the after taste grabs everything else.
It's pretty good, bearing in mind it's a bagged chai and won't be the best chai ever (which I make in my chai pot)
(Assuming no one threw out or pinched my chai pot, I should check).
Imma say chai one more time. Chai.
Day 17! Irish Breakfast.
Contains Black tea, unsurprisingly.
Bag smells of black tea.
Flavour is strong black tea. It's good, it's tea.
I'm having it with milk, no sugar and it's a little stronger than normal because I got distracted while it was brewing, but there's nothing wrong with a big strong mug of tea.
Day 18! Jasmine Pear
Green tea, Jasmine Green Tea, pear pieces, "flavouring".
Both bag and brewed tea smell of jasmine, but pear isn't really a bold scent so I'm not surprised.
I AM surprised at the pear flavour, which has stomped firmly on the jasmine. The jasmine is there, hanging around, but the pear is out front singing and dancing. Possibly there is baton twirling.
It's good, a little sweet from the pear and a nice fresh flavour.
Day 19 already! Gorgeous Geisha.
Green tea with "flavours". Strawberry, Yoghurt and cream. Also freeze dried strawberry bits.
Bag smells of strawberries.
The brewed tea smells very lightly of strawberry.
The flavour is mostly green tea. There is a hint of strawberry in there, but I'm not getting any of the creamy side of things.
It's nice, light and refreshing.
Day 20! Crème Brûlée.
Black tea, "flavouring", caramel, vanilla, cream and "brittle pieces" which are hazelnut and sugar.
Bag smells of sweet caramel.
Brewed tea smells mostly of just tea that is sweet, with a hint of caramel.
I've popped some milk in. No gods no masters.
Sipping just tastes of black tea, the party is in the aftertaste which is lightly sweet, and caramelly. I'm not getting much hazelnut, but it is there. Lurking. Sneaky.
It's not as sweet as popping a teaspoon of sugar in a cuppa.
Day 21 already. My my time do fly. Sweetest Dreams.
There's a LOT in here, prepare yourself. Apple, chamomile, roasted chicory root, birch leaves, sweet blackberry leaves, lavender, citric acid, rosemary, "flavouring", silver lime flowers and rose petals.
Bag smells generically fruity and floral. I can't pick out anything distinct, it's a nice comfortable sort of scent though.
Tea smells warmly of blackberry leaves.
Flavour is unclear. It's nice, fruity and not floral at all - I can't detect rose or lavender, but I can't say "Oh there's the apple, there's the rosemary..." it's just a sort of mish mash of warm fruity flavour. There is the slightest, very slightest, bite from the citric acid though.
Day 22. Melbourne Breakfast.
Black tea and artificial vanilla flavour.
Bag smells lightly of vanilla.
The tea smells more strongly of vanilla, but (and I'm about to sound like a snob) it's definitely fake vanilla (ooh get her, airs and graces).
Flavour is decent. The vanilla isn't over powering, but it's there.
Decent brew, I'd like to try it with real vanilla but that would be expensive I s'pose.
Day 23, so close to the end! I shall miss my tea surprises. Today is Pumping Pomegranate.
Apple, hibiscus, rosehip, elderberry, "flavouring", pomegranate seeds.
Bag smells sweetly of apple, with some berry undertones. Strongly scented, and a tempting aroma.
Tea smells of apple mostly, but with berry in there.
Flavour is delicious! Lots of apple, but hibiscus, elderberry and pomegranate are there too, working hard. It's sweet, fragrant, light, refreshing. Big fan of this one.
Proper strong too, none of your feeble tisanes here.
Day 24. Christmas Breakfast.
Black tea, ginger, cinnamon, "flavouring", nutmeg.
Bag smells of ginger and cinnamon.
Tea smells mostly of cinnamon, little whisper of ginger.
Flavour is pretty well balanced, I'm getting all three flavours pretty much equally.
It's really good. Strong flavours but not overpowering. Warm, would be a brilliant Depths of Winter tea.
And it's the last one, thanks for wandering along with me as I fill myself up with tea!
Lyn
Tim Richards