Thyra's Tea Tasting Party, part 3

Iseault’s Clewefull Green: (green tea, orange peels, natural pomegranate flavor, raspberry leaves, marigold flowers, raspberries, natural mandarin flavor)

Tastes accurately as it smells (and especially tastes as strong as it smells)

Very citrusy. Good summer tea

"I get more of the raspberry than citrus flavor" ..."I’m opposite."

Many folks don’t get citrus flavor.  It’s tart but not citrusy tart. 

Smells like Tealuxe's Vanilla 

Sabine’s Merry Melody: (assam black tea, lavender flowers, orange peels, blue cornflowers, natural vanilla flavor, natural bergamot flavor, natural creme flavor, red peppercorns)

Smells more aromatic when than it tastes Maybe needs milk?

Tastes like regular black tea with all the extra aromatics just in the nose. Not as warm as an Assam. Not as flavorful as Earl Grey. 

Would like it as a candle or sachets. Smells great.

The peppercorns did not come through, nor the lavender.

Want it to effervesce a little bit, like Sabine!

Sabine’s outfits make us think of hibiscus, for possible improvement. Want to turn it into a shortbread-accompaniment, we think it would go really well together. 

Not bad but doesn’t live up to any expectations.

Nataliia’s Chocolate Babka: (black tea, natural hazelnut flavor, natural caramel flavor, natural chocolate flavor, dark chocolate chips, cocoa nibs)

Everyone loves the smell.  Once brewed, smells like coconut or German chocolate cake

Has a mouth-filling quality, like good coffee.

Good dessert substitute when you’re too full for actual dessert. But also good with cinnamon cookies (and probably with gingerbread).  

"Yum, yum, yum!"

Good with milk – makes it taste more like babka

"Is there more?"

Lillia’s Blueberry Crampet: (black tea, rose hips, hibiscus, apple pieces, natural blueberry flavor, blueberries, raspberry leaves, lavender, cornflowers)

All getting different smells out of the tea tin (lots of rose, lots of hibiscus, and blueberry in combination).  Hibiscus is stronger in the nose, but not in the flavor

Differing opinions on the fruit elements: Good with cinnamon cookies, but the blueberry gets lost.  Blueberry flavor is there, but can be easily overwhelmed.  On the other hand, too fruity for some tasters

Extremely clean finish, no astringency. Very easy-drinking.

However, easily obscured by chocolate (e.g. accompanying cookies)

"Reminds me of blueberry cookies."

Elizabeth’s Danger Spice: (black tea, cinnamon bark, ginger root, natural pumpkin spice flavor, natural gingerbread flavor, cloves, natural caramel flavor, orange peels, marigold flowers, cardamom)

Surprisingly un-aromatic when steeped.  Some folks definitely get the caramel, not everyone.  Not rich caramel, just a hint.

Bitter, with a big empty place in the middle. Very sorry to be reporting this![1]

[1] (Its namesake really likes it, but I am open to suggestions for improving it)

Boardwalk Creamsicle: (decaf ceylon tea, black tea, orange peels, safflower, natural vanilla flavor, natural creme flavor, natural orange flavor)

We like it! (Universal crowd pleaser) Like a really light orange cake

For some, it's all orange flavor, no creamsicle, but that’s just fine. Others definitely get the crème.  Also good with milk in it.  Very clean finish. 

Super great with milk. But also good without. Neither really is superior, just different. This surprises us, since usually it’s more distinct which way is better.