Today is the second official day of the tea advent calendar season but to avoid spoilers- I’m going to review the lovely Adagio Teas Advent Calendar a day behind so without further ado. . . . .
Day #1- Spiced Apple Chai
Spiced Apple Chai is a tea blend from Adagio Teas that I know very well. I have enjoyed this one quite often. This lovely black tea based flavored chai is pretty much like fall in a cup but I like to enjoy this one with a twist. A shot of rum or a dollop of cream just adds a nice next level feel to this brew.
Brewed with fresh prepped water at boiling and steeped for right around 2-3 minutes this blends yields a distinctive distinctive apple flavor along with what I would consider the traditional chai spices-ginger, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon . Flavors that you would expect to go well together and a chai you want to enjoy on a cool day where wrapping your hands around a mug brings your tea loving soul so much love.
Adding the additional extras of course are optional to enjoy this lovely cuppa and what is great about this particular blend, there are so many different ways you can enjoy- western brewed, as a latte, adult like with a shot of this or that, cold brewed with or without a touch of maple syrup, truly the possibilities are endless which makes this one of my favorite Adagio blends.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chestnut/Adagio Teas -Ashmanra-
I have recently been introduced to LOTS of tea by Adagio, and honestly I had no idea that they had such a huge selection.
I decided to share this pot of tea with someone who has actually had chestnuts since I never have so I would be able to tell you how authentic the taste is!
My impression of the tea is that it tastes exactly like the company description – black tea with a pleasant dryness. It is nutty, but the company says their teas are safe for people with nut allergies. The facility is also gluten free.
I took it plain but it definitely could take milk and sugar if you prefer. It had that raspy dry feel on the tongue that many Keemun teas give, a cocoa powder vibe without chocolate. It reminded of the feeling when a wee bit of the “bitter” from inside a pecan or walnut shell gets in your mouth. That may sound bad but as they said – it is a pleasant bitterness.
So what about the person who has had actual chestnuts? She said it was so authentic that she was transported back to Eastern Europe at Christmastime, buying roasted chestnuts from vendors in the street. She was quite nostalgic and I am pretty sure she would be pleased to find a box of this tea in her stocking this year!
This also gave a decent resteep. Many thanks to the Sisters for sharing this one with me!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Blueberry White/Adagio Teas -Skysamurai-
Top of the morning to you. Had to wait till I was done with my granola to drink this one because I knew it was going to overwhelm the flavor.
The aroma though, I don’t think, would have been overcome. It’s intensely blueberry. Not the artificial type but that same smell you get from blueberries in blueberry muffins. Delightful. This can be found in both the dry and wet aroma, surprisingly. The wet aroma, I find, generally lacks the fruity aromas as they percolate into the water.
The flavor is good both hot and cold the blueberry flavor is dominate while the white tea gently sits on your palate with a few earthy tidbits. I would try to guess what type of white tea this is but honestly it’s ctc’d too much to tell.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
White Blueberry tea blends together the taste of juicy blueberries with premium white tea from Fujian province, China. Very fragrant, like freshly harvested ‘highbush’ blueberries (the aromatic variety). Soft, rounded mouthfeel with a clean, refreshing finish. White Blueberry tea is a customer favorite, delectable both hot or iced.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Review: Pu-erh Hazelberry/Adagio Teas
This tea’s loose leaf smells like a chocolatier’s shop in the late afternoon. The sun is low and the ochre dust motes ease in waves through the air. Ah. It’s old, it’s new, it’s sweet, it’s familiar.
As you steep the tea, it turns amber. When I saw the color, I thought “amber!” and then I thought “WHICH IS WHERE DINOSAUR DNA COMES FROM.” (Being a tea reviewer does not mean I will grow up.)
The resulting flavor is a chocolately, muted-berry, cream affair. The berries, despite being pretty prominently mentioned in the title of the tea, have been repressed — possibly by the patriarchy. It’s usually the patriarchy.
The primary flavors of this are a sort of chocolate/vanilla/hazelnut mix that remind me of protein shakes.
I’m not one to dis protein shakes! They’re an easy breakfast I eat most days!
But I’m not sure it’s what I wanted for my tea. This would be a great starter tea, though, for a person who really likes protein shakes and isn’t sure if they’re going to like tea. The “tea” itself isn’t the point. It’s more of a support for the chocolate/vanilla/hazelnut flavor that sits on top.
That said, there’s definitely a time and place for this tea. It’s inoffensive and unchallenging and sometimes that’s simply what you want. This tea is the sort of thing I’d contentedly drink while needing caffeine (it’s pu’erh!) but in the mood to focus on my work instead of the intricacies of what I’m drinking.
Not everything needs to be difficult or sophisticated. Take it from the girl who referenced Jurassic Park in a tea review.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Puerh
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Description
The earthy smoothness of Pu Erh creates a warm foundation for the rich flavor of hazelnut while playful, tangy-sweet strawberries peek through the nutty opulence. A hint of cream adds a soft, dreamy note to the blend.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Chorange Puerh/Adagio Teas
I have seen this tea compared to those chocolate oranges that you see for sale around Christmas. Would you believe I have never had one? After drinking this tea, you can bet I am going to try one this year!
This tea combines three things I really like – good chocolate, orange, and puerh. When I opened the bag, a rich, deep chocolate aroma wafted out and beckoned me like I was in a Bugs Bunny cartoon. First steep was served with breakfast, second is a leisurely cup after.
I often cut the steep time on puerh and did so with the Puerh Poe by Adagio with excellent results for many, many steeps. Watching the color of this one in the glass teapot, I decided to let it stay for three minutes. I generally steep puerh by observing color.
Oh my. Oh yes. I am not disappointed. First taste is chocolate, orange on the swallow, chocolate in the aftertaste. The puerh flavor is not very strong and is mainly earthy rather than horsey or fishy. I debated as to whether in a blind taste test someone could convince me that this was a flavored black tea instead, but I think there is enough earthiness to indicate puerh without turning off people who are not familiar with it.
I did find that aerating the tea in your mouth (by opening and closing the jaw without opening the lips) intensifies the orange flavor. On the second steep I felt that the orange was more pronounced and the chocolate less intense until it cooled a bit, and then the chocolate strengthened again. I don’t think this one is going to go seven steeps like Poe, though.
Would I buy it again? Oh yes, I would buy it again.