Adagio Custom Blends, Carolynne Keenan

Backlog:

This one has a prominent apple scent. Amid all the other spices in this blend, I was happily surprised to notice such a strong apple presence.

I’m not really all that crazy about Adagio when it comes to their flavored black teas. It’s just a very harsh and funky black tea … I think that Adagio should rethink this base … but I’ve thought that for a long time. I have mentioned though, at least once or twice, that when the flavored black teas are used in the custom blends like this one, the harshness seems to be less prevalent. I’m not sure why that is.

The spices here are warm and inviting. The cinnamon is the strongest flavor but it doesn’t overpower the ginger, clove and cardamom. There is a lovely caramel note to the cup, and then I taste apple and a hint of orange. It’s a really nice interpretation of an “Autumn Chai.”

Backlog:

Not bad. I wasn’t too sure how I’d like it since it is a decaffeinated black tea blend from Adagio, and I’m not too crazy about Adagio’s black teas … so I guess part of me figures that the decaffeinated black teas have got to be worse, right? But it’s not too bad. This blend is actually tasty.

The black tea isn’t a very strong flavor here, I taste more vanilla, hazelnut, and chocolate than I do black tea. And given my misgivings about Adagio’s black teas … that’s probably a good thing. I taste the nutty, honeyed notes of the honeybush too.

A clever blend.

I believe I got this from someone or bought this from someone here on steepster. Thank you very much. I mainly taste the cinnamon and the clove with abit of black tea. I added some sugar. And this tastes decent but the clove here is really strong clove here and just is too much for me. I am glad I got to try it though.

After a week with a traveling tea box, it was really nice to go back to an old favorite. Almond Cookie, you are amazing and never let me down. You are always exactly what I need, and make me feel warm and loved and wonderful. You are a hug in tea form.

Sometimes, after drinking this tea, I wonder why I ever really need any other teas besides this one, Brioche from American Tea Room, Coconut Creme from Persimmon Tree, and Thai Yen Chai from Teavana. I could subsist off all those teas in rotation with no others and be truly content with my tea-drinking life.

Also, Steepster, why can’t I say this tea tastes like love or happiness in the flavors? Because it’s true.

YUM.

This is so good. The flavor profile is not very complex: it’s almond and vanilla. Because, as the name says, it’s an almond cookie. Totally delicious. I’m drinking this unsweetened. I’m enjoying it very very much.

One of you recently wrote, “a little milk can fix nearly anything.” That’s the case with this almond oolong. Fresh and new, it tasted like Christmas sugar cookies with almond extract. My pouch is old enough that although the almond flavor hasn’t gone bitter, the whole blend is running on about 60% power. A little half and half this morning smoothed everything out and made a pleasantly drinkable cuppa.

(Get some fresh. You’ll like it.)

Way overdue trying and reviewing this one, but it called out from the stash while the Pepperidge Farm cherry cinnamon rolls were baking.

The cookie scent is spot on. It’s very almondy without being bitter or cloyingly sweet. First cup straight up, but seconds are going to get a little milk. Kudos to keenteathyme, the Creator o’the Cuppa.

This smells really good, but then I like the mint. The flavour goes well with the berry, even though it’s a little hidden.

So far, I’ve only tried this hot. Seems it would be better cold.

I’m not sure who this came from.

ick, this is terrible. I only got a hint of what tasted like it was suppose to be Graham cracker. No smoke, no cream, just black and that slight almost spice taste.

No rating as this is one of my own custom blends at Adagio. By next year it will be a Keen Tea Thyme blend, completely of my own creation. But until then, you gotta get it through Adagio or in one of my custom sampler packs:
http://keenteathyme.teatra.de

But as for the review – I love the combo of vanilla, caramel and almond and other than that annoying Adagio black tea taste, I think this is decent (entirely self-serving, apologies).

I usually drink my tea plain – no sweetener – but I like adding honey to this to enhance the flavor. Works well; reminds me of the “good” candy corn – Brach’s, made with honey.

So this tea was Also given to me by keenteathyme And this is Good, Such a wonderful tea For this beautiful fall weather we are having right now, i Really enjoyed this one!

Hey, Steepster! Been a while. I’ve been super burned out from work and life in general, but of course, I’m still drinking tea every day. Just not logging it.

I don’t know what it is, but this fall, the flavor I’ve been obsessed with is toasted marshmallow. It was caramel last fall, and I think lavender before that. Anyway, this is a well-reviewed tea and I’ve been curious about it for a long time. I got a sample a long time ago, but it was stale, so this is my “first” official review.

I know the creator of this tea only used 10% lapsang, but that stuff is so potent. The aroma is basically straight-up pine campfire with a hint of sweet vanilla at the end. Since getting it, I’ve tried it both iced and hot. Hot seems to make more sense with the smokiness, but either way, the flavor is just like the scent. Strong smoke with a soft, natural vanilla hidden underneath. You really have to taste for it, which is sort of disappointing to me.

I’m very tempted to go back to Adagio and get some plain vanilla to mix into this. Hmmm…

So… My sample of this got contaminated by a minty tea it was shipped with. And to add insult to injury, I used too much water for the sample size.

This is me right now: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6q03rGnWq1qbob5to1_500.jpg

Next time I shop at Adagio, I’ll just get myself a tin.
No rating until I try it fresh and unadulterated.

The description had me at “winter blues;” boy, do I need an antidote. My first snuffle at the packet resulted in a sneezy-nose full of spearmint, so I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to detect the blackberry, but it’s definitely in there, especially with a little bit of sweetener to root it out.

I don’t think I’ll have the fortitude to wait till hot weather to try this iced, but it’s definitely got a summer-cooler personality.

Nicely balanced, nicely done, and much appreciated. Props to the blending chops of Keenteathyme!

Absentmindedly left this to stew while I took an autumn walk—and it’s now strong enough it would pass as caffeinated. Still hazelnutty good.

Don’t you love how a slow, all-day rain turns a gotta-do Saturday into a legitimately luscious, lazy afternoon? Cease-fire declared on household chores; harvest coffee candle scenting the room; hubby’s homemade steak chili in the crock-pot scenting the kitchen. PBS travel shows to escape with. Tazo the Serial Killer innocently snuffling rabbit-breath while he naps with a paw over his eyes. Ah, fall.

Thus, nothing more fitting for the occasion than this rich, thick choco-nutty blend concocted by keenteathyme. I’m cool with honeybush and rooibos, but for those of you who aren’t, it politely steps out of the way to make room for the lovely hazelnut. Little half and half turns it into dessert.

First time to try this with milk…which turns it into a warm and comfy cup of hazelnut creamer. Really, really nice after-dinner treat.

This was my after-dinner treat last night with a little wedge of pumpkin pie.

Hazelnut-honeybush is a really nice combination, and the choco-vanilla sweetens it nicely without making the whole mixture cloying. Makes a very muted flavor palette perfect for relaxing. Sometimes your taste buds are just too tired to think.

Kudos to keenteathyme for concocting this one!

If you’ve seen any of my findings on the “Chance Combinations” string, you’ll know that tea blending isn’t my forte. I can’t cook, either. So I’ll leave the blending to those of you with a knack for it and I’ll just wax poetic about what you do.

Therefore, some waxing is in order for this tasty custom Adagio blend by our own keenteathyme.

Most people make an “autumn” sensory connection with spices, which is traditional and fine. But autumn for me is thick, heavy air that brushes your face when you walk through it and the deep, finished smell of wet leaves. This blend makes me feel like I’m rolling in the leaf pile :)

My taste buds are learning the difference between rooibos and honeybush…to me, honeybush is a little mellower. So it makes a sweet and solid base for the hazelnut, chocolate, and vanilla. I had my first cup straight up and it was great; I’m thinking a little milk could only improve its cozy desserty-ness. And decaf to boot—-this was a really nice evening treat.

I am not sure how much I liked this. Perhaps I would rename it burned marshmallow… The smokey flavor really was prevelant for me. It reminded me of drinking tea while sitting at a campfire (in the smoke) I would perhaps drink this again, but not regularly

No rating as this is my own.

This is a great tasting chai with all the flavors you love about autumn: apple, spice, caramel. You can almost taste the brisk air and cooler temperatures.

Happy Autumn!