tea-sipper select Send Message

Simpson & Vail Advent 2025 – Day #12
Oh now here is one I have wanted to try! I love a good raspberry tea and this one is quite delicious. I also don’t think it’s labeled as another blend that S&V sells. This is strictly a National Park blend. However, S&V also has some other great raspberry teas. The raspberry takes over here, and I really can’t taste much of the sage which is a shame. Maybe it melds together really well… It tastes very much like one of my favorite raspberry teas from Maya Tea. This just has a lighter base. Was very good paired with the other tea I had today, Mate Java Espresso by Tealyra, which I’m glad to see they are still selling. I also had some cocoa infused pancakes with fresh raspberries and whipped cream today, so it was a very chocolate and raspberry themed day. :)
Steep #1 // 1 1/3 teaspoons for a full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 minute steep

Simpson & Vail Advent 2025 – Day #11
oh no. oh no no no. The turmeric was just not going to work for me. I don’t know why they included this in the advent as well as the herbal chai. I actually thought this was their ‘turmeric chai’ blend, but this is a whole nother beast. I found this out because THIS blend also has hibiscus, the other one doesn’t. yikes. This seems like it would have very specific fans… just a cup full of earthiness taking over. Earthy turmeric and tang. Somehow the second steep was even STRONGER. Turmeric, tang, and also lots of ginger. Hopefully it’s at least healthy?
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 3-4 minute steep

Simpson & Vail Advent 2025 – Day #10
I thought I could chalk it up to my changing tastebuds, or possibly my old sample to this one being lacklusterly ancient.  However, this is a fresh from S&V sample, and the flavor just still seems exactly like my older sample.   It’s just not a very good flavor, to me.   When I originally had this tea, it seemed different and I liked it before… but now the flavor to me is just plastic… I feel like I’m being a real downer on so many of these… sorry S&V… lowering the rating from 83…
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 6 minute steep

Simpson & Vail Advent 2025 – Day #9
I had to add this to Steepster?  I thought I saw someone talking about this, at some point.  Another I haven’t tried.   Right upon opening the pouch, I figured I wouldn’t be a fan.  Possibly this is too freshly blended and the flavor needed time to mellow, possibly one and a half teaspoons is too much.  The flavors should be blueberry and lime, but to me…. it’s nail polish and/or nail polish remover.  Not the flavors I’m looking for.  I can’t really taste the green tea at all. The brew color was a lovely shade of blue though.  This also doesn’t scream advent flavors, IMO, so I’m not sure why, of all S&V’s many teas, they decided on this one.  I know I didn’t overdo it on the steep — I used much cooler water and a shorter steep time than I normally would have went with.  Sadly, I used my sample, so can’t give this one another chance later on down the line. 
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 42 minutes after boiling // 1 minute steep
Steep #2 // 28 minutes after boiling  // 2-3 minute steep

Simpson & Vail Advent 2025 – Day #8

Now here is one I haven’t tried yet! I have considered ordering it before. But I think I went with their pear green tea instead, based on positive Steepster notes, possibly? S&V has had some of my favorite pear teas in the past. Here, both in the fragrance and the flavor, the rooibos is competing with the pear. I have had worse pear teas! The second steep, I think I left a little too long, and tastes mostly just like plain rooibos…
Steep #1 // 1 1/3 teaspoons for a full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 6 minute steep

Simpson & Vail Advent 2025 – Day #7
I thought I had tried this one before, but have not. I guess I had it confused with so many other GREAT floral teas that S&V carries. It also sounded very similar to the Lewis Carroll blend that I love. But it is NOT the same blend. That one has violet. Oh wait, it’s really their William Shakespeare blend. And I HAVE tried that one. I guess I must have realized that at some point and knew I didn’t have to try both blends. ANYWAY, this is a floral bomb. Which I like, personally. But a unique floral bomb! I think all of the components here actually share the stage: bergamot, lavender, rose and rosemary. The black tea base is huskier than some of the others I have been sipping from S&V lately. So I like this! But I guess it’s just good to know that some blends sometimes have two names over at S&V.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 18 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 minute steep

additional notes: I forgot how much I loved this one, with only one tasting note that I wrote from 12 years ago. Wow. It’s a solid assam. Easily one I could stock up on.

Simpson & Vail Advent 2025 – Day #6
Ooooo… another one I have stocked up.  I swear, I don’t have every S&V tea stocked.  ha.  I used the entire sample for my mug, probably not even a teaspoon and a half, and if anything, this advent calendar taught me that only one level teaspoon is enough for a steep session of this particular blend.  Anything more than a teaspoon and it seems like too much stevia to my tastebuds.  Otherwise, I really love this creamy, perfectly minty green rooibos.  These awesome elements make this a blend I can actually tolerate the stevia in.  It always looks festive too. It is VERY spot on candy cane.  I do love a candy cane tea.  (Another Adagio tea I almost bought the other day.)    
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 18 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 5 minute steep

Simpson & Vail Advent 2025 – Day #5

Another one I have been able to try recently! This sample seems to have a lot less cherry flavor than it did before… This one should be my jam in theory, but I feel it needs more smoke, more cherry, more drama overall to match Sherlock’s drama. I don’t mind revisiting this though. Speaking of Sherlock teas, I ALMOST placed a black friday Adagio order, but actually fell asleep and missed the sale as I was trying to decide. Probably for the best…
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 18 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 5 minute steep

Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – December 2025 Tea #1 -A tea with fruit flavors

It was time for this one to go — at this point it is just mostly resulting in a spicy cup, with no hint of blackberry or earl grey.  I really should have finished it sooner.  Take note:  52Teas is one of the shops that does a GOOD blackberry flavor.
2025 Sipdown total: 82
2025 unique tea sipdowns: 65