⏱ 2 min read
The Short Version
Forget December; the Kusmi Tea advent calendar is already under fire. While the citrusy Prince Vladimir excels with a splash of milk, the White Anastasia and medicinal Be Cool blends struggle to balance complexity with actual drinkability.
Willpower is often the first casualty of a well-timed delivery. Rather than waiting for December, an early start to the Kusmi Tea Advent Calendar has turned October into a trial run of the brand’s diverse offerings. The goal is simple: slow down, appreciate each blend as a daily treat, and determine which profiles actually hold up under scrutiny. While longtime fans might recall the Almond Rooibos from Kusmi’s former NYC storefront or the classic Anastasia black tea, this collection tests whether those reputations translate across different infusions.
I had recently decided I prefer breakfast teas over Earl Grey, but I would drink this again.
Evaluating the transition from black to herbal
The experimentation began with White Anastasia, a departure from the traditional black tea version that proved underwhelming. Even with honey added to mitigate the profile, the result lacked the expected depth—though it remains unclear if the issue was the leaf itself or a distracted rush using water that was too hot. In contrast, Prince Vladimir offered a significant pivot toward success. Described as a black tea Earl Grey featuring citrus and vanilla, the blend performed exceptionally well when bolstered by milk and a touch of honey during morning service. I had recently decided I prefer breakfast teas over Earl Grey, but I would drink this again.
Navigating medicinal undertones in herbal blends
Moving away from structured black teas presents its own set of challenges, particularly regarding botanical balance. The Be Cool blend—a combination of verbena, mint, and licorice—failed to find a rhythm. While Traditional Medicinals offers a very direct mint experience, the subtle interplay here felt unintentionally medicinal. Even adding honey could not mask the underlying tension between the mint and the licorice notes.
While the tea left the palate feeling remarkably clean, the flavor profile lacked the cohesion necessary for an enjoyable ritual. This highlights a recurring theme in herbal tasting: the fine line between a refreshing botanical mix and a confusingly medicinal one. For those who prefer their infusions straightforward, the complexity of certain Kusmi herbal compositions may feel more like an obstacle than an asset. It seems that in the world of high-end tea, intentionality in blending is just as critical as the quality of the raw ingredients.
Do you prefer your herbal teas to be bold and singular, or do you enjoy complex botanical layers?
Questions & Answers
What are the flavor notes in Kusmi Tea's Prince Vladimir blend?
Prince Vladimir is a black tea Earl Grey blend that features distinct citrus and vanilla notes. This specific infusion performs exceptionally well when it is served during the morning and bolstered with a touch of honey and milk. While it serves as a departure from standard breakfast teas, the combination of citrus and vanilla creates a successful profile that remains highly drinkable for those seeking a more complex black tea experience.
How does the Be Cool herbal blend taste during a tasting session?
The Be Cool blend tastes somewhat medicinal due to an unbalanced interplay between verbena, mint, and licorice. Although the mixture leaves the palate feeling remarkably clean, the flavor profile lacks the cohesion required for an enjoyable tea ritual. Even adding honey to the infusion fails to mask the underlying tension between the mint and licorice notes, making the complexity feel more like an obstacle than a refreshing asset.
Why did the White Anastasia tea fail to meet expectations?
The White Anastasia tea proved underwhelming because it lacked the expected depth found in traditional black tea versions. Even when honey was added to the cup to try and mitigate the flavor profile, the result remained unsatisfying. It is uncertain whether this lack of depth stems from the quality of the tea leaf itself or if the tea was prepared incorrectly using water that was too hot during the brewing process.
What challenges arise when evaluating complex herbal tea blends?
Evaluating herbal blends presents the challenge of maintaining a proper botanical balance without creating medicinal undertones. High-end tea tasting requires finding the fine line between a refreshing botanical mix and a confusingly medicinal one. When ingredients like mint and licorice are not intentionally blended, the resulting tension can prevent the tea from achieving a cohesive flavor profile, proving that intentionality in blending is just as critical as the raw ingredients.
Originally reported by Reddit Tea.
