Category: Review

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Dessert by Deb’s Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie

Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie by Dessert by Deb
Rooibos / Flavoured

Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie came to me as part of the bimonthly subscription box from Dessert by Deb.

First Impressions

A bit late to the party (whoops!) with this part of Dessert by Deb’s Bed & Breakfast Holiday Inn tisane blend, so I wasn’t able to get the price of it off of the website (likely either a seasonal offering only, or discontinued). If it is seasonal and back later, the general pricing for most blends is $6.75 for 25g.

Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie comes in a rich brown metallic pouch that is sealed and resealable, with a colourful polka dot label across the front of it. This is a rooibos blend which consists of organic: rooibos, peppermint, Canadian maple, coconut, spearmint, pink and blue cornflowers. It’s a very pretty blend, the cornflower petals honestly adds such gorgeous pops of colour throughout the blend. I primarily smell the mint (peppermint and spearmint are in this blend), as well as a background of rooibos (that sweet, medicinal aroma). It definitely reminds me of mint!

Preparation

Dessert by Deb recommends steeping Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie in 212°F (100°C) water for 4 to 6 minutes. I opted to do an initial steep of Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie for 5 minutes.

Dessert by Deb also recommends to prepare Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie as a latte. I tried it plain (hot) first, and then added milk to it.

First Taste

Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie steeps to a deep reddish orange. There’s a strong mint aroma from it. It reminds me simply of a peppermint tisane, rather than a rooibos blend, because the mint is a very strong ingredient and greatly overpowers the other ingredients when it comes to the aroma of the steeped tisane. Taste wise, I found that I could taste the mint, as well as the rooibos. The rooibos was surprisingly stronger than I had anticipated, especially compared to the aroma of the drink. I can taste a light sweetness, hints of coconut, but mostly the medicinal quality of the rooibos and the mint from the peppermint and spearmint that’s present in the blend. The aftertaste on my tongue is the mint though, thankfully.

I did add some milk to the cup, and found that I could find the coconut a bit easier and the rooibos a bit less – so making it as a latte was definitely a win for me.

A Second Cup?

I did attempt to resteep Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie, but found that the flavour was primarily rooibos so I didn’t enjoy it. If you’re a rooibos fan, you’ll likely enjoy a resteep of Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie more than me.

My Overall Impression

I thought that Dessert by Deb’s Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie was just okay. As a person who isn’t a fan of rooibos, I’m a terrible judge of rooibos blends. I’m the first person to admit that I don’t like rooibos and I find it to have a strange medicinal quality that I just don’t like. That said, I think Peppermint Sprinkle Cookie has some redeeming qualities for me. I like the mint and the sweetness from the Canadian maple. It has a great mint aroma to it, and I think those who are looking for a light, tummy settling blend would enjoy this blend (especially if you’re a fan of rooibos). If you’re not a huge fan of rooibos, I would highly recommend preparing it as a latte because it helps temper down that medicinal quality of the rooibos base.

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Dessert by Deb’s Concord Grape Jelly

Concord Grape Jelly by Dessert by Deb
Green Tea / Flavoured
$6.75 for 25g

Concord Grape Jelly came to me as part of the bimonthly subscription box from Dessert by Deb.

First Impressions

In a pale pink metallic pouch comes Concord Grape Jelly, a green tea blend from Dessert by Deb. It comes to with a familiar polka dot label in rainbow colours. Concord Grape Jelly is part of the Picnic Sweets & Treats Collection, and having some concord jelly on a picnic seems like a great idea (especially in a sandwich made with some sourdough bread and a nice layer of smooth peanut butter).

Concord Grape Jelly has a sweet aroma to it, there’s something that reminds me of grape medicine as a child. Concord Grape Jelly consists of organic: green tea, natural strawberry flavour, elderberries, currants, raisins, hibiscus, strawberry and papaya pieces, freeze-dried blueberries, and mallow flowers. I mean, just look at this tea – it’s beautiful. Those mallow flowers are so gorgeous.

Preparation

Dessert by Deb recommends steeping Concord Grape Jelly in 200°F (93°C) water for 4 to 6 minutes. I opted to do an initial steep of Concord Grape Jelly for 5 minutes.

First Taste

Concord Grape Jelly steeps to a reddish purple. The aroma is grape-y, fruity (berry, grape), and sweet. The flavour of Concord Grape Jelly reminds me of a mix of grape juice (or a mixed fruit juice), a grape freeze pop, or liquid grape medication (let me tell you that I got sick a lot and needed antibiotics as a kid without directly telling you that I got sick a lot and needed antibiotics as a kid). While it does remind me of grape jelly, the level of sweetness is very jelly-esque, but after having taken a lot of liquid antibiotics as a child, grape flavoured things just doesn’t appeal to me (neither does banana or cherry). But it smells and tastes like grape.

A Second Cup?

I did attempt to resteep Concord Grape Jelly, the flavour of the second steep of the leaves was very similar to the the initial steep, but not as strong as the initial steep.

My Overall Impression

I thought that Dessert by Deb’s Concord Grape Jelly was just okay. I think the flavour is spot on, the aroma is perfectly reminiscent of concord grape jelly. The problem that I have is my personal preference not to engage in grape flavoured things that remind me of medication (due to a childhood riddled with repeated bouts of pneumonia). That said, I think that Dessert by Deb did a great job with the blend in terms of the aroma and flavour, and if you’re a fan of grape, this will be a blend for you. I would recommend having this green tea blend iced, and also mixed with some sparkling water to give it some pep and make it the perfect summer picnic option.

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Mocca’s Matcha Latte

Matcha Latte by Mocca
Green Tea (Matcha) / Flavoured
$8.99 for 375g (25g x 15 sachets)

First Impressions

Matcha Latte by Mocca was one of those impulse grocery store purchases – one of the best ways to fill up a shopping cart in my opinion (with tea!). The bright packaging caught my eye, so into my shopping cart it hopped. I never expect a lot from an instant tea product, but I’m always on the look out for something that’s tasty, inexpensive, and easy to get a hold of. The ease of preparing matcha on the go (or at work) constantly appeals to me, especially as someone who can’t always go to a kitchen, or the only access to a fridge is communal.

Matcha Latte comes in bright teal and green packaging. It comes with 15 individually packaged portions of instant Matcha Latte powder. The ingredients consist of: creamer, sugar, and matcha powder. For those health conscious, each sachet contains 25g, but also contains 12g of sugar. Of all the important nutrients, each packet also consists of 10% of your daily intake of calcium (so you can feel like you’re doing something right, right?). The Matcha Latte powder itself is primarily light green, minimal sparkle from the sugar, it has a minimal aroma to it.

Preparation

Using the powers of Google Translate, I found out that Mocca recommends mixing 190-210ml of hot water with the powder for a hot matcha latte, or use 100ml of hot water with the powder for an iced matcha latte (plus, adding ice).

I opted to prepare it hot, and used 175°F (80°C) water.

First Taste

Matcha Latte dissolved and mixed up very well, and even without really trying, there was a nice of foam and bubbles that formed across the top. The aroma is very grassy and milky. The flavour of Matcha Latte is better than I had expected! It’s grassy, sweet, milky. It’s not too sweet, considering the amount of sugar in it, and the dairy adds a great level of creaminess to it.

A Second Cup?

As an instant tea product, there’s no second cups.

My Overall Impression

I loved Mocca’s Matcha Latte. At 60¢ a serving, I was impressed with Matcha Latte. From the ease of preparation, the taste, and the fact that the amount of sugar wasn’t overkill. Despite having a sweet tooth, I didn’t find it to be cloyingly sweet. I like how easy it was, as well as that impressive amount of foam and bubbles. I’m definitely looking forward to having this one at work because the flavour is on point and doesn’t taste like a poor quality matcha. The grassy notes lend itself to a nice cup of matcha latte.

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