Adagio Yuletide Toddy Tea Review
On that specific day in December when the Coca-Cola advert is on TV, the radios are bursting with Christmas tunes, and we finally start putting up the Christmas decorations, there’s a very distinctive aroma in my house. That aroma is from a spiced, citrusy fragrance oil that we heat over candles… and it’s practically identical to the delicious aroma of Adagio Yuletide Toddy Tea!
This is an alcohol-free, fruit and herbal tea (although you can go ahead and add a slug of whiskey) that’s perfect for a cold Christmas night by the fire. Read my full review below to find out how best to brew it and where you can buy it from Adagio in the UK and abroad.
Adagio Yuletide Tea at a Glance
Izzy's Rating
3.7/5
● Blend: Tart berry tea with citrus fruits, ginger and cinnamon
● Flavour: A very smooth, beautifully scented fruity tea. Notes of tart hibiscus, sweet cranberry and refreshing citrus stand out.
A well-balanced tea. I imagine if you tried to drink this every night, you’d soon find it too potent. But for a one-off cheeky Irish tea before bedtime, the warm fruity notes are divine.
Full Review – Adagio Fruit Christmas Tea
Izzy's Rating
3.7/5
- Type: Loose leaf
- Ingredients: Apple pieces, hibiscus, rosehips, orange peel, cinnamon bark, ginger root, natural cranberry flavour, dried cherries, natural orange flavour, natural cinnamon flavour, natural ginger flavour
- Health Benefits: Boost immune system
- Flavour Notes: Smooth, tart, citrus, hibiscus, sweet cranberry, ginger heat, cinnamon spice, mulled wine
- Aroma: Fruity caramel, red currants, brown sugar, tart hibiscus, apple sauce, cinnamon spice, ginger
- Milk or Lemon: A dash of whiskey
- Where to Buy: Adagio
This tea has some flavouring in it as well as a bucketful of natural sweetness from the fruits, which translates into a complex and undeniably sugary aroma. There are notes of fruity caramel, tart red currants and malty brown sugar with high notes of hibiscus and sweet, sweet, sweet apple sauce. It’s delicious but quite strong and there’s also a floral note from the spices. Altogether, along with my instant recognition of my annual Christmas scented fragrance oil, and I’m not too sure if it’s an edible aroma. It smells divine, but will it translate to a yummy flavour or will I be reusing this tea as potpourri?
It turns out I enjoyed it immensely. Adagio Yuletide Toddy brews into a light cranberry red colour and has enhanced notes of cinnamon and ginger in the wet aroma.
I could quite happily guzzle this one down. Slurp. It’s so smooth and glossy-textured. Sweet cranberry juice creates the prominent flavour, with instantly recognisable freshness from orange zest and tartness from the hibiscus.
The ginger hits you a few sips into your cup, tingling in the back of your throat.
I’d sum this tea up as a non-alcoholic Christmas mulled wine served with fresh orange zest and a surprising ginger hit.
How to Brew Yuletide Toddy
Adagio’s brew instructions are to use freshly boiled water for 6 to 10 minutes. Now, my regular readers will know that I’m a stickler for brewing light the first time you try a tea. But with this one, I urge you to break my rule. I brewed for the full 10 minutes and I could have left it for longer.
It’s very forgiving with longer brew times so there’s no pressure to stand around the kitchen with a stopwatch.
As for what to drink it with, this tea would go nicely with Christmas nibbles at your Christmas Eve party. It’s also sweet enough to stand in as a dessert if you’ve over-stuffed yourself on the main course.
Why Adagio Teas UK?
Adagio kindly sent me a box of festive-themed tea samples and I’ve been saving this one for December so I can get into the Christmas spirit. I’m not huge on added flavouring, but if the resulting tea still tastes natural and delicious (this one does), I’m not going to put up a fuss.
You can see whole cloves, fruit pieces and hibiscus petals in the loose leaf and it certainly smells fresh. Adagio deliver their teas in resealable bags too, so there’s no worry about your Adagio Yuletide Toddy going stale.
Christmas Mulled Tea Health Benefits
You’ll instantly notice 1 thing. This tea is BURSTING with vitamin C. Rosehips (which are incredibly nutritious), hibiscus, cranberries and citrus are all full of the nourishing vitamin, so I’ve concluded that this tea is a great all-round healer for flu season. Drink a cup regularly to boost your immune system and hopefully prevent a nasty flu or cold invading.
Summary
I highly recommend this tea, if you’re still in time to grab a sample pack. Adagio only release it for the festive season so click the button below to see if it’s still in stock.
Tea Recommendation
If you like the sound of this tea, I recommend you read my review of IKEA Black Chai with Ginger and Elderberries. It has that similar tartness and ginger fire with a more robust black tea body.