A fire-roasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker? S’mores are a recipe for deliciousness, and this is Teavana ‘Smores Oolong with real marshmallows. For such an interesting tea, its list of the ingredients featured cocoa kernels, white chocolate pieces, carob pieces, cinnamon, chocolate flakes, chicory root, marshmallow, oolong tea, roasted maté, artificial flavouring, bourbon vanilla pieces, and marigold petals.
Steeping 3 g in 200 mL of 90°C water for 3 minutes, the infusion was a golden colour and cloudy from the melted marshmallows, white chocolate pieces, and chocolate flakes.
The liquor has a surprisingly heady scent of cinnamon that is just as pronounced in the taste, emerging in the head and lingering through the aftertaste. A sweet chocolate note recalling a sweetened cacao nib cold brew emerged in the body and combines with the cinnamon notes to bring me back to the Cinnamon Swirl with Sultanas and Chocolate Bread manufactured by Tip Top as a child of the 90s. The oolong is not the star of the tea, making up only a small proportion of the components of the tea especially in comparison to the chicory remaining after the infusion. It came through as slight fruity notes along with the woodsy mate in the tail, before giving way to the cinnamon aftertaste. The infusion feels smooth and thin on the tongue, lacking the satisfying richness a hot chocolate with a marshmallow and a graham cracker.
The overwhelming presence of cinnamon in the tea wasn’t something I associate with s’mores, although it does evoke cool autumn nights outdoors spent toasting marshmallows over a bonfire. But for that reason, I find this more of a festive Christmas tea than an s’mores tea.
ThisTeavana ‘Smores Oolong contained 57 g. It was packed in the United States and gifted by family visiting New York, New York, United States in 2016.