After the dreadful experience I had with the random number generator next time, where I was compelled to sample (and review) the loathesome nettle tea which I’ve acquired such a distaste for, imagine my surprise and joy when next confronted with the number 7 — lucky for some, and apparently for me too, as that was the number for my personal favourite of the entire collection, something I’ve literally swigged (swug?) out of a pint glass many a-time before. That’s right, as you’ve no doubt guessed from the obtrusive and blatant picture to the left, I’m talking about Camomile & Spiced Apple — another Twinings, I know — from their absolutely fantastic “a moment of calm” range.

This one’s the ultimate chill-out drink for me; while it’s yet to be tested in moments of stress, it performs fabulously when I’m already feeling chill, reducing me to a bubbling pile of protozoic matter. Much like Mr. T’s mother, there is no other, and I can’t say enough good things about this sublime combination. For the curious, the “spiced” element refers to cinnamon, and I think that addition complements the flavour wonderfully.

Let’s start with the bags, which are usually where I judge my initial impressions: Slightly musky, but generally an overall pleasant and aromatic smell, a reversal of roles as we’ll see soon, as the apple is fairly subdued and the cinnamon definitely takes the forefront, with the camomile staying firmly in the middle.

Add the hot water, and the magic happens: The result is a very pretty amber brew with a distinct aroma of apples. The flavour is almost a reverse of the untainted bags, with apple being the dominant flavour and the cinnamon hanging in the background, barely noticeable but distinctly improving the flavour in its own subtle way. The end result is a very gentle, soothing mixture with a surprisingly pleasant aftertaste, its only real crime being perhaps too subtle at times, though in a way I think due to the nature of the drink — intended to be soothing and calming — it suits this pigeonhole perfectly.

This certainly isn’t the best way to start your mornings, and is perhaps best left for the later hours when relaxing and unwinding at the end of a long day. It’s hard for me to not be in a great mood with a mug of this stuff in one hand, and add that to a generally relaxed end-of-the-day atmosphere and some Chopin, and you’ve got probably the most chilled-out Gravecat you ever did see. Five stars — no, six fucking stars. Seven. Twelve. I can’t praise this one highly enough, and my hat is off to Twinings for such a marvellous creation.

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