Cookie

I’m finally starting to work my way through the insane amount of tea I bought, received as gifts and got in tea trades over the last few years. I sorted all my teas by type, and decided on a black tea tonight. Rummaging through the drawer, I found this one, and my decision was made.
I was not overwhelmed by a cookie smell, but that may be because it has been in a plastic bag, in a drawer with a bunch of other teas in plastic bags for the last year or so. Needless to say, none of them are smelling particularly amazing at this point. Fresh stuff may have a better smell, I’m not sure.
Brewed though, it smelled delicious. I would not say quite like a cookie, but maybe like a warm biscotti. I inhaled its delicious scent for a bit before tasting.
The taste was a bit mild, but I knew some sweetness would really bring out the underlying flavors in the tea. I was going to go with a splash of milk and some brown sugar, only to realize I had no milk. I did have sweetened condensed milk, so I put a teaspoon of that in. It did the trick. It tastes a bit like a sugar cookie dipped in warm milk.
I think next cup I am going to try with some full fat coconut milk and brown sugar.

Creepily, this really did taste like a cookie. I wish I had milk with me when I used my sample, I bet the creamy addition would have made it even more cookie-like, with no added sugar even.

I never really thought I’d be this sad over some actor’s death that I didn’t even know. But I am. I think the main part about Robin Williams’ death that crushes me is that his life ended in suicide. I mean, suicide in general is sad. But when you think of all the amazing movies he was in that brought inspiration and laughter to so many peoples’ lives, it’s hard to believe he ended up killing himself. Maybe he was just that amazing of an actor, but it always seemed like he fully believed all the inspiring lines he said in movies. I can’t explain it, but so many movies that he has played in have a special place in my heart.
A lot of posts on tumblr going around today are referring to him as, I quote:
“robin williams was like that uncle you didn’t see often but when you did he’d always make you smile and you remembered nothing but good things…”

Maybe that’s exactly what I’m trying to say. I grew up watching his movies, and they always had a way of giving people hope and happiness. Kinda has felt like he was that crazy, awesome uncle who never wanted to grow up and just stay fun forever.
Through amazing movies like Hook and the Dead Poet’s Society, Robin Williams has earned a special place in my heart.
I am crushed on so many different levels over his death. As someone who struggles with pretty constant depression, it is even more heartbreaking to know that he lost that final battle. Despite all of the bad things in his personal life, I will always think of him in the best of light. Brightening up peoples’ lives through the films he has been in. Peter Pan, is the Robin Williams that I will remember. John Keating, is the Robin Williams that I will remember. Mrs. Doubtfire is the Robin Williams that I will remember. I want to remember Robin Williams in his finest moments, even if they were just on a movie screen.
And I’m sorry if this is all just rambles. I’m super tired, and really sad over the events of today. Sorry if I make no sense. >< In sum, I am heartbroken over the tragedy of Robin Williams and I just have too many feelings right now to be clear about anything. xD
So I’ll just be drinking a crap load of comforting teas tonight like this one. Remembering all the good that Robin Williams has done here while he lived.
RIP Robin Williams July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014

Oh buddy, oh pal. This is a different tea.

Different, good.
The second one I tried from my long awaited Lupicia order.

One I’d eagerly anticipated from the moment I first heard of it.

First of all, I have to say that without thinking about it, I automatically associate the word “cookie” with “chocolate chip cookie”, so all this time, that’s what I thought this tea would be. No, I obviously didn’t read the description or ingredients list.

So when I finally cracked open the bag and sniffed the leaves, I was a little surprised it didn’t smell like chocolate at all, no cocoa notes. I was also surprised to see that it looked like a CTC tea.

However, what I smelled when I sniffed the bag was a buttery, subtly sweet cookie note.

I didn’t even try it black, I just had to follow Lupicia’s suggestion and add milk immediately.
What resulted was a buttery, creamy delight. A subtle cookie, with a substantial base, perfect for the flavouring. Sweetness that was more of a suggestion than a reality. I’d like to try with a bit of sugar next time. And maybe black, one day.

So far Lupicia is two for two! Way better than my Adagio experience!

Best. Tea. Ever. My absolute favorite. Sweet, milky, tea perfection. Heaven in a cup. Need I say more?

OH. MY. GOD. I love this. It tastes like a butter cookie when it is very warm, then as it cools, the taste is more like an almond cookie. If you let it cool even more, it’s exactly like dipping one of those Breaktime coconut cookies in coffee. There is a slight coffee like quality to it, mj don’t worry, it’s not like that! I put raw sugar and a tiny bit of cream in my cup, because when the name of a tea is cookie, you can do that.

Well. This tea is just what I needed.

I’d been saving this sample from sil for a rainy day, and it’s hammering it down, so it seems apt. Metaphorically hammering, mind: started my new job a few weeks ago, and MAN, is it not what I was told I’d be doing when I accepted the post. I’ve never been in a situation where a job, or anything for that matter, has left me feeling so continually angry. This, combined with my not being able to lift my right arm due to apparently having injured it quite badly while working on Saturday, and my not actually knowing what my work schedule is even meant to be this week – and I was promised full-time – is wearing me down horribly. I can’t stay. I also can’t afford any period of unemployment, as it looks like I’ll be paying rent on two properties as ownership of my former flat is changing hands right before I’d planned to vacate it, meaning I have to wait to talk to the new owners to give notice, and… ugh. Definitely can’t afford paying on two flats, let alone one. None of this is okay.

This tea is a tonic for my increasingly frayed nerves. I can see why it’s so well-loved! I’m met with a lovely nutty butteriness that’s got definite biscuit notes to it, without being overwhelmingly sweet. It’s such a comfort, and I’m so glad to have had the chance to try it out!

I found this one to be very similar to the Cinnamon Cookie Puer, only no cinnamon, and not quite as rich. Not in a bad way, mind you. It was a little sweeter in place of the cinnamon, and the coffee note was more subdued. This one does smell more like an almond cookie. I like both teas about equal.

It is really tasty! It makes a great breakfast tea for me. I’m eternally grateful to Dexter for sending this to me with a bunch of other Lupicia teas to try. So far, so good!

A subtle yet noticeable cookie flavour complements the tea base without overwhelming. I enjoyed this straight before adding milk, which seemed to water it down a little. I had brewed it according to the packet instructions i.e 2 and a half minutes so perhaps if I use milk next time, I’ll add an extra minute to steeping time. Becomes slightly more flavourful when cooled down but can dry out my mouth a little for some reason. Nonetheless I’d still reach for this tea to quell any cookie cravings

From the queue, written April 2nd 2014

This is one that Anna has shared with me, and therefore I’m a little wary of it. You see, it’s been highly loved on Steepster in general and it’s the sort of thing I would normally be interested in. Particularly after I had sniffed it, because it smells quite dough-y and fudge. But the thing is Anna and I have widely different preferences in flavoured black, even though we like same kind of flavours. We like a different sort of balance, though, I think. This means that Anna is guaranteed to dislike about 95% of my favourites and vice versa. Well, that’s not true, really. I think I like her favourites rather better than she likes mine. Hence, somewhat sceptical Ang is somewhat sceptical.

Anyway, the aroma is fairly close to freshly baked cookies, but there’s a sort of slightly toasted note to it as well that feels a bit off. As if the cookies got just 30 seconds too much in the oven. Or a few degrees too much. Hm. Okay.

Flavourwise… There is definitely a sort of baked goods feel to it, but I’m not sure I think it’s a cookie. Here that toasted note is very strong. Very strong. It’s not cookie for me, it’s burnt cookie, and I have to say burnt cookie is not really a flavour that I would be seeking out on purpose.

Hm. Anna, I’m sorry to say it, but I think we’ve got another proof of our flavoured black oppositeness here… This annoys me a little because it’s something I should have enjoyed more.