263 Tasting Notes

20
drank Sam by Tabletop Teas
263 tasting notes

Company’s web site says this tea is being discontinued. No surprise there. I really cannot recommend this tea – no redeeming factors other than it doesn’t taste as bad as it smells? Look at the laundry list of “ingredients” – I think if it has more than 3, it shouldn’t qualify as tea. And, 3 is 2 too many.

Flavors: Burnt Sugar, Tannin, Wood

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
ashmanra

Hey, Atacdad! Welcome back!

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69
drank Dark Elf by Tabletop Teas
263 tasting notes

The blender’s description starts with “This dark, rich, complex tea is something unexpected.” Yep, dead on the mark. The first thing I notice is that it smells like chocolate; its not sweet chocolate, but the rich, alkaline baking cocoa that you smell. Surprisingly, it doesn’t really taste like chocolate/cocoa. There is a bit of the alkali taste/feel and an undertone of currant (but not an undercurrent :D ), but no strong black tea. The aftertaste brings back the cocoa.

Flavors: Cocoa

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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84
drank Picard by Tabletop Teas
263 tasting notes

I like a good Earl Grey and am not a big fan of lavendar, but this tea blows away my expectations.

Flavors: Bergamot, Lavender

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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65
drank Old Toby by Tabletop Teas
263 tasting notes

Old Toby – tastes like an old, wet campfire smells. Reminds me of waking up on a cold winter morning on a campout with the Boy Scouts. Maple flavor is just a hint under the smoke.

Flavors: Campfire, Maple, Smoke

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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92
drank Kravitz by Tabletop Teas
263 tasting notes

Wow! I have had other teas that claim “black currant” flavor, but nothing I’ve had in the past compares to this blend. You can actually pick out the dried currants and pomegranat seeds. The flavor comes through strongly and presents a fruity, sweetish taste. Took a long steep to get any color into the brew

Flavors: Black Currant, Fruity

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 30 sec 2 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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68
drank Mrs Hudson by Tabletop Teas
263 tasting notes

This one is an odd duck – it has a flavor that I cannot identify. Looking at the ingredients list, I don’t know what to think. The tea company/blender suggest cinnamon bun and Earl Grey, but I disagree. Nothing on the list stands out as THE flavor. I’m going with woody.
It is okay tea, not great tea. Good enough that I had two.

Flavors: Woody

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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90
drank Toph by Tabletop Teas
263 tasting notes

Quintessential black tea. Has a very very slight smokiness to it. It reminds me of Twinnings 1706 tea, strong and peaty. Very good.

Flavors: Earthy, Smoke, Tea

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
ashmanra

Welcome back, Atacdad! It is good to see familiar faces again!

Atacdad

I lurk on occasion :)

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90

Updated Review – I first had this tea about 14 months ago and have continued to drink it like others drink coffee. I’m now buying it by the case. Amazon is a fairly reliable source, although they sell out. Occasionally finding it in local stores, where my wife clears the shelves when she see’s it (literally, she brought home 7 boxes of it last week). The issue is that there are only 12 tea bags per box. You can get two cups out of one bag, but the caffeine hit is only in the first one.
I stand by my first review – in fact, I’m bumping my rating. And I am almost ashamed to admit, I like this one with a splash of half-n-half; always thought those Brits were crazy…maybe not so much :)

Flavors: Vanilla

gmathis

I’ve been meaning to try this one.

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85

Found this tea in a with a bunch of sampler bags when visiting my parents for Thanksgiving. It is of unknown age, but was unopened, in an airtight (like welded shut) heavy ziplock sample bag.
First brew (~2min, 212F) – I like this blend. Surprisingly strong blackberry flavor up front with a jasmine note following. It has what I think of as a green tea finish, slightly green/grassy, but not overdone. No harshness or chemical taste.
Second brew (~4min, 185F) – 2nd steep cam out just as dark as the first (note the extra time). The blackberry isn’t up front like the first steep, but its still there and on par with the jasmine. They complement each other very well. Still green tea, but the grassy is not as pronounced. IF anythng, I like the second cup better than the first. A very drinkable combination – would recommend and would buy if came across it.

Flavors: Blackberry, Grassy, Green, Jasmine

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 30 sec 3 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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72

This showed up in my tea caddy last week – I’m not one for herbal teas and, to me, Yogi = Herbal. But I looked at the ingredients list and saw Assam black tea. Hmm, Ok. Bunch of other herbal stuff that I had to Google later. Two items of note – stevia leaf and monk fruit extract are included. If, like me, sugar substitutes put you off, be forewarned. Green Tea extract was also included, which I think are code words for extra caffeine. On the “lesser ingredients” list were the things that made me want to try it – orange flavor, tangerine flavor, orange peel oil, and tangerine oil. I’m a sucker for a good citrus flavored tea.
First impression is, to borrow another reviewer’s words, warm orange juice. Specifically warm, watered-down orange juice. But not warm Tang. There is enough Assam to color the brew, but not enough to speak black tea to me. I’m not giving up on it. I am thinking that combining it with one of my more robust black teas might be good. Its more of an “add citrus to one of my black teas” than the reverse.
What can I say at this point? Its not bad, I didn’t throw it out, and I might have a way to better enjoy it, so it gets further exploration. Note: the “sweeteners” were present, noted/notable, but not overpowering. 70mg caffeine/cup

Flavors: Citrus Fruits, Stevia

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 2 g 8 OZ / 236 ML

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Profile

Bio

I’m not much active on Steepster because I haven’t been trying a lot of different tea lately. I have been buying M.T. Wendell’s Cheericup Ceylon because it is my favorite. That said, gifts of tea drop in every once in awhile and I try to bring my impressions here.
I am unashamedly stealing this rating description from Morgana.

95-100 A once in a lifetime experience; the best there is

90-94 Excellent; first rate; top notch; really terrific; will definitely buy more

80-89 Very good; will likely buy more

70-79 Good; would enjoy again, might buy again

60-69 Okay; wouldn’t pass up if offered, but likely won’t buy again

Below 60 Meh, so-so, iffy, or ick. The lower the number, the closer to ick.

Location

Austin, Texas

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