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How i got it: Bought It (Lipton’s Assorted Pack)

Experience: Well, i was expecting something different, to be honest. For me, this tea’s strong point is its smooth aroma, very similar to Dilmah’s English Afternoon, but more subtle and sweet. At the other hand, its taste is not very well defined, and a lot softer than i expected (taking Dilmah’s Darjeeling as a reference). The strong ‘muscatel’ touch is quite missed here, but in the end, this tea isn’t bad. Average, I’d say.

Would i buy it again?: Mmm… i’ll pass this time. Better options out there.

How i got it: Bought It (Lipton’s Assorted Pack)

Experience: I think this one is a bit below Lipton’s average. I’d say the best point of this tea is its aroma, very similar to amaretto’s (almonds liquor). Aside of that, both the amaretto and tea flavors are somehow plain. I tried to steep it some seconds more to see if it could get better, but the only gain was in the astringency, which raised a lot. Not undrinkable, but not exactly good.

Would i buy it again?: I think the answer is no. Even if i’m in a mood for something sweet, Lipton’s Vanilla Caramel does a bit better than this one.

How i got it: Bought It

Experience: I’m beginning to like these guys of La Teteria. This is another great tea. It has an intense flavor, very well defined, rich and lasting in the mouth. I’m not very sure, but i tasted some chocolate-like and raisins-like notes too, i think. Almost no astringency, and a bit of muscatel. Medium intensity (i was expecting a little more), but delightful aroma. Stands to its qualification. Really good.

Would i buy it again?: Sure thing. Another tea for my cupboard, and an experience that encourage me to try other Assam’s out there.

How i got it: Tried it in a church dinner

Experience: What a surprise here! Te Club is very popular here, but it’s not exactly known for its quality, so I was expecting something less than i got. It had a clear and mild to intense flavor, enough to recognize the Ceylon character. Medium astringency, smooth aroma. Better than i thought

Would i buy it?: In this category, i’m still giving advantage to Lipton’s Yellow Label, but this could be a close second.

How i got it: Gift from my sister

Experience: This is my first taste of Oolongs that i can remember. Nice tea, i have to say. None of the flavors are very pronounced, but all of them can be perceived. The mint notes are the most clear, followed by the tea ones, while the chocolate ones stay constantly in the background. Very smooth aroma, also dominated by the mint. At the end, a well balanced and enjoyable mix. Quite good.

Would i buy it?: Why not (hehe)? I’m marking this one as another good option to look for if i’m in a mood for sweets.

How i got it: My sister shared some with me while having tea together

Experience: To be honest, i wasn’t expecting very much of this one. But surprisingly, the tea and rose petals mix, while not very exciting, wasn’t bad either. Very floral aroma, as anyone could expect, while the tea had a very smooth, clear and unexpectedly sweet taste, very similar to the jasmine notes of Whittard’s Afternoon. Better than i thought.

Would i buy it?: I think i’d pass from this one, but i’m satisfied with the experience anyway.

How i got it: Found an old box with some tea in my aunt’s home

Experience: Well, I can summarize this one as “average”. Almost imperceptible aroma, too smooth flavor (almost plain, at times), even when overstepped. Not undrinkable, but lacks its own character. At least, it tastes far better than the bagged version.

Would i buy it?: I think the answer is “no”. There are other candidates out there that need a chance too.

How i got it: Got some in a swap with my sister

Experience: I think Chai is a tea you need to be in the mood for to enjoy it better. So i grab this one to make good use of this cold day, hehe. Very pleasant aroma, with dominant notes of ginger (of course), cinnamon, anise and clove (i think). It has a clear taste (gets extra points for not relying too much on the spicy touch), less sweet and a bit more bitter and strong than other Chais’s, maybe due to one of the spices included. Quite good.

Would i buy it?: I’m thinking about it. This Chai is better than Twinings’, but is still a close match, so for now, the position is open.

How i got it: Bought it (Dilmah’s Variety Pack)

Experience: This isn’t a very complex tea, but is a nice one, though. Its characteristic aroma is what defines this blend the most: light to mild intensity with floral notes, similar to the ones from a Darjeeling, that nuance the typical Ceylon smell. Flavor-wise, this tea has a medium intensity and a clear, slightly fruity and crisp taste, with notes that go more on the acidic side. Some muscatel and astringency at the end of the cup, and a honey-like aftertaste. Good duration an definition. Quite good

Would i buy it again?: Depending on my mood, yes. This is one candidate to be a permanent guest of my cupboard.

How i got it: Found some old teabags at my parent’s house

Experience: I’m not really a fan of vanilla, but i do like this combination. The resulting aroma is very enjoyable, and the flavor is almost as good. The touches of vanilla and caramel are very pronounced and clear, leaving the tea behind, but still perceptible if one makes an effort to find it. I’d say good enough.

Would i buy it?: I’m in doubt with this one. Maybe if i am in a mood for sweets and i don’t have other option at the moment, it could be.