MadHatterTeaReview Send Message

I read another note here that it’s reminiscent of cleaning products and I GET it. The dry leaf reminds of Goo Gone + Windex. Shrug

The flavor isn’t as harsh though. It’s mildly sweet and has a spice that I can’t quite place. The brew is kind of weak, so I’ll make sure to add more to the next cup. The color of the liquor is pretty, so there’s that.

I was grateful to receive a care package from David’s Tea a couple of weeks ago. They gifted me 4-5 teas plus a teapot set, with two massive mugs. I gave the Cinnamon Oolong the first try of the teas…and I was in heaven.

First Session: Western Brewed (195F, 3-4 mins)

I had to take pause to allow the tea to absorb on the palate. It was deeply rich and warming; it also reminded me of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. I also thought about my great Aunts who’d boil cinnamon sticks in water to make us “herbal tea.” A flood of memories and good vibes joined me on this tea journey.

Second Session and On: Gongfu’d

I decided to give this a try gongfu’d. I finished the sample with 8g in 120ML gaiwan. I let the first steep run 15-20 seconds. It was very rich and cinnamon-y. It was soothing and really opened the sinuses. I brewed the following steeps at 15 secs (3x), 25 secs (2x), 30 secs (1x), and 60 secs (2x). I lost the flavor after the first 60 second mark, but I wanted to do my best to extract everything from the leaf. I find that this one brews well gongfu cha a lot more than western, but if I were to brew for friends/family, I’d make it in the big glass pot that David’s Tea included with the gift set.

PS. I DID order 100g after I received a mysterious gift card in my work email. I cannot get enough of this tea!

Sipdown
This is my first tea review on Steepster for 2022. :)

I was happy to snag 50g of this tea when it was first released. It was recommended to me by a tea vlogger (Tea With Jann), so I snagged some. Earl Grey’s typically the staple for when I’m not craving anything else in the cabinet. I was interested in this simply for the new approach to Earl Grey…with Pumpkin. I’m a huge fan of pumpkin flavors in the fall, plus the recommendation, I was sold.

I finished the last few grams of this today. I have this bad habit of hoarding small amounts of teas that I like/love. I sure LOVED this one. After trying it the first time, I wanted to get a lot more, on the account it was seasonal. Unfortunately for me, it sold out. Therefore, I drank all of it with the exception of two teaspoons…until this morning. It was perfect.

This cuppa is warming, spicy, nutty, and loaded with pumpkin-bergamot flavors. I usually drank it plain, with the one time I added oatmilk (which was perfect). The tea doesn’t need anything else to make it a good cuppa. I like to add 195F water to the leaf, steep for 3.5 mins, and sip it up. I make another cup with the same leaves (195F, 6-8 mins, and sip). The second cup isn’t as in your face with flavor, but it still holds true to the warming effect. It was a good cup for a mildly chilly day or for these unexpected warmer days, too.