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During the weekend and today afternoon I am trying to focus on this tea I bought during my stay in Germany. I bought it because the name (Erzgebirge was a mountain range nearby, Ore mountains in English) and its nice aroma. I thought it would be perfect for sunny days, but I just opened it with first snow. It was a sunny day, though!
It smells very citrusy and tropical, something between lemons and grapefruits, hints of pomelo and tangerines.

When drank, by my brother and his girlfriend; and me on the very next day, we weren’t able to recongnize the flavours though. When I told them it should be citrusy and mostly orange, they were “like really?” and when I tried it… I couldn’t notice them that much as in aroma too. It was tasty though; very easy-drinking, not so tart nor bitter, not sweet but nicely fruity.

Tasty, but what was the intention of this tea and its flavors, who knows.

PS: Giving away some teas for shipping only here: http://steepster.com/discuss/6840-official-stash-sales-thread?post_id=239862#forum_post_239862

I prepared this tea gongfu, 5g / 125 ml, 90 °C water, several uncounted steeps.

I did my best trying to focus on this tea after work, but somehow it just didn’t click to me? It was tasty enough, but nothing supreme to me, light and clean taste, but somehow watery; just hard to get any flavour to be honest… I got some flavour after long steeps only.

Yes, the aroma of the wet leaves was nice indeed. Maybe it’s the berry notes that Leafhopper noticed. I will keep it without rating. Because it seems it can be a wonderful tea, but probably something went wrong today. What it is, I dunno. Sad panda grateful to derk.

Derk was so kind to send me a few tea bags of teas she has ordered thanks to my gift coupon.

Honestly, I am not sure if I would ever buy this tea, as the name is something I just disagree with; but in fact, it’s better than expected.

I wanted some savory, spicy and warming tea, but not chai of any kind; and this one delivers so well.

I completely agree that it’s hard to describe, but thyme or oregano is most present, with black cumin a little behind and some warming up black pepper(corns), that are especially welcomed in those, upcoming winter, days; with rain instead of snow.

Now, I know that I shouldn’t judge the tea by its name (or box)

This is another tea from Courtney that I have received. Now, only one remains to try. Thank you!

I consider myself quite experienced with nordic / European berries, but mulberries are new for me in a cup of tea I suppose. Definitely unusual ingredient.

The tea, which you are supposed to steep 7 minutes is quite light in flavour, but the berries are clearly present in the taste and combined with flavorful white tea that tastes like a melon; it just go so well together. Smooth, creamy tea with fruity element that was so familiar, but somehow not experienced so far.

One cup of tea remains in my pouch and it’s one of the teas that I don’t want to see go.

A sipdown! (M: 4 Y: 91)

I wonder if I ever get the promised flavour profile. Instead of almond brittle and cream; I got an hazelnuts and no cream. I bought it because nice aroma anyway.

The base tea was light and fresh, good; probably not (only) Ceylon base often used. And in the very last cup, I got ton of hazelnut flavour, which was tasty, however, not an expected flavour profile. A little sad, you know…

This is one of the puerhs I received many moons ago from Michelle. Thank you!

I took two days off; as I really need it and moreover I have too many overhours and I am supposed to have zero in the end of the year. And they refuse to pay overhours as it is more expensive for them. So… two days off. Who cares that on Friday I will stay there again to the evening?

And as I am almost home alone, I decided to call it a tea day… if possible drinking some old teas (and this one definitely fits); and also found unopened bag of Green Valley by teakruthi, 4 years old green tea. Whoops!

Anyway, this tea… served in a gaiwan, 7 grams (note to self: 3 grams remaining), 125 ml, boiling water, short steeps starting on 5 seconds; quick rinse, 5 minutes humidity absorption in closed gaiwan.

Very earthy in the nose, both liquor and leaves, the latter one being also wet forest floor and little bit of tar (reminds me tar shampoo from Finland).

The liquor is thick, smooth and maybe a bit of creamy? In terms of flavour I would say woody and creamy, no matter how those two does not go well together. Later steeps have more thickier texture and more wet forest notes, however never got a too strong or too barnyard notes as some puerhs have.

Definitely, this is a tasty puerh. Yes, it tastes somehow typical for shu… but for me, most importantly, it doesn’t have any off notes. Clean and woody. Wet forest. Great for gloomy days.

A sipdown! (M: 3 Y: 90)

Another tea from Courtney and I feel sad finishing this tea. As she wrote, it seems to be perfect for morning, breakfast tea. I would even say it’s a bit woody and malty… and if my understanding of Danish is correct, it says (in description), it is from Uva region… so no surprise I like it that much; considering Uva by Basilur… which I like for similar qualities. Maybe this is a bit higher quality… and loose leaf as the other one I tried just bagged.

Very good tea. Now I need to check out Uva region black teas.

A sipdown! (M: 2 Y: 89)
The second office tea from Biogena (bought very same day as their “Black tea”) and again very happy to have it finished.

The price was same as that one, but not worth the tea again.

Take a little weaker black tea, and voilá you have Earl grey. There was too little bergamot (oil? aroma? anything?) and it was like lighter version of the second tea. And because it was weaker, there was brighter flavours than in that tea.

But still a dismal. Not that bad, but still a bad tea.

A tea from my blind Farmerleaf sheng shopping spree in the spring.

I was steeping 5 grams in my 125 ml gaiwan with steeps starting 10 seconds and adding 5 seconds increments. Quick rinse.

Oveall impressions are good, there is no astringency, mild sweetness as Marshall Weber notices. I am not that sure about apricots, but definitely there are some stonefruits in flavour. Not overly complex, but great daily drinker for sure. For that price, worth it. Surprisingly long mouthfeel.

A sipdown! (M: 1 Y: 88)

I usually buy to the office some common and grocery shop available teas; mostly because I don’t want anything extra fancy there; and I just need a morning booster and nothing much else.

But this tea has betrayed me. Considering it’s on higher price point than most of the tea bags available, it is a true dismal.

It should be brewed in 250 ml of water and steeped for 3-5 minutes. I have a mug with double volume and 3 minutes steeping was often too much!. And also, sadly, I noticed nothing but astringency combined with bitterness. Just a hot, bitter drink; with absolutely no flavour of the base tea. Well, maybe better than dust, but again, as I wrote, considering the price tag… I am disappointed.
Sadly, never more for me.