100
drank Hello Sweetie by Butiki Teas
2238 tasting notes

I’ve tried a sample of this one before, but I finally gave in and pulled out my much beloved bag of Hello Sweetie this morning. Ever since I heard Butiki were closing, I’ve always thought twice before starting this one. Knowing I’ll never be able to replace it makes it all the more precious. It’s been another difficult week, though, so I deserve a treat, and this is a worthy choice. I used 2 tsp of leaf, and gave it 3.5 minutes in boiling water. I added a splash of milk.

Fortunately, it’s as gorgeous as I remember. The coconut is the primary flavour, and it’s wonderfully creamy, with a fresh, tropical taste. The banana is second, and tastes slightly under-ripe, but that’s pretty perfect with the coconut to my mind. The black PTA base adds a deliciously sweet maltiness to the whole thing, and somehow manages not to steal the show. This one is definitely about the flavours!

I could rave about this one all day, but I’ve done that already in my original note for this tea. Needless to say, it’s one of the best banana/coconut teas I’ve tried – Butiki teas are one of the best for flavours, and their closure will be a great loss to the tea world. I’m just glad that this one lives up to the memory of my first cup, and I’ll be savoring the remainder of my bag from this point forward!

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 30 sec 2 tsp

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Bio

Hi :) I’m Sarah, and I live in Norfolk in the UK. My tea obsession began when a friend introduced me to Teapigs a good few years ago now. Since then, I’ve been insatiable. Steepster introduced me to a world of tea I never knew existed, and my goal is now to TRY ALL THE TEAS. Or most of them, anyway.

I still have a deep rooted (and probably life-long) preference for black tea. My all-time favourite is Assam, but Ceylon and Darjeeling also occupy a place in my heart. Flavoured black tea can be a beautiful thing, and I like a good chai latte in the winter.

I also drink a lot of rooibos/honeybush tea, particularly on an evening. Sometimes they’re the best dessert replacements, too. White teas are a staple in summer — their lightness and delicate nature is something I can always appreciate on a hot day.

I’m still warming up to green teas and oolongs. I don’t think they’ll ever be my favourites, with a few rare exceptions, but I don’t hate them anymore. My experience of these teas is still very much a work-in-progress. I’m also beginning to explore pu’erh, both ripened and raw. That’s my latest challenge!

I’m still searching for the perfect fruit tea. One without hibiscus. That actually tastes of fruit.

You’ve probably had enough of me now, so I’m going to shut up. Needless to say, though, I really love tea. Long may the journey continue!

My rating system:

91-100: The Holy Grail. Flawless teas I will never forget.

81-90: Outstanding. Pretty much perfection, and happiness in a cup.

71-80: Amazing. A tea to savour, and one I’ll keep coming back to.

61-70: Very good. The majority of things are as they should be. A pleasing cup.

51-60: Good. Not outstanding, but has merit.

41-50: Average. It’s not horrible, but I’ve definitely had better. There’s probably still something about it I’m not keen on.

31-40: Almost enjoyable, but something about it is not for me.

11-30: Pretty bad. It probably makes me screw my face up when I take a sip, but it’s not completely undrinkable.

0-10: Ugh. No. Never again. To me, undrinkable.

Location

Norfolk, UK

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