985 Tasting Notes
The morning blend…. I am liking this one more and more! I think Dinosara mentioned that the base for Tower of London was mostly Chinese blacks. That is probably why the cocoa notes in the Roasted Yerba Mate just blend in with the cocoa notes in the TOL base. It is almost not noticeable.
24 oz pot, 4 1/2 actual tsp TOL, 1 1/2 actual tsp Roasted Yerba Mate, freshly boiled water, 5 minutes. Lightly sweetened.
My tea of the evening. I am feeling a little under the weather….allergies and general yuck. The mint in this one is great for settling my tummy. I also find this tea identical to Celestial Seasoning’s Cany Cane Lane. For a bagged tea, this is pretty good.
24 oz teapot, 3 bags, freshly heated water (I have a new electric kettle…bliss!), 4 minutes. Lightly sweetened.
Preparation
Tea of the afernoon….. I missed Keemun Mao Feng when I was on vacation! I am still undecided if I need two of these in larger than sample amounts in my cupboard. I love this one for value, but the other is my favorite. I think I will be going with the favorite after this one is gone. And I am sure to sample a few more just for fun.
I think I did oversteep this one (alas, the distractions of life!), but surprisingly, all that happened was a smokier, fuller flavor.
Preparation
My second breakfast tea. Long live the Queen…in my stash! I noticed I am getting a little low on this one. I am hopeful to stop and get more at the Millerton Shop on a trip to Boston in the near future!
Preparation
Don’t say scary things like “getting low in Queen Catherine” on this site! It is supposed to be a happy place! :)
I know! I am trying to decide if I want 8 oz or a whole pound…….
Aw, come on! You know you want a pound! At least, I do! That is what I am ordering next time. It is progressive. I started with a four ounce tin and moved up to an eight ounce.
I started with 8 on this one…..and I have a friend ooked on it, too. I think I see a pound in my future.
I purchased the pound, but I sure don’t have a pound any longer!
I really need to get more of the Queen and soon!
My morning tea….. I am just getting home from vacation and need a serious jumpstart. After drinking JavaVana Mate in the mornings for the last week (I bagged it for ease of use), I made a pot of this one my first morning home. Good, but I think I like the blend with Vanilla Black and rosted yerba mate much better, and the JavaVana Mate has a slight edge over this blend in taste but not price. The Rosted Yerba Mate was also good with English Breakfast (not sure I logged that one), and I still need to try it with The Queen, Valentine’s Blend, and Tower of London. Oh, so much tea, so little time. ;)
Time to brew something else!
Preparation
I finally gave in and tried this one iced. Very good! I love how the light bergamot makes this an incredibly refreshing iced tea. I do think slighly sweetening would brink out the flavors more, but I kind of like it plain.
Disc pitcher (about 50 oz), 9 actual tsp tea (I like my iced a little weaker than my hot), 4 minutes, freshly boiled water. Cooled to room temp and served with ice. No additions.
Preparation
Tea of the afternoon…. I needed a serious pick me up after a few minor snafus involving syrup and lip gloss (don’t ask..neither was good!), and this just works wonders.
Back on track…..
Preparation
Seriously? We can’t ask? It just sounds too entertaining to pass up!
Two separate incidents involving my 13yoDD. One has a sticky floor and rug (I will admit to contributing to this one, but who moves away from the plate with the syrup container still inverted?), and the other has hot pink lip gloss all over a load of laundry. UGH!
LOL! That kind of day, huh?
Another good blend with yerba mate. While it is not as good as the blend with Vanilla Black or Florence, this one is still good and retains the hints of fruit. I don’t get a strong note of cocoa, but it is there and really just brings the fruit notes down a little.
So happy with the blends I have made with the addition of Roasted Yerba Mate. I have a few more that seem interesting to me like English Breakfast, Queen Catherine, and Rose Congou. Who knew it would be so easy and economical to go this route rather than the preblended versions from Teavana? Per 24 oz pot, it costs me less than a dime in addition to the pot of tea I would be making anyway. It is an added bonus that it uses tea I have in my stash. And I just love the energy boost I get. I know there is more caffeine, but I am thinking it is more than that.
The tea of the afternoon.
It is hard to know what to write about this one. It is very roasty, complex, chocolatey, slightly smokey, and wonderful. I am a little put off by the cost, but not much once I taste it. Worth every penny! I can’t believe I made a whole pot today. What a treat!
Preparation
I was out at the salon today to get rid of my gray. I know I should be growing old gracefully, but surely a little upkeep is allowed. Anyway, the Queen was there to pick me up upon the offer of a cup of hot water. Since I usually travel with some kind of tea in my purse, I am always ready. I am glad I chose this one, because I am not ever disappointed when I do.
I decided not to color my hair anymore, and am waiting for a dramatic streak of grey so I can be distinguished, but I have like, a couple paltry ones! Tap, tap, tap feet! C’mon grey hairs!
Just be glad you have hair to color or not…I won’t have any gray if I keep losing at this rate! The beard however, is another story! Alas, teawing the gray!
I told my hubby how much I appreciate him going gray before me, and most of it is in the beard! You know what they say…as you get older, your hair either turns gray or it turns loose!
Yes, but my hubby looks distinguished with the gray. Me, not so much.
Fortunately, I am still in the pluck them when I see them stage, but that will eventually lead to baldness, I guess! JacquelineM sent me a book and a model was quoted as saying something like, “I can’t wait to grow old. White hair, bones, and diamonds!”. At this rate, my bones won’t be showing. I am too fluffy!
No threat of any bones showing here, either. But diamonds might be nice!
Screw growing old gracefully! I’m blonde with highlights, but I have noticed some squirrely recently that I suspect are greys. sigh I would just love to have completly clear skin for a few months before the wrinkles set in. Is that too much to ask? Oh, and, no bones here either :)
*double sigh * I meant to write “squirrely hairs” because otherwise the sentance makes no sense.
It is absolutely no fair to have to deal with pimples, wrinkles, and those confounded stray hairs on your chin all at the same time.
