818 Tasting Notes
My coworker generously gave me pretty much an entire bag of this tea yesterday. When I asked her why she was giving it away, she said although she likes it, her husband doesn’t, and they typically enjoy tea together. They’re so cute! Honestly, this does not look like it was a cheap tea, so I feel a little bad about taking it all. It was harvested in 2009, though, and it appears that Teance has a recent 2013 harvest available, so not sure how long she’s had it. Ha!
I really enjoyed 3 steeps of this today. It’s yummy! And no worries, it doesn’t taste stale. ;) I got buttery, vegetal, and some floral notes. Very smooth and thick. I think the vegetal note is like an artichoke, although I’m still working at refining my palate. Overall, a very enjoyable oolong that I am happy to add to my cupboard! :)
So, I have to admit I went to Starbucks this morning for a white mocha. With all my fabulous tea, I haven’t been there in ages, but I was really groggy this morning and needed something STRONG, so there you go. The white mocha was super sweet…either the barista put lots of syrup in it, or I’m used to less sweet drinks now. Hmmm.
So, after my distraction from tea, I made this one! This tea wasn’t bad. Interesting, with malty and sweet potato notes, and a little sweet. I enjoyed three steeps of it, but I’m not sure I’m in love. I’m starting to think that I’m not fond of black teas with potato notes. Plus, I want them to be good with milk and sugar, and I think that would have ruined this one. Probably not one I’d reach for on a regular basis, but fun to try!!
I’m finding the same thing with those kinds of drinks. They’re like sugary sludge to me now. Don’t know how people can drink those on a daily basis.
Ya, I used to get one of those every day before work in my first year working full-time, and I got 4 cavities after never having even one cavity! I was pretty sure it was the froufrou coffee drinks.
The White Mocha is excruciatingly sweet, so it was probably the drink’s fault. If I even get half of a pump in a drink, it’s too sweet for me. DX;
I haven’t gotten a milky drink from Starbucks in ages (the novelty wears off pretty fast when you work there), and I remember the last time I had it I regretted it. It feels so icky now when you just drink tea all the time.
Oh geez, four cavities! I wouldn’t be surprised if the drinks were the culprit. I finally tried the infamous pumpkin spice latte for the first time last winter and that was waaaaay too sweet for me too.
Haha working there must really turn a person off coffee.
Agreed. Just like white mocha, the pumpkin spice is extremely sweet too. I can’t have it at all, even though I love the idea, because even the smallest amount is too sweet. I find that with all of the sauce syrups. (Excluding the regular mocha since it’s like dark chocolate)
I actually didn’t like coffee already to begin with. xD But working there isn’t changing that.
Thanks for this sample, Stephanie! I am really enjoying all the 52teas samples I got in our swap. I tried this last night. Reminded me a lot of strawberry pie honeybush without the strawberry. Didn’t taste much pastry flavor, although, I thought it hit me during one sip. I still have enough for another try, so I’ll try it with a longer steep time and see how that goes.
Hmmm…this is pretty good! Thanks, Stephanie, for this sample! When I steeped this up, I was a little worried, because it smelled like the chocolate malt honeybush tea that didn’t reblend well. Probably has some of the same flavoring. Fortunately, this tasted good! I definitely get chocolate malt flavor, and maybe a little banana. It’s pretty smooth too. I steeped it at 190 degrees for 5 minutes. This is my first mate, so we’ll see what kind of effect it has, if any. Definitely doesn’t have that tea taste…more like an herbal, which turns me off a little. I like having that tea taste in the morning, and with the energy boost of mate, this has to be a morning tea for me. Not sure if I’d pick up more, but I’m glad I got to try a mate, and even happier that it tastes like it’s name implies!
Had afternoon tea and a BBC Pride and Prejudice marathon yesterday with a friend! So fun! We’ve seen that version of P&P a million times, but it’s still the best! I made a new scone recipe, which was delicious…raspberry, white chocolate chips and coconut buttermilk scones! We also had a variety of tea sandwiches, of which my friend’s apple pecan version was awesome! I love long weekends!!
Oh, almost forgot to say, we enjoyed Nina’s Paris’s Grand Amour, Della Terra’s Oolong Creme de la Creme, and Butiki’s Maple Pecan Oolong! Yay!
That sounds awesome. I love that version.
Those teas sound pretty nice too.
Sounds like an awesome afternoon, especially the FOOD! YUM!
I NEEEEEEDDDD a tin of Grand Amour! I think I am going to buy a tin for my son-in-law as a groom gift when he and my daughter get married.
Maple pecan oolong is da bomb
Ya, it was pretty great. When the husband’s away, it’s great to have a girls day!!
ashmanra – you should totally go for it! Make sure you get some for yourself!!
I was watching it too! Love it. I had a pot of Madam Blueberry from a local tea blender. Yum!
Nice, Chelle!!
Thanks, Stephanie for this sample! This is pretty great! It’s a lot like DavidsTea’s coconut oolong, but I think it’s more balanced in flavor and smoother. DavidsTea’s version seemed rougher around the edges, and the coconut in the first infusion was pretty overwhelming. I think I’ll be checking out Golden Moon Tea sometime!
Wow. Just wow. And not in a good way.
I was really excited to try an unflavored puerh, since I’ve only tried flavored, and I thought the notes of this tea on Verdant’s site sounded good, so I got a sample. The leaf is definitely chipped off pieces of a whole cake, which is kinda cool, and new for me. I did the recommended rinsings, and brewed it western style at a 2-minute infusion. The aroma was very similar to my beloved cinnamon swirl bread tea, in that it smelled bready and earthy.
The taste, however, pretty much shocked my system. It didn’t taste AT ALL like it smelled. The first sips, I thought I got a woody flavor, and then a leather note hit me smack in the face and that was all I tasted, and it was not good. I’m sorry to say this, but I dumped that cup and brewed another, hoping the next infusion would be different. It was not.
I guess this type of puerh is not for me. I looked at the ingredients for cinnamon swirl bread tea, and it contains a yunnan-based puerh. Maybe I should look for one of those. Or maybe I should just stick to flavored for now.
I finally got a sample of this tea. I was really looking forward to it because it seems to be worshipped on steepster alongside laoshan black. Well, it smelled and tasted a lot like potatoes. You know, “po-ta-toes! Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew!” ;) The taste also has a bit of spice at the end of the sip. I had 3 steeps of the same leaves brewed western style (I think 1-minute infusions) and the flavor remained pretty much the same.
Overall, I wasn’t that into this tea. Maybe the potato-like black teas aren’t my thing? I guess we’ll see because I also have a sample of the Yu Lu that I haven’t tried yet. I still have some of this left, so I’m willing to give it another go. Don’t really want to mess with gongfu style though, because I feel like a tea should at the base, be good brewed western style, and if that’s the case, then gongfu is icing on the cake.
i don’t like this one nearly as much as a lot of steepsterites. The type of tea just doesn’t seem to be up my alley :)
Isn’t this one of the more expensive Verdant Teas? It’s probably better for your wallet this way!
haha true!
Sil – yay! I’m not alone!
Cavocorax – yes it is! More money for other teas!
If it tastes like potatoes, I think I need to try it!
Lol! @Fuzzy_Peachkin
After reading some of the more recent reviews describing it as starchy potato, I’ve been less excited to try it haha.
Yeah, I’m not sure if I want to try this to be honest. It’s so high risk (the price) and so far I haven’t been extremely fond of Yunnan teas I’ve tried.
(“What’s… taters? D:”)
Chizakura – ;)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this chai!
So I don’t know which one I have, but there are two different ones on Steepster, as Kittenna pointed out, I believe. Since I think I posted on this one before, I’ll continue to do so.
I have a whole 2oz. bag now, and it’s mine! All mine!!
This is truly my favorite chai. It’s complex, well-rounded, and the base has that roasty toasty goodness from laoshan black. Absolutely delicious! And a great way to start my completely free Saturday!
I wish I liked this one too. But all I could think about how it would taste good glazed over roast beef and stuff… I like teas spicy in the sweet way so I guess that’s why this one was a miss for me.
Oh, I add sugar, so that’s not a problem!!
I did too after a few sips, and it was still making me think of gravy and stuff… xD Haha. But I seem to be in the minority, for most people just love this one! :) Just wish I did too xD
Well, I know chai is pretty personal. After I raved to my coworker about this, she told me to pick her up a whole 2 oz, even though she hasn’t tried it! I hope she likes it!!
This is my absolute favorite as well and made the stovetop kind for a friend and she went nuts for it too. I also love how it resteeps really well. I just ordered more today!
YUM!!! Thanks, Stephanie, for this sample! I’m so glad I got to try this! It’s delicious, and I’m not even that big a fan of coconut. I added a little sugar and soymilk, which made it a fabulous after dinner dessert tea!! It reminds me a little of Butiki’s coconut cream pie, except, instead of rooibos, it has honeybush. Steeped it at 205 degrees for 5 minutes. I put myself on the waiting list, so if it gets reblended, I’ll definitely pick some up. :)
What a nice gift :)