709 Tasting Notes
Smells rather like a generic orange pekoe when dry, a very familiar scent. Of course, it doesn’t make any sense since this is supposed to be green tea with lemon and tropical flavouring, but whatever. The beau bought this a while back and then forgot about it, claiming he didn’t like it because it was green. Of course, today I prove him wrong as the package is unopened! Huzzah! I’ve brought it to work to give it a go. I don’t hold out much hope because lately the thought of green tea has been turning my stomache (ever since the 52 Teas Peach Cobbler, sorry Frank : ( ) but it is bagged, so it won’t be proper green anyway. There is a strength of flavour chart on the box, with this at 1 out of 5 leaves. I don’t know if they mean the tea flavour, the additional flavour or both together, but we’ll see.
As usual, I didn’t even read the boz directions. I used the water from work and let it sit a few minutes then took a sip. That way I can keep steeping if needed or toss the bag if not.
Okay. Well! The teabag actually has (small) but identifiable bits of tea in it. That’s different. I’m so used to powdered mush. It’s steeping up a pale but bright yellow liquor. The steeped smell is extremely mild, and sort of like orange tang if anything. The flavour is equally mild – Apparently they meant it when they said 1 out of 5 for flavour. I actually like it, I think the mildness works in its favour, providing a taste experience to pay attention to. No discernible green flavour, at least not the green flavour I don’t like. It’s similar to David’s Tea’s Kyoto Cosmo which I love. It’s basically like that in a tea bag, but a little less strong and a little sweeter. Impressive!
EDIT: The picture I found seems to show a flavour rating of 3 out of 5 but my box definitely only filled in one leaf. Maybe they’ve changed their minds/formula since I bought this..
Preparation
Realized that of all the teas I have, this is the only chai. There is one that is similar to a chai, but not the real deal. Was in the mood for something spicy, so I thought I would give this a go. I am at work so it wasn’t prepared “properly,” but it’s hot so what more can I ask for?
I used my standard “hot” water source and threw in a splash of (cold) milk as there wasn’t any option to heat it. Left the teabag in a few minutes as it was looking pretty watery, et voila!
To be fair, this is a very cheap tea. Chai in a teabag is a bit weird anyway since all the components were smushed down to powder long ago, but still. This is extremely mild. The sort of chai the beau might be willing to drink. One of the spices is kicking up at the end of the sip, but in general it’s pretty smooth. It’s generic, but a nice standard and I will certainly use the rest. It’s nice to have easy bags to pop in the mug while at work. Maybe 2 bags to 1 cup would work better..
Preparation
So happy to have a big tin of this in my life. I left the tea in the travel mug’s infuser for about an hour today, and found that by the end of the hour, the flavour had taken on a new dimension. I don’t know which component all of a sudden took over, but I don’t think I’ve had quite this flavour before. I also had a giant piece of orange in this mug, so that was fun.
I never really know what I’m tasting in here, but I imagine that the main flavours I’m picking up are beetroot, apple and carrot. My problem is that I don’t know how to identify beetroot or carrot in a tea! I almost get a hint of something spicy at the end of the sip, but I don’t know what that is. I think I should steep this according to directions sometime and see what the difference is. For now though, I just love having a tea I can toss in the travel mug and forget about for hours!
Preparation
Backlogging:
I love this tea. I really do. I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed lately by all my fruity/berry teas (at work) so a hot mug of gingery zing me was perfect this morning. I quite enjoy the apricot/ginger mixed with black tea but I found that today, like many others, the apricot was hidden under the ginger and black. This is likely because I over-steep it as I am wont to do. It never comes out bitter, but the ginger burn will increase if you leave it too many minutes. I can’t remember ever adding anything to this tea…It was one of the first (flavoured) blacks that taught me to enjoy tea as it, then see if you need something more.
This is one of the teas I would like to have on hand at all times, so it (happily!) escapes the “no more tea” ban that the beau and I have imposed. Exception being Vanilla Comoro if I want to buy some after I try it. : )
Preparation
Second steep came out much more lemoney. Once again, Joys Teaspoon provides great taste value. I brewed two cups out of 1 teaspoon, and I am on my second steep (making 4 cups out of 1 tsp!) The strength of flavour is unbelievable. I lot of the creamy flavour is lost on this steep and I get more lemon. Still lovely!
Preparation
naomi at joy’s Teaspoon is a devil in disguise. She starts off nice enough, sending you cute little samples for free, but then you’re hooked. Then you need to jusy BUY SOME MORE, MAN! Then your stuff arrives and you can’t wait to smell and drink it, but oh look! Another little sample…It’s vicious.
Obviously, my little sample was Lemon Zest. Now, it’s spent the last two weeks travelling around with Wellness and Ruby Red so you knew it was going to be awesome, because that sort of thing rubs off on you. Smells divine, tastes delicious. I get a strong vanillaish lemon meringue pie vibe from this tea. It comes in really soft on the sip, with what I think of as the typical yummy rooibos flavour, but it leaves a sharper lemon taste at the end of the sip. I love it. I’m already plotting my next order. There’s a sale this week, it’s perfectly reasonable! Plus, I got the new position I wanted, so I’ll be able to drink more tea and be happy.
Naomi, you sneaky minx, I love this!
