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400th tasting note :)

I am plowing through my sample stash at an amazing rate. Mostly because I’ve realized that I get a ton of tea with this subscription, and it is mostly stuff that I think is ok but not amazing. Which is good – it is a learning process, figuring out tea tastes. And preferences do change over time. But it also means that I use Christmas to rehome my nearly-full samples with friends who are unlikely to purchase tea themselves, who love the exact flavors I dislike.

It is still an insane goal…but I am actually wondering if I can clear out the sample box by the time I hit my 1 yr steepster anniversary, January 5. It is probably not doable but I am home a lot now while I wait for my certification to come in, and am dog sitting over the holidays. It would be very exciting if I could.

This tea was surprising in how intensely floral it was. It wasn’t like drinking perfume though because there was a sweetness to it as well that was interesting. Still not a favorite, like many in this subscription, but props to this one for being more unique than many of the others.

This was very odd. I expected it to be sweet, almost like candy, but obviously it wasn’t. It had a bit of nip, which made it very appropriately named. It is cold like snow, and it is predominately minty. But it isn’t fairy-tale snow where everyone somehow looks warm and cozy – it is like REAL snow that makes your hands numb.

The description is correct about this being super duper malty. Like most assams, I took a sip of it plain and then added a dash of milk. It wasn’t bitter, I just prefer this type of black tea that way usually. The maltiness still came through, and it was pretty good.

This is very flavorful, but the flavor is tough to describe. It is perfumey and rich and nutty and warming. Not bitter at all, but also not super sweet. I liked it, but don’t think I would purchase a large size of it.

This is really really good – very fresh and fruity and sweet. I wish I had tried resteeping this. I like that this tastes good hot and cold.

This was very gingery, not so toasty popcorny to me. It was very flavorful and not bitter, but unfortunately ginger is not a flavor I really like, particularly not as a main taste. People who like it will love this though.

I love love love peach, and this was so good. I was super glad to find that the jasmine wasn’t super strong, risking overwhelming the peach. If anything the peach was stronger, which balances things out better in this case. Iced or hot, this one is easy to enjoy. Multiple steeps as a bonus.

This was pretty good – particularly for a cold gray day like today. It was toasty tasting and warm, and not bitter. That said, more and more I am realizing that this subscription might not be for me. I like black tea…but not enough that all of these samples I am trying to try taste different.

I am rushing because for my tea loving friends, I am passing along all samples that don’t wow me. Helps to make space, which is much needed. I actually need to reorganize my cupboards so I can actually fit all of my tea in there. Right now, my “usually iced tea” shelf is only a third full and it is bigger, while the second shelf of hot only tea is overflowing because it is smaller, and my hot tea takes longer to use up. Multiple steeps and all. Perhaps an activity for later today.

This is tasty – it really does taste like dessert-y raspberries. The smell of the dry leaves is heavenly – makes me want to just start eating it. I LOVE raspberry – it is tart and juicy and probably the perfect fruit for me next to peaches. The chocolate was a mild and minor note, but I preferred it that way. I find chocolate teas to be a bit too oily and just make me want the real thing. Overall, this was a win.

This was fantastic. After my unremarkable first cup of the day, having this next was like night and day. It was softly sweet, and malty, but I could still taste the hint of dryness. Looking at what others tasted, I think it is a slight coffee or cocoa note, but it is very subtle. It wasn’t bitter at all, though I dumped my entire sample in and did 4 short steeps which worked out really well. I am not sure if this would stand up to oversteeping.