467 Tasting Notes
On the upside I’ve been doing well at not buying new teas… the down side, I haven’t been writing any tasting notes ‘coz I haven’t had anything much new. Anyway…. I have had trouble finding just the right tea for the change to summer weather. I decided to make up a batch of cold brew and this just hit the spot. I wish the name wasn’t so stupid (I mean really… a child’s breakfast cereal?). But yummy.
BTW… anyone watching the new season of Orphan Black? It is really getting good. The first couple of episodes weren’t great but now the story has picked up! All I can really say without spoilers is … MANGOS…. PU PAK (sp?) …DONNIE AND ALLISON DANCE !!!!!
Flavors: Fruity
I didn’t think I liked chamomile because I used to drink a lot of Sleepytime tea from Celestial Seasonings. I thought that was what a chamomile tea was supposed to taste like. Apparently what I thought was chamomile was the valerian in the tea. But chamomile has moved up on the list of my ‘likes’.
I haven’t made this as a cold-brew before but I figured, why not? All the flavor of the hot tea! The apple combines so well with the chamomile and citrus and white tea. Very flavorful and relaxing now that the weather has warmed up.
BTW, if people aren’t familiar with Chicago… this tea is part of the Chicago series. It is named for The Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave.) I love the name.
This is my favorite of the Adagio Chicago Series.
I haven’t had any of this for a while. I reviewed it last summer and gave in an 80. Now it seems very medicinal. I think it might have gone ‘bad’. I had to toss it out as I know it’s not really going to hit the spot anymore. Bummer!
Today I decided that I would try this tea in a water bottle. It worked well and was a very refreshing drink. The hibiscus was light and refreshing rather than the often overwhelming hibiscus you get in many teas.
I think I should start doing more teas that go in a water bottle and you’re on your way! I’ve gotten so used to brewing or cold-brewing teas that I never think of teas like this as an alternative. It didn’t stay dissolved as much as it should have and needed to be shaken frequently or an unattractive green layer would form at the top. This did not effect the taste in any way but the appearance was less than pleasing. Maybe I leafed too much so it wouldn’t dissolve??Matcha TTB
Thank you Red Leaf Tea for giving us samples to add to the Matcha TTB.
I’ve been drinking a lot of matcha lately. I’ve been using cashew milk a lot which has worked very well. This is a nice creamy drink but it doesn’t seem as chocolatey as I expected. Usually I’m wow’d by the flavors from Red Leaf. I still enjoyed my drink but this wouldn’t be the one I would order in a larger size (although I certainly would drink up any samples sizes).
This is another sample from Will at Chi Whole Leaf Tea. This powdered tea is a dark pink and looks good. I don’t have direction on how much to add so I added about as much as my thumb nail into 8 oz of cold water and shook it up. The taste was pretty bland so I added just a drop of stevia which brought the flavors right out. I enjoy the hibiscus which is not usually a favorite. In this combination its very fresh and is safe for me to drink late this evening after drinking sooooo much matcha today.
Thank you Will at Chi Whole Leaf for this sample. I just added some to a small bottle of cold water. There were no directions for quantity in the water. Apparently I did okay in my estimate- about the size of my thumb nail. for 8 oz. because it was good.
There addition of a bit of mint really lightens up the chamomile and makes a real nice drink. I usually add some sweetener to everything but definitely not needed in this.I found it quite refreshing. I can see adding this to a water bottle frequently.
Can’t wait to try the other ones he sent.Flavors: Cardboard
Cardboard?
^
That…
refreshing cardboard at that
Yikes! Really I didn’t mean cardboard!!!! I tried to enter chamomile but I must have hit the wrong word. But it is good to see that you you are actually reading the note. :D
I saw that too, but I assumed it was a good cardboard flavor.
I’m glad you liked the tea, Carol! If anyone else would like to try any of my other flavors, please feel free to email me at [email protected]
Matcha TTB
Nothing special in my opinion. I haven’t ever gone out and eaten any cherry blossoms off the tree so I don’t really have a basis for comparison. I thought cherry blossom would be a bit more cherry. The taste is really just vegetal.
Flavors: Vegetal
Would you like some cherry blossoms? I’m in Japan for a few more weeks and they are quite cheap (but they have to be salted for me to bring back)
Salted? Thanks but no thanks.
I guess I could go look around the neighborhood and see if I can find a cherry blossom tree. It is spring time so I guess now would be a good time to try them out.
That’s how they are ate here- they pickle many things actually.
This is a very flavorful matcha with lots of caramel along with a milder vegetal flavor (which you would expect from a matcha). The caramel is mellow and smooth and very satisfying. It is sweet but I should expect that from a caramel. Not much to say about my rating from the previous note (95). Still good. I have a ton of matcha here with both the Matcha TTB and my order from Red Leaf Tea. I’m in heaven! (In the good way…. not dead and sent to heaven. Instead, happy as all heck.) :D
Matcha TTB
As usual, a nice creamy matcha from Red Leaf Tea. I make mine with cashew milk lately but have used soy and almond with my Red Leaf matcha and have always been pleased. I don’t taste a guava flavor, just a general fruity flavor. Nothing wrong with it but not outstanding.
Flavors: Fruity
That is one show I need to binge on. I’ve heard so many awesome things about it!
Yes, CaroL, I have watched it from the beginning. Tatiana Maslany is one talented woman!
My absolute favorite show! I almost died when Alison’s daughter walk in on that dance haha. :)
Oh my goodness that dancing scene reached a new level ridiculousness xD