1598 Tasting Notes
Thank you Melanie for the sample!
Her swap box ended up pushing my tea count up to 125, but I’m loving it. Also, these won’t take too long to sipdown. #challengeaccepted
This is supposed to be chocolate raspberry truffle, but it sorta smells like roses to me. Maybe that’s just the v-day association? I am getting sweet raspberry flavours, and a touch of chocolate too. It’s simple, but pleasant.
Preparation
Thanks CrowKettle!
Alright, maybe I just don’t have a good memory but I think this is my favourite of the 52 Teas genmaicha’s. It’s waaaaaay better than the s’mores genmaicha! Nutty! Sweet! I can almost imagine gooey marshmallows sticking in my mouth.
This would be the one I’d re-order if given the opportunity.
Preparation
Thanks to Sil for the sample!
This is pretty nice and delicate. I can definitely taste (and recognize!) the bai mu dan base, and the tangerine/spices just accent it. It’s a nice tea when you want something flavoured while still being fully aware you are drinking tea. :)
Preparation
Thanks whatshesaid for the swap!
So apparently I need to stop being a wimp, and I should just go into Teavana and try some teas out because this is pretty good. I wonder what their minimum is – 2oz?
I can’t believe this is herbal. It sorta tastes like I’m eating a salted chocolate bar. Or something like that. I love salt and sweet flavours mixing together so that’s part of why this mix works. I’m tasting a lot of chocolate, nuts, and maybe a bit of licorice as well? It’s actually not as thin and watery as other chocolate teas that I’ve tasted which is impressive. And it’s unusual enough that it’d be a nice one to stock up. I wonder how much sugar is in this? :O
Too bad this has so many mixed ratings. I’m actually quite pleased with it! I think it’d be great when I’m feeling ‘snacky’ but am trying to avoid excessive munching.
Preparation
Ugh, I keep seeing the mixed reviews of this one too but still want to try it! Gotta find someone who dislikes it and swap with them :D
Haha. That worked for me. Too bad I’ve only got enough for 2-3 cups, but I DO have a Teavana like 20 minutes away from me. Maybe I should make a list.
Oh wait. Tea buying hiatus. Hmm…
Kittenna you have some on your way from me!
Also, Cavocorax…I literally have 2 lbs of this tea and I would be MORE than happy to do a swap if you want some during your hiatus!!!
Yeah, the minimum is 2oz, but you also have to make sure that they only give you 2oz, lol. Usually they fill it up to at least 3.5oz (especially heavy herbals) then ask you if that’s ok. If you insist, they’ll take it down to 2oz.
I’m glad you liked it!! I did NOT. haha.
this is the kind of tea i can’t help but be curious about!
i’m guessing teavana doesn’t do samples.
it’s just that when i tea sounds weird and hard to pin down and has exciting curve ball flavors, i just have to know!!
This sounds amazing.
Jackie T – that’s so generous! I’d love to do a swap if you see anything in my cupboard. Be warned though, a few of those are just small sample sizes (the most recently added ones?), although if it’s from DavidsTea, Della Terra or Zen Tea chances are I have quite a bit. I also have 50g of DavidsTea Licorice Twist and 5 cups worth of LoveisTea’s Thai Tea not in my cupboard that are for swapping.
Dinosara – I’ve been warned that they do that, which is why I was nervous about actually visiting a teavana. Also it just felt so… elitist? Too fancy for me. I prefer the atmosphere at DavidsTea – so warm and welcoming!
Shmiracles – A couple of times now I have gone into a Teavana to get a cup of tea to go as a way of sampling one of their teas before buying. It has worked out really well for me, so I recommend it if you want to try a Teavana tea without buying 2oz (the other perfect way to sample is swaps, of course!)
Cavocorax – I know I used the word “insisted” but the one time I bought tea in store, it was a very quick exchange… she overpoured, then asked if I wanted it brought back to 2oz, and I said yes, and she made it 2oz. Pretty painless.
Sounds pretty easy! If I know they might try to overpour, at least I’ll be paying attention and ready to say no thanks. I think it’d only trick me if I was caught unaware (and didn’t realise how much more that would cost!)
Jackie – Yay! I had forgotten what all was on that list! Once my teas are fully accessible again I’ll be back on top of swapping messages :D
Ozli sent me this as a surprise tea package! Surprise tea packages are sort of the best, even if it knocked my tea count up to 115 (after a few silent sipdowns). :P
I only had a sample of this one so I was really happy to get more. OH MAN. This is so great. I’m not sure if I like this more than the lime one, but with DTT’s constant sales I don’t know that I should ever have to choose.
Preparation
I tried this the same time as Lupicia’s Chcoolate Orange, but I find I prefer this one. The chocolate tastes like dark chocolate which is nice, and it’s slightly bitter which is reminiscent of dark chocolate as well! It was overall an enjoyable tea, but not my favourite dessert tea. I’ll play around with it a bit before I rate it, but it’s at least 70.
I’m not a huge fan of hibiscus in my teas, so I think I’ll try steeping this for 3 minutes next time.
Preparation
I really don’t like lupicia s orange chocolat. Stacy’s the only tea place that has done chocolate and orange together properly for me heh
It’s a hard one to do right! I’m picky about chocolate in teas, but from what I recall I did like the Butiki version (which isn’t a surprise – I think the pineapple one is the only one I was meh about).
This one sounds interesting!
Thanks Sil for the sample!
I tried it side by side with Bluebird’s Terry’s Tea to see which was the best chocolate orange tea. The answer: Not this one.
I steeped it for 3 minutes and the result was very bitter. Each sip left a tacky aftertaste, and it felt like my teeth were coated in… something? Not pleasant. It was simliar to that feeling you get when you eat super cheap chocolate and it’s waxy.
After the first few sips it got a bit better, but not enough for me to bother finishing the cup. Guess I’m not the only one indifferent to this one, so no hard feelings!
Preparation
My samples came in! I ended up resteeping this 5 times today! That’s a record. I wasn’t sure how much to use but I took a perfect teaspoon and a 12 oz tumbler. I steeped it for 30 seconds, 40, 50, one minute, and two minutes.
It was really good. I think honey was the strongest note, but I noticed each steeping favored different flavors. I’ll have to pick some up!
After sleeping it for 30s, I’m not sure I’d want to try it at 3 minutes+; that might just be crazy strong
Preparation
Haha I only drink this western style for the most part. But instead of a tablespoon as per davids instructions I use 1-1.5 tsp for the three minutes
This one was so good, but definitely strong. I don’t think I could handle a three minute steep!
Hmm, maybe my taste buds finally demand stronger tastes as I steep this one in my Perfect mug (12 oz) for three minutes. I will try it less sometime and see if I get more nuances or if it is just too weak for me.
I go for the gusto of 1 Tbl x 3min. I love it that way. I’ve only done the short steeps worth this a time or 2, & just didn’t feel satisfied.
I love that everyone has their own way to do it. I’m pretty sure I’ll end up buying 1 or 2 oz of this, so I’ll experiment more, but at least I know that I like it the way I’ve done it so far!
Yup! Like all things in life, tea is meant to be enjoyed anyway you like it, with as much creativity as you want! All paths lead to the same place: Pleasure! :D
Thanks whatshesaid for the sample!
This tastes like actual coconut flakes, but like whatshesaid (ahem) said, it’s also a bit soapy too. Odd! Also, not my thing. This makes me want to drink some Pom Tango instead!
I agree – Coconut Oolong is probably the best use of coconut in a tea!
…sipdown!
I bought this one on impulse, along with Terry’s Orange. No regrets so far. I needed another rooibos because my sleepy-time tin had room in it! And we can’t have that! I want 20-30 types of non-caffeinated tea to choose from in the evenings so I don’t get bored!
It’s actually a little tart like real rhubarb! It’s very good. And I don’t really get custard but it does seem to be creamy, much like the mint chocolate that I’m sipping away from in my other Timolino, so I’m happy.
I’m not really sure what calendula is though, but I’ve seen that Bluebird used this in a few teas. I wonder if it’s related to marigold petals?
