1598 Tasting Notes
Ruby pie yesterday, and Rhubarb Vanilla Ale today. I wanted more Butiki, and so here we are!
I get a little vanilla, and a little bit of ale-like bubbles or something. I don’t get much for rhubarb. Maybe I should have over-steeped this too?
Or, maybe I expect too much when I’m sick. AND because I’m sick I’m entitled to listen to this insane crack music list dedicated to Tumblr; http://8tracks.com/jazzyjanine/tumblr-anthems. It’s so bad it’s good. That’s what I need right now.
Some fic would be nice too. I just dl’d a Kirk/Khan story because we’ve watched Star Trek: Into Darkness several times in the past few days as J is using elements of it for this role-playing game he created and we will be playing on the weekend, and I’m just all…. Khaaaaaan!
I also found a crossover story with Sherlock/John and Star Trek that I’m also more excited about.
But. I’m at work. Drinking tea and reading Hannibal scripts, and listening to ridic music. So, no real complaints. This cold will not beat me!
Preparation
Ok, confession time! I’ve always enjoyed this tea, but it’s never been a knock me off my socks sorta tea. You know what I mean, right? But I wanted to really like it because I like Sil and ButikiTeas.
Anywyas,this has gone from a 78 to an 88. I figured out what I needed – a longer steep time. Maybe 5 minutes? I want MORE flavour and this is just great now. Lovely rhubarb, slightly tart, slightly sweet and a bit of graham in there to weigh it down. YES. FINALLY I GET IT NOW.
Preparation
I’ve heard so much about this tea – wish I could try it!
Yay!
If you ever place an order with Butiki, she will throw in a few samples and you can request which ones. Her teas rarely disappoint.
That’s so funny-a longer steep time pretty much ruined this tea for me yesterday! Although I’m guessing it was steeping for more than five minutes, but still. Funny what works.
It’s been awhile since I drank this one. I picked up an oz with my last butiki order, just for fun. :)
haha a 78 is a perfectly reasonable score for a tea :)
:) Well 78 means I like it, but not that it’s completely irreplacable. :P Anything over 85 means I need to buy at least 2oz of it when I order.
Keychange – yeah there’s probably a very narrow margin where oversteeping makes the flavours better before it makes it infinitely worse. I didn’t mean to steep it so long but my cat wanted some attention before I left the house.
Oh yeah, cats can do that to your tea anyday!
and they do it on purpose!
NIce, maybe that was the “problem” I had with this tea too. I was afraid of steeping it too long because I thought the base would only get stronger and cover up the other flavours even more.
So I’m currently drinking more Muharajah/Samurai Chai from Teavana, but I don’t want to log it two days in a row – it’s just great for getting past my sinues and this stupid cold.
Because of Steepster issues yesterday I couldn’t log this tea from VariaTEA. It’s a good thing I like it because she sent me A LOT of it. But with just a tiny dash of sugar to mellow out the hibiscus, this is really nice. Also soothing on a poor throat. So thank you!
Preparation
Thanks to VariaTEA for the generous bag of this tea. It’s quite zippy and very good, especially as this doesn’t have the rock sugar in it. Or if it does, I can’t tell – unlike the premixed sample Teavana likes to ship out (and which is nauseatingly sweet).
Thank you! This is just what I needed at 6 AM to get me going!
I am so glad you are enjoying it. There certainly is a lot there, especially given 1 cup only uses a tsp. And no worries about the sugar because I watched them combine the two teas myself. Unless, the each tea was pre-sugared, that is a sugar-free mix.
I am so glad you are enjoying it. There certainly is a lot there, especially given 1 cup only uses a tsp. And no worries about the sugar because I watched them combine the two teas myself. Unless, the each tea was pre-sugared, that is a sugar-free mix.
Hmm, I’m gonna have to try this one one day!
Yeah it’s really strong!I was surprised because the sample pack from Teavana is close to 1 oz, but it has so much sugar in it, that the sample doesn’t go far. This is MUCH better.
I will be posting an analysis on the contents of my sample pack. Heh. Should be entertaining. My parcel is supposed to be in on Wednesday.
I think they put something insane like 1-2 tsps of sugar per cup. I mean, if you are proud of your tea, why do you feel the need to sugar it?
OMGsrsly – are you going to do a chemical test of it? I’d love to see yoru results. :P
And you would think it wouldn’t need sugar if it was good. It’s strong and spicy enough – there’s already a lot going on in this cup!
Yvonne – if you do get a sample of it in store, ask for it without sugar – it makes a big difference. (Unless of course you LIKE super super sweet drinks, but I swear it was worse than a pop!).
I will, Cavo – thank you! It actually appalls me that they’d add sugar to it without specifying…I can’t have sugar, especially not at the levels they add, and the fact that they dictate how to sweeten tea is rather rude in my eyes. I can have my tea however sweet I want, thank you Teavana.
That is one of (unfortunately) MANY reasons that people here dislike Teavana. I just thought I’d give them a try after I’d prepared myself for what I’d find, but usually their teas are more expensive than what you would find elsewhere, and the ratio of flavourings/tea is too high. (There’s not enough actual tea in some of these blends!) There are so many alternatives out there though.
Haha. No chemical analysis. We don’t have the equipment for it. I’ll just count and sort and weigh and do some stats. :) Might use a dissecting microscope to help my eyes.
Haha OMGsrsly, I will look forward to reading your analysis :)
I thought I would try this again and steep for 7 minutes, but that only improved the flavour slightly. I guess I just want more peanut butter in it. But I have my matcha, so I’m happy!
Also, this is an easy sipdown! (152/201-with all incoming incl)
Haha, so much for this one. Hopefully the others were better. At least I didn’t send an excessive amount though.
I was hopeful, but not terribly disappointed! You sent me a lot that I’m really excited about! I just realized half of it was decaf so I’ll have so many evening options now! :D thanks again!
Buoyed by the success of the Banana Pudding, I thought I’d try this sampel from VariaTea too. I should have read her directions first though, as I treated this like a black and understeeped it. I will have to do it again for 7 minutes and see how that goes!
Preparation
This was one of the many samples VariaTEA gave me. It was difficult to chose, I gotta tell you.
This one was quite pleasant! I was worried becausse I’ve had a few 52 Teas fall flat, and with the extra shipping etc to Canada, it just didn’t seem worth it to order from them anymore. But this may have changed my opinion! It was really nice and the banana flavouring was perfect!
Preparation
This is probably a bad use for puerh but I like it. It tastes like cinnamon heart candy, and I approve.
Some days I want serious tea. Some days I want candy.
Have you received any packages today?!? :P Also I definitely get what you mean about wanting candy. That is my tea preference on most days :P
(Not sure I should admit to this, but sometimes I put a little cinnamon stick in a GOOD pu’erh – cinnamon and pu’erh just go together in my world. It probably is pu’erh abuse, but I like it)
