1598 Tasting Notes
I really love this tea. There’s just something about it that’s different than I’m used to, but it’s hard to nail it down exactly.
I steeped it for 3 minutes because I didn’t want to risk it getting too strong for my tastes, and it was probably at less than boiling. The result is very smooth and fresh, with only the slightest astringency in the endnotes. It’s bold, but also slightly sweet. This is a hefty cup – it’s thick and malty. I’m also getting fruity notes in there as well.
For those of you who don’t know Justea is fundraising right now to get their company off the ground and help empower the Kenyan farmers who produce the tea (and cut out the middle-man). I highly recommend you check it out and support them here: http://www.justea.com/
(I wish I could support them again but… I need a job. Hopefully I find one in the next 30 days and then I can throw money at them!)
I’d like to support the campaign because I think this is a cuppa I’d like to keep around
Preparation
I’m nearly out of this flavour so I thought I would focus on drinking it to make room for other matcha flavours!
I whisked it with a dash of hot water, then added more for a cup. Looks like it was still a bit lumpy because my cup wasn’t wide enough. Maybe I’ll whisk, then pour in the future.
coughblender
Haha. You underestimate how lazy I am. Cleaning a blender is such a PITA, and I definitely won’t be doing it once I’m back to work. :P
lol i have a hand blender that i use when i don’t want to clean up
Actually I usually clean my blender by wirring some soapy water around in it. And that’s it! Especially for matcha, which isn’t goopy or sticky. Works well for me.
One cup away from a sipdown!
This is a comforting bedtime tea, with warm caramel notes embracing me like a hug. It’s time to bed.
I’m bringing my kindle. I just loaded up tons of fic. :O The last one I read made me bawl my eyes out but… it was pretty obvious that was going to happen when it’s about Sherlock dying of a brain tumour while John is helpless. /0\
Major character death is a sad, sad thing in a fic. :( Enjoy your reading!
Thanks! :) It’s just funny that people write fic that are ALL ABOUT major character death (it was a short fic), and people read it. We just like to torture ourselves, I guess. :)
that fic made me cry SO MUCH! it was so beautiful. i was balling. completely.
It was really well done. I love that someone else has read it too.
Alone on the Water and The Progress of Sherlock Holmes and it’s companion The Quiet Man kinda all go in their own special category for me. not that they are equivalent necessarily, but the other two i think i was just feeling extra sensitive and open when i read them. idk. basically they will never be forgotten.
Yeah, those are pretty much my keep forever fics. I just need.to find a cover for Alone on the Water and re-add it to my kindle.
The Quiet Man was probably my least favorite of those three, but only because the first third (half?) was so angsty despressing and hopeless. I wanted to end it all too!
I chose this with my GC for Steeped Tea that my Aunt and Uncle gave me for my birthday. It’s strong. Really, really strong.
I’m actually not a big fan of it on its own because each sip is just PURE licorice, just rich and dark. I have to sip it slow. (Much like eating those pure black licorice candies – the ones that barely have sugar in it?)
OTOH, if you add a splash of milk to it it becomes quite enjoyable! So, while I probably wouldn’t re-stock it, I’ll drink this up with no hard feelings.
(And the gift was really great – it’s my fault I didn’t like the teas “I” picked)
Goodbye Cocoberry. (127)
For now. As odd as this one is, I think I’d restock it. It’s similiar to the Berry Good Puerh that DT offers. Guess I like fruit and coffee-ish flavours in my tea. At least sometimes.
makes me sad we’re like 100 teas apart…and then i realise terri’s like 100 away from me lol
:P Well, so long as you stay between us you’re probably doing ok!
It’s going to be harder to drop my numbers though – I think I have 30 samplish sized teas (2-3 cups), but the rest are 1 oz up!
I’m thinking a work from home and drink tea day may be in order tomorrow since there are plans in the work for board games and tea this weekend…which generally means SOMEONE is likely going to be dropping tea off with me unless she wants to maintain her 900 tea lead on us giggling
Hahaha. That sounds like a good plan!
Oh, I was going to look through that someone’s cupboard to see what I could take off her hands. Y’know. Just helping out!
It was time for me to stop being a wimp and to just try this.
Look! It’s puerh! It’s really great!
I only steeped it for a minute because I thought under was better than over-steeping and I’m really enjoying this mellow earthy blend. I don’t know enough about puerh to say where this ranks amongst the others, but I know I like it which is encouraging!
Preparation
I’ve only got one more cup of this left! :O :O :O
(Well, I can always order more, right? Just need a job first!)
Anyway this is perfect for relaxing at the end of the night and maybe watching an episode of Supernatural. I just ate a peanut butter & banana sandwich and surprsingly enough, this tea paired well with it. I was afraid the sandwich would totally overwhelm the delicate tea but it didn’t.
This is probably my favorite non-black Butiki tea.
If you want more of this, let me offer you some… I overbought it in my excitement a while back and it would find a better home with you than sitting in a box here!
I agree! So delicious. I am also running low eek.
Sure! I’d love to take you up on that. :) Any time you want to swap, let me know too!
Supernatural <3
I just started! I’m 5 episodes into Season 1?
I’ll hopefully be visiting Sil next weekend – I will try to remember to leave some with her for you! And anything you’re interested in form my cupboard… haha :D
Ahh, Supernatural. Another TV show I never really watched, but know way too much about thanks to LJ, Tumblr, and fanfic. :) (I watched the pilot but really dislike scary things.)
Haha. I love how that sorta thing happens. I know a bit about Castiel, but I’ve been pretty good about keeping my head in the sand so there’ll be lots of surprises in the future too!
And thanks Kittenna – I’ll take a peek. Maybe I can take something else off your hands. :P
Best. Tea. ever. It’s achingly beautiful. I’ve just ordered two oz of it!
Supernatural just gets better and better. I recently finished season 8 and still miss Sam and Dean. :)
I was just watching Season 3 last night. One of my favorite shows ever, though I started watching S6. Haven’t seen 4&5 yet! I also love peanut butter banana sandwiches!
Odd. I expected tons of caramel but I’m mostly getting spicy orange. But not as cinnamon/orange as some of those teas out there – it’s no Market Spice! I can see why this would have been part of the fall/winter collection though – it’s very comforting on a colder day.
I wish I could have tasted the mulberries though. I think Gold Rush is one of my favourite DT teas because of the golden mulberries.
And thanks to Heather Martin for the sample!
I snagged 4 oz of the autumn version of this tea after feeling a bit anxious about the last of my spring tea getting sipped down. Now I’m pretty much at peace, enjoying the strong chocolate/barley notes, listening to Birdy on the computer, and watching the baby play with a box of Twinings Earl Grey tea bags. It seems like a pretty good kid toy, and I’m not worried she’ll wreck it.
We are off to Hamilton today to drop a friend (and the stuff we drove across the country for him!) so that’ll be fun – I haven’t seen much of Ontario yet. Maybe we’ll go the extra hour or so to Niagra Falls? Not sure if today is the day to do that, but I’ll be very upset if we move back to BC in a year and we haven’t gone, and we won’t once the weather turns. (Obviously). :P
Hope everyone else is having a relaxing Sunday.
Oh hey you’re only here for one year?!
It’s one year for his Masters, then we have to figure out what we do next. We might be here longer? Or we might run back to BC as soon as we can. :p
don’t leave me… sniff
Awwww. :(
I’ll have to convince you guys to come west if/when we move.
I had no idea only a year was in the plans! I thought it was semi-permanent. Definitely make sure you do stuff within that year because it sure flies by.
A year? Hmmm….I guess I need to plan a trip to Toronto so I can meet you girls all in one place sometime before you move again!
Terri, yes, YESSSSS you do!! That’d take the sting outta having Cavorax here for only (potentially) one yr. Would SO love to finally meet you!! :D
(Incendiare, are you within driving distance? lol)
Maybe next summer? LOL, if I can afford it! I guess I’d better go on a LONG tea buying hiatus! :)
Terri – you can save money by staying at my place! :)
And we can drink ALL THE TEAS! :)
I’ve never been to Canada!
see…you totally have to come. i promise the water is tasty..and it’s not like icky florida
Yeah, I was worried about that, but I didn’t notice much difference.
I love me some good crystal clear water! :)
It was tasty while it was hot, but now that it’s cool it’s really similar to an Orange Julius. I really like it. I can’t remember if I’ve had Della Terra’s orange rooibos, but I’d be curious to compare.
I’m getting tons of vanilla and orange and cream…
