Alright! I’ve found two more teas from July misplaced on my jotted down page of notes on what I’ve drank. These should have gone between the Earl Grey iced tea and the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie tealogs below. Then it’ll be on to August. My Steepster slogan should be: Tealogging! I’m always 15 notes or so behind!
So this tea, this time I let it cool accidentally until it was a little warmer than room temperature and god was it amazing! It was very malty and I could taste stone fruits – peach, apricot, and cherry. As it cooled further, those tastes gave way to a honeyed floral.
The second steep was juicy, malty, and a bit drying but not astringent, and also lovely. I’m afraid I might hoard this tea; it was so good this time.
I don’t know if it’s my taste buds or slight changes to the way I steep and drink my tea (lower end of the steeping range, more leaf, letting the cup cool until very warm but no longer hot), but I can really taste more in my teas. I used to just be able to distinguish between different black teas or green teas or what have you. Sometimes I could taste a general descriptive term or find a flavor I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Increasingly lately, I can pick out distinct and nameable tastes, and multiple notes of flavors in my teas. I love it! Even though, I’m drinking less tea in the hot South Carolina summer, I’m enjoying every cup so much.
I don’t normally over leaf but I think the no longer hot makes a major difference. Fortunately I don’t like it hot hot anyway.