52teas

After reading the reviews here, we wanted to see if we felt this tea lived up to the hype so we ordered up a packet.

52teas ships in 2-ounces packets which are solid silver on the back and see through on the front. This is a nice touch, especially when you have such a visually-appealing tea like this one. Those great images that 52teas creates (the one above) are actually the labels generated for the teas. We like these, but the labels are small on the packet and really don’t do justice to the work Frank and Company put into creating them. On the web and 52teas website, they look awesome, on the packet (printed on an ink-jet label printer) they look boring.

Our advice for this would be to simply leave the label off the packet and have those incredible images printed up as small glossy cards or inserts to be mailed along with the tea packet. It’ll add a bit of glitz and really show off the hard work done in creating the images and labels. The other upside is that there will be no label covering the front of the tea packet obscuring the beautiful tea inside.

Now, to the tea: the dry leaf really does look and smell awesome. The shavings of coconut are monstrous and the scent wafts up wonderfully. The shavings are supported by added flavorings, no problems there because it really gives a great smell. There really is no other tea on the market that we’ve been able to find that uses such enormous pieces of coconut.

In brewing, the tea brews up like a standard black tea. The tea leaves themselves are fairly small – nothing exciting. They are not fannings or dust, it appears to be machine-processed black tea that is commonly available and often used as a base for flavored teas. This is typical and we did not expect otherwise.

The liquid has a unique taste to it, we also found the “mint” flavor that Jason noted – though it isn’t a flavor inasmuch that it is a “bite” that appears as the tea dries on your tongue. It didn’t come in the back of the mouth, it comes at the front marking it as a mild bitter snap. The coconut flavor never really comes out in the liquid, but we are certain that the unique bite this tea has is a result of the coconut pieces. We did not try the latte recipe so we can’t comment on how it enhances the flavor of the coconut.

One interesting aspect we noted was the presence of the coconut oils visibly in the tea. Since oil rises to the top and separates from water, little spots of oil can be seen floating on the surface. We liked this, while we couldn’t taste a strong present flavor of coconut (beyond that unique minty-like bite) being able to see the infusion of the coconut was nice. This is a product of the large shavings used; this has not been noticed in other coconut teas.

That said, the coconut shavings do make this an interesting tea to drink plain; the snapiness that it has certainly sharpens the flavor profile. Because of the uniqueness of the tea, we did several tastings of it on several different days (ultimately consuming the entire packet just to come to our conclusions). We wanted to ensure we were thinking about it correctly.

It is an interesting tea, but as coconut goes, this batch/blend didn’t quite make it into the liquid. The dry tea is absolutely amazing, practically a work of art. If you want a decent cup of tea and don’t expect something wonderful from the cup but it is certainly worth buying just to look at the leaves and to shove your nose into the packet to inhale the smell.

At first I let myself be inspired by Madison’s Thai Chai to have the Coconut Cream Pie from 52teas, y’know, because of the coconut. So I went to get that out of the cupboard and ended up choosing this one instead. I’d forgotten I had this, and the discovery made me want this more than the other one today.

Apparently I’ve liked it before, judging from the rating I gave it. Can’t remember what I thought of it though.

I’ll tell you know though, that I can definitely taste some dark oolong here. One of those daaaaaark flavours. Borderline pu-erh notes. It even has a touch of that same coppery colour.

…This is oolong, right?

Topped with plenty of raisin flavour (I still can’t get over the fact that I like raisins now, apparently. Weird.) this is indeed a nice cup, so I think I agree with myself on the rating points.

I think the funny borderline pu-erh-y earthy flavour must stem from the fact that I’m used to and tend to prefer greener oolongs.

Right. So the raspberry I-just-need-something phase is over with.

This one is very deliberately chosen. I was sitting here and thinking about it. Like, it wouldn’t leave my head at all. I was telling myself that I had just decided to try and finish off some of my tiny amounts, but it wasn’t working.

I’ve only had this once before and the rating says I liked it, but apart from that I can’t actually remember what I thought of it. (I do remember that eating one of the raisins post steeping wasn’t particularly successful. No flavour left. And eating one pre steeping was even less so, covered in dry-leaf-taste as it was.)

There’s a jasmine-y note to the aroma. Having checked my previous note, I can’t believe I didn’t catch that before. Anyway, this just hitting the spot right now.

I like this best after it has steeped and then cooled off just the tiniest tad, because that’s where the sweetness of the raisins come out and they rather suit the oolong.

Raisins are a very very recent vice for me. Since december 30th 2009 actually. I was baking something that included raisins. I haven’t had problems with raisins in baked goods for years now because I’ve just learned to taste around them. But after having put my baking project in the oven, I caught myself, to my extreme surprise, standing there and eating the rest of the raisins right out of the box! This is huge, because just an hour before, if you had asked me, I would have said that I don’t much care for raisins, and I assume that this was what prompted me to get this particular blend.

Upon opening the pouch I’m immediately greeted by a smell that rather reminds me of that vanilla date concoction that I didn’t like. It’s not nearly as strong here, but it’s defintiely there and it’s the same type of smell. This has me a little worried. Also, the leaves look small and very dark, almost as if it’s actually a large leaf black tea and there are lots of raisins in it.

The tea brews up rather dark, almost like an average black tea. I’m used to greener oolongs, so that’s probably why I’m getting a little type confused here. I wouldn’t say it’s particularly oolong-y or raisin-y in flavour. There doesn’t seem to be anything very characteristic of either of the two. Deepest down I would say that it still tastes a bit like a mild black The raisins are only coming through as a slight fruity sweetness while it’s hottest. They are more pronounced as the cup cools a bit.

I like it this way. It’s not very raisin-y, but it’s enough. Had the raisins been more dominant I expect I probably wouldn’t have liked it much at all. But this way it’s very nice.

OK, Chelsea has just become my new BFF. Opened the package, and the smell of chocolate and banana jumped out at me. It’s always tough when the first whiff of something is so fantastic, it sets the bar high and often the taste just doesn’t match up. I needn’t have worried about this one, I almost burned myself trying to gulp this down, instead of savouring every sip… The mellowness of the rooibos is perfect with this!

This is going to be saved as a special treat, and I may very well hide it from the rest of the family.

Opened the packet and smelled butter! I expected more of a cinnamon smell, but then, I make cinnamon toast very heavy on the cinnamon. Brewed it up, and this time the smell was raisins. I added just a touch of sweetener. (I also add sugar to cinnamon toast…) The taste was interesting. I tasted the butter and the raisins when I sipped, but the toast and cinnamon came through with the aftertaste. I liked it.

Half my normal steeping time seems to be the secret here.

I’m giving this one another shot today. It’s not in the pile of teas I’m supposed to be finishing off, I just wanted it, so it’s a semi-sinful indulgence for me.

My first encounter with it was the inevitable disappointment that comes after having had seriously impossibly I’m-not-kidding expectations of it from the start. Second I tried to recreate the cola aspect in a more authentic sort of way by making a strong concentrate of it, putting it in the fridge and then mixing it with ordinary unflavoured carbonated water. This did not go well.

After that I was a bit put off and wondering what to do with all the rest of it.

Today though I’m trying again, to see what I think now that I’m not expecting it to be a miracle in a cup. I have to say I’m still getting a sort of artificial like soapy sort of flavour, but I can ignore that. Underneath is the astringency of the black tea base, which is probably in some way partly my own fault. I wasn’t being very particular about steeping parameters. I can definitely find the cola and a touch of vanilla. The cherry, apart from in the aroma where it’s strong, is still escaping me.

The success of the coconut cream pie inspired me to try one of the other ones I bought from the forgotten 52teas order. I’m not surprised I ordered this one and it was sort of screaming to me. Here’s the thing.

I. Love. Cherry. Cola.
Favourite soda (after orange) FTW.

Unfortunately it’s not something we can usually get here. I don’t know if you can over there on the other side of the water. I know you have Dr Pepper which to me is very similar, but also not available in Denmark unless you’re really lucky. We had it for a couple of years recently, but it was taken off the market again. Apparently it didn’t sell well enough. (I fear Mountain Dew has gone the same tragic way, because I can’t find that anymore either). Recently we’ve had a limited edition cherry cola from coca-cola which was yummy, but alas, that one seems to also have run its course. In my deprivation of proper cherry cola or similar beverage, I’ve found that I can make a relatively good substitute with ordinary cola and cherry cordial. It’s not the same, but it works okay.

What all this means is that I have VERY high expectations of this one. So high, that I’m likely to be disappointed. Anything below a clean 100 on this is not good enough. The question just is exactly how disappointed am I going to get?

The leaves actually do smell a bit like cola and something that I’m willing to call cherry-like. There is however also a note which to my own surprise I can only describe as vaguely menthol-like. This is worrysome.

After steeping, the tea has pretty much the same smell, only hot. The mentholness is sticking out a bit more here, which is a little odd to me because menthol (along with mints) is usually a cool sort of flavour.

Hmm… Flat cola with dusty vanilla. I can’t find any cherry outside of the smell. Something sour-ish, kind of citrus-soapy-like. So, yes, I did get disappointed. It’s just a question of how much.

This does require an amount of experimentation, but for a first experience, I cannot in good consciousness give it more than 65-ish.

First tea of the morning. How decadent!

I’m allowed decadent today though, since it’s the first day with a new age. I’m also supposed to have cake for breakfast, but I don’t have any cake handy so I’m skipping that. :) I can’t be bothered to go get some.

A while ago I had a bag of something or other where I concluded that I just wasn’t really all that fond of coconut in tea. Taking this one out now really confuses me on that point now, because I like this one and it’s very little else than coconut! How does that work? I don’t understand it.

Okay, it is a bit decadent first thing in the morning… A bit too decadent actually. I think I’ll have a more… you know… sensible one after this.

This is what’s for dessert today.

Lovely. Really, it is.

It’s just… I’m really craving the infamous raspberry oolong tonight and I’m coming to the conclusion that I have precious few fruity teas in the flat.

I’ll sip this and read a few pages of my book while waiting for Top Gear to come on.

(And OMG I just realised something completely unrelated RE Mariages Freres…!!! No, I’m not saying. Don’t want to get my own hopes up. Be_LIEVE_ me, if I’m right, my Steepsterites, you will find out. All in due time.)

I’ve been craving this one since last night when I went home from Lexitus’, but given the time I thought it best not to have any. I’m trying to learn to get back in the habit of getting to bed at a decent hour, and I have finally admitted that it may have something to do with the tea I’m having in the evening. I hate to admit it because this is not something that has ever bothered me before. But people change and people get older you know? Maybe it’s just one of those things. Possibly the development of Steepster into a more social site to hang out on compared to the very first incarnation of it is also making me drink more tea. Bottomline is, I knew I couldn’t have any when I got home at 10.30pm. (train delays for the GRRR)

But I can certainly have it now. Haven’t done any of my chores yet, of course, but I can certainly have my tea.

Mmmmmmm…. coconut.

Ah, so I did make an order with 52teas. The one I couldn’t remember if I made or if I had changed my mind. Either that or someone decided to send me a present which would be cool but also kind of improbable.

I’m starting with this one, mostly because the picture on the pouch looks like something that would be right up my alley. The leaves smell lovely sweet of coconut. Not so much of tea though. Dessert-like.

After brewing I’m finding an odd note of raisins… it sounds weird but somehow it fits. Again the coconut is prevalent. There is also a creamy smell which suggests that I ought to try this with milk also.

For now, I’m sticking to plain. Coconut, defintiely. Sweet, but not cloying at all. I can pick up the tea underneath too. It’s a strong base. Somewhat malty. One that would carry a little sweetener well, which is probably why it’s doing so well with the coconut.

I shall definitely have to try this with a little milk, but on its own as I’ve got it now, it’s quite nice too.

OK, just by the name, I had to try this tea. I actually went to bed last night thinking about having this tea this morning…
Unforntunately, I was not happy with the flavor. Tea has a very earthy, natural taste that I love. Somehow this has managed to remove the natural and add in some kind of artificial taste. I’m not saying that it is not natural, it just doesn’t taste natural. The smell is not what I expected either. I have to give an A for trying though. The idea is awesome.

Whoops… forgot to log this one.

From the tasting notes I expected a lot more orange flavor, but (again) my taste buds seem to be dull to “flavorings” and the orange sections didn’t add much. I got almost entirely matcha and a slight aftertaste of orange.

Plain matcha is okay if it’s what I’m in the mood for, but that day I wasn’t, so my husband finished that cup (he liked it alright, though I think he picked up the orange more strongly than I did and he thinks flavored matcha is WEIRD).

He makes good chocolate truffles rolled in matcha, so I’d love to have that done with this. Hmm….

Preparation details: 1 tsp in 8 oz hot water, frothed by electric whisk.

This is my first tea of the week from @52teas. First of all it smells amazing both in the pouch and whilst brewing. It has a lot of banana taste but not so much chocolate coming though.

Still a very tasty ‘hot desert in a cup’ style of tea.

Yay, it came today! Tearing the bag open… Oh my. I can see the nibs and it smells like… Like a delicious artisan dark chocolate bar. I could barely wait for the water to heat. It steeps to a beautiful dark amber liquor. And the smell… Like melting chocolate, dark chocolate, with that faint hint of bittersweetness and the tang of the malt behind it.

Yet the taste is even better than the smell! I don’t know how these guys do it with these flavors, but the supporting base is so mellow and smooth. This reminds me faintly of Godiva liqueur, only not sweet. I’d go into overload if I actually put sugar in this. I seriously need to be alone with this. Bravo yet again.

(I have a KitchenAid mixer with attachments, and I think this spring, this would make some DAMNED incredible ice cream if I simmered it in the cream.)

It’s been forever since I had this sans milk/creamer, but I’m not feeling well so I decided to add a tsp of rum extract. Whoa, I forgot how spicy this is. The rum extract doesn’t deter from it, but does add an extra layer of flavor. Very good! I just wish I could find a good rum flavored syrup.

Steeped 1TB of leaves (this is a 2nd infusion) in 2oz water and added it to 6oz of coffee for extra warmth. Yum!

Made a 6oz cuppa and put 1TB of Dark Chocolate Creme Breve creamer in it. HOLY CRAP THIS IS CHOCOLATEY! Probably the most chocolatey drink I’ve ever had other than drinking chocolate. The creamer is very heavy on the chocolate and very heavy on the creme… not so much on the dark, which disappoints me. The freakish amount of chocolate cuts the spice down much more than I expected, but it’s still very much there.

Busy day of wedding planning (my best friend’s, not mine)- had this before my day started.

Suggested preperation: 1/2 water, 1/2 Fat Free Smart Balance Milk w/ Plant Sterols

Suggested pairing: White Tea Brownies from Sanctuary T