Adagio Teas

As I opened this sample tin…It’s almost like a mix of black tea and oolong teas put together – but just for the first sniff. After steeping the aroma changed to a mild oolong type smell. I think it’s of the lighter colored oolongs I have seen. For an Oolong the taste is very smooth and not very woodsy tasting like some have been that I have tasted. Right at the end you get just a tad of the sweetness but it’s barely there. I am very surprised by this one…very different that I expected. Glad I bought it…will certainly be trying different steeps and amounts/lengths of steep just for fun.

I just finished up my last of this – it was very nice. I could really taste the strawberry perfectly.

Just finishing up a cup of this now…it’s been a while since I have tried it and it’s still quite nice. I only have enough for one more cup tho…sigh…

Let another day of tea Begin!!!! Starting things off with this one! And it’s good! Getting low tho!

A little bitter today…not sure why…but not overly so it’s still pretty good.

Started with this flavored black today and it was great but I think I am more in the white and green mood for today…

This is another one of those teas that will draw you in by the aroma. It’s lovely. This is only my 2nd attempt but I have decided that I do like it very much.

Ahhhh! Here’s my Black Flavored Tea for the day! I’m typing as I taste. As soon as you open the tin the Dried Strawberry Scent fills my nose and my work cubicle. What a lovely scent! It pretty much stays true thru steeping. I made sure I didn’t oversteep as suggested by more than one of our follow steepsters! It’s not a very strong black tea taste it’s more of a medium strength. The Strawberry addition is very nice. It blends well and I like it. I must say my favorite part of this tea is the aroma. I will certainly be sipping this again tho…thumbs up!

Drinking a cup of #40 before heading out to lunch. And where am I going…

http://www.worldcupoftea.com/

I took my mom here for her birthday and we did the Royal-tea lunch. It was pretty cool, and their teas were mostly tasty. I was not impressed with their staff, however. I think I was expecting a true tea sommelier or Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast or something. Instead, it was mostly a hippy staff. I’m not saying that being a hippy is bad (I’ve been known to hug a few trees)…just odd in a tea establishment that is known for their British High Tea ceremony. That, and the fact that when my mom asked about a certain tea, the hippy dude said, and I quote, “It’s a green tea…so umm, ya know…you might like it…if you like green tea.” Nice. Their tea menu is online, so I’ve been writing a few teas down to give the smell test when I get there.

As for this tea, I find my self saying, “It’s not bad…(insert long pause)…for Adagio.” After close to a year of all Adagio, all the time, I’m waiving goodbye. I thank them for helping me tune my tastes but I think it’s time to move on. Also, tea swaps are fantastic for finding new companies and teas to try out. I thank all of my tea swap buddies this year for all of the teas, funny emails, and general awesomeness. I hope everyone has a fantastic, tea-filled 2010.

More #40, more #40! Start the wave!

I couldn’t drink anything else this morning. So much for this being my “special tea”. It’s too good to ration off. Two days in a row of #40 = a good thing.

This is such a good oolong. Really, it’s just Mmmm. I want all my oolongs like this. Simple, smooth, mellow, rich. Sooo good AND it holds up to multiple steeps very well. I believe one can only drink this tea hot…to ice it would cheapen it. (But it would probably still be delicious.) I’m raising my initial rating. Damn good.

My new stash is in!!! (picked up off the front porch by my eye-rolling husband.) I was really excited to try this one, so I’m drinking it first. The leaves smell and look really nice, both dry and wet. The picture looks just like the dry leaves…but after steeping, several of the leaves unfurled to show whole 1-1.5 inch leaves. Pretty neat!

I’m not really picking up any of the peachy notes, but it doesn’t matter. #40 is very smooth and soft tasting with a tiny smoky aftertaste. It also brews up pretty dark. I don’t know how this tea and ali shan are in the same oolong category. I highly favor this type/style of oolong over the hand rolled, super dry tasting other oolongs. However, I wish I preferred the others considering this tea is $44 for a 6oz tin. Diggity damn! #40 might have to be my “special occasion” or “really bad day” tea.

I’ll just keep steeping this cup until I’m drinking clear, hot water…it’s THAT tasty.

Had a cup of this just now…fairly decent :)

Seemed very refreshing to me this morning! :)

Smooth. Light. Juicy. Buttery. Earthy. Semi-Sweet. YUM!

I know this sounds a little odd but the smell prior to steeping reminds me of buttered vegetable with a pinch of pepper. The coloring seemed to be a typical green tea color. The taste is smooth and light with a bit of sweetness. A good starter tea for those who are unsure or not used to greens. I think I like it. :)

Where the heck did YOU come from?

I didn’t even know I had this in my stash until just now…oh well…it’s been a while since I have had this…nearly a year…It’s ok…much of the flavorings are no longer around but the aroma from afar I can still smell the coco and mint…nom….

SIPDOWN #2 of the day!

All I can smell today with this is Cigar. It’s a tad cocomint-esque to taste but I don’t remember this combo like this the last time I had it…

Refreshing Scent. If less loose leaf is steeped for the suggested 7 minutes it does taste a tad different. It seems to be more minty than cocomint but that is still ok with me. I do like this Rooibos! If you are new to Rooibos and enjoy minty fresh – try this!

Today I was having a craving for Rooibos…not sure why. This fit the bill. Very much like a minty hot chocolate without the swiss miss suds. Altho it smelled a little like a cocomint type cigar upon first sniff today it will still well worth the cup!

Eventho I was thinking a black tea to start my day – I did this one instead. Upon opening the tin – the aroma of mini mint chocolate chips or maybe even ice cream seems to be the thought that first enters my mind. It seems to steep fairly quickly. As you steep it is smells more chocolate and less minty. At first sip you can taste the Rooibos but the Chocolate follows it and the Mint is the caboose. The after taste is more minty than anything. As the tea sits in your cup for a while it gives off a slight coffee sent but doesn’t really taste like it. Nice, creative blend. MIGHT be one of my favorite flavored Rooibos Blends from Adagio so far…but I am still pondering that for sure. In the meantime…a thumbs up!

I bought this mainly for iced tea, but my overall tea stash is dangerously low so I’ve been taking it hot. Really nice for a fruity tea—not fake or cloying.

I see that my Sororitea Sister Liberteas hasn’t tried this one…I will send the rest her way :)