Adagio Teas

Its official, I like this tea…it got reordered. Just drinking the first cup from my refill order and remembering why I like it so much.

Last bit, finished the 4 oz tin. good to the last bit. ’nuff said.

I think I’ve finally perfected this tea. I kept getting bitterness but I’ve overcome that issue with the following: 1 Tsp leaves to 12 oz hot water @ 200 F for 30 seconds. basically, when you’re done pouring and have put the kettle back, its done steeping. I get the nice bergamot aftertaste without the bitterness.

Check out the steep time…yah, forgot about this one. It actually cooled off while steeping. Decided to give it a shot anyway…no pun intended, but my coworker asked me if I was doing “shots” when he saw me take a drink . Wow! I’ll hand it to Adagio though; even though the tea was waaayyyyy over strong, the flavor of their Earl Grey came through loud and clear. I ended up diluting it 50/50 with fresh boiling water and brought it back to something approaching only mildly oversteeped…a testament to good tea, I believe.

Drinking this again today. Its now 3 hours old and stone cold and, while its developed a bit of bitterness, it still has the bergamot flavor and is quite tasty. I had a cup of this sit overnight…wouldn’t recommend drinking it after its sat for any serious length of time as the overnight cup had apparently oxidized??? Anyway, it turned black…seriously, black like ink.

’nuther cup…mmmm

I really like this tea. I don’t get why others don’t. The dry tea smell is powerful…this could be a potpourri. The brewed tea has the same smell and the part that I really like is that the tea has the citrusy, bergamot taste. IMO, to many Earl Grey’s are all show and no go…they smell nice, but they have no flavor beyond English Breakfast at best, or a crappy mud tea at worst. To each, his own, I guess.

2nd cup today… putting this one on my “short list” of teas I’d like to keep around. Brewed a bit strong today, but still tasty. I like this one best after its cooled to lukewarm…it lets you keep it in your mouth and savor the flavor a bit longer. Makes my tongue tingle!

2nd Cup!

hmm, this one is sneaky. Initially I was put off by the citrus peel and cornflowers? in the mix and the scent was off…not the powerful bergamot oil smell I expected. I figured, at best, this would be like Twinnings’ Lady Earl Grey. Once steeped (212&6-7 minutes), allowed to cool…here comes the flavor! Earl Grey it is! Very flavorful with a long finish. I’ll put this one on my favorites list.
(and a nod to teaequalbliss for pointing this one out to me, TU)
(edit: research indicates that the citrus is likely bergamot peel!)

Mixed 2 parts Honeybush Mango with 1 part Ocean of Wisdom, add just a little honey. Awesome!

with a little agave.

Drank this today also and finished it all up. I love the curls of this tea when its dry. Cute :P Delicious and malty.

backlogging – drank this yesterday morning.

Had this for breakfast! Different and delicious! I love watching the pellets spread open into the pretty leaves. The pellets remind me of gunpowder but less balled up.

It tastes a little nutty and sweet to me.

Didn’t enjoy this the first couple times I drank it, but I think that’s because I steeped it too long. I took my time this cup, timed it for exactly 3 minutes, and it came out delicious!

I did add some honey to it, just a bit though, so there was a little sweetness that balanced out the smokiness of the tea. This tea just moved up in my book.

Footnote: My girlfriend just tried it and said “it tastes like mud” and “it tastes like I licked a cigarette” so apparently it may not be good for everyone :)

My last bit of this one. Yay for decupboarding! I do wish there was more chocolate in this. When made with creamer and sugar, it ends up being a gently spicy, nicely creamy tea with a hint of chocolate. And for something with chocolate in the name, I want more than just a hint of chocolate. Still, anything made with lots of sugar and creamer is never going to be bad.

Holy Crap!
Truly something enticing. Really had that unique and characteristic Darjeeling smell and taste, but with the nuance and beauty of Oolong. I was expecting a mediocre, amateur Oolong, but this really added a new facet to my favorite type of tea.

I’m impressed – astonished even.

Let’s hope the plantations of Darjeeling starting hitting the docks with first-flush Oolongs in the near future.

backlogging this mornings tea. Finished off my Masala Chai sample. I only had 1/2 a teaspoon left, so mixed equal parts Chai and Assam Melody as before. Love it!