August Uncommon Tea

I’m enjoying my staycation so far; I’ve got a handful of different things planned throughout the next seven days but today is all about tea, being lazy, and reading comics…

So, I combined those things into some sloppy Gongfu with a standby favourite Moonlight Pu’erh – in fact, possibly the first Moonlight Pu’erh I ever tried? It’s easy to steep, so forgiving, and has some lovely flavour notes. The tea is sweet and medium bodied; pleasant white peach meets fresh cream, cucumber pulp, & straw. Very easy sipping!

I combined this with a new Flash comic – I’ve never been a DC fan but something about Flash speaks to me more than other DC heroes so I decided to dip my toes in, so to speak, and see if I can get into this comic. Not that I needed a new series to get hooked on, but, well… Oops.

I also had some slightly under ripe tamarillo near the end of my session. It was the first time I’ve tried one and I found it had a bit of a guava/tomato/melon type of flavour, with a little bit of mild sharpness/dryness. It was actually a good offset to the sweetness of the white tea, with it’s peach and hay notes. Not a perfect pairing, but not half bad either.

Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8_5LXvgnJe/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDeNQNtW1f8

Had a baby cup of this earlier in the day, while I was getting ready for work.

Very, very smooth profile – I was actually a little surprised I could taste it so clearly! It’s not that it’s lacking in flavour, I’m just coming off that cold now and I thought that there was a chance that I wouldn’t pick up on the flavours of this one. I don’t know that my palate is completely back to normal yet?

Anyway, it tasted like a hot cucumber water infusion, but with sweet and smooth straw/hay notes as well. Really peaceful, relaxing with a crisp/clear top note and clean finish. Light bodied overall, but leaning into being something a little more medium bodied.

Iced, with a smidgen of honey.

This was very light and refreshing, which is what I want from an iced tea. Especially if I’m going to be drinking it at the beginning of my shift at work after standing outside in the sweltering heat, then spending a period of the time on the gross, equally hot bus. I just need something cool, and hydrating to start my shift off with!

Honey was a good choice in that it drew out some of the peachier notes in this tea and made those fruity elements pop a little bit more. It also, weirdly, did the same thing to the more herbaceous qualities of the blend. So, this was like very delicate, nuanced hay notes with a burst of peach at the top of the sip and then a burst of rosemary in the finish. So strange; but still really good.

Is it weird if I say my mug of this last night tasted like latex gloves… in a good way?

Probably.

It’s not quite midnight, but getting there…

I found myself with a real craving for some late night white tea so I made myself a few different small teacups in close succession, starting with this one. On a whim, I added a drizzle of honey to the cup as well.

I have to say, this is really good with the honey. It draws out the sweetness of the peach notes a lot more so that the tea is less of a soft, nuanced peach and more of a medium to full bodied, stronger solid peach note. Like biting into a fresh, ripe peach and less like the gentle floral sweetness of peach skins. That said, even though the flavour is a little more juicy and rich, that doesn’t stop this from being a more tender tea overall.

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-8H-vRXjyU&index=1&list=LL1M1wDjmJD4SJr_CwzXAGuQ

Recently rewatched Les Miserables, so probably gonna be listening to the soundtrack a lot while enjoying my tea over the next few days. It’s just what I do; I’ve been singing the songs to myself all day now. I like Cosette’s melodic, beautiful and tender voice paired with this tea. It’s kind of haunting in a very, very pretty way.

More like midday in the kitchen.

Spending the afternoon in and out of studying (last final is in less than an hour! ahh!) and baking Spookyween sugar cookies. You can’t do baking without a tea companion; and this is what teachat voted on out of the things I couldn’t decide between.

I’m really enjoying this mug: mostly getting a lot of mellow but sweet hay/straw notes but this does have a really pleasant soft peach finish to it. Maybe more peach skins than the fruit, though? Smooth, easy drinking and soft enough for a midday tea to break up all the other things I’ve had so far today.

And, I think it was good mojo drinking a white tea because this last presentation is all about Chinese style white teas…

Last tea of the night! I’m probably an idiot for drinking it at 10:00PM; the caffeine is gonna kick my ass. I’ve gone to work on zero sleep before though. I guess we’ll see what happens…

I’m reading other people’s reviews of this as I drink it: I’m really liking Srens description of this as a ‘bolder’ white tea. That certainly seems apt – though I think I’m gonna slightly rephrase and call it, instead, a more ‘empowered’ version of a white tea. The difference there is, of course, subtle but I don’t actually think this has ‘bold’ flavours – more like it’s more nuanced and intricate. Ergo, an ‘empowered’ white tea/white tea at it’s best.

First thing I’ll point out is that this has a rather weighty mouthfeel. It’s thicker/viscous and feels lofty and lush in my mouth, which is really quite pleasant. It’s got that “timothy hay” flavour that is present in so many white teas; although this feels more… present. In addition to the hay notes, there’s a bit of an underlying sweetness that I guess is fruity? Probably the nectarine notes described on the tin, although I don’t really think it tastes like nectarines. I’m not sure what fruit it tastes like to me though; maybe more of a dried fruit/generic “fruit leather” sort of taste? Body of the sip is crisp and vegetal; reminds me a little bit of the ‘pulpy’/fleshy part of a cucumber. It’s also malty in the same way as I’ve found a lot of African/Kenyan whites to be, and has a pleasant herbaceous like finish that lingers for a profoundly long time.

It’s very interesting, for sure. Honestly, overall, it doesn’t have the most unique set of flavour notes does it? But I guess it doesn’t need to be unique to be successful or tasty, does it? I suppose I was just expecting something a little more… out there? But it’s been a really pleasant cup so far and I look forward to tweaking things slightly next time I brew this to get the most out of each cup and improve upon the experience.

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kh09MuIfIU&list=LL1M1wDjmJD4SJr_CwzXAGuQ&index=123

Love, love, love this song – and I think Iron and Wine is just really good music to drink tea to in general. It’s so pleasant, and soft and comforting. But more so, I just feel like the overall feeling of the song and imagery in the lyrics really well reflects the aesthetic and vibe of the tea that August Uncommon was going for; both in how they named it, and the flavour notes, and even how it’s described on the tin/on their website.

Mother don’t worry, she’s got a garden we’re planting together…

Love tea/song pairings that tell a story; it just elevates the experience so much.

This is one of the best chocolate teas I’ve tried: rich, bittersweet chocolate flavor with a hint of hazelnut. It’s definitely on the pricey side, but worth it for a special treat. It was delicious straight, but I’m curious to also try it as a latte…milk and sugar might take it over the top!

005/365

I wasn’t sure what I wanted this morning, as I went through my tea drawer. I knew it wouldn’t be a herbal, because I feel so terrible in the mornings at the moment that caffeine is absolutely essential. I finally settled on this one, although the idea the description presented to me and the reality of this blend are two quite different things.

The description promises spice, tobacco, and pineapple, so I was thinking savoury/fruity. After a quick sniff, it became evident that chocolate would be the main deal, and it is. It’s a whole lot sweeter than I expected, with milk chocolate front and centre. There’s also a hint of pineapple, sweet and juicy, which pairs better with the chocolate than I was expecting. I mean, in my head, pineapple and chocolate isn’t the most natural combination. So, straight up, it’s really chocolatey and fruity.

Tobacco conjured up the idea of smoke, but there are no smoke notes here. It’s not like a lapsang, of anything of that ilk. What there is is a heady sweetness, more like a cigar or pipe tobacco, which in hindsight makes a lot more sense. It’s almost perfumey, but it doesn’t quite cross that line. Just sweet, and fragrant, with a touch of vanilla.

There’s a hint of black pepper right at the end of the sip, and that’s the only spicy note I get from this one. It works, in an off-beat gourmand sort of way.

It took a few sips for me to realise, but I actually really like this one. It’s quite desserty, which was unexpected, and I don’t feel like the description prepared me for that. The chocolate notes are top-notch, though, and the other flavours are complementary and well balanced. The black base (assam, plus a South Indian black) is smooth and malty, perfectly suited.

I’m late to the August Uncommon party, but glad to be here at last!

This was my black tea in my order from August (I would have ordered Leatherbound if they’d had it in stock, but I had to settle for this one). Man, am I glad! This tea smells quite rough and pungent (my husband said they pretty much nailed the tobacco smell), and there’s a slight burnt aroma, like someone grilled the pineapple, which sounds awesome. It’s also got one of the best pineapple smells I’ve ever gotten from a tea (Lupicia’s was slightly better, but this one is a very close second). I had very high hopes, and I was not disappointed. We sweetened this one, because it seemed like the right thing to do, between wanting to bring out the pineapple flavoring and tone down the overall edginess. It was all at once punchy and smooth, sweet and spicy, with a flavor that reminded me of almond extract that oddly helped to marry the tobacco and the pineapple. This was absolutely delicious, and unique. I may have to reorder this one.

I was so excited to get this sample (along with a couple of others) in the mail! I tried this one first, and I didn’t steep it for the full five minutes that it said on the package, because I don’t feel like any oolong really needs that long… but maybe I should have, because I feel like I didn’t get all the flavor that was promised to me by the AMAZING smell coming off the dry leaf. I think this is the first time that I have been able to detect all of the scents that the package said were there, instead of just some of them. The most prominent scent was the peach, followed by the pistachio and the crème fraiche, and then after a few whiffs I could smell a hint of lime. But the brew just didn’t deliver. I could taste the peach, and a little bit of the crème fraiche creaminess, but even after sweetening, I couldn’t coax any pistachio or lime flavor out of it. The oolong was nice and bready, and slightly naturally sweet, but weak, like someone swapped half of it out for mineral water (or didn’t steep it long enough… maybe I will try it again steeped for five minutes…?). I liked this tea, but it’s nothing to write home about.

Another Gift from the lovely Whiteantlers.

And a new one.

This has got to be a Jin Xuan. There is a little bit of a lemon custard quality in the aftertaste, but it’s otherwise a creamy light green oolong. The leaves are actually pretty big and stemy. HIGHLY spinachy, but not overly vegetal. I’ll try it again, but I’m not too impressed.

Delving into the box Sil sent to me awhile back, finally!
This tea was a pure pleasure to drink! Very smooth, very light, initially I thought of Genmaicha, but the roasty flavor was more like nuts, especially peanuts, instead of toasted rice, and it also features a buttery quality.
Thanks Tea Sister!! This one is a win!

I’m finally digging into the most recent box from my Tea Sister Sil, reaching in and grabbing something randomly, and this was the sample of the day.

It’s terrible, LOL. I tried not to have an opinion up front, but I’ve tried similar things, and I knew I probably wouldn’t like it. I even tried adding a little sweetening to see if that helped, but it didn’t, at least not for me.

I should also mention that a year ago I added Nightshades to my long list of foods that I have reactions to, and so I haven’t been eating anything with potatoes, tomatoes, peppers or chili’s since then, resulting in a major improvement in my health, and although I thought I probably wouldn’t have a problem with a little tea, I was wrong. Within a few sips my cheeks started flushing, so I tried to pawn the rest of the tea off on one of my sons, and he didn’t like it either. I always hate dumping tea out, but gone are the days of me forcing myself to drink something I don’t care for! There are so many better tasting teas to drink!

Still, thanks for the opportunity Sister!

This is a sample from apieceofquiche. Thank you again for allowing me to give this a try.

Western Style in an Adagio Ingenuitea. 3 minutes. 12 g/16 oz water.

“Smoked Bourbon Vanilla.”

Unsweetened: Every sip seems to introduce a new flavor. However, I taste that smoky bourbon flavor. There seems to be a slight burnt sugar note, maybe a little caramel or honey in the aftertaste. The dry leaf definitely gave off this tomato soup with BBQ sauce smell, but it’s proving to be more enjoyable than expected.

Sweetened: With a little sugar added, I’m getting Tomato Soup Cake. Perhaps this would pair well with sweets, like butterscotch, caramel candies, or cake.

It’d be a good afternoon tea for guests. However, teas like this are often considered to be winter teas for me. I’m mostly a “light” tea kind of guy in the summer; that, or overly fruity, if I drink anything with added flavors. I like it. Definitely has that Bourbon Street Vanilla vibe to it.

I received a sample of this from apieceofquiche yesterday (Thank you again). I figured that I needed a boost this morning, and that I might as well try something beyond my usual preference, in both flavor and tea.

Aroma: I must admit that there’s quite an unusual aroma to the dry leaf and liquid. The dry leaf reminds me of an old spice rack that had leaked out some of it’s contents; which then was mixed somehow by water, giving it that Cajun seasoning vibe. The tea in the cup reminds me of a Lapsang with a splash of orange and tomato juice.

Flavor: BBQ sauce. Or as apieceofquiche had written, “BBQ sauce or liquid bacon.” I’d find this tea to pair well with various meats you’d find at a cookout. Instead of pre-soaking your steak in some oddball bag of sauces, steep a cup of this, soak the steak in your tea, and there you’ll have a delightful BBQ steak. The citrus only sweetens that smokiness, but it also gently adds a tomato bite. I guess you could give this tea to an everything-bacon kind of person, and they’d enjoy it; however, it’s not quite what I’m looking for in a tea.

Thank you again, apieceofquiche. Unfortunately, this isn’t my cup of tea either. Ha-ha.

I gave this blend a go this morning and, again, could not make it through the cup. I’m getting a bit of spice and a bit of sweetness on top of a lot of smoke. Not to sound like a repeat of yesterday’s tealog entry, but it’s like BBQ sauce or liquid (lightly peppered) bacon. I added a bit of milk to see if that would tone down the smokiness. It did, but it still tasted odd. I can’t wrap my head around it (smoky tea). I’m happy to have stepped out of my comfort zone, but I think it’s safe to say that smoked black tea is not my thing.

If anyone (in the US) is interested in sampling this, please let me know. Happy to pass it along to someone that enjoys smoky teas. :)

Wowzers. Or more appropriately…HOLY SMOKES!

It’s certainly a unique blend. The scent reminds me of aged bourbon while curled up beside a roaring fire. It’s smokey yet sweet. It’s got nice depth and complexity, but it’s a bit too smokey for me to enjoy. Truthfully, I felt like I was drinking barbecue sauce (sans tomato). Does that make sense? I actually started coughing when I removed the cover of my infuser. #lightweight

I’m happy I gave it a try, but I’ll be re-homing what’s left of it. If anyone (in the US) is interested in sampling this, please let me know. Happy to pass it along to someone that enjoys smoky teas. :)

I’m currently sipping my second steep of this blend. The first steep had a bit too much spice for me. There’s just enough black pepper to tickle the back of your throat and make you question the list of ingredients. There aren’t many ingredients, but the blend manages to taste quite complex without thirty ingredients and additives (I’m looking at you DT). I’ll admit that I couldn’t really get through the first cuppa hot. Pineapple and spice are really iffy ingredients for me, but the combination sounded so intriguing. I ended up adding a few ice cubes to the rest of my first cuppa and that was much more pleasant. The black pepper was still present but was more tolerable and the sweetness of the dried pineapple seemed a bit more apparent.

I don’t think I like it enough to go for a third steep.

Again, lovely black tea base that’s very smooth and easy to drink.

I think I’ll cold-steep the rest of my sample packet.

This is a really tasty gourmand tea. The smell of the dry leaf is quite intoxicating and very unique – rich, boozy, chocolaty. I’ve never had chestnuts before but the nuttiness in this blend reads hazelnut (not surprising given the ingredients) to my tastebuds. The black tea base was quite smooth and naturally sweet. The cocoa beans and husk lend a nice, bold chocolate flavor. I appreciate that the tea didn’t contain pieces of chocolate that would melt and, therefore, create that unappealing oiliness that coats the roof of your mouth.

I steeped the leaves three times before giving up the ghost.

Did I seriously polish off 100g of this in under four months? For a tea that didn’t dazzle me, that’s pretty darn impressive. I had 10g left in the bag so I made a massive cup and it turned out very chocolatey. The chocolate note in this is the highlight of this, in my opinion. I’m so glad I was able to snag some on sale since I still don’t think it was worth its full price.

That means the cupboard count is down to 43.

Finally writing about this despite being over 2/3 done with my pouch. I’ll say right away that while it’s good, it’s not super amazeballs ZOMG best EVAR like WOWZA. It’s indeed majorly chocolatey and nutty, but hazelnut rather than chestnut, which is unsurprising seeing that this actually has hazelnuts in the dry leaf. The cocoa husks, I’d say, play an important part in enhancing the chocolate notes in here.

I prefer this black rather than with milk, which seems to drown out the gourmand, desserty vibe this tea has, and oddly makes the chocolate note waxier and more artificial? Highly strange. You’d think it would just make it like milk chocolate, but no.

For a fraction of the price, I’d rather have Bayswater’s nutty/chocolatey teas: Divine Temptation, Creme Brûlée, and Chocolate Macchiato. Would I ever pass up a cup of this? Of course not, it’s delicious. Would I have problems finishing this? No way, it’s definitely enjoyable. But I won’t be crying in my sauerkraut once it’s gone either.

In the words of Daylon R Thomas, “Liquid Nutella is the best description I can offer.”

These samples have so far proven that there are other types of tea out there that I’ve yet to try; which I plan on trying more of, once I drink down more tea. It’s not that I’m not committed to tea, but I’m literally running out of room in my cupboard. I’ve purchased an unnatural amount in the past few months (there’s no such thing as an unnatural amount of tea, though), and I want to create a challenge for myself to see if I can drink away 5-6 teas before buying more.

Anyway, thank you for this lovely sample, Whiteantlers. It has been an adventure thus far, and I can’t wait to try the rest this week. :)

Backlog: sipdown. Dry smell – wood, burnt stuff. 100ml gaiwan, 180F. I didn’t really have enough leaf so improvising.
Taste – fruity, smooth, no aroma, wood. Wet leaf smells strongly of burnt cherry/fruit wood.

Not a whole lot of anthing from this tea- no real flavor. Compared to regular oolongs it’s meh. Compared to the aged oolong Liquid Proust shared, it’s not even close.

Glad that I only got a sample and that it was on sale. Random – I hate their steeping directions.