Cornelia Bean

Recent Tasting Notes

80

A big ol shoutout to VariaTEA for sending this my way!
I just finished off the rest tonight :)

A lovely tea, a lovely rooibos! I haven’t had rooibos in so long, and I actually brewed it the normal way to see if my taste has changed, but nooope. I still like my rooibos in the hottest water ever steeping in 15+ minutes. I steep it for as long as I can!

In other news, my roommate tripped and fell down the stairs this morning sooooo it’s a party at our place and my roommates and I are in her room watching Netflix and drinking tea :))

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80

Dude.
Swaps are taking over my entire life right now.
Thank you VariaTEA for including this tea in our swap!
Ahh DRINK ALL THE ROOIBOS!!!

I actually only picked this tea up from out of the package because of the name. Dude, Swaziland? Sounds way cool :)
Thank you Rachel for giving me so many rooibos teas, and actually helping me at least try to cut caffeine out of my nighttime routine haha.

Accidentally weighed out 4g of this even though I’m using my 8oz mug, Ahh well, at least I love all my rooibos like super way overleafed and oversteeped :)
It smells interesting. Like nice, sweet south african rooibos, but I definitely smell hints of flora… and cinnamon? I think it’s just my nose playing with me hahah
Okay seriously, I feel like it’s a good thing that I added too much tea for this mug. After like 5 minutes, I tasted it and it’s just leafy water. I don’t know, I’m just weird with my rooibos okay
IT’S GOOD! I like it a lot! But I’m probably going to let this steep for another like 10 minutes :)

It’s a really nice rooibos. I really like the sweetness of the rooibos, and yet there’s a bit of a punch with the fruity flavours. Yep. It’s good :)

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 4 g 8 OZ / 236 ML
VariaTEA 11 years ago

I was disappointed with this one. It has like 5 billion ingredients and I taste NONE of them :(. Also, flora and cinnamon is probably accurate.

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drank Sweet Temptation by Cornelia Bean
2291 tasting notes

So good. Rooibos form of Bayswater Divine Temptation. Wee hazelnut nougats. Nice nutty sweet flavour.

I “had” to finish the maple whipped cream otherwise it would go watery, don’t ya know… :)

(2.5 tsp in 16 oz-ish)

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec 16 OZ / 473 ML
VariaTEA 11 years ago

Maple whipped cream would definitely suit this well. Good call :)

DeliriumsFrogs 11 years ago

maple whipped cream and hazelnut nougats….mmmmm!
(and I most definitely know. you CAN’T have watery whipped cream lying around….)

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drank Sweet Temptation by Cornelia Bean
2291 tasting notes

Yep, this is Divine Temptation by Bayswater in rooibos form.

Yum yum yum.

Mostly nougat, really nice with a little almond milk, would buy again (but probably local as this is available in a couple places here).

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
Show 2 previous comments...
VariaTEA 11 years ago

I think I prefer Divine Temptation as it was as sweet but they are definitely very similar.

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

I haven’t tried the Divine Temptation rooibos yet. I think I’ll have to, though. Yum yum tea.

VariaTEA 11 years ago

Is there a Divine Temptation rooibos??

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

Well, she said they had it the last time I was in. Green, as well. But their website is seriously out of date and it’s not listed.

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Boozey, nutty, rooibos. It’s actually really nice this evening with some maple whipped cream on top. Too bad the boozey flavours are so overpowering when it’s plain.

Thanks for sharing, VariaTEA. :)

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
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Courtney 11 years ago

Maple whipped cream drool.

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

I, uhh, was eating it with a spoon, then decided I should probably make some tea to add it to. #dinnerofchampions

VariaTEA 11 years ago

Maple whipped cream sounds soo tasty.

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

Yeah, it makes pretty much any dessert-like tea better.

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Wow! Boozy hazelnut rooibos (kinda sorta) tea!

Like! Yes, I do like this one. Very hazelnut, but not an overpowering flavour unless you consider the booziness. That really surprises me, actually. The rooibos lends itself well to a base for this flavour, and isn’t hugely apparent.

I’ve never had frangelico before, so I have nothing to compare it to. But this is good!

For a hazelnut tea, I prefer Zen Tea’s Bossa Nova, but it’s caffeinated and this isn’t. So there is that.

Thanks for suggesting this one, VariaTEA!

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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86
drank Juicy Peach by Cornelia Bean
513 tasting notes

This tea has a ton going on! I could not believe how long the ingredient list was, and that was only the ingredients available to choose! I cold steeped a pitcher of this today. It brewed super fast and the hibiscus was very apparent in the dark pink hue the finished tea took on.

In terms of flavour, it has all the tartness from the hibiscus with notes from the lemon grass and the peach bits. I think it is a peachy tea, but a very tart peach. I am finding it refreshing, but I tend to like a bit of hibiscus in my teas to add that touch of tartness to them.

I can’t see this doing as well as a hot tea, but I have to admit it is pretty amazing cold steeped! This will be showing up more in my pitcher as the weather warms up!

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Dexter 11 years ago

Oh I would like this…. Nice review – will have to pick some up!!

Sil 11 years ago

mmmmmmmm

mewakeling 11 years ago

If you like hibiscus and don’t mind a tart peachy tea, I highly recommend it.

Sil 11 years ago

shopping list it goes!

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How is it possible that I haven’t logged this?
I drank the last of it last night and just went to remove it from my cupboard and noticed that I’ve never logged it. How rude!!

This is one of my favorite from Cornelia Bean. It’s almond, it’s caramel, it’s something like burnt toffee, it’s oooey goooey sweet. Even better steeped with the MissB lower temp shorter steep trick.
If I’m ever allowed into Cornelia Bean again, I will pick up more of this – awesome desserty type tea.

Show 17 previous comments...
boychik 11 years ago

Do you keep a spreadsheet for all the teas. I was removing but then realized what if I forget if I had that tea before. My memory is not that great anymore;)

Dexter 11 years ago

LOL I am NOT organized enough to to keep a spread sheet. I try really hard to make sure I’ve logged all the teas that I’ve tried. This is my “memory”, if it says “drank one time” then I’ve tried it – if it doesn’t, it’s either in my cupboard, or I haven’t tried it. So far that’s working for me.
What I need a spread sheet for is to keep track of which teas I’ve sent to which swap buddies, I’m always afraid of sending them something I’ve sent them before. I really need to get organized. :))

boychik 11 years ago

Good idea. I try to stick to ppl wish list and many times I add whatever I liked a lot. So I need 2 spreadsheets. You know my hubby is a programmer so his rule is to back up every 5 min. What if god forbid smth will happen to Steepster?

Dexter 11 years ago

What if god forbid smth will happen to Steepster? LOL Don’t even joke about it – if that happens I’m lost – what would I do without my Steepster buddies? No I don’t even want to think about it….

Anna 11 years ago

This link is very helpful, I think, since it’s all in one page, and searchable: http://steepster.com/clareborn/feed.rss

(And I keep lists of what I send to whom in my gmail drafts folder.)

Sil 11 years ago

dexter…that’s why you need to answer my FB message..

Dexter 11 years ago

Thanks Anna – that’s an awesome link. I didn’t know it existed. Love learning new stuff.

Anna 11 years ago

<3

Dexter 11 years ago

FB message – OMG I haven’t logged into FB in at least 6 months….LOL right – I’m on that.

Anna 11 years ago

LOL.

Sil 11 years ago

Anna….we has her naao!

Anna 11 years ago

We spun a webb of HAIRS.

Sil 11 years ago

I think we lost her…

Anna 11 years ago

I think she probably just doesn’t understand how FB works. Six months is like six years in FB time…

Sil 11 years ago

That’s true….

ifjuly 11 years ago

i don’t keep a spreadsheet, but whenever a new tea comes in i stick it in a gigunda google doc list (i started out sorting it by tea types, but i’ve gotten lazy about that), and if i ever wonder if i have something already i control-F for it. when i’ve tried it, i put a strikethrough over it, and when i really like it i put a star next to it (when i hate it, which is rare, i put a big X next to it). not as organized as a spreadsheet, but works for me and is faster.

ifjuly 11 years ago

and yeah, thanks so much for that Anna! super helpful. i hate trying to find a log of a tea i know i’ve logged before from the actual tea page, sifting through pages of reviews.

Anna 11 years ago

Haha, beware of the big X! And yeah, it’s really helpful – I wish I remembered who told me about it so I could give proper credit.

tea-sipper 11 years ago

Oh I must try this one soon that you sent a while back!

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I double steeped this into a travel mug today, and drank it on my way home from work.

Unfortunately, it does not stand well on its own. Much much much better with milk added. The puerh and the berry are just so distinctly separate, it’s like you’re actually drinking two teas. I’m not a fan. So I think this tea needs to leave my cupboard.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
Sil 10 years ago

not one, but TWO! ah ah ah ah ah

OMGsrsly 10 years ago

Sadly it’s not as beneficial as it sounds…

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Today, with cream.

Mmm…

A little “flavoured” tasting, as in I am getting a tiny bit of chemical taste. But still, I really like the flavour combo. It’s more earthy steeped at 212F than my usual 195F (I do 195 because my kettle holds that temp for 30 minutes.)

Puerh is definitely a good thing to have with the slowcooker ribs I had for breakfast today. :)

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 30 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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… interesting. Definitely black currant, definitely puerh. I think I quite like it, but it’s not what I was expecting (what was I expecting?).

With almond milk.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 4 min, 15 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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88

Yum yum. So orangey. Also with nettle leaves, for the health factor.

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88

Yum. Another favourite. Good thing the bag is never ending, because the minimum $100 order means I’m unlikely to ever get more of this one!

Lovely orangey sagey nettley tea. It’s super good with honey, but I’m not having honey tonight.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML
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Sil 10 years ago

Wrong…just means you get me to add to my order when I do it eventually…some day…

Kittenna 10 years ago

What makes it “greek”? I looked at the ingredient list and was half-expecting to see oregano, haha. (Is it a traditional flavour combo?)

OMGsrsly 10 years ago

No idea! Most other ‘Greek mountain’ teas have some herb in them that grows in Greece.

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88

Oh, I’m really really liking this tea. Thanks for the order idea, VariaTEA! :)

So orangey. So sweet and herbal. Lemony as well. I like it best with ~1/4 tsp honey in a 16 oz mug, but it’s good plain as well.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 15 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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88

SMELLS SO GOOD. So orangey. And it’s soft and bouncy like a pillow!

Steeping, it smells divinely orangey.

Steeped, it tastes orangealicious. And a little herbally from the nettle and chamomile.

SO GOOD. Well. Unless you don’t like one of the ingredients and then it would be terrible. But for an orangey, nettle-and-chamomile-and-other-things tea? This is really really nice. I bet it would be good with a little honey, and poured over ice, too.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 7 min, 45 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
Show 2 previous comments...
VariaTEA 11 years ago

YAY!! I am happy the pillow tea also delivers in flavor. It would be sad if it didn’t :P

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

It’s just what I was hoping for from the smell, and I didn’t even add any sweetener of any kind! WOO!

VariaTEA 11 years ago

Nice. It smelled really good too.

Plunkybug 11 years ago

That does sound good!

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drank Lime Sage Rooibos by Cornelia Bean
2291 tasting notes

This isn’t my favourite tea because the rooibos is kinda heavy and overly present. However, it smells divine and has worked out really well this evening with half a spoon of Teavana’s Limeade Twist and 1/4 tsp honey.

Yum.

I think I need more.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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drank Lime Sage Rooibos by Cornelia Bean
2291 tasting notes

I cold brewed this! 3 tbsp in 2L water, overnight.

SO GOOD! It’s sweet, and limey, and somewhat herbaceous. Green, is the colour I’d assign to this tea.

So amazingly good! Yes, there’s a little woodiness from the rooibos (stronger now that the tea is almost room temperature), but the sweet and the lime and the herb are so present.

A+ choice, self. A+ choice.

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Sil 11 years ago

oooooo sounds really tasty!

MissB 11 years ago

Ooh, sounds fatastic.

VariaTEA 11 years ago

Haha this one smelled sooo good but for my tastes, I prefer Lime Chiffon

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

In having a glass with a squeeze of line and a tiny bit of sugar. So happy with it. Not sure if want much more than I have, but I will definitely enjoy it! (Noted, MissB and Sil!)

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drank Lime Sage Rooibos by Cornelia Bean
2291 tasting notes

My first cup of this is GREAT! It smells intensely limey with some sage, but the flavour is mellowed out a bit by the rooibos.

I was kind of expecting more sage, TBH.

But it’s still good.

Nice and herbal-y. Nice and limey.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
TeaLady441 11 years ago

Oh good. Nice and limey. NOT nice and slimey.

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

Mmm, slimey tea. LOL! Maybe not.

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WOOOO!!! I got the shared tea orders from VariaTEA today! Butiki (which needs to be shipped off to Amarial tomorrow), and Cornelia Bean. And some samples. I see what you did there, VariaTEA. :)

So this is the first one I’m trying. Next up will be a white chocolate raspberry and cream matcha latte, I think. Mmm…

Right. Back to the tea I’m with now. This is definitely an assam. I sniffed it dry and brewed, and it’s very… assam-y. Yeah. There is some vanilla in it, both a hint of alcohol-based flavouring and the bean. Takes milk well.

So yeah. This is pretty good. I don’t really think it’s spectacular, but it’s tasty and nice and strong. Not too fussy of a base, and fairly mild flavouring. It’s mostly enough vanilla to take the edge off and supplement the flavours of the base. Makes the tea a little creamier.

Flavors: Vanilla

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
Show 5 previous comments...
VariaTEA 11 years ago

I was going to try this one but it smelled very strongly of the base tea so I did not :P. Btw, how fluffy is the orange tea?!?!

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

IT’S LIKE A PILLOW!!! :) And yes, this tea is very much, “ASSAM! Oh btw here’s a tiny bit of vanilla.”

VariaTEA 11 years ago

It really was a pillow. You should take that tea if you ever go travelling because it could be both something you can drink, and something you can rest your head on for long journeys :P

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

LOL. That’s an awesome idea. Too bad I didn’t get two bags – one for work and one for travel!

Sami Kelsh 11 years ago

This sounds nice. I sometimes like flavoured stuff where the flavour just adds a little something to what’s already present in the base, rather than being THE flavour of the tea.

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

It was a random add-on because we needed to spend more. :) Success!

Sami Kelsh 11 years ago

Ha! I’ve had so many of those :p

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78
drank Romeo & Juliet by Cornelia Bean
6444 tasting notes

This is a really interesting tea. There is a fair amount of sweetness derived from the figs with a hint of caramel drizzled on top. As I continue to sip, the floral of the rose kicks in but in a fresh sort of way as opposed to being chemical or perfumey. Finally, the sip ends with rosemary which sits on your tongue long after the experience is over. Definitely a unique flavor profile and one I am glad I will get to have again. Hopefully, OMGsrsly enjoys her half of this as much as I have enjoyed mine.

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

To milk, or not to milk. That is the question. ;)

VariaTEA 11 years ago

Try without milk first and then you can see the difference.

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71
drank Rhubarb Meringue by Cornelia Bean
6444 tasting notes

A few days ago, Roswell Strange mentioned enjoying this cold brewed so I decided to follow her lead. Then I strained this and forgot about it as I focused on my sipdowns. However, today Cavocorax and I were talking about this tea and that reminded me of this sitting in the fridge.

Tastewise, the meringue element comes out much more in the cold brew than the hot tea. The rhubarb, on the other hand, is a bit more muted. Now if only the base were toned down a touch more, I would be one happy camper. As it is, I just find that the hint of grassiness coming from the green base is a distraction from the rest of the experience.

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71
drank Rhubarb Meringue by Cornelia Bean
6444 tasting notes

My friend asked me which teas have I not tried. This was one of the few that I have yet to taste so I brewed some up for us to try. Personally, I far prefer the Strawberry Meringue as I am finding the flavors in this to be muted. The base is buttery and it is definitely the most prominent element. I am not really detecting much rhubarb though and the meringue only seems to be present as a slight sweetness in the cup despite two meringue bits being in the steeper. All in all, this won’t be a restock but it is not bad.

Sil 11 years ago

interesting!

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58

Cold brewed this and it definitely tastes like a liqueur. Both the nutty and alcohol components are present and there is no rooibos to be found. Alas, I guess when I bought this, I was hoping for more of a nutty flavor and less of an alcohol taste. So I give it points for being accurate but I am just not loving this tea.

Show 1 previous comments...
Dexter 11 years ago

:(( I love this one – but to each their own. Sorry it’s not for you.

VariaTEA 11 years ago

No worries. There are so many teas in the world that you can’t love them all. Plus, I should have known.

OMGsrsly 11 years ago

Ooo… a boozy tea? I’ll have to break this open tonight.

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58

So the only other review for this tea is by Dexter3657, who loved this, but as I sip away at my mug, I can’t help but feel like we are drinking two completely different teas. I am finding the taste a bit off, like rather than the tasty flesh of the almond, I got all the woody skins (wow that sounds more morbid than I intended). Nothing is really coffee-esque to me and there really isn’t anything in the ways of chocolate either. I suppose this one is just not for me, though I will play with it a bit more to see if I can make it work. Hopefully, OMGsrsly’s experience with this tea will be more akin to Dexter’s when I finally get around to sending her her half (I am sorry it has taken so long btw!)

Dexter 11 years ago

Sorry you didn’t like this one. To each their own – but maybe try lower water less steep. LOL That’s what I’m telling everyone who doesn’t like a rooibos tea. 90C 3 minutes….

VariaTEA 11 years ago

I did 95 for 5 minutes so maybe that was the issue :P

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