Steepster

Backlog:

Still working on the backlogs … but I’m getting there!

Yummy roasty-toasty scent – always a good sign of a Houjicha, right? To me, Houjicha is a comfort tea, and this one is definitely comforting and cozy.

I didn’t get a lot of grassy/vegetative notes from this one, although I know that some of the other tasters reported some grassy notes. I taste more of a nutty flavor, which is typical of just about every Houjicha I’ve ever tasted. I can’t recall a Houjicha where this has not been the case.

I did get a lovely buttery tone and even notes of chocolate to this which was a nice complement to the toasted nut and caramel notes. Also a savory “salty” like quality that highlighted the nutty flavors.

A really good Houjicha. Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/02/28/houjicha-ichiban-green-tea-steepster/

This was a deep roast indeed – very toasty (almost smokey) buckwheat flavor, nutty. The intensity mellows by the second brew. I liked mixing it with some sencha (Japanese green) tea to create a genmaicha-like flavor (although genmaicha is with popped rice, not buckwheat).

Despite the hype that was created due to its rare origin (being from Laos), my husband and I both thought this was a pretty average tasting black tea (we drink a lot of loose tea). The first brew had a nice malty aroma with a bit of honey. My husband thought it was earthy on the second brew, but there wasn’t much else.

Backlog:

As I write in my full-length review of this tea – http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/02/22/organic-long-jing-03-steepster/ – this is a Long Jing that stands out among the many different Long Jing offerings that are out there. This is a really good Dragon Well.

Please click on the link above to read the review I wrote … it will tell you what you need to know about this tea.

One of my new favorites!

I got this is a swap with CharlotteZero! So, thank you so much!

There’s a lot of smoke and leather in the aroma of the brewed cup, but it doesn’t transfer into the flavor as strongly as I’d feared (though it definitely does). It’s actually slightly winey, with a tart fruit note in the back of the sip and a little bit of sweetness is present as well. It has a cooling sensation in my mouth, despite being piping hot.

Overall, this is a pretty good cup. I’m just unsure if it’s something I could see keeping on hand.

Backlog:

This tea tastes like spring to me. From the color of the beautifully bright, light green liquor to the invigorating taste that is light, crisp and reminiscent of fresh baby vegetables. Lightly brothy with notes that fall somewhere between vegetable and seaweed.

A really enjoyable balance between sweet and savory. A very satisfying flavor, as if I’m sipping on a nourishing broth. As I said in my full-length review of this tea – http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/02/15/obukucha-green-tea-steepster/ – it reminds me of a well-balanced meal.

The aroma of this tea is much like a nice mineral water. Similar to the smell of stones after it rains. The mineral continues to be forward facing in the flavor of the tea. However, it is not overpowering. I pick up on other flavors like mint, eucaluptus, and cut-grass that compliment out the minerals. While I didn’t pick up on the pine or savory flavors mentioned in the description. I believe this would be a great tea that could hold its own with a heavier meal. I am thinking a nice grilled steak cooked with rosemary. Another great and unique choice by Steepster in the select program.

This was quite a nice tea indeed, very mellow for a black, and possibly the biggest perk was it had no astringency! Just a nice warm, roasted earthy tasting finish, very hearty and mellow. The noticeable notes aside from the usual taste of red tea were of vanilla and cream. This tea’s scent and flavor reminds me somewhat of Thai tea, which is usually spiced with vanilla and other spices, so considering this was just pure tea, that’s quite an achievement. I feel this red tea was mellow enough to be a daily tea for black tea drinkers, and makes a great tea for traditional Gongfu Cha with a gaiwan.

I really enjoyed it. It’s certainly not the most interesting or unique red tea I’ve had, but definitely an elegant one.

The aroma of this tea what I think when I thing Oolong. After the tea cooled a bit I picked up a nice floral aroma mixed with a slight tobacco The first flavor I get is similar to homemade biscuits with a slight sweetness at the end. The sweetness is similar to agave. This is a great breakfast tea in my mind that would work itself into regular rotation. Now just to convince Steepster to start selling some of these teas

had 3 steepings of this first thing this morning – man, this is some tasty brew. i’m not the biggest fan of black tea, i mean, it’s ok…. but this one? delish. had the third steeping with a spoonful of sugar and some milk, just to see, and although i quite enjoyed that cup, i really liked it better without, which is unusual for me.

Yum, last serving of my yummy s.c.d.r.! So happy to drink it; so sad to see it go…

ok did i not log this one? ADORE! hits all the right spots for me, bready, roasty, toasty goodness!

Mmm…As soon as I smelled this in the package, I was so excited to try it.
It’s scent and flavor are reminiscent of Kellogg ’ Honey Smacks.
The liquor is about the color of dirty water, but the roasted, sweet & nutty flavor
are extremely satisfying. Enjoying this to the fullest..

Very mild and light tea. Some savory avocado flavors in the front, refreshing cucumber in the finish. I found the delicate nori aroma very pleasant. Nice tea for a warm spring or summer day. Not a challenging or complex tea, but enjoyable in its simplicity. 7/10

Another Steepster sipdown, which I accidentally steeped for…a long time, but luckily it was fine.

Back in my vegetatian/vegan days, we used to eat a lot of buckwheat at my house: Soba noodles, buckwheat pancakes, & Kasha (not to be confused with Kashi). I have a ton of tasty recipes that I miss, & I might have to try eating some Kasha soon, to see how it digests, since it’s not a true grain. Most buckwheat noodles have gluten in them, although I think Eden (or some other company that’s been around awhile) makes one that is 100% buckwheat.

So this tea was a trip down memory lane for me, like having a bowl of Kasha, without having to chew it. It’s not the first Soba Cha I’ve had, but I haven’t had one in awhile. A pleasant evening tea, roasty & sweet.

Not really much to say. This is a pleasant cup of malt & honey, & although I’m enjoying it, I wouldn’t say I love it, which is fine, as this is a sipdown!

I’ve been drinking my way through some of the Steepster Select teas today, and at the same time Tony & I have been draining the gigantic fishtank. This has been an ongoing process. Last weekend we set up a smaller tank, & today we had a fish catching contest (I won. I have crazy reflexes that are at times dangerous to me, LOL). Anyway, I’ve also been sipping teas.

This is a really tasty one, nicely malty & honey sweet. I didn’t find it to be overly astringent, but it does have this one taste that I haven’t been able to label. It’s a rustic kind of bitterness that I actually enjoy from time to time, & some of Mandala’s teas share this same feature.

Very nice. A mic surprise this month for sure. A sweet bread flavor to it that coats the mouth. Love it. Would be a great pairing with food.

I am glad I tried this tisane in the morning because the dry berries smell like dark toast. Smells like a breakfast diner.
I like buckwheat grain and eat a lot of different grains with vegetables so I was intrigued about an herbal drink made from it!!! I am thoroughly enjoying this!!!!!!
It is nutty, warm, “breakfasty”. I didn’t add anything to it but I could see a maple syrup doing quite well in this. Delicious!

From the Steepster Select box, March 2014

Second Steeping —-OK making another pot of this and looking at a package of buckwheat that I have in my pantry. Buckwheat is very high in magnesium, manganese, B vitamins, etc. I love this tisane!!! It is a very reviving and healthy drink!!

The flavor with the second steeping is still very good. Still toasty and no bitterness. I think the best was in the first steeping. I added a touch of maple syrup to see what it would do and it wasn’t as “mapley” as I thought it would be and this tisane does have a natural sweetness so it doesn’t need it.

Another from my lucky free Steepster box! thanks Steepster! Instructions say 205 degrees for 2 minutes. The more I drink Fujian teas, the more I like them!

Steep #1 // few minutes after boiling // 2 min
This one is actually pretty much how I expected it would be, after some disappointing tasting notes that I’ve read. The description itself sets itself up for disappointment…. cherry and caramel? The flavor profile could give hints of cherry, if you’re really looking but not really caramel. This is like Laoshan Black but with less chocolate notes. There is something that could be interpreted as smokiness, but I think it’s just the way Fujian teas taste. I like it, but I can see others like Laoshan black more for the chocolate notes.

Steep #2 // just boiled // 3-4 min
This cup is much deeper and much chocolatier, chewier, not necessarily a better cup for me, but it’s interesting that it’s a different flavor profile with the second cup. I like this one even if it wasn’t cherry/caramel.

Upon initial opening of the package I thought “Hmm… This doesn’t smell like it’s going to be that great.” But WOW after steeping it, it smelled so good! It smelled AND tasted exactly like a Thai sticky rice ball dessert soup! I didn’t add any sugar or sweetener, yet the intense sweetness of the tea was more than enough to make it taste like the That dessert. This tea also showed hints of homemade soy milk and brown sugar. Great tea! I’d love to have it in my herbal tea collection!

Second steeping was MUCH lighter in color and flavor, however I still very much enjoyed it!

These are the most unique-smelling dry tea leaves,,,they smell like tomatoes? Very different from other teas that I have tried.
The scent of the liquor, however, is a very sweet scent like honey or agave.
The flavor of this black tea is delicious!!!!!!! It is light, sweet, malty and has absolutely no harshness or bitterness. It is easy on the stomach and a pleasure to drink. I would definitely drink more of this.

From the Steepster Select Box, March 2014

Second Steeping is just as delicious,,,still malty and sweet and no harsh caffeine effects or stomach upset. Love it.