T2

Breakfast time with a drop of cream and sugar.

In other news, I thought I finally had every last skerrick of tea in my house added to my cupboard, and then I remembered the extra box. Another five. Including samples, I’m up to 90. That’s it—I’m on a tea ban. NO NEW TEA IS ENTERING THIS HOUSE oh except for that swap with ashleyelizabeth. Ooh maybe I’ll crack 100 teas then… wait, this is not a goal to aspire to.

Delicious, but could have more guts. My steeping notes provided a strong and tasty morning tea.

Got this from Voila In Frederick in Frederick, MD. Highly recommend that shop and highly recommend this tea. It is delicious hot but even more delicious and refreshing iced! More of a peach flavor but distinctly warm fruity mango scent. Everyone loved it.

When i worked in the Melbourne CBD i used to go to Max Brenner for their decadant South American Chili Chocolate. I have now found the T2 equivilant in Chilli Kiss ( just add a splash of Choc Soy) Or if you love it straight – perfect as is. This is my number 2 underated T2 Brew. Numbers 1, 3, 4 & 5 being Arctic Fire & Fruit Blush, Spring & Shimmer Punch

Another weekend morning, another T2 sample. Life is good.

Aroma: Marmalade and spice with a comforting sweetness. Subtle woody notes. There is a slight hint of bergamot in there too which reminds me of an earl grey. All in all more akin to a western black tea than a roasted Oolong but still with that characteristic dark Oolong candied orange peel that makes it entirely something else.

Flavour: The flavour profile reminds me a lot of ‘chinese herbal jelly’ – herbaceous, complex, slightly sweet with a faint iodine touch. Strangely alluring despite not being the sort of flavour which normally draws me in on a black tea. There is a faint burnt sugar/caramel layer in there. The underlying spice and subtle woody notes remind you what you’re drinking. The second steeping is all woody sweetness. Comforting. Pleasant. But hardly exiting.

Overall: This is an entirely pleasant semi-fermented oolong, but to be honest, it doesn’t captivate me the way some others have. It has enough backbone to stand up well to food though, and would be a perfect partner to dim-sum. All in all: not bad, but for the price there’s other teas i’d pick above it.

Price: AUD$38/100g

Forget Fruitilicous & Citrus punch as the iced tea of choice. Plus its brilliant Hot which very few fruit based tisanes are. Softly spiced with cinnamon round juicy papaya flavour this tea is so underated and should not be overshadowed by its more heavily promoted brothers and sisters

This was given to me as a gift, and it is one of the best teas I’ve received! (Thanks, Amelia :) ) Good for keeping me alert at work, I love the balance of the grapefruit and lemongrass. I put 1/2 sugar in this. I might try adding milk next time!

What can i say currently my new iced fave with lemon and lime wedges, you get 5 steeps from 10 scoops in your T2 Jug. so you need to dry & store if rotating tea flavours.

I was almost put off buying this tea due to the price, but finding out that you can get 5 steeps per brew makes it cost effective. Lemony, peppery and the aniseed highlight shines. Fantastic hot and will try chilled with lemon & lime to test it effectiveness as a possible iced choice even though it seems to be best hot. Not as universally admired as Bondi & Summer Cloud, but may be one of those creeper brews that grows on you until you realise its a favourite.

Official sipdown #1 now that my full kitchen stocks are loaded in here: this one was a sample from in store in late January when I needed something for a cocktail (see previous tasting note).

We’re into the first week of Autumn down here but for some reason the weather wanted to give us a reminder of Summer today, and I walked home in that sun! So a nice iced tea was in order for my return. I even threw in a mint ice cube for a little kick. Fresh and refreshing without being too sweet, just a hint of mango.

I used this in a cocktail during Ginuary that called for ‘mango tea’. Now, ‘mango tea’ is a fairly loose category. When I was checking the cocktail recipe out online I noticed a blogger mentioned Sencha Mango, so I gave it a whirl and it came out pretty darn good—particularly as I also learned this Ginuary just gone that a lot of punches used to be made on a green tea base to help give a bit more complexity to the base!

http://ginuary.com/2014/01/ginuary-26th-gold-rush-tea.html

Meh. Bit too dark for me. Was hoping it’d be more of a vanilla taste, but it’s pretty good.