Teabox

Citrus and green chili is what I get. And that’s exactly what they described. Highly spicy and savory, not just in a tea note way-it tastes like someone added spices. I personally think it would be a better culinary tea and a really great quality one, but not one that suits my desert like preferences. Definitely tastes like a black tea and a Darjeeling, but again, more soup and food like than anything else.

After almost three frickin’ tablespoons of grounded vanilla bean, I finally got it to taste exactly like the description. The bag has so much vanilla that it smells like brownies, but despite how intensely I flavor bombed the leaves, I can still taste the almond and the saffron. I can now be happy with my whopping three ounces of it.

Round five. “Creamy dessert” is now at least appropriate to describe it, but it needs just a hint more of vanilla. I can still taste the saffron and the almond, but even after two and quarter tablespoons of grounded vanilla bean, the vanilla fades out quickly. I am so close to getting it right. So close.

I added more vanilla. After 5 days, it tastes like it was supposed to…it could use more.

Since I have 100 freakin’ grams of this, I better start liking it soon…or at least develop some severe Stockholm Syndrome with it. I’m going to write A LOT of notes on this one. Luckily, this time was significantly better than the last liquid hot cracka (INSERT: right pinky creeping up to the edge of my lip). I actually tasted the vanilla…and it was pretty pleasant. Saffron going strong and still practically a white tea, but a tea inching closer to what this is supposed to be. A part of me suspected that it didn’t blend well when I tried it before, and that suspicion may eventually be vindicated.

Indian Marigold, I might grow to like you. I have to remind myself to drink you when I want a white tea and a deceptive kick of caffeine and falsely advertised flavor. In our intercourse, you should then enlighten me that you, in fact, did not lie to me. You might make me consider how brazenly I wanted to try you, and you may have shuttered at my boldness. So you hid your flavors, your prized inner white girl, your vanilla. You are a delicate lady after all, and I should treat you as such. I do want to truly taste you; that just means I must provide better care and courtship. And we will have plenty for that in these next few months at Michigan State University. You’ll have to company me on the ocean blue in 1492, witness the grievances of Rome against Carthage, listen to the voices of America’s most stereotyped minority, and become more secular as we learn how to compare politics around the globe.

Some days will be jubilant. Others may be dull. And too many may be draining. I need to be in high spirits. Can you keep those spirits high?

I will try this one again and again. The oolong is decent and very similar to a white tea. But the description was totally off. Saffron and bits of the almond with the oolong are the only things I can taste. The Vanilla is basically nonexistent. I tried steeping with more and less leaves and time, but the result renders dry, saffron crackers for taste. Considering that the price normally is also close to 30 bucks for 100 grams, totally overpriced for what they say they sell you. Luckily I got this for 14, but I have yet to be satisfied with this one. All of their other teas are incredible though, which also pushes the review subjectively down.

There might be hope for this one, but so far, I’ve been extremely disappointed. This is one of the first teas that I’ve been hypercritical of, which is saying something.

Okay, I’m going to try this again. Over steeped for 7 minutes and it tasted like salty, astringent crackers. I get bare hints of the natural ingredients, and the oolong is closer to a Nilgiri Frost or a white tea. The ingredients would work really well with this base if only I could taste them. Otherwise, the dry leaf smelled like crackers, and the liquor tasted like crackers. The black Darjeelings are way better from this company so far, but again, I need to make sure all the ingredients get in my cup before I make a final judgement. I hope that it is not nearly as dry.

Dates, Malt aroma, similar in palate. A little nutty but i am not sure i would label it specifically hazelnut as the packaging suggests. Very smooth.

I get the stonefruit more in aroma than taste. In taste, stonefruit is slightly noticable near the start – it’s also bitter in a thyme-y way that builds and lingers for a while. Recommends one steep – stands up to several.

I received a sample of this from DonkeyTiera. Thank you.

Wow this is a serious chai. No joking around with this brew. If this doesn’t get you going in the morning I am not sure what would. This is like mud. Holy cow that was a brew. It was a good chai, but I think it might be a tad strong in the tea department for me. I would have liked a ligher brew with more on the spice front. Thank you for sharing this one. I always love trying different chai!

Last of my Nilgiri samples from Teabox and its been a nice flight. This one brews up a nice dark orange with malty goodness followed by some astringency which provides structure for the flavors to amplify themselves. Some floral and citrus but hardly noticeable. Next journey Assam and Darjeeling. Can’t wait

I liked the spring version of this tea that claims its a black tea but had oolong written in the soup. This winter version is almost exactly the same but not as floral or in depth of flavor. I prefer the spring version of this but must admit I have no clue as to which Nilgiri’s pickings I prefer since they are so outside the box.

This is another sample from DonkeyTiera. Thank you!

I am really enjoying all the Teabox samples she sent. I am considering joining their 10 dollars a month club. Everything I have tried so far has been amazing if you enjoy teas from India. It turns out I really do. This one is the first cup this morning and I am not sure how to describe the flavor. It is just a pleasant, warming cup. Very smooth, slightly floral. Tad hints of malt in the finish. I am digging it.

This is a fantastic tea, I love it. MUST TRY.

Amazing white Nilgiri, who knew. The flavor profile from Teabox is spot on with an addition that this soup is so sweet as to be nectar from mother nature herself. It may be the sweets leftover hangover from Halloween but I swear I taste candy corn.

Been liking all the Glendale teas from Teabox I’ve tried so far and this is no different. Smooth thickish brew, pale yellow with the requisite vegetal buttery goodness, but then throw in some spice, peppercorn and floral hints and you have a nice sipping experience

This looks like a Mao Feng and tastes like one too. Bright yellow gold liquor with butter and seaweed note,s nothing overpowering just a subtle well made tea. The low caffeine is good for me in the afternoon.

This is a Chinese famous green tea by way of Nilgiri, yep Nilgiri. It pays to go into these tasting with preconceived notions of how could this possibly be good. That way there are no disappointments when you sample and aren’t impressed or it just tastes awful. Well it also pays off in the opposite. Low expectations in this case yielded a very pleasant surprise. Steeped according to direction this is a very impressive Long Ding, not the best but very representative of high quality. Flavors of hay, barley and almost corn with a gentle sweetness and a touch of astringency. I had two different steeping the second was a little more tea (double) and lower temp 160 but there was a bit more astringency that was taking over the profile so stick with the suggested brewing guidelines.

Oh my, Yum! I came into work this morning not sure what I wanted to drink. I have several teabox teas from DonkeyTiera and thought maybe I could dig into one of these this morning. I wasn’t expecting much. When I hear Nilgiri for some reason I think plane black tea, but boy was I wrong. This is really good this morning. My first few sips were strong and I was thinking spicy notes. As it cools I seem to get lemon mixed with a tad bit of floral. Completely wield and complex and oh so what I needed this morning. Thank you DonkeyTiera for the swap!

Way outside my comfort zone with this sample from Teabox. I’m getting to the last 8 tea sample from Nilgiri and half are green teas. The dry leaves are drab green slightly twisted and large. There’s no perceptible scent other than hay. The wet leaves are bright green and waft of cooked asparagus. The soup is pale pale yellow green with flavors of muted fiddlehead, asparagus and a slight hint of white pepper when first on the tongue. There is a bit of sweetness that pops up in the aftertaste. Pleasant surprise for I had no idea India made green teas. Nice boost too. 2.3g/3min 180ml/180°.

Really decent cuppa. Followed guidelines which proved spot on to the descriptors once again from Teabox. I would add to those notes of spice (fenugreek, malt and barely clove) a hint of citrus as well orange upfront and lemon on the finish. Nice atringency with just enough bitterness to remind you this is a stand up black tea.

You really need to be able to mind read some of these Nilgiris. Label says black tea but its anything but oolong. Mega florals, citrus and as Doug F put it “fresh tomato essence” make for a very pleasing tea. I usually follow the brewing guidelines, I did for the winter version, but messed up with too much tea falling in the wet pot so I used 6g in 220ml, steeped for 60 secs then 50, 90, 120, 240. I wouldn’t recommend doing the brewing in this fashion as it does impart a bitter aspect in the soup that although it doesn’t bother me, it will to someone, so beware. Almost all of Teabox’s teas are brewed 2-3 grams in 180ml and 190F for 4-5 minutes, stay with that and you can’t go wrong.

Teabox is really a great vendor. Their tea descriptions are so spot on. This tea is no exception. I really can’t add or subtract from the narrative. I chose their website to try and get a better comprehension of India’s teas. The choice has been one of the best vendor experiences to date, both online and through sales. I purchased the sample bags which give you a bunch of teas in any category. I first had the all Nilgiri bag and then the all oolong bag. Once they are gone I’ll do the all black Darjeelings, and so one. Even the prices for the individual teas are helpful in telling the story for that tea. Lower price = good tea, maybe some complexity but just an every day drinker and higher price = excellent quality, mega complex and satisfying good for the special brews. Give ’em a try.

I don’t usually do whites. Occasionally when I’m at my favorite tea house (Tea Drunk) I get to sample other peoples white teas they are enjoying but I never really paid them much mind since I was having robust Tie Luo Han or any other bold oolongs on the shelf. That said I expected this sample from Teabox to be anything other than inspiring. Dry and wet leaves have little to discern other than light hay notes. This tea is more than inspiring. Beautiful flavors abounding with headiness of rose with touches of lemon and Thompson grape. The soup is velvety and of a heavier mouth-feel than I would of expected. At the end there is a nuance of cucumber. One thing that did impress me was how this tea differs when first poured and when cooled down, the latter being my preference, it seems more sultry on the tongue.
I did twice the amount of tea as suggested on the website but increased the water to compensate and kept the steep at 5 minutes. Really enjoyable.