Teerausch

Western method, 3 grams, 2 minutes steeping, 80°C water.

The remaining 3 grams and so I will try gongfu later.

I have been surprised to see on the pouch label temperature saying “80-90°C” but as my brother prepared a colder water for his coffee I took a little more sensitive tea today morning; and below are my impressions for this Japanese black tea sample I bought when I have been in Dresden, in Teerausch. However, it is available from more vendors world-wide (Europe?)

Aroma is woody, with hints of rose and spices, maybe sweet cinnamon and hints of black pepper.
In taste instead this tea is quite mineral and tannic; a little bit flat tasting compared to Indian teas; but yes, it is a whole different terroir for tea plants. Marimo Tea who carries this (very same!) tea too, says on their Facebook post: “If autumn had a taste it would probably be this one.”

I have to agree, as fall slowly creeps to our lives, with sunset coming sooner than expecting. It’s warming up cup of tea, again with woody notes, with interesting, almost bitter (in a good way!) aftertaste, spices as allspice, muscatel, star anise and anise. Some vendors also see the fruity line in the tea; saying it’s sour cherries with cinnamon.
While I do notice fruits, I am not sure it’s sour cherries. I am not able to point out a exact fruit though.

As I wrote before, it is an autumn-time tea giving fall-vibes. I assume it is the spicy flavours and woody notes.

Searching for fruity raspberry tea, without caffeine?
Search no more!

This is a raspberry jam in the mug, nothing more, nothing else. Thick tasting tea, not watery as some tea. A little too sweet, if you ask me, but there is none of stevia awful aftertaste. And although there is Vitamin C and Zinc gluconate, it doesn’t taste medicinal; though I am not sure how helpful they are if you use boiling water.

Raspberry intoxication

A sipdown! (M: 3 Y: 64) Prompt: A refreshing summer tea

Prepared as a cold-brew, steeped for approx. 20 hours in a fridge; french press with 1 litre volume.

Delicious as hot, but as cold — definitely more refreshing and watermelon… is there anything more summery? Peppermint was weaker in this method, but still quite refreshing and tea was liked by all the family :)

Now, it’s gone; but summer is almost over, so I won’t miss it that bad. But once hot days come again; I will need to find some substitute tea.

This tea is intended to be drank cold-steeped or iced; but as usual, I prepared it also hot. The mentioned preparation methods will be tried within this week, aka hottest week this summer. Sadly, as I have only 5 grams left of my 10 grams sample, I can’t try their recipe: https://teerausch.de/melone-minze-eistee-rezept/

Surprisingly it’s refreshing even hot (read: luke-warm): pretty much distinct watermelon taste, not artificial and not too sweet… followed a bit with the white parts near the rind of the melon itself. After a sip a burst of menthol cools whole throat, thanks to peppermint used.

Overall, so easydrinking, genuine and fresh tasting tea was so nice today… I would definitely pick up more if I get the chance one day. I assume that recreating watermelon taste isn’t the easiest task to do in a hot drink.

A sipdown! (M: 4 Y: 58)
Pretty much sad sipdown of sample. It’s nice and light green tea with stone-fruity note. First cup was really strong in fruits… and I think it was indeed the apricots, followed with quite sweet ripe pineapple notes.

Alas, my 10g sample probably didn’t contain any of the spices that should be in — I haven’t seen any cardamom nor pink peppercorns and they weren’t noticeable in the flavour either. I guess it could make a bit of difference, however this blend is very nice even without those elements.

This is one of two Dresden related teas I bought for my brother (in Dresden) and since I am this weekend at home, I can try them both. Just for scientific reasons, you know?

Anyway, this blend of green/black tea is indeed lovely and actually very tasty in hot summer days. The mango & passion fruit work so well together, giving summer vibes and base is actually smooth and refreshing tea. I don’t like blends where are green & black tea together, but here boiling water definitely wasn’t a trouble.
Visually speaking, not only the bag; it’s also a beautiful tea. So many flowers there, making again the summer vibes, even when you just open the sachet.

A sipdown! (M: 1 Y: 62) prompt: A tea bought “in-store” (From February!)
I will try to focus to prompts. I couldn’t pay much attention to them when I was in Germany; but now I am back home.

This tea I bought in Teerausch store; so it fills this prompt, and I am happy that I have bought it. It’s indeed a wonderful fruity black tea, full of red berries. It works well with it’s black tea base. Blended just right, nothing was too strong and that’s what I like so much.

This is a wonderful summer-y fruity black tea. Full of strawberries and raspberries, not clashing each other; a little tart as there are elderberries but it also adds some “depth” of flavour. Wonderful aroma reminding me summer hikes, smooth but also strong and a little tannic tea base. It seems it isn’t cheap Ceylon tea, you know. It complements so well the fruity flavours.
They recommend making this tea iced and I can see why, but not really sure if I try it at all.

A sipdown! (M: 2 Y: 56)
It’s nice to be back home and sipping tea. Definitely better than in Germany for various reasons. Anyway, this is a German tea bought during my stay there; but sipdown is a home-thing for this tea.

I don’t have much to add, unless I have used 6 grams for less water — 300 ml, and it was still fine. A bit stronger, indeed, but I needed a caffeine boosst and I didn’t wanted to leave an awkward amount left, so I added all that I had. Yes, 10 grams pouch was exactly 10 grams… 4 grams back then, now 6 grams used. A little sad — as this tea is indeed tasty, not artificial and tastes so good and real caramel cubes are just nice.

The base of Assam and Chinese black tea works just well. Strong, but not bitter or astringent; just a little tannic (this time). Maybe I will buy more once I am back in Dresden. When? Who knows…

Happy birthday fellow Steepsterites who share same day with me, but sadly I just don’t remember who… I was never good in rememering names and personal data together.

Anyway, yes, I have been in Dresden again and again in Teerausch. Bought 6 samples I believe and two full pouches for my brother who wanted to come visit me, but in the end he couldn’t.

And I have been in mood for black sweet tea. This one suits perfectly. Assam and Chinese black tea base, caramel cubes and that’s all. Strong, and sweet. Hints of cocoa, that’s the Chinese base tea I suppose, creamy, but definitely not too sweet. A little tannic and astringent, but at least you can notice it’s black te. Long mouthfeel. Not artificial.

2024 Sipdown Challenge | January | A blend made in another country

German tea to fulfill this sipdown prompt! I wholeheartedly endorse my original review: It’s a perfectly pleasant peach tea. :) This cup is slightly overleafed because I wanted to use up the entirety of my sample (from Courtney, I believe!) so it’s on the strong side. Perfect for a Monday morning!

2024 sipdown count: 5

A perfectly nice and straightforward peach tea — quite fruity, but not in a “gummy candy” way. The base is a smidge soapy, but not enough to bother me.

A fine accompaniment to some morning schoolwork: I don’t need to pay too much attention to it, yet it’s tasty enough to keep my interest. I bet it would be nice cold-brewed.

2023 sipdown no. 50

This tea is fine. The peach flavour is certainly there and not really candy-like. I think the grapes add some sweetness, which could translate to a perfectly ripe peach as well — certainly an interesting addition. The base tea is nothing to write home about.

2023 sipdown no. 23

This tea is tasty. There’s a floral scent, but it’s more tropical floral. It’s hard to describe.

Hot: The taste itself is like biting into a merge of pineapple and mango — very juicy and delightful.

Cold: The cold taste was similar, but there was a slight edge of bitterness that I didn’t expect. I prefer this one hot.

2023 sipdown no. 11

This one has that cheap syrup quality that I am not a fan of.

2023 sipdown no. 9

I wouldn’t say this is anything special, but not bad to drink.

Martin generously picked up some Teerausch teas for me when he was last in Germany and I’m finally getting around to making some notes!

This one is a really lovely green oolong. It’s got hints of floral and creaminess with whispers of sweetness as the end of the sip. The second steep still has a creaminess to it as well.

1st steep: 2 minutes
2nd steep: 3 minutes, 30 seconds

Happy New Year everyone!

Another tea from Teerausch, this time a caffeine-free cup of tea. The translation of it is My summer in Elbe-Florence and Elbflorenz is nickname for Dresden. Actually bought it as “local” blend, not much checking what is in. Again, only 20 gr sample.

Based on the ingredients, which are down below as on their website, it contains mostly: apple pieces, pineapple and mango.

I steeped it for quite long, I think it could be up to 10 minutes and then I forgot… so I was drinking it rather cold. I had it warm before and I have to say that cold version is actually better. Maybe I will use the rest for cold-steep once I can leave my “isolation-room” (after a week). Or make an iced tea.

Because it is what this tea deserves. Cold drinking. Thirst quencher. Great and quite sweet. Maybe because mango and pineapple are candied. But it is fine.

Flavour is somehow generic tropical, maybe mango a bit more prominent than the pineapple. But it is very fruity and enjoyable in warmer days as today.

Moringa in the ingredients does nothing to taste. Maybe making it a wee bolder liquid, than one would expect from fruits only.

I am happy with this purchase.

So, I have been in Germany. (Derk, sorry I wrote it wrongly in discussions board, I just arrived back home yesterday evening)

And can Martin go through cities without stopping in tea rooms, stores and such without buying any tea? Nope, I have another load of tea back with me. I shall sort them one day, but it will be next week at earliest. Teerausch (Tea madness) is tea shop in Dresden, Saxony. My first stop. And also, Google knows me too well, so they have showed this to me, when I was planning the trip. It is located in wonderful Kunsthofpassage. Quite small-ish and they offer also some tea to enjoy there, however I did not had time. So, day before I went throgh their website and wrote a list.

The staff spoke a good English and without any problems she prepared the teas for me (and Courtney, whom I shared this tea room with). During preparing it, I was strolling through the shop, picked two blooming teas (just for 1.50€ and fun) and Pipacha. A tea I though I do not need, but when I saw it there, I just picked it up and thought “who cares?”. So, I have 75 grams of that oolong. If anyone wants a little share, I can… add it to Georgian order or send it separate, if you haven’t joined group buy.

Anyway… urgh, I digressed, I have prepared this tea for my photos slideshow for myself. One teaspoon, boiling water, 2-3 minutes steep as recommended. Please note it is dates-fig-lemon tea.

I do not remember first one much; you know, speaking about experiences and enjoying the tea, doesn’t go well. But second steep is very nice. NIce base, quite bold, then the sweet notes of dates, sultanas and figs hit my mouth and it is finished with round and refreshing lemon flavour. Highly enjoyable. I little regret I have only 20 grams. But for 1.26 € a wonderful tea. Can’t believe it was so cheap! Yum.