The Tao of Tea

THIS IS DELICIOUS! Pretty sure this came from Nicole. Thanks Nicole! YUM YUM and more YUM! The cup of vanilla soy I added is contributing to the creaminess, I’m sure, but the flavor is just perfect however it came to be. Yum!

DRY LEAF
Aroma: Hay. A faint whiff of peat.

INFUSION
Appearance: Clear. Straw yellow.
Aroma: Very faint notes of ham and evergreen.
Taste: Moderately tart and astringent.

No further surprises at higher temperatures (70-75°C)— just more astringency. Not my cup.

Tasted more like swamp water to me with citrus notes . Wish I could return it for my 10 dollars back .

I’ve managed to get a cold and can’t taste a thing, but the hot, soothing, GOOD is coming through loud and clear. Pure comfort, and no funny tastebud business (hate how colds can make things taste like FISH to me. This Ceylon tastes sweet and comforting — without tasting like anything — I know it’s strange but some of you must experience this when you have a cold, right?)

I haven’t linked to it yet on here, but I started a book blog a bit ago! Today’s post is about having a cold, and of course tea is mentioned as one of the ways to feel better: http://jackiemania.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/comfort-reading/

There is nothing I like more on the weekends than making myself a pot of Ceylon tea and sitting on the sofa reading in the afternoon! I don’t know how it happened, but that “meh and boring” Ceylon profile now tastes “delightfully afternoonish!” and “classic!” to me! A little milk and sugar and I’m set. This one is bready and not lemony at all.

Another one of my amazon.com 2 pack specials ;) I originally got it to make classic iced tea with, but I thought I’d try it hot today since I was in the mood for an afternoon cuppa with milk and sugar. It was really lovely that way. Light, and I imagine it would go lovely with a pastry, as it had a bready quality. It didn’t taste bright or lemony to me at all, which is making me wonder if it will be suitable for iced tea after all! In any event, I’ll have no trouble drinking it hot in the afternoon. It’s perfect that way.

I also have to note how nice the tin is. Double lidded, and the inner lid has a wee knob which helps to remove it (and looks adorable). There is ribbon on the tin – just a very pleasing package!

This tea is quite refreshing and well balanced. I like fennel seed, and it is good for my pitta constitution. It also aids in digestion. Not only did this non-caffeinated tea calm me, but I felt very re-energized as well.

Friday June 10, 2011
1st Steep of the Day
Opened a Vintage 2003 Pu-er from Tao Of Tea
Steeped 2 Pots of the OLD TREE Pu-er
The Dry Leaves are LARGE FULL LEAF TEA
The Dry Smell Is Earthy and Musty
The 1st Pot was Steeped a 2 Min. Flat in Boiling Water
This Pot was Golden Brown In Color
“Aged” somewhat Vintage Like in Smell
Taste was Bold with Slightly Bitter afterbite.
The Liquor was Sweetend with 2 teaspoons of Sugar
A VERY GOOD and Pleasent 1st Brew.
2nd Pot was Better and Less Bitter. No wonder I
Keep on Steepin

Last sample pack. This was golden-toasty, bready, and basic this morning … a perfect accompaniment to what’s going to be a day of small celebrations: assembling furniture, putting our socks in the proper drawers, hanging curtains, making beds. I haven’t comparison-tasted other golden monkeys, but I’m thinking that this or a similar one needs to be part of my permanent menagerie.

Shared a few Thanksgiving thoughts elsewhere, but you’re welcome to take a moment and celebrate with us: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=676601907#!/notes/gg-mathis/home-with-thanksgiving/10150468282005219

I hope today you are home for Thanksgiving and home with thanksgiving.

This morning, I’m getting unsweet toasted marshmallow. Mmmmmm.

Full review of this one is up at

http://www.itsallabouttheleaf.com/2313/tea-review-tao-of-tea-golden-monkey/

Been a while since my initial sample—I’d forgotten how good it is!

Hard to get started this morning; so I treated myself to a morning cup of something really good. This is a yummy liquid illustration of “God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” Surely Paul had a cup of this in front of him when he was writing 1 Timothy!

(Actually, probably not … try as I might to verify it, I don’t think tea hit that part of the Mediterranean until much, much later.)

Wrote a longer review for www.itsallabouttheleaf.com, so I’ll keep this note succinct: bready, sweet, toasty, and superb.