The Teaguy

This tea had notes of earth. mush, camphor. I’m fussy about Puerh and this one was not in my wheelhouse. I have many other tea samples to review so stay tuned. This Pu wasn’t my cup of tea but again I’m fussy and I’m sure others would love it. See my review on their Canadian Breakfast.

Sipdown! I never did brew this for a smoothie but I’m sure it would have been good. I’m enjoying the rest of this as a latte. Be proud of me because after all these years, I finally started actually making proper lattes rather than just dumping milk from out of the fridge into my mug. I’m actually heating and frothing the milk with the frothing wand I bought from IKEA a couple years ago.

Thank you to the TeaGuy for sending me a very generous sample of this my way!

I’m so grateful that The Teaguy generously sent me these teas to try but I feel terrible that it’s taking me this long to try them because I’ve been so busy with moving and work, moving and work. At last, I’m trying this on a day off with whole milk.

The scent of the dry leaf is no doubt smooth vanilla. I’m finding in flavour, though, that the vanilla base is getting a little bit too much in the way. It’s a woodsier variety and drowns out the potential vanilla explosion. But it’s nicer with the whole milk, which elevates the vanilla a bit and turns it into a vanilla caramel-like note.

I’m thinking the this could be good in a smoothie, especially since I’m currently using a cookies ‘n’ cream protein powder.

Thank you kindly, Teaguy!

A good everyday drinker, this maple tea hits all the sweet spots with an air of causality. The flavouring is tamer than the last maple tea I had, but that doesn’t mean it’s subtle; I don’t think that’s possible with maple syrup. It’s slightly buttery as well.

The unassuming black base is more of a malty prop for the delicious maple syrup than it is a key player. However, it still has enough going for it to stay relevant when milk is added to the equation.

This tea was the biggest winner with my mother today, who stole my cup and then used up the rest of the pot for her to-go mug.

Tea sample provided by The Teaguy. Thank you!

This was a decent cup. Maple is not really my thing, though. It was a sweet tea with a moderate black tea base. If you like maple, you should try this. :)

Thank you for the sample, The Teaguy ! Sorry it took me so long to get around to a review!

I received this as a free sample from The Teaguy; thank you for providing it!

I have to admit that I went into this one with bias because I am not a fan of flavored teas or most blends these days. Additionally, I specifically dislike raspberry, but I was determined to give every tea a fair shot.

As with the peach green tea blend, I didn’t think I’d be able the handle the aroma of this one hot, so the SO decided to cold steep this one before I got to it, and I tried it when she made it. The resulting brew was a pleasant surprise in that there wasn’t really a distinct raspberry taste, but more of a mixed berry flavor. This is still not something I would probably choose for myself, as I prefer straight tea, but good for anyone who likes fruity flavors, or even fruit infused water.

I received this as a free sample from The Teaguy; thank you for providing it!

I have to admit that I went into this one with bias because I am not a fan of flavored teas or most blends these days. The aroma of this one was intimidatingly strong, but I was determined to give every tea a fair shot.

I didn’t think I’d be able the handle the aroma of this one hot, so I decided to cold steep it. The resulting brew was very peachy, so I think this would be a good blend for people who really like fruity notes and fruity flavors in general, especially peach. For me, personally, I prefer straight tea and to enjoy the flavor of the tea, so this isn’t something I would pick for myself, but I think it would make for a good, refreshing option for someone who likes this flavor profile.

I received this as a free sample from The Teaguy; thank you for sending it!

I tried this one a while back, so the notes I provide are from that session. The leaves of this TGY are tightly rolled—as anticipated—with hints of green and a sweet aroma. The liquor pours light gold, and sweet notes dominate the first steep. The following steeps taste—surprisingly—a bit roasty in nature, and I never pick up on the distinct florals I was expecting, especially with this being a greener TGY. After they expand, I do notice that the leaves seem a bit more broken and thin than I am accustomed to.

This was not quite up my alley for an oolong, but I will be testing it out some more. I didn’t really get any of the notes other people seemed to get out of this, so I may not have steeped it well. And considering the sweetness in the first steep, I could see this having other flavors to offer as well as doing well western style or cold steeped, both of which I may try out. Regardless of the outcome of my first session, I can say that this is a decently priced option for exploring a greener TGY oolong for someone not ready to jump into top tier options yet.

Oh strange, somehow this time around, I’m picking up a smoky note that I didn’t get the last time. Must be the Keemun coming forth. It’s just so odd how it was non-existent last time. Steeping perimeters are a mystical thing.

So many thanks to The Teaguy for generously sending these teas my way! I feel terrible that they have been sitting around not being touched but I’m finally finding the time to enjoy some tea.

Not a very elegant first impression (my fault), but the first thing I thought when I sipped this was, “Ooh, Tim Horton’s Steeped Tea double-double but better!” It’s full-bodied, slightly malty, contains a bright citrus-like note in the background, and takes milk so well. I am proud to say that this is the first tea which contains a slightly smoky note—thanks to the Keemun—that I actually enjoy. I normally despise smoky notes, even the most subtle ones, but this is subtle enough to just slightly enhance the tail-end of every sip without getting in the way of the other notes.

This is a blend that will definitely be a fantastic breakfast companion, or at any time of the day, really. Thanks again, Teaguy!

I received this tea as a free sample from The Tea Guy (many thanks!) and am finally getting around to trying it. The aroma of the dry leaf is subtle enough that I’m not sure what to expect, so I go into the first steep blind. I skip the wash, wanting to get as much of a sense of the tea as I can (plus, it’s loose leaf, so doesn’t need to break apart), and I let it steep just long enough to get dark.

There is a bit of storage flavor in the first infusion, and it’s got both a creamy mouthfeel and a hint of creamy flavor notes. The finish—especially by the time I’m downing the last of the first steep—is like a milky coffee with a bit of earth at the back of the throat. The flavor also coats the mouth and lingers for quite a bit.

Oddly enough, I think I taste the storage more in the second infusion than the first. As I sip, I visualize barrels being rained upon in the garden, a blend of wet wood and petrichor dominating the aroma.

Flavor evens out into a stable blend of lightly woody, creamy and sweet. Overall, an easy to drink shou with more complexity than I was expecting. That could very well be attributable to the fact that it does seem to have a bit of wet storage flavor to it, which I am a fan of. I may try going warrior style on this one since I’ve still got a good bit of sample left.

This came in as a sample from The TeaGuy. I’m skeptical about Earl Grey teas because they can be really great or not so much. I will say that it smelled wonderful, so there was hope that it’d stay that way with the flavor.

It was smooth, creamy, sweet, citrus-y, and had a touch of vanilla (?). I’d say that it reminded me of a creamier Blood Orange Rooibos that he had given me, but with a nice black tea base instead of the rooibos.

Very good Irish breakfast, with malt and honey notes.
I steeped it for a good 7 min and it didn’t even get slightly bitter.
I’m not sure if I’ll repurchase because I prefered the Canadian Breakfast from the same brand but this is still very good, with or without a splash of milk.

Another generous sample from The TeaGuy — Thanks!!!

In the Bag: Large, reddish-orange flakes.
Smells like: Vanilla flavored tobacco.

Brewed in a mesh infuser basket in a mug.
Made a half cup, because other vanilla rooibos teas tend to give me heartburn.

Brews up: That reddish brown/whisky color of rooibos.
Smells like: Vanilla and a hint of old liquor.
Tastes like: Sweet vanilla candy.

So far, no heartburn!

Thank you to the Tea Guy for this sample. This is a strong, very malty tea. Although I didn’t put any in it would hold up well to milk. If this tea doesn’t wake me up nothing will. It has a nice sweet note oon the back burner that I don’t know how to describe. I have not had too many Irish Breakfast Teas but I like this one. It is very good but a little stronger than I am used to. Hopefully it has a nice caffeine kick to jump start my day but I won’t be sure of that until I finish my cup.

I brewed this one time in a 16oz Teavana Glass Perfect Tea Maker/Gravity Steeper with 3 tsp leaf and 190 degree water for 3 minutes.

Received a very generous sample from The TeaGuy – Thanks!!

The bergamot is strong with this one!

Very strong bergamot scent in the bag and the leaves have a slightly oily sheen to them.

I over-brewed it a little because I was looking for a specific mug (Tervis mug with cats), didn’t set a timer, and wasn’t paying attention while digging in a cabinet.
I skipped the no sugar/sugar only/milk steps and went straight to sugar & milk because of the over-brewing and it still turned out tasty!

Great for when I want a strong earl grey without any vanilla/cream buffer.

Brewed in a gravity infuser.

Enjoyed this earlier today (double strength) with cream – it’s even more delicious, and much more reminiscent of a dessert that way! I think I like this blend equally both with and without, and I’ll choose how to prepare it based on what I’m in the mood for.

Another awesome sample from Teaguy! This tea was such a pleasant surprise for me. I’ve had many a cream earl grey, but this one stands out to the sweet, toffee-like, butterscotchy undertone in the aroma. As soon as I got a whiff of that, I was extra excited to try this tea. The flavor didn’t disappoint – that same undertone is still present, making this blend warmer and sweeter than most cream earl greys I’m used to (which typically only exhibit vanilla flavor in addition to the bergamot). What’s also nice about this blend is that I can still taste the tea underneath the additional flavors; the base is solid! Also, the aroma of the steeped tea reminds me of freshly baked scones – yum.

Received a very generous sample of this from The TeaGuy — Thanks!!!
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First Impressions:
In the bag: Large unbroken leaves and chunks of what look like slivers of maple candy you get at World Market at Christmastime.
Smells like: One of those tobacco stores in a mall in the 80’s. But in a good way.
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Brewed:
Looks: leaves unfurled and plumped, liquid is that “proper black tea” rust color.
Smells like: Ihop, but on a Saturday mid-morning good way, not the sad 4am thursday way.
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Drinking:
Plain: Barely sweet, slightly astringent.
With sugar: Sweet, astringent.
With milk: OMG Waffles! Dripping in butter and syrup like the universe intended.
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Brewed in a ceramic mug with a badly photoshopped on purpose picture of an orange & white kitten in a straw hat – using an in-mug tea infuser from BB&B.

Thank you to the Teaguy for sending me a generous sample of this! I’m always on the hunt for a breakfast tea that stands out from the crowd, and the components of this one sounded unique due to the inclusion of Hao Ya A, a delicious Keemun that I’ve had the pleasure of drinking straight. My cup turned out smooth and virtually free of bitterness and that tannic aftertaste, but still brisk and malty enough to call itself a breakfast blend. Although it was wonderful without cream, I’ll try adding some next time!

I was intrigued by the description of this tea, pairing maté with citrus. It’s usually very hard for me to enjoy a green maté blend, because I simply don’t like the flavor or aroma of pure maté. Surprisingly, the maté flavor melds really well with the citrus when steeped. I like that, although the maté comes out really strong in the aroma of the steeped tea, the flavor combined with the citrus is less in-your-face….perfect for someone interested in the benefits of maté but not necessarily the pure maté flavor!

Sipdown! I very appropriately finished this off on Canada Day but have been a major slacker here. Thanks again to The Teaguy for giving me the fantabulous opportunity to try this. I can’t wait to try the others I haven’t yet. It’s that slacker quality kicking in once again.

Thank you so incredibly much to the Teaguy for sending me a very generous parcel full of tea to try! It’s certainly motivating me to get back into tea at home, especially now that my new workplace doesn’t have a kettle in the break room. Oh well.

I opted for this first because I felt like something simple and sweet. There’s that classic maple note in there hovering over a slightly astringent base. I already had two cups and will have to go for another one and write a better note. This is what I get for writing this in hindsight due to NHL playoff distractions.

Next, I’ll have to try it with milk too. I had a maple latte at Second Cup the other day and I could barely taste the maple so I wonder how a maple tea latte would be.

Appearance: large unbroken leaves with dried bits of orange peel
Scent: before brewing: slightly bitter orange juice | after: watery orange juice
Method: in-cup steel mesh basket | some settlement left in cup. Will try the gaiwan method next time (quick rinse + toss, then brew)
Taste: Like someone “spiked” a Sencha with some Minute Maid OJ. Not bad, but will take getting used to. I can see why someone might really enjoy this in the morning – green tea boost + the OJ flavor in one cup. Why its called Sunset Sencha I have no idea, unless they’re riffing on the orange bits being like the orange in a sunset.