THEODOR

Last tea bag sample from Dustin: thank you!

But unfortunately I have to agree with the only one tasting note, which is from Dustin as well. It’s a nice green tea base, with mellow and sweet spearmint. The base was quite average in my opinion. But it’s sweet, almost the buttery; and lacking the peppermint strong menthol note. Which makes sense there isn’t any in; but in my opinion that fresh punch is indeed missing here.

Steepster Freeze 2021 #4: 03/05/21

Happy National Day of Unplugging! Today is the Sipdown Challenge day to drink a favorite tea for relaxing; for me, those mostly fall in the tisane category, which I drink after work. During the work day, I drink caffeinated tea. So, I won’t be posting my tea choice until this evening (and once again Steepster is broken on a prompt day… I swear it is a planned effort at this point…).

So now onto… French Friday! This was the tea I randomly grabbed from the sampler bag from Dustin today. Thanks Dustin! The dry leaf has a very alluring smell of juicy pear, stonefruit (I’m getting a bit of the Mirabelle plum aroma that is present in Lupicia’s “Kotobuki”), and a florality that I can’t distinctly pinpoint. I brewed the full 6.4g to 500ml in 205F water for 3.5 minutes.

Brewed tea is a pretty burnt sienna orange. The aroma smells pretty much spot-on for the dry leaf — a floral/perfumy mix of pear and stonefruit. The mouthfeel is giving me a bit of a strong syrupy/coating feeling, which I remember I had from Marco Polo as well; I’m suspecting I may have either used a bit too much leaf for the amount of water or steeped a little longer than necessary, producing a quite strong cup. My personal preferences on this sort of “perfumy/fragrant” French teas seem to be a softer/more gentle brewing than a heavy-handed cup. It’s also just a tad astringent/drying toward the end of the sip, backing up that theory. Ah well, sometimes you just have a bad-steep day…

That aside, the flavor itself it mostly a sweet, succelent pear note. I’m still tasting a bit of the stonefruit, not as strongly as the pear, though; on the tongue it is reading more as apricot or peach than Mirabelle plum, though. The floral note is really strong, but I don’t know how to describe it… my botanical knowledge is not great. It reminds me of jasmine because it is thick, coating, and strong on the nose, but it doesn’t taste like jasmine. Cheating and looking at the flavor notes from the manufacturer, it appears the floral is lotus… which I really have no experience with, so I’m not surprised I couldn’t peg it (I’ve only had one lotus tea before, and it was so old the scenting wasn’t that potent). It’s a very pretty aroma, even if I can’t describe it. I just don’t like the coating/drying feeling that sticky florality is leaving on my tongue.

I think, if I could brew this again using slightly altered parameters, I’d find a cup in my “perfect” zone and be really into this flavor combination.

So, after a while, a tasting note from me.
SIPDOWN
Thank you Dustin I could try this French tea I wouldn’t order myself otherwise.

Today… I have to agree with Mastress Alita note, it was kind of citrusy with creamy, vanilla note. Aroma was rather berry like, as she wrote, and kind of floral.

The base was well present as well, as the grass, sadly not freshly cut though. I couldn’t notice any expected cherry nor rhubarb, not even the coconut. But as I didn’t remember what this tea should be about, I was quite happy with the cup. Raising a rating a bit.

On Wednesday another job interview. My fourth. Other companies I have contacted so far, did not even reply. Or they said no. This company looks good though and although the commute would be a bit worse, it is bearable. Again, no tea industry.

Thank you Dustin for this tea as well; and only one remains that I haven’t tried yet.

To be honest, it’s biggest dismal from THEODOR; it smells very nice, but brewed it isn’t that great at all. It’s pretty much basic, although nice green tea base and hints of cherry flavour. That fruit note is though very weak and I haven’t noticed anything from other flavours added nor coconut that should be in. No rhubarb at all. Sad!

Song pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za05HBtGsgU (could I pick anything else? :D)

Received a bag from Dustin, thank you!

It’s quite classical Ceylon tea; pretty much okay, lighter than usual. Not much malty, rather citrusy, lightly on malty + sweet side.

It’s better than MlesnA teas I have in previous days. Somehow more round. I wonder if it is because more quality leaf is used, or what.

SIPDOWN 2
A sad sipdown. Thank you Dustin!

I am just glad I have finished another “one last serving” tea. Fruity green tea, a perfect companion to today grey weather.

Thank you Dustin that I could try this French company, from which I wouldn’t order myself otherwise I guess!

I took two teaspoons and big strainer. Accidentaly, I overbrew the water, so I have used rather 90°C water instead of 80°C, and steeped for 3 minutes.

It was still great. I got a cup full of pineapple-yellow melon-peach green tea; which was delicious as well. It was mouthwatering cup and well, here’s regret I haven’t resteeped the leaves. Aroma was peachy, but lovely and not artificial. It wasn’t typical red peach aroma too, rather some lighter variety. In conclusion, it was great fruity green tea. Not overpowering fruits nor base tea. Certainly a tea to gladly have again!

French Friday! This is the sampler packet I pulled out of the sampler bag for today. Thank you for sharing, Dustin!

The dry leaf smells like the Petite Ourse tea by THEODOR that I tried recently; a strong tangerine citrus aroma. Steeped 3.1g of leaf in 350ml 175F water for 3 minutes. The brewed tea doesn’t smell so strongly of citrus, though; it’s a very tropical aroma, mostly mango, with a bit of a citrusy undertone. On the sip, the tea takes on more of a lemon citrus flavor than the tangerine I was getting on the nose; it has a slight tanginess at the end of the sip, but is a pleasant fresh lemon flavor, with no abrasive “floor cleaner”-esque qualities. I can taste a mango note too, but it is more subtle and gentle compared to the bright citrusy lemon. There is a hint of a sort of floral-quality sweetness as well, though I couldn’t place any particular floral to it.

The tea has a very bright and refreshing feel to it; I like lemon teas, and this one is top-notch!

An other idea?

Another tea bag from Dustin, thank you so much! Unfortunately last from those being caffeine-free.

Steeped as suggested; 85°C water (rather closer to 90°C); steeping for 4-5 minutes.

Tastes nice, tropical and mellowed with vanilla, though I have hoped the latter would be more prominent in taste. It’s not creamy vanilla. It’s the sweet vanilla taste. Along with coconut. From tropical fruits there is a load of pineapple, but again… somehow weaker than I have been expecting, like overpowered by the rooibos base?

It’s quite complex, but somehow not my cup of tea. Quite sad; because it sounds so good in ingredients list. What a shame. Especially for that price tag!

French Friday! Randomly pulled this one from the French tea bag of happiness from Dustin! Thanks Dustin!

The dry tea smells just like cola! I love cola teas so that is promising. Brewed 2.5g for 3 minutes in 350ml 205F water. The brewed tea smells even stronger of cola; trying to break it down, it’s a generic spice note (perhaps a little sweet cinnamon forward?) and a citrusy note (smells like lemon-lime).

The tea is smooth and sweet; I get a citrusy note that tastes most closely to lime to me, but rather than having a tart or biting quality a very sweet flavor is left after the sip, like honey or vanilla. Midsip and lingering after the sip is a soft, sweet spice note, warming but not spicy. Mostly I get a sweet cinnamon note; the anise is not coming through with a licorice taste, for those worried about that.

This is described as “mulled wine” by THEODOR but I’m not getting that at all! It’s entirely warm, uncarbonated cola to me, which is one of my favorite flavors in tea. Probably my favorite I’ve had so far!

Hello there…
my work is somehow more demanding than I thought, moreover no new teas being drank, so not much notes from me recently. Hopefully it will change soon, as I truly miss seeing the likes and sometimes even some comments from you.

I was in a mood of green tea today after work, and although I have a orthodox tea there (which I even had today), it is one of the oldies from White Antlers, which is just needed to drink, but there isn’t much to write home about anymore.

So, I have prepared this cup, and I think I have caught temperature just right. It produced wonderful green colour, very vibrant and fresh. I remember seeing a few pieces of pineapple when I was putting teaspoons in, but there weren’t much of them.

But, in flavours, it was a different story. It was very tropical, with very nice pineapple flavour complemented with grassy green tea, which tasted so fresh, even I have this pouch for 8 months already. Dustin, thank you so much for this tea. It has got some floral note as well, but honestly not sure if it is lotus, or anything else.

So yeah, this is a tea I would order myself. Hopefully one day!

I was in mood for green tea; and why not to try a new one from Dustin? Thank you a lot, I wouldn’t order myself there!

It was random choice from three being sent, and turned out great. While the aroma in pouch wasn’t saying much to me — some floral, perfume like scent, I decided to give it a try anyway.

I have used two teaspoons per 300 ml, while I haven’t checked recommended preparation at all. As a green, I did my best to have water temperature around 80°C. But as it is started to steeping a mellow tropical fruits-floral notes started to waft through all the kitchen where I was preparing my breakfast. After two and half minutes I took the strainer off and took a sniff. Oh my… so wonderfully pineapple scent! With some, again, florals beneath. I coud not wait to take sips of this tea.

In taste it is floral with pineapple notes. They say there should be “Prickly fig” aka Opuntia and while I have very limited experience, I think it’s there! Maybe there are some other tropical fruits in taste too (as it was somehow generic tropical for me, and they say papaya pieces are in).
Lotus? Not sure… but again, very limited experience with this ingredient — only What-cha’s Vietnam West Lake ‘Golden Flower’ Lotus tea.

Hmm… glad I have this tea!

Prepared this tea as it is evening again. Thank you again Dustin sending it my way.

I am thinking about Cameron B. as drinking this tea, as I have just heard in news that Texas is under cover of snow and there are some major blackouts. Hopefully everything will be alright soon!

And now, finally to the tea:
Dry sachet, reminds me strongly Bird and Blend’s Apple Strudel. But this one is to be brewed with 85°C water; 4-6 minutes steep. I did my best for both parameters — 5 minutes steep, temperature above 80°C, but not boiling!

The aroma of steeped tea is unpleasantly apple sour, I am blaming a bit the rooibos aroma combined with apples make it unpleasant. Luckily, in taste it is different, and it is quite bold rooibos base. Surprisingly not musty; and I have to say, I like it. The apple is mellow and I notice hints of caramel sweetness too.

Overall, not a cup I would necessary have again, but I am pleased with it.

Fairytale pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ttfXJZwtxg (it’s about Marabu, and I guess this tea is called after this bird; and yes, there are some songs too. It’s called (literally) Jerboas and Marabou.

Book pairing (I need to finish it quickly, as I need to return it to library this week): CORNWELL, Bernard: Sword Song (translated to Czech) pp. 203-282 (of 311)

Let’s travel to India (on courtesy of Dustin, who sent me among “ordered” teas, 5 tea bag samples, which are going to be great in my collection) when today is a first day of new, and hopefully last semester.

Marketing in transport is a lecture I am taking while writing this note. But the tea indeed delivers me to some warmer environment than this winter wonderland.

Anyway, to describe this tea. It’s somehow sweet (probably vanilla) and mostly thick. Cloves are somehow most prominent flavour, but overall it is mellow, but as well somehow boring in tastes. Like my sender wrote, it is like murmur of those flavours. I would like the spices a bit more pronounced.

French Friday! From the depths of the sampler bag from Dustin… thank you, Dustin! Steeped 2.5g of leaf in 350ml 175F water for 2 minutes.

Dry leaf has a fresh and bright orange aroma. Steeped tea is a pretty marigold color and smells more akin to tangerines, particularly the pithy zest of the peel. The flavor, too, is making me think more of tangerine than orange; there is something very crisp, bright, pithy, and tangy about it, with a mild citrusy tartness. There is apparently ginger also in the profile, but it is extremely mild against the bright citrus flavor; there is a subtle warming quality to the flavor, but I don’t really get a distinct gingery taste and certainly no heat. I do feel like I taste a bit of lemon peel along with the citrusy elements, which may just be my brain’s association of pairing lemon with ginger. I don’t really taste the base against the flavoring, but it provides a light mouthfeel and there is a hint of a hot hay note waxing underneath. Mostly, it is a very bright and slightly tangy tangerine-flavored tea. There is a very refreshing quality about it, and I bet it would make a very nice cold brew.

Thank you to Dustin for sharing a sample of this! The cherry blossom aroma was stronger than the cherry blossom flavor. Very, very mild. The green base was smooth and lacked any bitterness, but not complex or rich enough in flavor.

French Friday! Pulled my first French tea sampler out of the stash Dustin sent me to try. The dry leaf has a soft, candied strawberry sort of aroma. Steeped 2.6g to 350ml 205F water for 3 minutes. The aroma is even more pronounced from the wet leaf, though rather than smelling of strawberries, it has more of a candied tropical fruits note.

The aroma on my cooling thermos is still sweet/candied, and just a little floral, like a wildflower honey. I smell strawberry, grape, pineapple, mango, and even a subtle melon aroma. But the way the sweetness and fruity aromas are colliding, it makes me feel as if I’m sticking my nose into a bag of multi-fruit flavored candies, like Skittles, and attempting to smell individual fruits, when really they just smell… like Skittles. Sweet and fruity.

Since I don’t like my black teas bitey and tend to use a lot less leaf than pretty much anyone recommends, I have a very smooth cup; my experiences with Marco Polo, even using the same leaf-to-water ratio and steeping parameters, brought out a lot more astrigency/drying in the cup. The black tea itself has a bit of a bready quality, as well as some minerality, but mostly I taste the fruit, which still has that sort of perfumy quality. It doesn’t feel oily or waxy on my tongue like Marco Polo did, though (which makes me wonder if perhaps the age of that sample had done something weird with the flavoring oils). I taste that soft, candy-like strawberry note, and sometimes I taste purple grape (like the kind found in candies/drinks) left on my tongue. Sometimes rather than getting strawberry in a sip, I get a sort of mixed tropical fruit flavor. It’s a very strange experience, since my nose or tongue seem to read different fruit notes on different sips!

I am enjoying this cuppa and will be working on it throughout the day, with a top-off during my lunch break. Thanks Dustin!

My first steep of this was 3m and the cup was great. I sipped through it while getting the tiny roommates online for school. There are six alarms on my phone daily to get them into all the zooms on time. I stuffed my face with leftover coconut naan, washing it down with my first cup, not taking the time to appreciate the tea. Now that the morning has settled I’ve made a second steeping, which isn’t as delicious as the first. It still smells great with a deep strawberry like scent, but the flavors are now lighter than I’d like. Now that I’ve let my cup cool it is getting a little of that flatness I mentioned in my previous notes. This appears to be a cup better sipped hot!

I can’t figure out what I think of this! It starts out as a deep rich strawberry flavor, reflecting the scent. The finish is that same flavor. Some of the sips are great while others fall flat. When the cup cools it’s all flat as well. It’s like that alkaline mineral taste creeps in there, but it isn’t consistent. I wonder if a shorter steeping time would help. I’ll have to play around with this one!

Hmmm… not sure about this one. It smells very fruity. It doesn’t make me think of fresh bright peaches, but maybe it’s more of a deeper dried peach. When I sip it I get a bland fruitish flavor that goes a little tart/sour on the sides of my tongue near the back of the sip and then there is that alkaline flatness to it at the end. If I hold the tea in my mouth I can kind of get dried peaches. The finish is dried peach for sure. It leaves my mouth with that dry feeling. I’m not liking this and that surprises me because I’m usually such a huge fan of Theodor teas! I’m not giving up though. I’ll play around with the steeping parameters and also try a cold steep too. There may be hope yet!

Thank you Dustin for sending this across the bay! This might be my favorite of the three Laponic teas I’ve tried.

Cooked cranberry aroma that’s mellow and deep with a tangy high tone, a bit of rosemary. The tea is full-bodied, brothy and lightly brisk. The heft of the flavor is from the black teas, contributing oak wood and a touch of earth. Equal measures cranberry and rosemary are layered seamlessly throughout. Using cranberry flavor I can understand but also rosemary flavor instead of the leaf? Maybe the leaf is naturally too overpowering to create the desired effect. There is also another layer to the tea that takes me a moment to notice, an airy quality maybe contributed by the oak moss flavoring, maybe also by the elderflowers and dried poppy petals. The airiness carries through into the aftertaste with subtle minerals and a bit of cool rosemary, leaving a gentle feeling of being refreshed.

I’ve really enjoyed sampling the Laponic white, green and black teas. They’re very focused on the essence of northern environments — very natural woodsy aromas and tastes.

This bag is closing in on being done. I see in my last tasting note that I reordered this, so I hope I’m sitting on another bag of it and that this isn’t that second bag. I’m still heartbroken that Theodor is gone. Had they given ANY notice, I’d have placed another huge order. I don’t understand what they did with all their stock and why they wouldn’t have sold it instead of abruptly shutting their doors.

When I open the bag I smelled graham cracker notes with a little lemon behind it. I steeped this at a higher temp for a shorter period of time before looking at my last steeping parameters. The super hot cup seems a little more astringent than I recall. As it cools I still get the same thing. I think I burnt this cup which feels like a crime considering that I can’t get any more. Le sigh!

I’ve had this tea for a while and decided to do a restock on this recent order. I’m puzzled why I haven’t written a tasting note before and why it gets a thumbs down in so many reviews. It’s lemony for sure. I don’t know that I get a bright lemon, more of a baked or defanged lemon with deeper caramel like notes behind it. I get a little tartness in the sip on top of the deeper flavors of the tea base. Towards the end of the sip the lemon starts to come out and lingers into the finish. I suppose it could have a little more going on in it, but I enjoy it as is.