149 Tasting Notes
I was in the mood for a green this morning, and also for the pageantry of using my gaiwan (I can only hope that someday my fingers will be graceful…. it really would be a wonderful thing. lol).
I found this tea beyond lovely. :)
Vegetal and sweet, with light sugars leaving such a lasting finish. Elements of cooked spinach and broccoli (properly prepared….not the sulfuric mess of my childhood…) mingled with sugar cane and wakame. And oh that sugar cane! Long after the final sip, the lingering sweetness remains.
I have lost count of my infusions, and I’m still loving this tea.
Preparation
Ok… I’m trying the cold latte thing (even though it scared the pants off me!).
I keep going to sip it, and my brain is saying, “This should be hot!”, but them my taste buds are saying, “yeah, we know, but, it’s really good, so just go with it!”…
I used 8oz of vanilla almond milk with 1/2 tsp of tea, along with a little drizzle of honey, since I figured if I’m going to go out of my comfort zone here, I better go all the way and add a sweetner…. When my metal whisk wouldn’t do the job (I didn’t want to dirty my blender, since I already have a pile of dishes waiting for me…), I used my stick blender to mix it up, and that seemed to work great!
I can see this being something I would crave (like those weird times when I HAVE to have chocolate soy milk, and there’s no getting around it…), and I love that it is totally different from what I’m used to.
I like this matcha better cold than warm, actually…. as I keep sipping, I’m liking it more and more…..
This sounds almost exactly like a review I wrote not long ago, I felt exactly the same way. I was almost afraid to try it at first, but then I could totally see it as a new craving!
It is a great way to have matcha. I keep checking out the Red Leaf Teas site to see what matcha they have on sale, just in case it’s one I want to try as an iced latte. I’ve been doing them for “breakfast” on my way to work.
Yeah, it’s so weird that I like it cold! I never would have expected to…ever.
Definitely stick blender to the rescue! Whenever I wonder if it will work for the job, I hear you chanting an encouragement, ifjuly. haha Seriously, I think I’d be too afraid to use mine if it wasn’t for you.
And Marzipan, your post about matcha preferences is what really pushed me to try this. Thanks!
I can’t thank Stacy enough for sending this sample my way—it’s glorious!
The aroma while steeping was so chocolatey, with floral hints and warm fruits. I feel like I’ve said this a lot this week, but I couldn’t stop smelling it!
My first sip and I was in love. Caramelized peach with soft citrus notes, along with that round, chocolately base that is so, so delicious, made this a perfect cup of tea.
I could drink this every day and be a very happy lady. :)
The finish is light and bright, just enough bite to be interesting—balanced completely with each flavour progression.
I feel so lucky to have had such amazing teas lately (Butiki orders have a way of making me feel super special…like the kid that’s chosen to take home the class hamster for spring break, or something—I ALWAYS wanted to be that kid! ugh), all so good that they’ve been added to my ‘favourites’ list. This tea is no exception.
It. is. a. favourite.
Preparation
Ooooh… this is one of my favourite flavoured teas.
The maple is so natural and balanced, with hints of yeasted waffle dancing around the pecan. mmmmm!!
I was looking for a sweeter tea, since I’m trying to avoid eating the cake sitting on my counter (I’m finally beginning to realize that sugary starches mess with my body big time….), and this is absolutely perfect.
I can always trust that a flavoured tea from Butiki will never taste fake, and I love that. This is perfect. :)
Preparation
I’ve been drinking Butiki exclusively for days, and it’s been lovely—-ever since my order arrived, I’ve just wanted to slowly taste everything, taking my time with each tea.
Today, I chose Rolling Thunder, because I sure do love me an Oolong. :)
Oh, hello aroma! This was floral, but jammy—I didn’t want to take my nose out of my infuser basket, actually, but eventually I was able to pull myself away.
I love how the initial taste of currants and soft spice (soft!…hanging out way in the back, but that’s good!) transforms into a bright, citrus finish—it’s so refreshing and makes me want to just keep sipping.
I found it slightly astringent, but in an appealing way, so as to leave a hint of sweetness on the back of my tongue (lovely!).
This tea is complex and layered—-so fun to drink!
Preparation
Chocolatey and deep, slightly astringent (the type of astringent you WANT in a ‘breakfast’ type tea…)…..like brown sugar quick bread, with caramelized crispy edges…. smooth and bold.
This was just a sample with my last order, and I drank it as a pick me up before dinner, since my husband wanted to try it as well…. made two cups/steeps, and while I liked the first cup more (that deep chocolate note is incredible…), the second cup was really great, too, with a more pronounced citrus.
Preparation
Oh, man, was this exactly what I needed today!
I’m determined to make Ryan a gluten free birthday cake… He had an awesome ice cream cake on Saturday, but his actual birthday is today, and WHAT is a birthday WITHOUT a cake?!
So, attempt one failed…. I need to learn that when a recipe says ‘do not overbake’ that I am not who they are speaking to, since I tend to underbake things anyway….When I went to put the cake on a serving plate, the whole bottom was goo….sad, sad goo.
Attempt two is in the oven now, and I’ve got high hopes. It’s not chocolate (I ran out of cocoa), but the batter was the type that once you licked it, you wanted to KEEP licking it… that should be a good sign. I WILL NOT UNDERBAKE (I need that on a t-shirt).
OK… the tea… It’s been absolutely heavenly in between my baking trials.
As soon as the water hit the leaf, the aroma was amazing…floral, but grounded and earthy. I was in love (LOVE!) with the scent…. The liquor was honey-coloured and so, so sweet…
This tea is bright and crisp, with rock candy, apricot, and buttery notes…almost like an apricot strudel, or something, but with the most lovely floral thing going on. My first cup had absolutely no bitterness at all, and when I resteeped, the notes brought forward were welcomed and so delicious (candied citrus peel!). And the aftertaste…sweet and perfect.
This was just a sample with my last Butiki order, and I am certainly going to have to order more…. this was a favourite. :)
…now, I’ll go check on that cake.
Preparation
ugh, i so know what you mean about being a chronic underbaker! i have had the whole “oh hey, it’s molten cake, by accident” discovery too. i suppose i’m so cautious about overbaking sometimes to the detriment of the cake because there are few things culinarily sadder than cake that’s too dry! :O
i love your description of the notes…rock candy, apricot, butter; strudel-y but also floral…YUM! i love the lingering aftertaste in a good darjeeling too; i feel like it doesn’t get enough love sometimes for that. fist bump!
if you are victorious with the cake i would love to know the recipe! i haven’t done enough GF baking…
dry cake is horrible….horrible. thanks for understanding. lol
I can’t wait to try more darjeelings, since I don’t know anything about them…the variegated leaf (which is from the process, I guess?) is absolutely gorgeous….the greens and browns all floating together in your cup. :)
The cake DID turn out alright! I just used this recipe, not adjusting anything….sort of sad I didn’t have to use a scale. ha!
http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/gluten-free-yellow-cake-recipe/
It is one grey day out there—not raining right now, but wet and muddy all over, besides that one patch of snow refusing to melt by my walkway. Sooo enjoying that it’s Friday and excited for the weekend. We’re doing Ryan’s (my husband) birthday on Saturday, and I still get excited for birthdays like a little kid….but as an adult it’s extra fun, since you get to be the one throwing up decorations and making food (steak and fries for dinner….Haagen Dazs ice cream pie for dessert—he doesn’t like cake).
ok…on to the tea…. I was really excited to try this, since the description on the website made it sound right up my alley….and it was. :)
Such a smooth mouth feel! (and I love that smooth mouth feel…). Cocoa, roasted carrot and sweet potato, floral and oak (I am definitely picking up the oak note that Stacy talked about… it’s woodsy without being smokey)… and it leaves such a sweet finish on your tongue. This tea is absolutely delightful.
I should probably be nice and share this with Ryan, since it is his birthday and everything…….
*Had to come back to add more to this…. I’ve been drinking this tea ALL DAY (I was planning on trying a cold flavoured matcha, but never got around to it because the leaf in this just kept making great cups!)…. just adding time in about 30second increments. As I resteep, this really bright, crisp flavour emerges… it’s fantastic. It’s so refreshing. I absolutely love how this tea evolves as you resteep. this is a definite keeper. :)
Preparation
I think I’m more excited about birthdays now that I’m older than when I was a kid too. I hope you guys have fun on Saturday! :)
i always preferred ice cream for birthday dessert too. Ryan has good taste (naturally ;).
haha, “i guess i’ll let you have some butiki…it’s your birthday and all..” lol.
I sipped with my eyes closed, letting my memories fill in all the answers to ‘what does this taste like?’….. it was fantastic.
I’ve steeped 4 times now, and I’m still getting a great cup of tea…
Preparation
now that i’ve calmed down: i love your note! i agree, i like the way the lemon is definitely present but it’s not astringent or overpowering at all, a very creamy soft but pervasive feel, and yes, just like a fancy lemon wafer cookie!
i’m so happy i get to read your impressions of tea now whenever i want. wheeeee.
Thanks for the welcome, Sil!! :)
I have the biggest smile on my face… I feel like I’ve walked into a giant, never ending tea party… it’s great!
And MB, I am so excited to have quick access to your tea notes… SO MUCH FUN TO READ! (and boy do I value your opinion…)
Welcome to the tea party!!!!
The fact that you might have thought about using your teeth to attack the packing tape is a true sign of your tea enthusiasm. :))
Sounds awesome. I need some time to play with my gaiwan.
gaiwan sessions are the best!