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Just got the most lovely package in the mail from Plunkybug. Everything smelled so wonderful, it was really hard to pick which to try first.
I decided to go with this one, and it’s heavenly…
Nothing artificial or weird, just lovely and grahamy, and cookie like, and nougaty, and a little break of fabulous in my mug.
But it’s not overly sweet at all…just perfectly balanced.
I feel so lucky to have gotten the chance to try this. Thanks so much Plunkybug!!

My Streetshop order arrived in my mailbox today (this tea and that puerh cake everyone was raving about… :) ). I was pleasantly surprised at just how much of this tea I received, as I’m not very good at imagining the size of a package by the weight of the tea.
The tea leaves themselves are beyond gorgeous…. silver white fuzzy leaves, accented by dark black matte ones. Just a really beautiful tea…
I decided to brew this one western this time, since my house seems kind of busy right now, and I like to reserve my gaiwan moments for more serene scenes… I used a lower temp water (somewhere around 175-180), in 8oz, with my filter basket filled pretty high because this is a fluffy tea.
The liquor is golden and lovely, looking even more pretty in my lustreware cup.
Upon first sip, I just think, “thank you so much Dexter for recommending this tea”…. It’s light with a smooth finish, but has this deep note running through it, like a bass note, rounding it out and making it feel unique.
Yeah, I can see myself wanting this in my cupboard for quite some time…. it also seems like a really perfect summer tea. :D

Feeling super tired today, not really sure why…
So, went for an old standby. Comfort in a cup. :)
Drinking this while eating a couple of dark chocolate cake brownies and reading David Copperfield.
I think I’ve stretched out my reading of this longer than any other book I’ve ever read, only because there’s a couple characters I wish were in my life (Peggoty and Aunt Betsey Trotwood), and I don’t want to say goodbye.
I love this tea… and, while I’ve discovered some blacks that rival, and even possibly surpass this one, I know this tea will always remain a steadfast favourite. It was the tea that taught me what tea could be. :)

I have not been on Steepster in awhile!
While I’ve been drinking tea, I just haven’t had the time to log it here. I miss reading what everyone is drinking!
Had to log this, though, because this tea is one fantastical creation… I instantly feel like I’m Tom Waits sitting with Iggy Pop in a booth at a diner, all in black and white… and it’s so comforting in such a strange way. lol
Really, this tea!
I’m not a smoker, because lung issues run in my family, but I have enjoyed cigarettes and coffee in the past…. and it’s a taste that just sticks with you forever afterwards, filed away in the ‘nostalgic tastes and smells’ cabinet of the mind.
I really do wish this was one that could be ordered again, basically because there is nothing like it out there. nothing. (and, the aftertaste is spot on. SPOT ON!)
Thanks for making this one Stacy. It’s quite special. :)

This was one I wanted to try out of Dexter’s cupboard. I love pear in all forms and have only tried a couple of pear teas.
The dry leaf of this is soooo lovely… truly honey pear.
The honey is reminiscent of Harney’s Elyse’s blend, just toned down slightly.
Steeped, it’s really wonderful. I love when teas taste how they smell, which honestly doesn’t happen that often with flavoured blacks for me. There’s no bitterness here, which I was worried about (probably because the honey was reminding me of Elyse’s blend, which while wonderful, is very finicky….). Yup. This is a really nice pear tea.
I’m really glad that I got to try this one! Thanks, Dexter! :))))

Decided to continue with sheng today…
Wow, is this one fantastic…
That hint of smoke is really interesting…and the flavours here are so layered and complex. This is one special tea.
Tobacco is present, but in this mellow sort of way that is completely in harmony with everything else going on… it’s really amazing.
It would be very interesting to taste the 2014 compared to this one….
Thanks for this one, Dexter!

I wish I had more time to write, but I’m in the midst of unclogging drains, doing laundry, cleaning dishes, and sundry other tasks… Ahhh!
But, at least there is tea… and there is THIS tea!
I really did not know I would love sheng so much….
And the way it changes with steeps! (fruity, to buttery and rich…) and the tiniest little bite at the end… it’s so fantastic.
Thank you, Dexter, for sending this my way… another favourite that I didn’t know was a favourite. ;)

Another tea from the lovely Dexter! :))))

I had not read anything about this tea, so when I opened the bag and smelled smoke, I was surprised. The dry leaf was very smoky and spicy, and I stood there thinking, “hmmm…not sure I’m going to like this…”…
But then I steeped it… and I’m sitting around a campfire right now, smelling graham, creamy marshmallow, chocolate (yes, I DO smell chocolate), and pine…. and it’s not just a tea, but an experience. I like what this is doing more than if it were just a sweet, s’mores tea…
I needed to be transported, as slushy snow is falling outside and I just want spring….
Sitting around a night fire is much more lovely meditation. :)
Thank you, Dexter!

I managed to find a moment of silence.
Sun was streaming through the living room window, I was in a comfy spot, and all my kids were busy…away from me. ;)
Even the dog was sleeping.
It was one of those tea moments that get ingrained in your memory…. it was that special.
And this tea… Oh, this tea! I really can’t thank you enough, Dexter. :))))
I think I’m on about my 10th steep of this…and the cup is still absolutely delicious!
The leaves smelled of sweet hay after their rinse and first 10 seconds.
The cup itself was almost fruity (I swear I was picking up melon…. then I swore there were hints of ripe plum skin…).
I knew right away that this was one special tea.

20 second steep left the leaves more bright and fruity, less hay like… The cup wasn’t as fruit centered; I found it to be buttery and creamy… So good!
At this point, I seriously want to shout from rooftops that I love this tea!

I continued on… getting distracted by kids… but loving this tea the entire time… It took me through episodes of Steven Universe, and through my time perusing cook books trying to come up with the weekly menu, and now it’s time for me to start dinner, and I’m still drinking this tea.
I loved how it tingled my tongue and left my mouth just wanting more.
Yes. This tea is a keeper.
Dexter, I wish I could hug you right now!! :)))

(This whole session was done using boiling water… I have enough to try it with a lower temp, as suggested on the website. I’m really excited to see what that’s like!)

Thank you so much for this sample, Tea Ave!

I have never tried an Osmanthus Oolong before, and honestly, I was a little nervous that this would be a really flowery tea (flowery teas can be hit or miss with me…). However, upon opening the sample packet, I was hit with this sweet honey stone fruit fragrance. Jammy and sweet!
The liquor is a really gorgeous golden yellow. I followed the instructions on the pouch for gaiwan brewing, using 8grams. If I were to do this again, I think I’d use less leaf. This tea is so flavourful that I really think I could personally use less leaf and still get a perfectly lovely session out of it (just a note to myself for next time).
The steeped tea itself is really wonderful… creamy, buttery mouth feel with honey, fruity loveliness. It may only be 16F outside, but I have spring in my cup. :)

The second steep yielded a darker, deeper liquor with a more vegetal base (spinach and kale, like)… this steep was almost roasty.
I truly love the finish of this, too… it’s so sweet and lingers for quite some time.

I love finding out that I like something I would’ve thought I wouldn’t… Osmanthus, you’re pretty great. :)