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drank Wild Canadian Labrador Tea - Ledum Groenlandicum by Atomic Nature
1610 tasting notes

Smelling the leaves of Labrador tea, running my finger along that thick cottony fluff on the underside, crumbling the green blades — the experience is soothing.

I find these leaves larger and more pliable than the Grade 1 leaves carried by Camellia Sinensis. They are also gentler on the stomach. The aroma and taste are crisp, clean and cool while there is some sort of mild red-woody spicy tannin quality that gives a base to the airy evergreen notes. Sweet, thick spring water that turns a brilliant reddish-pink-orange color when left to sit for a long while. What a sense of place this herbal tea elicits. Bog tea through and through. Fall. Winter.

I woke up this morning sufferingly stuffy at my work father’s house and called Kiki to complain. She didn’t answer, so I left a message with plenty of curse words (because that’s our relationship) and pleaded imploringly, “When is it going to rain because I can’t take this dryness anymore!!” She called back and I asked her again when it’s going to rain. Today at 4pm. I didn’t believer her with such a precise answer so I looked. Two days with some rain, followed by two dry days, then possibly a full week of rain. GLORY to GLOB!

Listen: Dark Speed by Failure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buPHtWPKzfg

Flavors: Cedar, Citrus, Evergreen, Pine, Resin, Spicy, Spring Water, Sweet, Tannin, Thick

Preparation
Boiling 7 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML
3 comments
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Martin Bednář
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We had same tea in same day! I have preparared it yesterday too. Honestly, I have used too less leaf, so it was very weak, but certainly I have noticed similar (though weak) notes. Certainly resin, pine, cedar, I may add juniper. It wasn’t thick for me… but as I wrote, wrong preparation method. I need to use more leaf and crumble them. I was too careful with it :D

derk
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Definitely try more leaf but don’t go too heavy.

Martin Bednář
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I have used exactly 10 leaves, which was indeed too little.

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Comments

Martin Bednář
Delete

We had same tea in same day! I have preparared it yesterday too. Honestly, I have used too less leaf, so it was very weak, but certainly I have noticed similar (though weak) notes. Certainly resin, pine, cedar, I may add juniper. It wasn’t thick for me… but as I wrote, wrong preparation method. I need to use more leaf and crumble them. I was too careful with it :D

derk
Delete

Definitely try more leaf but don’t go too heavy.

Martin Bednář
Delete

I have used exactly 10 leaves, which was indeed too little.

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Bio

This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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Sonoma County, California, USA

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