761 Tasting Notes
Went into DAVIDs on Saturday night before a show I was going to downtown, and it was a super warm day here, so I went in aiming to get an iced tea, and the tea that came to mind was Pineapple Oolong. I did not want an herbal, or a green, but possibly a white or oolong, and I was on the fence with black. In the end, the SA mentioned Vanilla Orchid and I was all, I haven’t had that in ages, and I kept sniffing it and the Pineapple Oolong, and decided on the Vanilla Orchid instead, but not too much ice. Oh wow was I ever happy I did! It was soooo yummy. I had forgotten how great this one is. I’m gonna have to get more when I refill my Oolong Supreme along with a few others.
Flavors: Cream, Orchid, Vanilla
Having this again…I have had this several times since my initial tasting note, and I have to say that it is becoming a go to tea for me lately. It’s got body with enough weight, but still not super heavy like black, so it does still feel a little lighter and summery, but heavier than a white or green. In fact, on the oolong scale, I’d have to say that this tea is like right in the middle. The leaves are dark, but the brew is light, but it is not vegetal, floral, or grassy like like lighter oolongs are. The notes are creamy and buttery like a milk oolong, almost, but with a nutty taste…probably from the roasting. There are plummy mineral notes, and almost a peachy or apricot note too.
It’s a really unique tea, and I find myself reaching for it a lot these days, which is odd, because I don’t usually flock to a straight tea so frequently.
Guess I’m the first to properly review this tea. Yay!
So I had this as my tea to go today. It was good. I have had red raspberry leaf tea, so I could pick that out of this blend, but the other ingredients do round the taste out nicely, I believe. I got 30g of it, and will have no trouble drinking it.
One note of caution…while red raspberry leave is an excellent female herb, and has great benefits to the uterus and pelvic region, caution should be given to those trying to conceive (tic). It is fine to drink to prepare for a pregnancy, especially where there is uterine weakness or previous miscarriage, it is not recommended by some to drink after ovulation. The toning action on the uterus in early pregnancy can actually lead to miscarriage (it is this same action that women in late pregnancy drink it for labour). There are some sources that say it is good for morning sickness though, or throughout the whole pregnancy…so use with caution if you are ttc or are in early pregnancy and check with your doctor or midwife.
ETA: This tea is super fluffy and light.
Thanks for the PSA! I’ll save this one till late in my third trimester. :)
Yeah. I hear some women are fine to drink it right through, but it can potentially cause harm, so use caution and check with your doctor or midwife before drinking in the first and second trimesters. There is still conflicting info on it.
So, I am trying this one again, because the last time I had this it was a tea to go, and it was bitter, and I thought maybe I’ll just get a small amount and try it again, because it really smells great.
I did kinda forget the water after it boiled, but it was still hot/warm so I used it anyway. Steeped about 4 minutes. It is considerably less bitter. It is a better cup than last time, for sure. I’m finding the mixed base kinda of hard to describe. I am getting a slightly floral fusty taste, and it is a little juicy tasting, too.
So, I would say, I’m still not incredibly seduced by this tea, but I am more seduced than I was the first time. I got 18g, so I can easily drink this down. Will decide after that if it deserves a restock or not.
Preparation
Feeling sick today, so I opted to have this one finally, to help push away what I know is coming, and I don’t want. It’s DH’s birthday this week, and I would rather not be snotty and sick. :( So hoping this helps my system and aids in clearing up my sinuses some.
I used the whole packet and about 8 oz of water, but ended up diluting it a little more with a few more ounces. It’s still pretty strong and burny, but more tolerable now. I feel like having these crystals on hand is something I would like. Where does one get them when not sent as part of a swap?
This one is from OMGsrsly and I’m grateful she sent it. It’s been waiting for a while for the right time to use. :)
Flavors: Ginger, Honey
:) I got them at T&T, and found more at Superstore. There are lots of varieties, just check the ingredients. I prefer ones with honey and sugar, rather than just sugar.
I find these at Whole Foods. I like to mix half a packet with a cup of black tea. It’s a great drink when I’m feeling under the weather.
No Whole Foods here. What’s T&T? We have a Stupidstore, but it’s in Langford. I’m in James Bay. I wish we had one closer. We don’t go out that way much except for Costco which is the opposite direction, but I’ve been aiming to get there lately.
T&T is an Asian grocery store. You could go to the bigger grocery store in Chinatown, they might have something like this. Check the bags of individually packaged hot drinks, the latest package I got was in with the “cereal” drinks.
I have to say, I don’t love this. I don’t hate it, but I’m just not a fan of eucalyptus. This infusion is about 2 tsp for 12 oz. I’m getting a minty taste for sure. And a little cedar, but that I can kind of handle. This is less dessert like than last time. I mean, it is still a little sweet, though I added a little bit of raw cane sugar.
I thank CrowKettle for allowing me to try this one. I feel like Golden Orchid resonates with me more though.
Preparation
This one comes from the ever so lovely CrowKettle along with a few other WP teas and a few other odds and ends. This one caught my interest when she said recently that it tasted like marzipan, or somewhat dessert-like. Then today when she gave it to me, she also mentioned the cedar and eucalyptus notes. Colour me intrigued and confused.
So I went to look at steeping parameters, and it said to use 1 tablespoon for 8 oz, and I was like, huh? Thinking it was a typo and that it was 1 teaspoon, I opted to try the smaller amount. I’m not sure if it is in fact a typo, but that is how I made it.
The liquor is much paler than I was expecting. Which maybe is under leafing? I don’t know. I went into drinking this one with the hopes I got a more dessert-y feel, and I did, though I can kind of pick up that slightly minty-ishness of the eucalyptus. It is sold of like a coolish feeling going down, but not like peppermint or spearmint or anything really strong. I can kind of pick out the sweeter vanilla note, but not sure on the saffron or really what that should taste like.
I did use sugar for both of my steeps which makes it less woodsy to me. I’m not the hugest fan of woodsy, to be honest, and that part of the description is what threw me off on wanting to try this, until it was compared to marzipan. I can’t quite say it is like marzipan, but I can get a sort of dessert note, probably from the vanilla and saffron. Marzipan is a bit more almondy.
I’d have to say this feels like a masculine tea, playing a bit of dress up, and trying on a little bit of a feminine feel. I have to say I am a little confused and mystified about this one. I have enough for another serving, and I can probably get one more steep out of this. I might look at cold steeping the last bit, or a steeping from the last bit, as was suggested.
I can’t say whether I would recommend the to anyone because it is such a peculiar yet specific note that the person really has to like more woodsy notes in their tea. But that’s just not my thing. For what it is, I like it more than I thought I would based on the description alone. Thanks again to CrowKettle for sharing this with me, and pushing me out of my comfort zone.
I think it smells like marzipan more than it tastes like it, in a David’s Tea Alpine Punch kind of way, but yeah.. lots of interesting things going on in this cup, for sure!
I can pick that up, with you having said that, but not sure I would on my own…but def a dessert quality.
Just updated the steeping info on Steepster. It should have read 1/2 tablespoon in 200ºF water for 3 minutes. If you’ve got enough for another steep, I’d love to hear if your opinions change at all! :)
I used a heaping teaspoon, so that should have been about 1/2 tablespoon, but it was for 12 oz. I have a little sample left, so I’ll how much is left in that.
Still a fave. Had the last of this today. I pre bagged it for our trip to Vancouver yesterday to see Kraftwerk. I had this and Movie Night. FTR, my entire travel bag smelled like Movie Night even though it was in a tea bag wrapped in plastic wrap in a ziploc bag with the Fantasy Island.
Anyway, sad sipdown for this one, but I will get more soon. Love that it is a little more coconut than raspberry, but still there is a little fruit in the mix.
