379 Tasting Notes
I got my YS package today. :)
The dry leaves are dark, long, twisted, whole leaves. It has a roasted nuts aroma, along with a floral aroma, some sweet tobacco. The taste of the early infusions had hints of sweet tobacco, earthiness, floral, borderline perfumey. As it progressed the earthiness toned down, roasted nuts emerged more, peanuts especially. I really liked it in the later infusions, less earthy, more minerals, more roasted nuts, less perfumey, some raisins, sugarcane, fruits, peanuts. There was very little smoke, it was more a toasted, roasted taste with a lot of honey sweetness, fruity sweetness, and lots of flavor. Bold, but balanced, clean. Overall, it’s sweet, roasty, and minerally has a super soft mouthfeel, and a long sweet minerally finish. No bitterness, a little dryness but it adds to it.
Do I like this better than the Wild Da Hong Pao Spring 2018? Nope… It’s less nutty, fewer cocoa notes and more floral. Is it a good Da Hong Pao? Yes, no question.
7g, 212°F, 130ml, rinse, 11 steeps: 10s, 15s, 20s, 25s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 1m5s, 1m15s, 1m30s, 2m.
Flavors: Champagne, Earth, Floral, Fruity, Honey, Mineral, Nuts, Nutty, Peanut, Perfume, Raisins, Roast Nuts, Roasted, Sugarcane, Sweet, Toasty, Tobacco, White Wine
Preparation
Last free sample. I wonder why companies give samples of their so-so teas instead of their good teas (like Paris was good, didn’t write a note on that yet). You would think if you want to get someone hooked, you send them a good one. Hmm…
This was an average tea. Not horrible or anything. Some malt, plums, raisins, sweetness.
For the past couple of hours, it’s been crazy around here. There was someone throwing furniture and lots of running around above me. It started a little before 3 am. I was up, of course. Then I heard serious screaming of calls for help. So I called for help. It took the cops a long time to arrive, they brought like 7 cars and an ambulance. One hour of pure screaming and terror from above. She said he was beating her up and her dog. She was throwing up over and over. From my porch outside, I was screaming up to her to hang on, she was on her porch screaming for help… Etc. Crazy night.
Flavors: Malt, Plum, Raisins, Sweet
Preparation
oh my godness. I hope everyone is going to be ok.
Wow hope they are alright.
That’s a terrifying experience for all involved. Hope you’re ok, and your neighbors.
She is ok. Poor woman and her dog too :(. I don’t know what happened to the man though. He has tried to come into my place a couple of times and I always scream “Wrong door!!!”. I “think” he gets drunk and since my door is right under his, he gets confused. Now I know he’s exceptionally violent too. They took her in an ambulance so she made it, thank goodness.
Yeah, that sounds like a person with an alcohol problem (coming from experience). I hope those people part ways for good. If you don’t already have it, keep some mace accessible.
Oh my gosh, that is terrible and terrifying for you and your neighbor… I can’t imagine hearing that and having to wait for the cops to show up. Take care today.
I hope so too for her sake. Yeah, he’s pissed that I got “involved.” because he was screaming at me but someone had to slow him down. Not a good situation. Thank you, Derk. I’ll be prepared!
Thank you tea-sipper, yeah it was hella hectic. People were watching from their balconies and no one wanted to get involved. I remember hearing about a woman who was raped and killed and not one person called the police so that was in my mind. I’m just glad she’s ok and the dog too… Sorry the pet thing really gets to me.
Yeah, you definitely should have some sort of defense with you, since now you did “involve yourself”. You are awesome for helping, but also, be careful.
Thank you. I have two blackbelts but if he has a gun in my face, I’m pretty much like anybody else. lol Our state can one can have AK47s slung over their shoulder but I can’t have a pair of nunchucks (was my specialty weapon). I digress. lol I’m prepared, thank you <3.
I’ll get some mace as Derk said. I also have a rope ladder that if he breaks in, I can bail lol. Crazy stuff… I need tea haha.
TWO blackbelts awesome. :D
Oh gosh, yeah, like I said, do something nice for you today!
Yeah, my parents put me in martial arts when I was 5 years old. I was so hyper & naughty lol, they thought it would be a good way to usee my energy.
After studying Shotokan (Japanese) I went to TKD (Korean) as an adult. I wish Nunchuks were legal, I used to bring them around with me all the time in other states… Here I’ll get arrested. Boo.
Guns are fine but no nunchuks. That is just odd.
Yup, that’s my gripe lol. I guess I’ll just beat him with a broom then. :)
haha :D
This makes me somehow sad. I wish you much pleasant evenings and nights. And I hope it is going to be better!
I could not live in that neighborhood I guess. I am so “weak” for that. I feel sorry that you have to have experiences as that. At least the tea was not a disaster.
Martin, I didn’t mean to make anyone sad. :( The neighborhood is actually a good neighborhood, I think violent drunk people are unfortunately among all of us. Yeah, the tea was fine. hehe Thank you for you and all of your thought here. I just wanted to air it out.
Kawaii433: It is probably wrong word – it is not really “sadness”. Just I feel bad everytime I hear something like that and my thoughts are just I can´t even help, if I were there I will wait that somebody else will call police, not me and things like that.
Martin, ok I understand what you meant now. :)
What you are describing where no one else calls for help is a known thing in social psychology called “the bystander effect.” People assume someone else will take responsibility, and so no one does, and that is why it’s possible that someone can bleed out on the street without anyone calling 911 for them. It’s very sad.
My sister used to be in an apartment where domestic abuse was taking place across from them on a persistent basis, and they had to call the police about it frequently. The saddest part about it is that the woman in the relationship continued to allow it to happen over and over. :-(
Hmm… Got this as a sample when I ordered Paris and a stump teapot. I never had Chamomile tea before. I don’t know what a good or bad one tastes like… It’s not bad at all but it’s very odd. Kind of like a spicy flower while sipping, then a strange & curious aftertaste. Really strange. I am reluctant to rate it since I have literally zero experience but for the purposes of possibly needing something to help me sleep in the future… It’s known to help with sleeping and supposed to be super calming, I’m going to rate it “70” so I’ll know that it wasn’t disgusting and I could buy it lol.
In other news, Civilization 6 came out with an expansion so I’m spending some time playing it, and I’m still working on getting my cupboard down some without buying too many new teas, hehe. I should be getting my YS package soon (after a 2.5+ month wait, it finally made it to USA. I was unlucky this time around, usually never takes that long.) so I’m looking forward to that. I log my tea in the cupboard when I order it (vs when I receive it). I also put in all my tea-swaps in there. How do you all do it? :)
Flavors: Floral, Spices, Sweet
Preparation
I put mine in the first time I drink them usually, and I don’t add the small amounts like swaps and samples.
Thanks for your response, Ashmanra :)
I label the tea package with the date that I receive it. I don’t do this with swaps.
Thanks, Evol Ving Ness for your response :).
I add the tea to my wishlist and then add it to my cupboard when it arrives. I label all the cakes with what they are, when purchased/received and amount paid for each. Seeing the pricing raise over time is about like watching a bond mature.
Thanks for your response mrmopar :).
btw, I’d put it in the discussions but I keep timing out when I try to post there hehe. It’s nice to see how others log their tea.
mrmopar – lol @watching a bond mature.
Some of it rises better than gold. Buy early and plan….
I don’t use the Steepster cupboard for inventory at all. If I log a tea with a review, I add it to the Steepster cupboard; it has no reflection at all on what I currently own or don’t own. I do all that externally on a spreadsheet, since I can filter that spreadsheet by various variables (date, size, company, ingredients, flavor notes, etc.). I have that spreadsheet linked for public viewing at all times from my Steepster Profile.
Thanks for your response, Mastress Alita. :) I have a detailed file in Evernote but that’s about it (other than steepster cupboard.) I will look at your spreadsheet. That’s awesome.
How sweet of you to thank each of us individually! <3
hehe I really appreciate all of your input and comments! :D <3
I was adding teas to my cupboard as I drank them but it wasn’t working well. I’ve been trying to add teas as I receive them. I also have a spreadsheet on google docs that I update.
Thanks hawkband1 :) I really like the spreadsheet on google docs idea that both you and Mastress Alita brought up. I have a detailed inventory in Evernote but I think google docs would be a much better place to share… Etc. Thanks :D
I’ve got a e-mail draft that I keep updated with my teas, organized by type of tea and then by alphabetical (it’s mostly handy for keeping track of multiple packages of tea, like if I have a sample amount separate from another.)
Thanks, tea-sipper :) Oh wow, never ever thought of using the email draft for uses like that. Pretty neat and convenient too.
Happy Valentines Day all ❤️
Thank you Derk :D for this sample. This has been on my wishlist for a very long time. Like many of my wishlist items, it was a tea that is long gone (at least for now) and the likelihood of being able to try it is also long gone. I was so delighted to get this that I just wanted to keep the sample of it for as long as I can… Maybe just frame it. lol
There are a few really great and thorough reviews on this tea. It is such a complex tea. I enjoyed reading them all. First thought after taking my first sip or two… This is Yunnan black tea? Did I grab the wrong one? Started out woodsy, citrusy, fruity, stonefruits, slightly floral, orchid. For an infusion or two, early on, it reminded me of a sheng I like. It was unique in its taste because it just didn’t taste like any of the Yunnan black teas I’ve tried (note: I don’t have a lot of experience with black tea. Thankfully someone else far more experienced said that too.) But this “Sheng” taste went away, it’s so complex that when I thought I somewhat understood the taste profile, it morphed into something else. Just as tasty, but different. There were berries, fruits, honey, clove, spices, and later some minerals, sweetness versus perfect tart notes here and there. In the long infusions, in the end, I got the malt, the sweet potatoes, the brown toast, the caramel along with the citrus and berries notes that were still there. Ah! I didn’t grab the wrong sample after all :).
So yeah, this was quite a journey. It lasted throughout the whole day. I look forward to trying it again if it ever becomes available. So, for now, my first impression is that it is a wonderfully complex and tasty wildcrafted black tea. I’d like to try it all the different ways as well.
3g, 110ml, 205F, rinse, 10 steeps, 25s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s, 75s, 85s, 2m, 3m, 5m.
Flavors: Berries, Caramel, Cloves, Floral, Fruity, Honey, Malt, Petrichor, Spices, Stonefruit, Sweet Potatoes, Toast, Wood
Preparation
I think you’ll be happy to hear that I was able to secure a bit more of this one just yesterday and it’s on the way from China as we speak :-) happy you love it!
:D
Wahoo, it’s arrived! :-) https://whisperingpinestea.com/collections/pure-tea-black
RIght as I’m about to place an order, no kidding. Thanks for the update.
And it looks like you added a few more new teas :)
Thanks, I hopped on it too. :D
Sure did, Derk! :-) no worries, thanks for the orders!
Opened the pouch yesterday. I was looking forward to trying this one.
The Jabberywocky tea’s dry leaf is thin dark twists. The dry tea leaves and tea are aromatic. It has a good chocolatey, woody forest, honey aroma. The wet leaves have the equivalent but more intense aroma of cocoa, dark cocoa to be specific and honey. I could smell some malt, baked bread, and wheat toast. I love those three aroma/taste in tea, by the way. The liquor was a dark amber color and the early infusions had some dried fruits, lots of cocoa. It was woodsy and malty. The baked bread, wheat toast/bread, sweet potatoes, and some spices notes, a dash of salt were present throughout the infusions along with the fresh aroma of fruits, sweetness. Later infusions produced minerals, raisins, and a stronger fruit taste, particularly white peaches, more malt, while the dark cocoa, wood, sweet potatoes, and bread-y notes remained. Lots of honey sweetness, along with brown sugar, burnt sugar, caramel, toasted bread. It has a thick texture although not as thick of a texture as their Alilaoshan Black that I sampled a couple of weeks ago. This is smoother though, in fact, when I drank the infusions, it felt as though I used a different type of water, I didn’t. Really soft mouthfeel. It is also extremely complex with clean notes. Great aftertaste and a long finish of sweetness, and coolness. No bitterness or astringency.
6g, 212°F, 110ml, rinse, 14 steeps: 5s, 10s, 15s, 20s, 25s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 1m5s, 1m15s, 1m30s, 2m, 3m, 5m
Flavors: Bread, Brown Toast, Burnt Sugar, Caramel, Chocolate, Cocoa, Dark Chocolate, Dates, Dried Fruit, Honey, Malt, Mineral, Molasses, Peach, Salt, Smoke, Smooth, Stonefruit, Sweet Potatoes, Thick, Toast, Wood, Yams
Preparation
Thank you Cameron B. :D
I put this in my daily sipper, and let it sit for a long time as I worked. Was worried that due to the long time steeping, it would be bitter. Nope, just a nice flavorful and smooth bergamot tea. Cameron gave me two sachets so I look forward to having this again. :D
I am new to Harney & Sons. I do have their Paris plus 2 samples they sent with the order. I bought a stump teapot hehe. Anyway, back to the tea. The white tea is a very nice base for the bergamot. Reading the mixed reviews, I can understand its not your typical Earl Grey. It’s satisfying, bold and smooth with a delicate vegetal taste from the base, and a natural citrus flavor from the bergamot. No sharpness, and it’s very comforting too. I really like it. I particularly liked that it wasn’t perfumey.Flavors: Bergamot, Citrusy, Smooth, Vegetal
Preparation
Thank you, Derk :D
Was getting close to midnight and decided for a low caffeine option. Still working hard at getting some tea off my shelf so I can buy more without having that overwhelming feeling of having too much on my shelf. Good luck, right? hehe
The golden sticks (stems) after the first infusion smelled like roasted nori, sweet tobacco. The cloudy, dark amber liquor produced infusions that had a toasty sweet flavor, along with roasted rice, umami, roasted malt and nuts, and smokey notes.
The site suggested 5 grams, 60s, 194°F, 200 ml. I went with a little more concentrated preparation of 5g, 100ml, beginning at 194°F (and later ramping up the temperature), 7 steeps, no rinse, 15s, 20s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s, 90s. The first couple of quick infusions introduced the roasted rice, fresh sweetness, bright notes, and at the end, I used close to boiling water for the longer infusions, the result was darker notes of roasted nuts, caramel-like, a different type of sweetness, more intense sweetness. Throughout all the infusions, the bitterness was at a perfect level of enjoyment. Mellow, smooth, calming, satisfying.
Note: Still a lot of flavor, I’ll probably keep drinking this throughout the night. It’s really good :D. Also, I’m biased… I grew up on Japanese tea so take that into consideration. ^^
Flavors: Caramel, Roasted Nuts, Smoke, Sweet, Toasted Rice, Tobacco, Umami
Preparation
We have a winner! I’m glad you were able to put a nice description together to capture the experience of this comforting tea. Togo introduced me to it :)
+1 for Togo then hehe. It’s a good one! Thank you for sharing it with me. I keep drinking it because I don’t want it to go quite yet. It hurt to “remove” it off my cupboard. lol
You’re welcome.
Been working mainly on sipdowns the last few days. Watching everyone’s reviews while drinking as much tea from my shelves as I can lol. Thought I’d take a break and try something new and this just arrived from the Lupicia’s HI store. Wouldn’t have bought it but it’s only available till the end of February. She said it won’t be back till next year. They shipped fast, got it in 5 or so days.
I put 6g (2 tsp) in 10 oz for 3 minutes (boiling water). It has dark cocoa, dark bittersweet notes. Lots of berries, raspberries, strawberries. Tart and sweet notes. It carries a little more chocolate flavor than the Maroon chocolate and a couple of the others. It may be the way I prepared it though. I like it. I’m glad I got it.
Flavors: Berries, Cocoa, Dark Bittersweet, Raspberry, Strawberry
Preparation
Glad you like it after my ecstatic tasting note. haha
haha I re-read while sipping it too. :D
I’ll have to get this one next February, if I can get my space issues under control by then.
Mastress Alita, when you get enough room, message me. I can send you some and the Theodor Milky oolong. I have quite a lot (i.e. too much I think) of both. lol
Thank you Cameron B. I love this!
Busy day and I put this in my sipper and it’s so good! On the second infusion now. The Sencha is top notch, the subtle and delicate flavors of fruit, cherry, butter, and the sweetness are spot on. Love it. Really good reviews on this “Je ne sais quoi” type of tea so I’ll leave it at that. I’ll definitely get some for my shelf.
Flavors: Butter, Cherry, Cherry Blossom, Creamy, Spinach, Sweet, Vegetal
Preparation
After having a very mellow, Wizard of Oz Poppy field, type of tea (China Fujian Anxi ‘Tie Guan Yin’ Oolong Tea by What-Cha which I enjoyed very much). I really needed a pickup. Decided to try another Whispering Pines black tea. It did the trick… I’m awake again.
O_O
The dry leaves smelled like dark chocolate, had an absolute yummy aroma. I had a salty dinner and sweet after salty is always good, and vice versa. The wet leaves had sweet potatoes, stronger chocolate, and caramel aroma. Heavenly. The taste although good did not have the intensity of the aroma of the wet leaves. It was good but something was missing from a top tier Dian Hong (for me). Where’s that thick malt that I love so much? Is that what is missing? Well no… It’s there. Not strong, but it’s there. In fact, as I progressed through the infusions, the malt came out more and more. Nice. Check. The next infusions I got more cocoa notes, nice chocolate notes are here. Nice notes of cream, chocolate, spices… Peppercorns, spiciness, a touch of floral (I really suck at guessing what type of flower btw), some more sweet potatoes, some minerals, caramel, honey, a splash of citrus. Pretty tasty.
It’s medium-bodied, smooth, has a nice slick, oily mouthfeel and a nice finish. I think I would’ve loved some baked bread notes as I felt there needed to be something more to get this to the 90 range… But, all in all, it is still a good cup of tea, a daily sipper, reasonably priced and a clean tea (wildcrafted). I’ll have to try their parameters next time.
6g, 212°F, 110ml, rinse, 8 steeps: 25s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s, 75s, 85s, 120s
Flavors: Caramel, Chocolate, Citrus, Citrus Zest, Cocoa, Creamy, Floral, Honey, Malt, Peppercorn, Smooth, Spices, Spicy
