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porcelain gaiwan, 212F, 4g, 200ml, quick rinse, 2.5 min

Background: I have zero experience with flavored teas. Majority of my life, I’ve only drunk non-flavored. I have tried over the years one here and one there when I’m at a hotel but unfortunately never cared for them. I once bought a caramel apple tea (Yogi) and it was horrible. I still have it sitting on my shelf. So for the most part, never bought any. If I didn’t like my matcha (non-flavored), I’d use that in a smoothie with added fruits.

Since I joined this site, you all make these sound so interesting, and I think I never gave them a fair chance so… I got my first Lupicia order today and am very excited. ^^

First Impressions: Tightly rolled green ball, little bits of pink-orange bits. Smells kind of like the fruity cough syrup but with plum aroma, some sweet citrus (not orange nor grapefruit).

Will finish this after I try this :D

Back :)

Light amber liquor and it still smells a little like cough syrup but with a plum aroma. It is a very light and mild taste. I was surprised because I don’t usually do western style brewing and thought… A whole 2.5 min?? Omgosh it’s going to be too strong. It wasn’t. Yummy taste with grass, floral, light sweetness and nice plum notes. There are also hints of rose but thank goodness not overwhelming (If it wasn’t for the rose, it would’ve got higher marks. I don’t really like rose.). Very smooth mouth and throat feel. Both infusions went down fast hehe. I liked it. It is a far cry from the few I’ve tasted in the past. Doesn’t taste artificial at all, and thank goodness it didn’t have that artificial sweetener taste. It was a good experience. (Whispers: Yes!)

Afterthought: Oh yeah a few months ago, I tried Adagio grapefruit and peach oolong. Forgot about those. I guess those are classified flavored as well. I liked the grapefruit but not the peach one so much.

Medium to dark green tightly rolled balls that came in a zip-lock opaque bag. Wet leaves had a nice vegetal aroma, natural orchid fragrance. The liquor is a very light amber color with greenish tints. The taste is smooth, soft, mellow and savory with delicate vegetal and floral notes. No astringency nor bitterness. The first time I tried this it had bitter notes, but I basically fried it at 212˚F lol. This time I did it at 194˚F. It has a slightly sour finish that was pleasant, that lasted for a brief moment (no pucker up pull on the cheeks feeling), with slightly offsetting sweet notes, so their ‘gentle’ description is perfect.

5g, 110ml, 194˚F, 7 steeps: rinse, 25s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s, 75s, 85s

Ahh, last one. I really enjoyed this little variety package. I believe it is the “Temple Stairs 2014 Ripe Pu’er Mini Tuocha” based on the wrapper. It weighed 4.5g and I put it in 110 ml boiling water. I steeped it many times (I was busy so I just kind of counted), more than 10 times at least. The liquor was very dark, like coffee. It was a smooth earthy comforting flavor with brown sugar or/and honey notes. No heavy leather taste… Just a delightful, many many cups of mellow but rich tea.

Update: Sorry typed the wrong sample name and corrected it.

Waiting for lots of tea from different companies so I guess I’ll put a note about this one for now. I have no idea if it “works” or not but I liked it.

It was the 10th anniversary for this tea in 2017, and Kusmi Tea said it is a rejuvenated recipe to be “even fresher and more intense”. The leaves were so tiny that I kind of wished I got the tea bags, the leaves were everywhere hehe. The wet leaves had a really strong lemon aroma, but the taste was green tea with a light lemon taste along with lemongrass. It wasn’t sour at all, but just a reminder that I’m one of those extreme sour lovers. Those toxic sour candies (forgot the name) are the type of candies I like, and I also love raw sour tamarind to snack on.

I brewed it western style for 4 minutes, close to the way they suggested it. I actually liked this better than the Zerotea one (I would bet most would prefer that one though since it tastes like warm Christmas-y cider). As for the “detox” function, no clue yet. I mainly wanted to try it because I sampled it a long time ago at work, and liked the taste and it said it was a new recipe that was more intense. Didn’t seem like it though.

Just adding to my original review that I drink this often and put in another order for it. I finally got the banana and vanilla notes. Yay. It is quite complex, and definitely not all about just the sticky rice.

I need to learn how to focus, focus, focus.
>.<

It’s so yummy on this cold afternoon.

Porcelain gaiwan, 6g, 195-200˚ F, 8 steeps: rinse, 25s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s, 75s, 85s, 95s

I received another sample of this in my last order so yippee, I get to try their Iron goddess charcoal roasted again. I enjoyed it just like I did the first time, and I didn’t over-steep like last time. :P

The wet dark leaves had a slight charcoal, roasted, floral aroma and a type of sweetness. This time in the later steeps, I actually smelled the onions, sweet caramelized onions. I know I said I wasn’t much for charcoal roasted things but more and more I think I prefer the Iron Goddess in charcoal roasted form versus green, the full-bodied roasted taste with sweet notes is more soothing to my stomach, more comforting. Comforting is always a good thing.^^ Complex taste profile, warm aroma, along with a good balance makes this a recommended tea.

Yixing teapot, 7g, 200˚ F, 130ml, 10 steeps: 5s rinse, 25s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s, 75s, 85s, 95s, 105s, 115s

There is no way I can possibly add any details to the already great reviews on this tea. I am enjoying it, and next time I’ll use a little fewer leaves because it was a very strong and potent jasmine tea. When I smelled the dry leaves, it was like standing in a garden, a wonderful fresh jasmine flower aroma.

6g, 100ml, 195°F, 9 steeps, 25s, 30s, 35s,40s, 45s, 50s, 55s, 1m, 1m5s

Three more remaining. Kept the little wrappers and am still trying to match them to product. I think it’s a great way to try ripe Pu-erh. I “think” I’m getting used to the leather taste. By the 3rd or 4th steep, I enjoy it much more.

The one I’m trying right now is the Lao Cang Ripe Mini Tocha. I think lol. Update: I liked this one, as it progressed it really mellowed to a sweeter (not sugary), creamier tea. I stopped after the 8th steep which is when the flavor dropped off.

One mini tuocha, 212˚F, 8 steeps: rinse, 25s, 35s, 45s, 55s, 65s, 75s, 85s, 95s

Signed a ripe Pu-erh noob.

Long green strips, very pale liquor but a surprisingly strong tea, not mild and a long-lasting sweet finish. This reminded me of some Chinese chestnut teas when I was a kid. It’s creamy mouthfeel/throat feel is comforting with umami, honey, chestnuts, floral, vegetal notes.

Porcelain gaiwan, 5g, 110ml, 175˚F, 15s, 18s, 21s, 24s, 27s

Nothing new to add but…
Each time I have this, I keep bumping up the rating. lol It’s good stuff.

Happy Thanksgiving all. :D