Kelmishka Send Message

Kelmishka drank 2023 Harlequin Mini by white2tea

396 tasting notes

Tea Thoughts Winter Countdown: Day 18

Playing catch-up with some of my advent teas!

It’s cold and blustery outside, with a bit of snow on the ground and more to come, so I decided to have a lil gong fu session. I’m thinking it’s way past time to pick up a gaiwan. I try to keep my teaware/drinkingware collection minimal, since my house is not huge and I don’t like clutter, but I do think I’d appreciate and use a gaiwan. Bitterleaf and Yunnan Sourcing both have some really pretty ones, but I’d love to hear y’all’s favorites and/or purchasing tips for a first-timer!

Anyway… the tea. First steep was light, yet unctuous, with a wisp of leather. Second steep brought out more leather, plus heavy notes of roasty charcoal and on-the-verge-of-bitter citrus rind. I reduced the temp for a few more steeps to get rid of the bitterness, which mostly worked. The rest of the steeps were predominantly leather with a bit of woodsiness. I didn’t find the flavor profile super enjoyable, to be honest!

Flavors: Bitter, Charcoal, Citrus, Leather, Roasty, Wet Wood, Wood

I Like This

11 likes

2 comments

AJRimmer
Delete

I also keep my tea gear minimal. I don’t even have a teapot because I know I only want to own one, and I haven’t found that perfect one yet!

Kelmishka
Delete

I know what you mean! I have a couple pieces of teaware that were gifted to me so they have sentimental value, but I don’t think I’ve purchased much of anything for myself… I’d have to really love it, and nothing’s quite right!

People who liked this

Comments

AJRimmer
Delete

I also keep my tea gear minimal. I don’t even have a teapot because I know I only want to own one, and I haven’t found that perfect one yet!

Kelmishka
Delete

Profile

Bio

(she/her)

I was an anxious child who didn’t like change, so when my parents flew across the country for my grandfather’s wedding and left us kids with my aunt and uncle, I was a nervous wreck. Our first night at their house was tough. I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and padded into the kitchen, where my aunt was puttering around. She could tell I was distressed and offered to make me a cup of tea. It was just Celestial Seasonings’ peppermint tea, but it was exactly what I needed. The tea itself, the comfort it represented, the ritual of making it… I was enchanted. I’ve loved tea ever since.

I’m partial to strong, intense flavors and prefer loose-leaf to bagged, but I also appreciate the convenience of bags and sachets. I mostly drink my tea straight but once in a blue moon I’ll add a little plant-based milk, generally oat.

I live in Maryland, USA, with my partner, three dogs, and one cat. I’ve actually been a Steepster reader for years and years, but only started posting in late 2021. :)

When I’m not drinking tea (or sometimes WHILE I’m drinking tea!) I’m reading, rewatching comfort shows, going for a run, knitting, embroidering, hiking, or puttering in the garden. You can find me on Instagram at @kelmishka. (My account is private, but feel free to send a request!)

Favorite ingredients, flavors, etc.

Maple (all-time fave flavor!), vanilla, caramel, and all things dessert-y

Jasmine, lavender, violet, and most floral flavors

Most spices, although I go through phases and sometimes get bored of generic-feeling winter spice blends

Most fruity flavors

Matcha and other vegetal flavors

Not-so-favorite ingredients, flavors, etc.

Bergamot (…although it’s been growing on me lately!)

Hibiscus

Overly artificial flavors (banana, coconut, mango)

Overly herbacious blends, although this varies!

Stevia, monkfruit, and other sugar-alternative sweeteners — blech

Chocolate — it’s hard to get it right in tea, though I love real chocolate!

Animal products, including honey (long-time vegan checking in!)

My ratings

90-100: The best! Will almost definitely repurchase.

75-90: Really good, and potentially worthy of a restock.

60-75: Decent, if not terribly memorable.

50-60: In the “meh” range, but possibly for personal taste reasons.

35-50: I’m not a fan, and this is not very good tea.

20-35: Varying degrees of bad.

1-20: Actively bad. Like really bad. I can’t imagine anyone disagreeing.