440 Tasting Notes
This tea tasted nothing like what I expected, which is stupid since it does taste like white tea with white chocolate. Both notes are very apparent, and blend surprisingly well together. I liked it better with just a little bit of sugar, but it definitely is an enjoyable cup. I’m sad that I didn’t get to try more teas from SpecialTeas if this is an example of what they produced.
Preparation
Oh man what a delicate tea. My first attempt at this one I steeped it for 3 minutes, and the leaves were definitely burnt. So the next time I didn’t even let the water come anywhere near a boil and did two minutes of a steep. My cup is still burnt! Sorry Sweet Lemon, but I don’t think you are for me.
Tina S.: I hope you don’t mind me offering up a suggestion …
What temp were you using? Unless otherwise directed, I start my greens at one minute, and about 170F (and add a little more time and a little higher temps for later steepings). I’ve had a few that taste great using this method but which taste astringent if they are steeped even a little over two minutes. I invite you to give the tea another chance!
nods I was using about an 82C, so definitely a comparable temperature. I certainly haven’t kissed the tea goodbye, but since it was a sample it will have to wait until it again passes through my collection. I’m stubborn so I like to conquer the difficult ones!
I second SimpliciTea’s suggestion. When I brewed this it was at about 85c and less than two min. Very nice, no burnt notes :)
fingers crossed!!
I know there are strawberries in this tea because I can see them in the loose leaf, but after brew, I can barely taste them. It is a lovely white peony, but there is very little strawberry in the flavour. I think I definitely prefer the David’s Tea version.
Preparation
me to!! but this one was so much cheaper… do you get the plasticky taste in there to?
Not really . . . but I had it after a chai so maybe my taste was a bit off?
Hmm who knows. Too bad DT is remaking their version. le sad :(
Hey, maybe it’ll be better?
knowing their penchant for saving money… one can hope but I doubt it!!
You know that feeling of a first sip of a tea when you realize you’ve been craving a flavour without realizing it? That was this one today. It just felt like coming home, and was exactly what I needed. I love the cinnamon with the chai undertones, and after all the new teas I’ve been trying lately I just needed this tea-home. So glad I grabbed it to make today.
This was the first cup of the day, determined as I was to try some of my untrieds in the cupboard. Sipping this black, I definitely got coconut, but overwhelmingly was more the flavour of the black tea itself, and one that isn’t my favourite black taste. Determinedly I added some sugar, which mellowed it out nicely. I think I’ll try this one as a latte or with some whipped cream and see what that does as I didn’t get much cream pie flavour.
Preparation
Wow is this one floral! I’m not usually a floral girl but I was intrigued by this one, and it is really lovely. I only did two infusions since a little floral goes a long way in my cup, but I definitely enjoyed them. It brews a lovely mellow yellow, the colour of the underside of a daffodil. I can see myself looking for spring as I drink this.
Wow, Indigobloom, you weren’t kidding with the strong on this one. Heeding your warning I gave it a short steep of two minutes. And while it isn’t bitter, it is extremely strong. I am getting a fermented grape note under the strong black tea base, and can definitely see wine drinkers who enjoy tea really loving this one. Me, I’m not a wine drinker at all but couldn’t resist the grape smell. It smells heavenly, but if you aren’t a fan of a strong tea I recommend doing an even shorter steep than I did!
Preparation
ok so it wasn’t just me! I just hope I don’t forget next time I make it…
the lady at the shop said people come from all around Ontario to that specific shop in the blue mountain village for that tea, and then ski on the side because it’s convenient!! :P
I think the lady lied. :D
noooooooo! I shall cling to my beloved icewine tea ;o
Thanks go out to Erin for me being able to try this one. I’m glad I did, too, because it is so unique and odd and I like it. Berry and mint aren’t two flavours I normally would mix, but here it actually works for me. There is a tartness here, thanks to the ever present blend ingredient of doom, but the mint helps to offset it. I’m really curious what this one would be like set in vodka — I wish I could drink to try it out!
