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Having another cup of this. This is definitely this week’s favourite new tea.

I wanted to try a really good sencha, so I ordered this from a place that specialises in Japanese green teas. I steeped it for two minutes in water at 77C. This produced a pale yellow brew with a light seaweed-like aroma. The taste was delicate and smooth. The second steeping produced the richer flavour that I’d been expecting, but I didn’t get it quite right and I ended up with a cloudy, darker yellow brew that was edging towards the bitter. I will keep experimenting with this one!

I seem to be on an oolong kick this week, because here’s another one. The osmanthus flowers look very pretty when steeping and they also give a faint sweetness to the aroma. That slight sweetness is also present in the flavour. This is one of the best oolongs I’ve tried. I’ll definitely be drinking more of it.

Having a late evening cup of this, just because, with a piece of the apple pie my other half brought home. I’ve been drinking this for years and I always come back to it.

A mild oolong, with the rose buds giving it just that hint of an extra something. This is one of those teas that works best on the second steeping.

Having another cup of this and getting towards the end of the sample packet. I’ll be ordering a full packet of this one.

Made this up into a chaiffogato tonight: one cup very strong chai over one scoop of vanilla ice cream, stir in a dash of honey and sprinkle chocolate over the top. A bit like a very light hot chocolate.

A Chinese green that makes a brew of a relatively strong yellow. The taste is moderately malty and nicely smooth. I really like this one.

A pleasant white tea, delicate and sweet but with nothing about it that makes it really stand out from other decent white teas. The first pot was steeped for a couple of minutes in water at 68C. The second pot was steeped for significantly longer – almost ten minutes – in water at 82C; it had a stronger flavour and I liked it better.

A delicate tea with a slightly malty taste. The second steeping has more body and I like it better.