It’s Sampler September! I happen to have a bunch of samples acquired this year from a box to monetarily support Tea Fest PDX (I’d attended in person in Portland, OR, during 2019, 2020 and 2021 were both cancelled events). The box has miscellaneous tea samples from their sponsors, two of the sample teacups from a past year, an antique silver tea spoon, and a pretty gem teabag weight.
This sample comes from Cup of Tea (shop located in Clackamas, Oregon). It’s a simple Chinese black rose-scented tea, but that sounded really nice this morning. Steeped 2.5g to 350ml 205F water, 3 minutes.
I love the aroma of a rose tea. Dry, it smells like walking through the massive Rose Garden in Portland. Brewed, the floral rose sweetness also has that slight peppery musk, and there is a bready/citrusy aroma coming from the tea. There isn’t anything special about the taste; it is strongly sweet rose, with some body and a mellow baked bread and citrus back drop from the black tea and just a hint of pepper/spice. It’s nice! Feels a bit “out of season” with a fresh “spring” sort of taste, but I’ve missed sipping on this flavor profile. I may use up the remainder of the sample packet on a latte, as I’ve always enjoyed the taste of a strong rose black with milk.
Flavors: Bread, Citrus, Floral, Pepper, Rose, Spices
Preparation
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That does sound nice!
Hmm, I always have samples and subscription boxes and teas with just a cuppa or too left.. it’s a struggle between balancing those “instant gratification” with the “keep sipping those larger tins/bags”. :)
I hope they have the Portland Tea Fest in the future (never been to it), I would love to visit there again!! :)
This year I have been focused almost exclusively on drinking 50g bags, and just drinking that one tea until the whole thing is gone. I’m looking forward to stepping away from that momentarily to get more variety into a month.
The info card that came with the samples says that TeaFestPDX is currently planning to next be held July 16th, 2022. (If it doesn’t get cancelled for a third year in a row…)
Tea festival tangent… I’m trying to get to the Northwest Tea Festival in Seattle, hoping 2022 will be my year. So fall 2019 had planned to do Chicago Tea Festival + signed up to volunteer etc then my full time job kept me from being able to go. 2020 I said okay, I’m doing Toronto (late Jan), Seattle (Sept), and Chicago (late Oct). Well I did Toronto, then COVID struck so I still went to other two places just no tea fest. Then this year booked Seattle and Chicago but Seattle was cancelled and now Chicago is not sure it will even happen again but still going to Seattle. 2022 who knows! LOL!
I’ve only attended San Francisco International Tea Festival in 2018, and Tea Fest PDX in Portland in 2019… Tea Fest PDX was the last trip I’ve had since Covid hit. I used to do 1-2 trips a year, sad. :-(
If it doesn’t get canceled for 2022 and you’d be interested in meeting up let me know.
Will do!
That does sound nice!
Hmm, I always have samples and subscription boxes and teas with just a cuppa or too left.. it’s a struggle between balancing those “instant gratification” with the “keep sipping those larger tins/bags”. :)
I hope they have the Portland Tea Fest in the future (never been to it), I would love to visit there again!! :)
This year I have been focused almost exclusively on drinking 50g bags, and just drinking that one tea until the whole thing is gone. I’m looking forward to stepping away from that momentarily to get more variety into a month.
The info card that came with the samples says that TeaFestPDX is currently planning to next be held July 16th, 2022. (If it doesn’t get cancelled for a third year in a row…)
Tea festival tangent… I’m trying to get to the Northwest Tea Festival in Seattle, hoping 2022 will be my year. So fall 2019 had planned to do Chicago Tea Festival + signed up to volunteer etc then my full time job kept me from being able to go. 2020 I said okay, I’m doing Toronto (late Jan), Seattle (Sept), and Chicago (late Oct). Well I did Toronto, then COVID struck so I still went to other two places just no tea fest. Then this year booked Seattle and Chicago but Seattle was cancelled and now Chicago is not sure it will even happen again but still going to Seattle. 2022 who knows! LOL!
I’ve only attended San Francisco International Tea Festival in 2018, and Tea Fest PDX in Portland in 2019… Tea Fest PDX was the last trip I’ve had since Covid hit. I used to do 1-2 trips a year, sad. :-(
If it doesn’t get canceled for 2022 and you’d be interested in meeting up let me know.
Will do!