New Tasting Notes

This was a nice, savory, thick and smooth ripe pu-erh, which is perhaps expected from a 28 year old shou. The wet leaves smelled of rank, dirty socks, but the brewed tea didn’t. There were notes of forest woods and leather, without bitterness, sourness or fishiness. I got over 10 infusions from 5g of leaf, 125 ml each, in a small porcelain teapot. Successive steeps in boiling alpine spring water ranged from 10 sec to a few minutes, in 20s increments. (5s initial wash) Produced a dark brown soup at first, finishing as a deep amber brew. I bought this several years ago as part of a discontinued sampler, but it can still be bought by individually from YS. Not my favorite, but far from the worst.

This is a sweet strawberry-leaning hibiscus fruit tea. There is a lot of juicy strawberry flavor, it’s a little candy-like though the tanginess of the hibiscus helps with that a bit. There is a sweet almond flavor in the background. I don’t taste the lavender in the blend at all, despite the fact it is pretty prevalent in the ingredients listing… maybe it was luck of the scoop and it all fell to the bottom of the bag? Will have to reassess as I work my way through this. It is a pleasant tea, but there is nothing really unique or remarkable about it… I know I’ve tasted strawberry hibi fruit teas from T2 and Adagio and probably other places that pretty much had this same sweet strawberry flavor on a hibi fruit tea base. It is a Dethlefsen & Balk blend so I’m sure the deja vu is warranted.

Finishing off my misc. tea bags and this is on e that has been sitting around for years. The tea base is pretty good, but mild. I don’t taste any ginger but lots of peppermint. I would have thought it was only peppermint and a generic green tea. Not bad, and better with a splash of soy milk.

— Color of liquor: Lighter brown, like a bourbon

— Aroma: Petrichor; slight floral; slight muscatel

— Flavors: Petrichor; dry leaves; astringent; slight muscatel

This tea while steeping has a slight floral and muscatel aroma to it, along with the stronger petrichor aroma in front. The floral aroma doesn’t translate into the flavor, but instead has strong petrichor and dry leaves flavors in front and a slight mineral flavor base. There’s an even stronger astringency: this is not a neutral tea, which is exactly why I like it. I followed the recommendation and kept my steeping under my usual four minutes, and am glad I did — otherwise, this could’ve easily turned bitter. The leaves were more broken than I expected, which is another reason to keep the steep time low.

This is yet another excellent example of a Kangra black tea that I intend to keep well-stocked, as Kangra black teas have become my daily go-to teas.

I was in Japan last year, and had several roasted rice-infused teas that were rather good.
I was looking for something back here in the states, and found this one.
It is very roasted-rice forward; smells and tastes a lot like the Sugar Smacks roasted rice cereal I ate as a kid, though obviously not sweet.
I can’t say I taste a lot of the tea flavor; this is also a “low-caffeine” tea, so good for afternoons or evenings if you’re sensitive to caffeine.

This is best with a longer steep and overleafing. It’s still a bit light/thin, but I find the flavor direction quite fun. It’s not tart, so it doesn’t really remind me of grape juice. Maybe it’s more like grape candy or a Crystal Light sort of flavor?

I sincerely loved this tea, which I bought some time ago in Japan. A strong floral scent, with a fair amount of peach, hides an unexpected depth of flavor, with light bitter tones that are appreciated throughout the drink. I don’t particularly appreciate this type of tea, but I must say that it really surprised me with its beautiful character!

Finishing the last of this box and I’m quite disappointed by that. Work has been super stressful and I like to enjoy the calming effects of this tea, placebo or otherwise.

The taste is very pleasant. I am getting some of the lemon peel, a slight hint of the licorice root, and the most subtle notes of cardamom. Combined, there’s a slightly medicinal flavor but without being too in-your-face about it.

If I can remember where I bought this, I’ll likely opt to purchase another box.

A new limited edition blend from this past winter.

I was torn whether I wanted to try this one since it’s got a heavy amount of chamomile in it, but curiosity won out and I decided to grab a bag anyway. Well, definitely really strong notes of chamomile but with a slight fruity edge to it. I drank it when I was still VERY out of it following my dental surgery (still numbed up and everything) so I don’t recall much else about the cup. It was so-so but a nice, warm drink to sip on before crashing out and having a nap…

Drank this today but was kind of unimpressed by it. It was mostly like a thin tasting chocolate tea with the faintest hint of lime on the backend. You’d think those two flavours would taste weird together, but they don’t. It’s mostly just that the tea didn’t feel rich enough. No off notes though. Just kind of middling.

Cold Brew!

When this tea first came out years and years ago I was so meh about it, but weirdly as I’ve been drinking this 5+ year old bag of this tea I’ve been loving it more and more. One of the things I disliked about it in the past was how mild the rosemary note was. It was almost totally eclipsed by the SUPER intensely tart and sweet strawberry notes.

Well, now as the tea has aged the strawberry and hibiscus have sort of mellowed out a little bit which lets that fresh, pine-y rosemary flavour come through so much more. Especially in the finish. It’s still very strongly flavoured with a noticeable bite from the hibiscus, but the strawberry is really jammy and thick and there are sort undertones of cream/vanilla. I just found this super refreshing and as soon as I’d finished it I was left wishing that I’d made a larger amount.

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s

Cold Brew!

I had such an intense craving for this on the day I got my dental surgery done so I set it up as a cold brew in the fridge early in the morning before I left for the dentist, and then afterwards I found out I couldn’t drink anything from a straw for a few days so when I got home I just felt discouraged and sad seeing my cold brew in the fridge knowing I wouldn’t be able to strain it into a tumbler like usual…

So, it sat in the first brewing for a couple days. However, yesterday I was finally straw approved so I strained it and enjoyed what was one hell of a strong and punchy iced tea. Very liquified ice pop with blue raspberry, lemon, and cherry notes just to die for with a BOLD black tea base. It actually felt like a little reward for myself for being patient and taking the post-surgery aftercare seriously.

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s

This tea was really interesting to me because the concept is so ethereal and it utilizes flavours that both aren’t necessarily stereotypically associated with Paris and that aren’t conventionally paired together either. I had quite a large mug of it earlier in the week and overall I enjoyed it, but it really did feel a lot like an enigma to me as I was sipping it. Of the flavours in the blend, the bergamot was the most strong tasting to me but I have to wonder how much of that is the fact it’s highly aromatic and that deep, heady citrus smell as you lean in to take a sip is easy to get swept up in.

Aside from that I thought the pomegranate came off as a bit more generic red fruit, but in a pleasant and complimentary enough way. I wish it was a little juicier and deeper because it felt eclipsed by many of the other things going on. Caramel? Yeah, kinda. Definitely a sweeter and more “brown” undertone that was a nice foil to the bergamot. It was a little less that sweet/gooey caramel note to me versus the more burnt sugar note of a creme brulee – but I ultimately think that’s probably the better taste with a bergamot this floral and heady. Love how brisk the black tea base was, too!

Now does it taste like April In Paris? Well, I’ve never been to Paris so I suppose I can’t say for certain. There is something very European feeling about it to me, though. So that’s at least something. In my head I feel like April is so in the heart of Spring that I’d have expected something softer and floral in a more light and airy way. But all of this is HIGHLY subjective.

Anyway, a very interesting blend to be sure!

I saw this RTD while grocery shopping over the weekend and was kind of surprised since I thought I’d tried all of Mate Libre’s flavours – but this was new to me. I wonder if it was a seasonal flavour from this summer? Still so weird to see a watermelon LTO in the heart of winter, though…

It might actually be my favourite Mate Libre RTD I’ve tried though! The watermelon notes are really juicy and refreshing, but also coupled with a pleasant bit of upfront tartness a little like hibiscus? Nothing excessive, though. It finishes more clean and earthy with notes of the mate itself. Really well balanced, and such a great natural sweetness level too!

Sipping on a frothy little cup of this smooth and creamy vanilla matcha from a teacup and saucer set (inspired by the Year of The Snake) that I painted at a ceramic cafe earlier in the month while I was on vacation. Aren’t all the little noodley snakes super cute!? This new sugar-free matcha is very delicious too. I’m a big fan of DT’s Organic Vanilla Matcha, but I don’t always want something pre-sweetened so I love that this new version doesn’t have any cane sugar in it. It’s still super, super smooth and silky with the same French Vanilla flavour I already know I love, but with more of the fresh, grassy notes of the matcha. Different strokes for different cravings, y’know?

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DEvPGdtyPec/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRL5Cp_mPeo&ab_channel=CreepyNuts

Friendly reminder that I do not numerically rate DAVIDsTEA blends as I’m currently employed there and it would be an obvious conflict of interest. Any blends you see with numerical ratings were rated prior to my employment there. These reviews are a reflection of my personal thoughts and feelings regarding the teas, and not the company’s

Gongfu!

The aroma coming off these leaves is so soothing and mouthwatering with very incense-like notes of sandalwood, clove, and various other spices that carry into the flavours of the cup as well. Though the notes are a little more lush with saccharine notes of floral violet and baked plums, the body is very woodsy and mineral with strong notes of char, roasted nuts, and dark petrified woods. The undertones of spice drift across the palate and down the back of the throat as if they were fog rolling through the hills, leaving a pleasant numbing sensation as they pass! Definitely one of my favourite oolongs that MJ offers!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DExmv14ptwz/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oUQvTkNRI&abchannel=ThePalms-Topic

When I got this recent W2T order in a lot of people told me I should prioritize tasting this tea specifically, and I can definitely see why. Though I don’t usually love when teas are this tightly compressed, it was worth the effort to pry a chunk off the bar because this is one heck of a smooth and velvety shou with really rich, chocolate-y notes to it. Definitely reminds me of somewhere between a double chocolate muffin and something just a little bit sweeter like a molten lava cake. Very dense and decadent, though!!

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DE0gLaYSSoe/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE_dYOMxvf0&ab_channel=MaxFrost

Gongfu Sipdown (2738)!

I love how mineral-rich and roasty this tea tasted. That very iconic flavour of “licking a rock” was probably the boldest and more forward flavour of this session but it was supported by heavy notes of char, dark roast coffee, barley, and toasted walnuts and pecans, with a pleasantly light astringency that made me think a lot of eating walnuts straight from the shell around the holidays. Y’know, Nutcracker vibes. Very smooth in the finish, with a lingering dance of spice on the back of the palate.

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DE3PJa6S46x/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqBYZZhOJF4&ab_channel=TheHowl%26TheHum-Topic

Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – January 2025 Tea #4 – Your oldest green tea

Why do I get the feeling I have used this exact tea for this exact prompt at least a handful of times?  Anyway… it’s always a solid tea.   A classic classic green.  Cupboard necessity.

— Color of liquor: Walnut brown

— Aroma: Petrichor; wet rocks

— Flavors: Mineral; petrichor; wet rocks; astringent

There is a strong mineral/petrichor/wet rocks flavor, with an astringency that doesn’t cross over into bitterness – exactly what I expect and hope for in a Kangra tea. The leaves in the package are broken (unusual for an orthodox tea) and lighter in weight than I expected. This is an excellent example of a Kangra black tea that I expect to drink regularly and will re-order when my stock runs out.

January Sipdown Prompt – your oldest green

This is far from a sipdown, but every cup is progress. Two years ago I managed to drink all the teas that were past their “best by” date. Now I have few on shelf that have aged into that zone and we need to get drinking.

This is one of our favorite green teas to go with meals. We had it today with homemade miso soup, filled with fresh herbs amd greens from our garden. Ashman is off early for a dental appointment so we have a rare weekday lunch together.

How did this get old if it is a favorite? We can no longer drink caffeine in the evening. Supper that suit green tea must be accompanied by herbal tea or hojicha now. During the day we both tend to reach for black tea. I will try to start reaching for green instead, especially as spring comes and we look forward to the fresh light flavor. I will probably try to start cold steeping quite a bit of it, too, as we bought a large amount when we ordered it.

This tea I drank last two evenings as those two days were a bit harsh at work; leaving late, tired and with a mood for simple but delicious tea. I just picked this one because it needs to be drinked anyway.

The orange (tangerine) note has weakened a lot and I am actually glad for that. Now it is rose-y chamomile tea that have a wonderful texture, nice scents, and tastes good enough too.
Works so well for relaxing purposes; and there are no too strong flavours to be cloying. Now I can see a chance to finish the box :)

I went to the store that I don’t visit often; as it is nearby my work, but closed when I go to work and when I am going home, I am catching the train and have no time. But today, I have left work late; and train just left when I was left the company. And another one in a hour.

As there is no place to wait but outside, I decided to call home if someone could pick me up (it’s about 20 minutes) and they have agreed. But I was hungry, so I went to that shop. And when I was shopping, I saw this bottled kombucha, from a brand I never heard of and decided to give it a try. There was “last chance” label on it, so probably it isn’t sold as they much as they have hoped. To be honest it is no surprise, because I bet there aren’t much people who would buy a glass bottle with something they don’t even know how to pronounce correctly; with rather higher price tag.

I digressed greatly from the tea itself, so sorry for that and here below are my impressions:

It is very refreshing and not sweet. Actually as they claim, they have used apple juice instead of sugar; and well, it works well. The green tea isn’t too strong, giving me impressions of mediocre tea used, hay-grassy notes. On the first sip I couldn’t notice jasmine at all, but later on it became prominent and gave me a nice impression and brought florals, but in just right level; so it wasn’t soapy. Definitely there are no artificial or chemical notes in this bottle. For the price tag, I wouldn’t buy it for daily drinking, though.