Featured & New Tasting Notes

In raw form this tea smells super duper sweet and fruity! Like fresh peach juice. The Oolong balls are a nice size which comes dotted with other ingredients around them, of which I can see rose petals and ginger pieces.

Once steeped the tea is golden brown/yellow with a sweet and thick fruit scent, particularly peach and an undertone of sweet rose and flowers surround it. Pure smelling and juicy, wonderful!

Flavour matches the scent somewhat. It’s sweet and fruity with peach and strawberry like tones with flowers and milky Oolong, blended into one smooth and sweet drink. The fruit is very fresh and pure, I can almost taste the fuzz of the peach skin. It’s strength is a nice balance, not toning out the Oolong but using the milk tones to it’s advantage. Further sips reveal a touch of dryness which lingers with the sweet fruit in the after taste.

I could drink this tea any time, any where and still enjoy it as much. Therefore top marks from me (which is a rare occurrence)

For more info and pics: http://www.kittylovestea.co.uk/2015/07/15/monsoon-blended-oolong-from-siam-tee-shop/

Additional note: Even through 3 re-steeps (so 4 steeps altogether) this tea still has lots of flavour, almost as much as the original. Another reason that is gets top marks :D

Saturday my husband and I spent the day in Indianapolis. We attended the State Fair Brewer’s Cup because my husband had some homebrew beer in the contest, and before that we met Paul from Beautiful Taiwan in Carmel IN to taste some of his teas and chat and buy samples from him. Paul was so nice and so knowledgeable about his teas and the farmers and farms they came from! This was the first tea I tried when we got back home. Pictures!

https://instagram.com/p/5CnnIDxh40

https://instagram.com/p/5CoAppRh54

https://instagram.com/p/5Cn5aSxh5k

This was a stunning and complex tea. I really really enjoyed it. Lots of malty notes that opened up into fruity and sweet. I wish I had taken notes while I drank it yesterday but I was running around the house in between steeps doing laundry and cleaning the house after my trip. Anyway, I can’t wait to try the rest of my BTT samples if this is any indication of the quality! :D

Oh no, I finished this the other day and still haven’t written about it because I’ve been so distracted by other things whilst being in the city for a couple weeks.

First of all, the dry leaf smells bang on like this banana fudge ice cream that used to come in a box, and was made by Dairyland here in Canada. That stuff was awesome but I haven’t seen it in over fifteen years. Wow, I feel old now. My mom got the exact same reaction when she smelled this and is impressed by how realistic this smells. Not at all artificial or wonky.

I’ve tried this as a latte and it was enjoyable. Maybe a little too sweet for me since they add sugar but it’s still go that banana fudge ice cream flavour. I think I’m going to pick up more to experiment with this method more. It should come out better with more leaf (as the liquor seems a little weak when you steep this using a normal ratio of leaf and water). Maybe I’ll even pick out most of the rock sugar.

Bonus points for being green rooibos-based, by the way.

This little ball of tea was sent to me from my beloved tea sister, Sil.
I have a little time today, in between loads of laundry, students, & house projects, so I’m enjoying this tea, some time for being present, and just breathing.
This tea is perfect for this moment…and this one…and this one…
First off, I love the hand rolled ball of tea! I tend to shy away from sheng when it’s been machine pressed into touchas, they usually just aren’t that good. They tend to fall apart into tea dust, or have sticky rice taste. Not my cup of tea.
This, on the other hand, is beautiful, the real deal. Beautiful full budsets, lovingly gently rolled into a ball, they opened out to fill my yixing with a deep olive drab (my most favorite color in the world) and the aroma of clean hay with a little pot mixed in.
The tea itself is immediately a beautiful amber, & tastes of minerals, sweet grass, a little caramel, and a slight apricot tartness. There’s a pleasant eucalyptus sensation as well.
I combined 2 steepings at a time in my mug, and the first mug cured my headache, and gave me an almost immediate buzz, opening my sinuses & chakras, so energy can flow. I can especially feel this one in my shoulder blades & neck. Energy is now flowing freely down my arms, and I think I might want to go play my harp in a few minutes.
Round 2 (steeps 3 & 4…20 seconds each) is equally energizing & more tingly, slightly more bitter, & now my head is glowing from the inside out, like a light bulb. This is why I love raw puerh, and I need to stop being so busy all the time, & make more time to drink it.
I will continue enjoying this until its lost its power. I’d really like to have a beng & will add this to my wishlist. I feel fantastic! Thank you Sil!

Ah, rain!!! I so wish I was at home today enjoying a tea session in my yixing or gaiwan with the cat, reading a good book, enjoying the overcast day wrapped in a blanket, but alas, I am at work. Hooray Monday!! (sigh) so I have this tea to keep me going through the morning. I wanted a caffeine pick me up but I thought I’d take a break since I had a shu session until quite late last night, so out comes my trusty decaf! With a bit of sugar today to tone down the lavender a bit, this is quite enjoyable. It’s helping me though the morning as it is supposed to at least. See previous notes on this tea :)

As I open the bag I am met with a herbal scent, not quite ginger but warming enough to tickle my nose. The lemon is a little more recognizable, though with the herbal scent it is more like lemongrass than lemon peel.

The pyramid bags have dark green/brown leaves in with small pieces of chopped, dry ginger and even smaller pieces of dry lemon peel. Though the pieces are small, they are still not powdery in any way. Again this one also has a good amount of leaf in the bag.

Once steeped the colour is golden/brown with a subtle yet toasted grass scent, the after scent is peppery and tickles my nose.

Flavour strength is subtle, dominant toasted, grass tones in front of a dry, peppery herbal ginger and a soft aftertaste of something sweet and fruity. Which pretty much sims up the name of this tea, so in effect it tastes as it’s named. Nothing too dramatic in terms of flavours and strength, but the mellow feel of this makes it easily drinkable.

As it cools the lemon increases in strength and becomes waxy but also sweeter than before. It moves in front of the ginger and the whole affair dances on my tongue for a long after taste sensation.

One bag, two steeps ie The re-steep

Colour is dark yellow with a toasted, herbal scent. Remaining soft but still strong enough to warrant the re-steep. Flavour still has wonderful peppery ginger and soft, lemon tones amidst it’s toasted grass affair. Another successful steep.

More info: http://sororiteasisters.com/2015/07/10/organic-green-tea-bags-natural-flavours-tg/

I had an awesome gig last night, but stayed up way too late & ate dark chocolate, so I woke up with a headache, which happens every time I eat chocolate at night. Dammit!

It’s been awhile since I drank this one, which is ridiculous, because like some of the other verdant teas in my cupboard, I have multiple versions of this one. I have a bag from summer of 2013 and spring of 2014, & I think fall of 2014. I’m not sure what the current version I’m drinking is, but I’m not allowed to buy any new bags until I’ve drank up what I have (that said after viewing yesterdays email from Verdant saying the new version is available…).

This is a tasty tea, different in many ways, with a tart quality, that leaves an almost perfumed sensation in the mouth & sinuses (sensation, not taste), and gives a really nice head buzz, whether I drink it gongfu, or with a more standard steeping.

Next up: I’m really addicted to butter tea right now (made with coconut oil, coconut milk, & coconut butter…see my posting from a few days ago for a recipe), so I’m pulling out the Hunan Wild Tips Ye Jian Hand Roasted Heicha (YS) again…like every day this week. Hopefully it will cure my headache!
Onward through the fog…

Oh, delicious tea. I am so sad that this is the last cup of you that I’ll ever drink.

I mean, nutmeg and strong black tea. Taken with (cashew) milk.

Doesn’t get much better.

The leaf smells very green and strongly of authentic vanilla. It’s the smell I get when I cook with vanilla beans.

I steeped it as directed, 4 minutes at boiling. As soon as the water hit the sachet the air was infused with the vanilla smell. I steeped it sitting right in front of me so I could enjoy the fragrance for the full steeping time.

The tea was still really hot after four minutes, so I let it sit for a few minutes while I played Operation with the sachet. The leaves had totally filled it during the steep and I could almost hear them yelling, “Let me out!” So I did.
Photos and full review: https://tealover.net/2015/07/steven-smith-teamaker-oolong-ice-cream/

This one’s pretty good. It reminds me of Redberry Tonic, but a little more tart. Half a glass in, I told my mom what this blend is called and she agreed that this is similar to an actual Shirley Temple. I wouldn’t know since I haven’t tried one before. It’s refreshing, very red-tasting, kind of like a more exciting red Kool Aid, and doesn’t have any weird aftertaste. I wouldn’t stock up but I wouldn’t mind having it again either.

This was a nice way to wake up this morning. Malty and slightly astringent. Pretty well balanced tea. One that I’m sure I have had before, but haven’t had in a while. Not sure how much I will reach for it, but I’m glad I have it around now for a nice change of pace.

For the rest of the review and a few other goodies- http://www.cuppageek.com/index.php/2015/07/09/tea-of-the-day-irish-breakfast-from-three-teas/

I picked up a couple new teas on Canada Day and haven’t logged them on here yet, although I have had them both a few times haha. So I will log this one today, although I found it to be very hibiscus-y for me today unfortunately, I steeped it a bit too long I think. Sticking with about a 2-3 min steep worked best for me, and I do recall the first cup as tasting much more Shirley Temple like (well, grenadine like anyway, not sure if I’ve had a Shirley Temple lol). Today’s cup could have also failed due to the fact I only got 25g of this, so maybe a poor mixture of ingredients as it is a heavier blend with the large orange chunks. Ah well, maybe I’ll get some more once I run out and try it again, I do like cherry teas and herbals, so it is a win in theory, just have to perfect brewing it. Happy to have tried it! No rating for now as I feel like today’s cup would not do it justice lol.

Man, this aint no sencha.
This is clearly a chai blend… but whatever. I am not a fan of chai and green tea trying to mingle with one another in my mouth so I will refrain from finishing this.
(I had no idea what it was, I just brewed it from my sample box)

i am actually enjoying this one tonight. it’s stupid humid today and this is a good balance or sour and refreshing for me. It’s not too hibby like..just an interesting blend of cherry/grenadine sort of flavouring. is it totally shirley temple like? no, but it’s a decent herbal/fruit blend from David’s.

Soo this is the second tea I had this morning. The name sounded amazing but I really didn’t have much hope that I’d like it since the rest of my last order from the old owner was a bust…But I was shocked at how good it was.
I really really hope that the new owners that I keep forgetting the name of…is it Annie? Or something that starts with an A? Oh goodness, this is what happens when you’re loaded on pain killers 24/7 guys. :P
But anyway I hope that she blends this one!! Like I totally smelled the marshmallow and malt from the dry leaf aroma and when I drank it those flavors were even stronger! I have had such bad luck with 52Teas, but holy crap guys! This one is a legit winner! I wish I had gotten more than one bag of this one! It’s so sweet and marshmallow-y, and yet malty from the assam base at the same time! Ahh this is a good one guys! :D :D :D Please re-blend this one, 52Teas new owner (that I think is Annie but I’m not really sure. Sorry. One day I will get it right)

My second tea from the newly managed 52teas! The dry leaf aroma is maple, coconut, and cardamom. The brewed tea aroma is maple and spices. I wasn’t so sure about all those huge cardamom pods (or the coconut for that matter) but you know what? This really does taste like French toast! Much more so than Frank’s 52teas blend from a few months back. (Strike that. Apparently it’s from a few years back. Man, time flies!)

I think the thing that’s really incredible with this one is that Anne has captured egg in the tea. French toast is many things: bread, butter, maple syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg spices, and EGG! This actually tastes like French toast coated in egg! Color me impressed!

The maple is very strong and there’s a little bit of everything else you’d want: butter, bread, sweetness, and overall tastiness. The coconut adds a nice sweet component that blends well with the maple flavor. I’m actually surprised and delighted that those two go together so well. And with every sip there’s that lovely bready egg flavor that just screams French toast. This is a home run!

I added some Truvia and skim milk. It doesn’t need it but that’s the way I often enjoy black teas. This is delightful! I am really enjoying this! The base is a bit strong but that’s probably because I overleafed it. Even though it’s strong and assertive, it’s not bitter. Yum! I love this so much, I wonder if I can justify purchasing another few ounces to my husband…I don’t want to run out! I really can’t though, ugh. I’ve already spent more on tea than my budget allows.

The second infusion for four minutes is still flavorful and delicious. That’s a nice bonus! I used to get only one good infusion out of 52teas’ blends. So far (and no offense meant to Frank whatsoever as I have loved the company under his stewardship as well), this change in management seems to be a change for the better! Grab this tea while you can!

I have been moving recently (up north, to take a new job), and thus not in a situation where I can easily drink tea all the time. But I have a few weeks where it will be easier, so I am going to attempt to drink more of the samples that MissB sent me recently!

I have wanted to try this one for a while, ever since people rhapsodized about how it was the perfect almond tea. Almond is perhaps my favorite flavor, yet I have never really found a perfect almond tea. Most often a purely almond-flavored tea suffers from thinness in the texture, I find. MissB was kind enough to send a bit of this my way so I could finally try it.

It certainly delivers in the almond flavor. And it isn’t as thin as say, DF’s Amande Amaretti, although it is still a little thinner than I would like. I agree with someone (Ysaurella?) that this seems like a keemun-y base. Decent, but not my fave. There is some light note that I don’t care for that is definitely coming from the base, but the almond covers it fairly well.

All in all I am very glad to have tried this one. I also think that I don’t necessarily need a straight up almond tea; apparently I like my almond a bit blended (preferrably with rose and vanilla). But this is definitely the best straight almond tea I have yet tried.

As I went about packaging this up for a swap, I remembered that I haven’t even drank it… so I brewed it up :)

This. Tea. Is. Epic.
Not only is the milk oolong taste present on each taste, there is a fruity note that lingers as an after taste. I’m not sure how this was done but I really enjoy it. Such wonderful tea, smooth and buttery while having that natural cream within the oolong itself.

David Tea’s Coconut Ice and Coconut Grove mixed with pineapple juice and blueberry lemonade seltzer. Twas my bestie and I’s 4th of July celebration drink.

This was my morning tea and hubby shared it with me. It gave me a good energy boost. I ended up on a big cleaning spree afterwards.

There was no bitterness in this tea at all. After two quick rinses I brewed 10, 10, 15, 20, 25, 25 , 30

I think my favourite one was the first infusion when I could taste fruity but it was very light. All the infusions were great though with a nice fruity apricot flavour

I am loving this tea today! I made Egg Fu Young for lunch and served this. It had so much flavor, sweet and creamy, smooth but no shrinking violet, it had lots of flavor. After lunch when I sipped, I could taste the slight smoke as well, but the food covered it with the meal.

This is fabulous, and just may join Huang Shan Mao Feng and Bi Luo Chun in my list of must have green teas.

Thank you, Teavivre, for sending this for me to try.

So this is the second tea from my first ever order from Joseph Wesley Tea!!! I loveee assam teas, so I got a sample of it. Well, all the teas I got were samples except their Limited Edition TGY that is INCREDIBLE!! I don’t know why I never logged it, it totally slipped my mind! D: I’ll have to do that soon.
Anyway so this is the second one I’m trying!
And holy shanghai!! IT’S ANOTHER HIT! I ADORE this tea!
Since black teas seem to be hit or miss with me these days, it felt like a huge surprise that I loved it so much! The main flavor of course is malt, which is one of my fav flavors in black tea! Tasted a bit of maybe honey…it was kinda sweet, and also kinda a bit chocolate-y. I think I oversteeped it a tiny bit so it also had a bitter note in there.
But overall it’s a total win in my book! I definitely will buy this again. And I am pretty sure it’s gonna be a staple on my shelf.
Another win by Joseph Wesley Tea!!!! :D :D :D

I am enjoying this sample from Crimson Lotus Tea immensely. The dry aroma is hay and barnyard. That used to make me nervous. Now I rather expect it. I did two rinses. The first cup was at 10 seconds. It is root beer colored with a pink tint. The first thing I notice when tasting was the thick creamy feel running along side the initial bite. Kind of opposing sensations but they work together. After the bite settles, I get mild horse tack that drifts into a sweet smooth finish. Cup two was much darker, pouring ruby red. Similar in taste to the first. The difference is this introduced a cedar note at the beginning and moved the bite to later in the sip. I also caught a light smokiness when exhaling. I only noticed the smoke after ‘testing’ a hot out of the oven chocolate chip cookie made with sugar free chips. Did the cookie bring the smoke out or add it? Who knows. Both the cookie and the tea were very enjoyable. Highly recommend both.

WOW this is DELICIOUS!

I accidentally oversteeped it and it took it like a champ. Super smooth and creamy and malty and sweet but also a little savory. Addictive and so so tasty!! I can’t wait to try it again but more carefully and see what other flavors I can pull from it. YUMS