New Tasting Notes

One of the lighter gunpowder green teas I’ve had but still has a nice, light smokey flavor.

I FINALLY saw 2 mini blueberries in the loose leaf and steeped for a bit…it’s still yummy but light…should have probably steeped longer for the full flavor.

Yuck. Bark and twigs, but thankfully not strong. Good for cleansing the body and mind. I need this after tuesday’s Beerapalooza.

I made this tea quite strong since that was what I was in the mood for today and surprisingly, the mint flavor stood up well and wasn’t overpowered by the black tea.

This was the tea that began my love of Yunnans. I love the earthy, peppery flavor of this, though that’s not a flavor profile I typically care for. I really want to try their Yunnan Jig to see the differences between them.

This really is the last of this now! Still preferring it slightly to the organic Kaoru, but don’t think I have the parameters quite right for that one yet.

1.5 tsp leaves in 10 oz very hot water, 4 min, milk and a dab of sugar. The blackcurrant flavor is enjoyably subtle. It doesn’t taste strictly like a black tea or a green tea, or like oolong either. It has its own profile, with more black tea in the aroma and more green in the finish. I don’t know whether to puzzle or marvel over this. ;-)

Resteep…good the 2nd time around, too!

For some unknown reason, we drank this after dinner last night. It didn’t have the same relaxing and digestive effect that the silk tie guan yin did. Must remember to stick with the oolongs after dinner and leave the heavily fermented yunnanese teas for the morning and afternoon.

Doubling up on amount and length of steep…super strong and LOVE it! Perfect for this morning!

2.8 g in 150 ml tasting set. 90 deg C water and steep for 6 min.
Another Georgian hand made tea blended from several makers in Nagobilevi in South Ozgetia in the Republic of Georgia. Darker liquor than Natela’s Gold – deep amber. Very smooth and clean taste with the typical Georgian character of wood, even a hint of the villagers’ earthiness. I like this one very much.

Tasting set – 2.8 g tea in 150 ml water at 90 deg C, 6 minute steep.
Woderful bright golden liquor. Characteristic aroma and taste of Georgian hand made teas. Sweet, woody, citrus tastes. This one’s good for three steeps at 90 deg C tho I ofetn go for the full flavour at 100.

Prepared in tasting set, 2 grams of tea, brewed for 3 min.

When I was growing up, my family drank tea and coffee, both with milk, about 50-50, but I only ever drank coffee. A few years ago, I gave up coffee almost completely and found white tea, and then green tea. I still don’t go in for black teas all that much, and I hardly ever drink tea with milk.

This tea is an exception. Steep in boiling water for at least five minutes, add milk and honey, and on days like today when the cold fingers of winter first reach out to touch us I don’t miss the flavoured lattes that used to be my favourite during the colder months.

No kidding — To me, the nuances of coffee in this rooibos-based tisane are more pronounced with milk and sugar than without. Very interesting. And besides, it tastes wonderful, helps with allergy problems, and won’t keep me up.

Trying a 2nd steep on these leaves, 3 min again. Very smooth and quite flavorful. I’m thinking white tea is underappreciated. It (or this one, at least) doesn’t tend to get bitter if not handled just so, yet it has a little piquancy — you just have to listen for it. =)

3rd steep, 3 min. I’m liking each successive steeping a bit more. This time there’s a hint of wood and sweetness, but not actually flowery. More flavor with less astringency. Smoother and richer, and finally, a thumb up.

Spearmint is my favorite kind of mint and I needed a relaxing tea to end my evening. Does it make me sleepy, no. But it sure does taste good!

Seems to me that the second cup is stronger, perhaps due to the longer steeping time as recommended on the site. Tasty as to be expected though.

A definite favorite, and probably the white tea I have the most. Drank some this evening while unwinding after work.

An old standby favorite.