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So, I fell asleep at like 8 PM which is really weird for me: Normally I go to bed “for realsies” at like midnightish. But nope, stupid me had to take a nap, and now it’s 1 AM and I’m wide awake. So of course, that means more tea! I tried to pick things that were decaf (this blend) or not very high in caffeine.

This sample comes from Keychange and I received it in sachets! My first and only Harney Experience was with Paris, also in sachets, but I was super sick and out of it and I don’t even remember the taste – plus it’s quite likely whatever I tasted was off from being sick. So, more or less this is my first Harney tea.

I steeped it up based on VariaTEA’s recorded steeping parameters since we have similar enough tastes, and she seemed to really enjoy that cup. I have to admit, both dry and steeped this doesn’t smell like a whole lot to me. Taste wise, it’s a very smooth black base and I for sure can say there’s no astringency or bitterness. I suppose I could agree that it’s “silky” like the product description says. After that, however I kind of stop seeing and tasting what’s being advertised.

I can’t say I get “vanilla” or any creaminess from the taste. In fact, I really don’t taste a whole lot of anything; just a smooth and silky, and fairly weak tbh, black base. I mean – it’s not bad or unpleasant it’s just not really much of anything? Is it possible to have incredibly silky smooth tasting hot water?

I’m gonna leave this unrated for now because I’m not really sure how to even go about rating it. I am disappointed though because I don’t taste a whole lot of anything at all, but I do have two more sachets left to try and get this right. Perhaps this one just isn’t for me though.

EDIT: Ok, after it reached room temperature I finally got some vanilla taste – though unfortunately I also got some astringency.

Another “In and Out” Sipdown (209)!

Mmm, Genmaicha! There’s so much of it in my house right now that I absolutely had to take advantage of the one cup sample size of this from VariaTEA and drink it all up tonight! Yummy!

My parameters were the whole sample, in 8 oz. of 80 degree celsius water steeped for a little shy of three minutes.

I’m a little disappointed because I don’t get chocolate out of this at all! Not in the dry or steeped smell, and not in taste either. What a shame! That said, it’s still a really nice Genmaicha and it’s hitting the spot so well right now!

I debated adding some Nesquick Chocolate Milk Syrup into the mug just to give it that chocolate touch I was looking for, but decided against it – plain Genmaicha is doing nicely for now.

I’m really loving this as a plain Genmaicha, but I’m gonna rate it sort of low despite that because it’s not supposed to be a plain Genmaicha (definitely not living up the the description).

I really enjoyed my first couple mugs of this: it was like super sweet, liquid caramel. Tonight however I’m only getting a little toffee/caramel and the rooibos is being especially woody and I have to admit maybe even just a touch medicinal.

Maybe I just brewed it up poorly? This is the first time I’ve made it in a timolino, so that could possibly have something to do with it? Perhaps? I don’t know – I just want this to be… Well, more than it is at the moment.

I know VariaTEA just her package from me which had some of this in it, so I hope she gets closer to the delicious first few cups I had instead of what I’m drinking now.

EDIT: More Toffee as it cooled!

Sipdown (210)!

In and right back out ;)

This one comes from VariaTEA! I know she had troubles finding the Cotton Candy, so I’m hoping I don’t encounter the same issue. Dry, this does smell a little like cotton candy, although it’s a very light smell.

My parameters were the whole sample in 8 oz. of just under boiling water, steeped for two minutes and thirty seconds. Steeped up, this just smells like the 52Teas black base.

As far as the taste goes, I’m kind of alternating between “52Teas black base” and “Very generic sweet tea with cotton candy(ish) aftertaste” between sips. I’m not totally sure if I really like it, and I don’t like that the flavouring I am getting (albeit quite genericly sweet) is so sporadic. So I suppose I am having the same problem that VariaTEA had.

I don’t know – I’d like to try it again to see if I could make it taste better, but based on this cup I definitely wouldn’t want to pay for any, let alone a full pouch. Oh well, you can’t love them all and I’m thankful for the chance to try it!

EDIT: As it cooled, the generic sweetness and light cotton candy flavoring got a little more consistent.

It’s amazing how certain combinations of blends can create an enjoyable tea when the blends used individually were really quite unappealing.

This blend mixes three blends I didn’t like in a 1:1:1 ratio, and somehow that created a really lovely fruity, light Bergamot drink. After sending some of this as an extra to VariaTEA I decided that I definitely needed to try this cold brewed, so that’s exactly what I did!

I think my small pitcher worth of this cold brewed for around 15 hours – possibly a little less. The smell is definitely Bergamot, almost entirely straight Bergamot; but the taste is a nice balance of Bergamot and sweet fruits like red berries and fresh citrus like lemon. Quite refreshing!

VariaTEA, I think the sample I sent you of this was pretty large so I definitely recommend trying this hot and cold!

I received my sample of this what seems like a very long time ago from my frequent swapping pal VariaTEA and am only just now trying it (sorry). The idea of a white chocolate rooibos really appealed to me, but everyone’s tasting reviews kept saying that it just tasted like straight rooibos so I kept putting it off. It’s been sitting in my “Immediate Try Me!” sample drawer for weeks though, so time to finally give it a go!

Parameters were 1 1/2 tsp. of leaf to 8 oz. of boiling water, steeped for about five minutes. In the dry leaf I used, I saw at least three white chocolate drops/chips, so if there’s no white chocolate taste I admit I’m going to be pretty disappointed. Steeped up, mostly I just smell the rooibos and sort of a generic sweetness.

Taste wise, I get a super strong wood-chippy rooibos, although I personally don’t mind that taste. As far as the white chocolate goes, there is an initial generic sweetness to the tea but it’s not heavily white chocolate by any means. Near the end of the sip it’s a lot more creamy, and I do start to get the faintest hints of white chocolate. After swallowing, the white chocolate notes are at their strongest. It’s like there’s a very thin coating of white chocolate on the roof of my mouth.

Concluding thoughts? Well, it’s not awful by any stretch but it is a little disappointing overall. Not something I’ll want to acquire again but I’m going to be able to finish off the last cup worth without difficulty and I’d likely not turn down any additional leaf if offered, as long as it was in small quantity.

Tasting Note 500!

I figured I sort of wanted to make this note a little monumental, so I’m drinking a new tea from a new company. The sample of this I just received today from who other than VariaTEA! The gigantic package I received from her this afternoon contained 34 teas, 32 of which I didn’t have in my cupboard and 30 of which I’d never tried before. That puts me, for the first time ever, over 200 teas!

So,As soon as I’m done this I’m probably going to get started on some sipdowns…

Anyway, I’ve heard good things about this one (KS’s notes stick out in my mind) and I actually searched for it on my own but couldn’t find it in my local grocery stores. I actually had trouble finding any Celestial Seasonings teas other than standard peppermint, chamomile and things like that. The ingredients sorta seem a little odd to me, and I’ll admit, it does smell kind funny dry and steeped up – but sorta in a good way. I think it’s gonna be a big hit or a huge miss…

So my parameters were 1 teabag in 8 oz. of boiling water, steeped for six minutes. The tea liquor is a bit of a murky yellow.

Taste wise, I am just floored! I don’t know how they did it, but this taste EXACTLY like a liquefied sugar cookie! It’s sweet, and doughy and just kinda… Perfect. Mmmm! Definitely a hit! Now I’m a little sad that I only have like five bags left, but at the same time I’m excited that I get five more cups of this! Thank you VariaTEA, this is really good!

Well, that finishes up the cold brew of this one! Delicious!

Also, I just got the day’s mail, which included a very mustachioed swap package from VariaTEA! It’s huuugeeee and I can’t wait to dig into it!

I was craving something sweet, and fruity like grenadine but also a softer strawberry/milky chocolate combination and since I couldn’t think of a single tea that fit that description, I decided to make two teas instead! It was a great ‘compromise’.

The parameters for this blend were 1 1/2 tsp. of leaf in 10 oz. of boiling water steeped for 3 min. and 45 seconds. I guess that was the sweet spot, because this is just so damn good! The chocolate is sweet and milky which perfectly satisfies the dessert craving I was in, and the strawberry is succulent and not hidden by the chocolate. Additionally, the black base isn’t even a touch bitter or astringent, and is just going down super smoothly. If I didn’t know better, I’d think there was milk in this just adding to the creaminess – but nope! I’m drinking it straight.

This and Monk’s Blend just worked out splendidly, adding to an already great tea day!

I was craving something sweet, and fruity like grenadine but also a softer strawberry/milky chocolate combination and since I couldn’t think of a single tea that fit that description, I decided to make two teas instead! It was a great ‘compromise’.

Parameters for this blend were 1 1/2 tsp. of leaf in 10 oz. of boiling water steeped for 3 min. and 45 seconds. Turns out, that just happened to be the perfect steeping parameters for this blend! It’s sweet, with balanced grenadine and vanilla notes and not a single touch of bitterness or astringency. Just smooth, sweet, Monk’s Blend!

It’s really going to take me no time to finish up the 50g of this that I bought while on vacation. At least I know where to get more, and it’s not too unattainable…