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The spices came to play tonight, and my cup turned out a little bitter. Ick. But hey, at least I only have one more cup worth left! So close to a sipdown, and then to pick something else to slowly whittle away at. Maybe Butiki’s Traditional Plum Pudding Oolong?

Yeah, that sounds like a plan!

Ok, so the tasting note for this is technically being posted AFTER my birthday has ended, but I did manage to squeak this cup in before the clock ticked midnight. Hooray!

But yes, what better time to drink Birthday Cake than on your birthday? This tea was my choice today for a little celebration for myself instead of actually doling out the cash for a cake (which turns out I got anyway at work). It brewed up perfectly tonight to; which is fantastic! I couldn’t ask for a better cup of this!

Slightly woody, a little eggy, a whole lot of cakey vanilla! Birthday tea nirvana!

Also, I have to share here because I’m really excited about it! Next Wednesday, I have a date! I sorta know the guy, though not super well – but from what I do know of him I think he’s pretty awesome, and I’m definitely excited (HE HAS A BEARD!). So we’ll see how that goes…

Eeewwwwwwww!

I was scared of this one because I thought it might be killer spicy like RiverTea’s Chocolate Kisses Chili; turns out I was right to be scared of it, just for a different reason.

I got through about three sips of this, and then I just couldn’t do it anymore and dumped the rest of it. What I tasted was sour/rancid oranges paired with overly medicinal orange and then a dusty/stale kind of chocolate. No noticeable spice. Ick. Ick. Ick.

I’m gonna have to try cold brewing the rest of what VariaTEA sent me to use it up; there’s no way I’m trying this again hot! Bleck.

Sipdown (200/202)!

Sample courtesy of aisling of tea.

I requested this one because it’s one of the more popular RiverTea blends, and I’ve read a bunch of good reviews on it. Plus, I like raspberries a lot and the meringue hats intrigued me. I also thought it might be interesting to compare with DT’s Fantasy Island.

There was more than one cups worth of this, but when I saw it was on VariaTEA’s wishlist I split my sample with her so she could try it too. And then, I ended up using a larger amount of leaf today because I did this one in a timolino.

Overall, I thought it was pretty good but really straight forward and simple; sweet raspberry and black tea. I kind of was left unsatisfied because I thought there should have been more depth to this. I didn’t pick up the coconut at all until the very end of the thermos, as well. Compared to Fantasy Island I think they’re pretty evenly matched though in slightly different ways; this was more raspberry than coconut and FI is more coconut than raspberry.

I’d drink it again – but I wouldn’t purchase it.

Also, I ate one of the meringue hats straight; it was pretty good! Crunchier/tougher than I expected it to be though – I was anticipating light and fluffy/chewy.

Cold Brew! Total of nine hours, and so close to a sipdown! Woot!

I drank this while I was at work today, and it was a very lovely, sweet drink that was refreshing. When I think of this one the word “Ambrosia”, as in the nectar of the Gods, comes to mind. I enjoyed it right until the end of the shift!

My shift was great today, by the way. I was completely surprised because all the other keyholders/supervisors bought me a cake to celebrate which was so cool and so unexpected, especially since I’ve only been there for four days, and that’s not even going to be my permanent location; I only have a week longer there…

So, it was a great birthday shift!

Sipdown (201/203)!

I kept the steep time for this SUPER short in an effort to have a more pleasant last cup; a three minute steep time instead of the recommended 15. It worked; this was fruity chocolate with only a little burning spice at the back of your throat.

Good riddance, though! This wont be missed.

TRY ALL THE GENMAICHA!

Thanks VariaTEA for passing this along! It was my nightly Genmaicha last night and I was thrilled to try it. I know you said this seemed like it has/had something “extra” in it, so I was sure to look for that.

What I found personally that this tasted pretty much just like your average, typical Genmaicha: roasty, toasty and warm. Although, I thought this was much more aromatic and intense smelling than other Genmaicha, even if that quality didn’t carry over into the taste. Was that it?

But yes; a nice cuppa!

Compliments of aisling of tea who sent a fair bit of this. Enough so that I’ll be able to pass some to Keychange and have already shared some with VariaTEA! Spread the matcha love!

This one smells the best, of all the match she sent. I didn’t think it’d work well in milk though, so I made it up into a tea soda last night when I got home. The “recipe” was .5 tsp. of matcha dissolved into an ounce of hot water, a can of club soda, and a pinch of sugar.

Taste wise I thought this was very tasty, and definitely quite flavourful. It did seem like a bit more of an artificial/candy watermelon flavour – but was still really enjoyable to me nonetheless. I look forward to drinking it again!

Sweet Licorice!

In a timolino, at work for closing paperwork/the trip home. I found that this was especially soothing on my throat, which was a little sore for all the consistent talking all day. I may make this a work regular, for that reason alone.

In a timolino with milk. This was incredible to take to work with me; always a favourite, that’s for sure! I felt like the chocolate notes were especially prominent last night, in just the right creamy, fudgey way.