16603 Tasting Notes
It’s been a while since I last had this tea, but I’ve been on a big cold foam kick lately and I thought it might work really well with some vanilla cold foam. I was one hundred perfect correct because it took this already smooth, creamy and delicious Creamsicle-like profile that errs a bit more on the orange side and flipped the script a little bit so it was more of a silky vanilla custard taste with supporting/secondary notes of orange sherbet. Very, very sweet and decadent but also so delish!
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.
Sipdown (2672)!
Beautifully smooth white peach flavour that really compliments the floral leaning and fresh greener oolong base that Seven Teahouse uses across all of their oolongs. It was such a reliable cup, and that familiarity almost added to a sense of coziness that I wouldn’t typically associate with peach teas.
I’m kind of torn on whether I’d buy it again because I think peach oolongs aren’t really all that hard to find and I even have a few in my stash already, but to find a peach oolong so simple and well executed that really showcases the oolong itself is a little more uncommon. There are definitely stronger oolongs from Seven Teahouse that standout just a smidge more than this one, though.
Steeped up earlier in the week. A little bit coarse and earthy from the yerba mate in the blend, which I don’t think was a particularly nice quality. The ginger is also much more of an earthy/dirty tasting ginger than a hot ginger (which is what I expected), so I don’t think that helped. The mint wasn’t exceptional either, but it wasn’t unpleasant and was a bit of a saving grade for the cup. Probably wouldn’t reach for this one again for flavour, but I guess for function it’s okay.
So, sooo deeply thick and syrup but that punchy tart flavour of hibiscus and jammy elderberries does really hit the spot. You definitely have to be in the mood for bold and fruity though, and really lean into the simplicity and intensity of the blend. I’m always impressed by how much the elderberry in this tea doesn’t taste like feet though.
Grandpa Style!
I have a few coins of this tea in my desk at work for when I want a smooth cup of shou to sip on while working on projects and I haven’t had the foresight to bring something in from home in the morning. It’s so thick but also sweet and smooth with a true to the naming inspiration molasses note. A bit of a workhorse in a good way, and something I happily stretched out over a couple afternoons this week.
Cold Brew!
I made this at work yesterday and it was very refreshing with such a beautifully bright, zesty and sour lime flavour that did feel pretty dang margarita like. However, it was really missing the presence of spice despite my steeping it longer than recommended by Sayso. If I hadn’t have known better I probably would have thought this was just supposed to be like a limeade type of drink.
I ad a mug of this yesterday and though it was a little bit on the under brewed side I still thought it was very, very good. Soft and smooth with citrusy notes of lemon curd and clotted cream alongside a distinctly sweet and nutty pistachio flavour. Kind of gave me “high tea” sort of vibes where you might get a lemon tart or maybe a fancy pistachio finger pastry? Scones, even. I really wished by the end of the mug that I’d made a larger brew of it for myself.
Made this one last night and it was fine tasting, though didn’t particularly make me think of muffins. The green tea that made up the bulk of the base was smooth and just a little grassy and nutty, but mostly pretty neutral. The rest of the cup was a balance of somewhat flat tasting blueberry and a sweeter, more buttery finish that made me think of butterscotch.
A lovely cuppa brewed on a grey and overcast Autumn afternoon. Not only are these rolled golden leaves absolutely gorgeous, but they’re incredibly full-bodied and delicious too. The overall cup makes me think of English Toffee, but only because it’s so dang chocolatey and rich with undertones of salted caramel to go with ribbons of malt throughout. Definitely satisfying my need for liquid comfort on this super dreary day!
Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCpX4o6S75X/?img_index=1
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v18oySsS58&ab_channel=almostmondayVEVO
Gongfu!
This unsmoked lapsang souchong is rich and full-bodied with such an interestingly bright and snappy top note of just slightly under ripe strawberries, or when you bite a strawberry so close to the top that you get the white part of the flesh of the fruit or even a bit of the leaf. It’s very different from other black teas, and the transition from that red fruit note into a mix of florals, malt, and honeycomb is really wonderful. It was a very nice way to ease into the day, and will hopefully set a positive tone for the rest of the weekend.
Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCsL7s7B7WS/?img_index=1
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y94_rW0OKQA&ab_channel=Worthitpurchase-Topic
