22 Tasting Notes
Probably the whitest of all white teas I´ve tasted so far. The jasmine notes lingers for just the right amount of time before returning you to the white tea itself.. and then again, unexpectedly, it comes back. Take care not to over-brew it, it will be bitter in just a few more seconds (learned the hard way about this) but brewed the right way, it is really nice.
Preparation
I do like Chais and I do like Rose teas… and yes, I do like this one a lot!
The roses are lingering somewhere in the back, not over saturating but always present. Tea itself is almost sweet and earthy. A spring morning in a rose plantation would describe the flavor perfectly!
Preparation
I cannot stress how much I enjoy my teas with the variable kettle that allows me to brew them at the correct temperature. This was a HUGE step in my tea-enjoying adventure. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend that you buy one. Money well spent, you will be a happy camper.
Rishi recommends brewing this tea, an Oolong, at 185 (as if it was White Tea) and not 195 as an Oolong. Paid attention, brewed just as instructed and happier I cannot be.
The bergamot (very strong in the aroma of this dried tea) is not as strong once brewed, it is a sweet, citrusy and flowery flavor dancing with the tea. A great combination, great the first and – one minute more required – great second infusion too.
Preparation
Another tea that I brought thanks to browsing the Tea Companies and Promotions discussion here. I might be buying too much tea (rings a bell?) but I am so glad I did!
This one is exactly as described. I can taste a delicious cake, with all ingredients, in this tea. One of may favorites now, I just had my second cup and I loved it as much as I did the first.
Great jobeDella Terra!
Preparation
On my first visit to the discussion site of Steepster I found that there was a RueLaLa promotion for 50% off Kusmi Teas. (I´ve searched for the thread to thank the friend that posted it but could not find it. To make the long story short, I brought the deal, placed the order, me teas arrived perfectly and I am tasting the first one.
To give just a little background, I LOVE chais and strong flavors, so the Cinammon Kasmi sounded like a very good choice to start my day and Kasmi adventure. The result was very different, not in a bad way, just very different to what I expected.
There is no strong cinnamon flavor (Teavanish cinnamon) in the tea. This is black tea, and tastes like black tea however there is a hint of cinnamon lingering somewhere between the smell and the taste. If I try to concentrate on the smell, it goes away and the same happens to the taste, yet, it is there all the time.
I dont know how they do it, and if this will be a constant on my other Kusmi teas, but I do like it! If I worked on the “Honesty on Advertising” department I would say: This is a black tea, this tastes like a great black tea with a bonus: A layer of cinnamon that is not competing with the black tea flavor but instead complimenting it softly.
Preparation
Sunday night, working on a photo video for a class. Its cold and rainy today in Mexico City, and after going through my teas I decided it was Snow Geisha time, and boy, was I right!
This is one of the very few teas that taste exactly as it smells. Ad you can imagine I love the cherries and white tea combination. Floral, creamy… and at my stage in the tea-learning-curve just plain delicious.
Preparation
My first Tieguanyin, got it as a sample from my first Verdant Tea order and I guess that the best partof it is that I just learned a lesson. Like Martinis, expensive teas must be an acquired taste… and one that I have yet to acquire. I read reviewers raving about flowers and honey or bananas and creams. To me it tastes like hay tea, and I dont mean any disrespect for anyone, I am sure that those comments come from highly experienced and respected tea connoisseurs, and Verdant Tea is a respected company, so I am sure its just me… and since this is my own tasting note, I have to say it as I see it, or better said, as I taste it, and this is simply not my cup of tea. Lesson learned, not to order expensive teas before I do taste a sample. And then, remember to retaste as my tastebuds are trained!
Preparation
It’s important to rinse the tea leaves first usually and use filtered water for best results. I never thought following directions mattered but it does. Using a finum filter or gaiwan is best too. (I don’t know what method you used and I’m not trying to be bossy but I would like your tea experience to be a good one!)
Bonnie, First of all, a huge thank you! I joined Steepster in order to learn, and I can only learn from kind people like you sharing your time, thoughts and knowledge with me, and I am and will always be thankful for that. I do not own a gaiwan (technically I do, the order has been placed but it has not arrived yet). I did rinsed the tea leaves but used my DavidsTea steeper for making the tea. Probably not the best way to do it, but the only one I have on hand at the moment.
I placed all my other Verdant Teas on hold until I can use the gaiwan. Thank you again for your comment! Looking forward for more of them please!
There is a video by Verdant on how to use teacups like a gaiwan to brew tea. Many people are not aware that there is a Verdant channel on YouTube. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned from watching videos! (I’m a big klutz!) If you have questions feel free to ask!
Thanks a million for sharing this tips with me!
My Breville arrived today. The opening ceremony was crowned by a cup of Maharaja Chai.
As you know (or most likely, did not knew until now) I love Chai´s and I liked this tea before. But now, brewed at the right temperature and time is like trying this tea as if it was completely a new one. And I love it.
I know there is not much Oolong in the visible mixture, but in tea, as in life, the result is whats really important, and in this case, the result is outstanding. I love it!
Edit: And now, after the second steeping while cleaning my steeper I do see plenty of Oolong leaves…
