87
drank Colonille by SerendipiTea
260 tasting notes

The length of time between when I got this sample from Auggy and when I actually finished it [today] should be indicative of how spectacularly horrible I am about finishing my samples. It makes it harder to finish them when they’re good, because then I know I’ll need to go through the process of piecing together an order and I can’t really think of anything else from Serendipitea that I really want. Anyone have any suggestions to toss my way?

On the last cup of this, I was stuck with that conundrum so many of us often find ourselves in – I didn’t have enough to make two cups, but I had too much for one. Either I could use some of my smaller mugs and spread it out or dump it all in, shorten the steep time, and hope for the best.

I opted for the latter, since I was feeling impatient. The tea was going to be accompanying me through a programming assignment and I needed a quantity that could last me for a while.

The decision made for the best 3 cups of Colonille I got out of the sample, hands down.

I wish I’d paid closer attention to the actual quantity when I dumped it in there, but I’d say it was maybe…1.75 tsp-ish? I set the timer for 2:30, but got distracted and pulled it out a bit late.

No astringency, to the relief of my palate, just smooth, smooth, smooth, warm, vanilla goodness, darkened by whisps of cacao and blanketing my tongue. This tea doesn’t hammer you with sweetness [though I imagine that it would hold up to additives well – I think that Auggy can confirm validity on that estimation] but the flavor profile evokes it quite nicely, if that makes sense. What you’re left with is a lovely, comforting, rather mature cup of flavor.

This isn’t a refreshing tea for me, it’s a calming tea, and I find it best prepared as the dusk approaches and things are beginning to wind down. Three cups in, the flavor did not diminish much, which might have been due to the large amount of leaf I used, and I would have kept going if I didn’t feel the need to switch to something lower in caffeine. [Though, I suppose most of the damage had already been done by that point, caffeine-wise.] With this last experience, I’m going to have to give it a ratings bump. And start thinking seriously about putting an order together.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 2 min, 45 sec
Auggy

Their Mango Magnus is pretty good though the mango really shows up best with milk… City Harvest Black is very similar to this one but with the addition of orchid which gives it a creamier, sweeter feel… their Burroughs’ Brew is my favorite coconut tea – like toasted coconut strips… You might like their Forever Spring oolong since Four Seasons reminded me of it but I never found the love in Forever Spring that I did (eventually) in Four Seasons… Oh, and Lili’uokalani is the worst ‘tropical’ tea I’ve ever tastes. It is peach. That is not tropical. And that’s all I can contribute to your potential order.

sophistre

I just got some stuff from them a little bit ago…I’ve just been remiss about adding tasting notes. I’ve been enjoying their Siam for caffeine-free, though.

teaplz

Buccaneer is also really good. As is Fiji. And I’ve been craving their Autumnal Darjeeling for some reasn.

Their Milk Oolong is also really good, and tastes sort of like Samovar’s Four Seasons.

Yeah, SerendipiTea is pretty awesome. And their shipping is really good!

takgoti

Thanks for all the recommendations, ladies! I’ve got an order forming in my head now. Though, can I just say: Oh my god their website has an obnoxious navigation scheme!

Auggy

Ugh, so much so! Their website is annoying and a half. Blah. But can’t wait to hear what you decide to order!

teaplz

Don’t need to order the Milk Oolong just yet… I’ll be sending you some of that in the upcoming weeks! Whee! I haven’t tried any of the teas Auggy recommended, but I’m sure they’re good.

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Comments

Auggy

Their Mango Magnus is pretty good though the mango really shows up best with milk… City Harvest Black is very similar to this one but with the addition of orchid which gives it a creamier, sweeter feel… their Burroughs’ Brew is my favorite coconut tea – like toasted coconut strips… You might like their Forever Spring oolong since Four Seasons reminded me of it but I never found the love in Forever Spring that I did (eventually) in Four Seasons… Oh, and Lili’uokalani is the worst ‘tropical’ tea I’ve ever tastes. It is peach. That is not tropical. And that’s all I can contribute to your potential order.

sophistre

I just got some stuff from them a little bit ago…I’ve just been remiss about adding tasting notes. I’ve been enjoying their Siam for caffeine-free, though.

teaplz

Buccaneer is also really good. As is Fiji. And I’ve been craving their Autumnal Darjeeling for some reasn.

Their Milk Oolong is also really good, and tastes sort of like Samovar’s Four Seasons.

Yeah, SerendipiTea is pretty awesome. And their shipping is really good!

takgoti

Thanks for all the recommendations, ladies! I’ve got an order forming in my head now. Though, can I just say: Oh my god their website has an obnoxious navigation scheme!

Auggy

Ugh, so much so! Their website is annoying and a half. Blah. But can’t wait to hear what you decide to order!

teaplz

Don’t need to order the Milk Oolong just yet… I’ll be sending you some of that in the upcoming weeks! Whee! I haven’t tried any of the teas Auggy recommended, but I’m sure they’re good.

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Former coffeeist, turned teaite. Lover of writing, reading, photography, and music. Traveler of life. Known to be ridiculous on occasion.

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