Additional notes: I had to try the remainder of my sample again, since Nicole is such a fan (and she is the one who sent it over – I don’t like steeping teas less than perfectly if someone who sent them is such a fan!) I only went with one teaspoon last time and I definitely thought it was too light. This time I had a teaspoon and a half left… it really should have been two! It is much better this time. Last time it somehow reminded me of a Darjeeling. Now at the top of the medium amber cup, there is an interesting tanginess I don’t usually find in black teas except maybe the ancient/wild leaf. Then hints of chocolate, baked bread and sweet potato maybe a little smokiness and wine but while maintaining a malty sweetness. Everything I love to find in a great black tea. I can only imagine how lovely it would be with two teaspoons! Well, now I don’t have to feel guilty that one of Nicole’s beloved teas remains in the cupboard. Thanks again, Nicole! Raising the rating from a 75.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 tsp // 8 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 minute steep
This is You :-D
Profile
Bio
Hi! I love tea and trying new ones – it adds a bit of variety to my day! Books, music, TV & movies are my thing… and tea, of course.
Some of my favorite tea shops (still operating):
birdandblendtea.com
teavivre.com
52teas.com
svtea.com
whisperingpinestea.com
justea.com
harney.com
Dammann Freres
fusionteas.com
shop.Javateaco.com
Lupicia
Octaviatea.com
Davidstea.com
eco-cha.com
what-cha.com
singleoriginteas.com
teasenz.com
tealyra.com
Mandalatea.com
verdanttea.com
Favorite tea shops (RIP):
butikiteas.com
steapshoppe.com
steepcityteas.com
aquartertotea.com
dellaterrateas.com
zentealife.com
angrytearoom.com
theteamerchant.net
joysteaspoon.com
tealiciousllc.com
Rivertea
Specialteas
My icon photo is Richard Mayhew from the graphic novel ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry.
Most of the teas listed in my cupboard are actually sample sizes. I don’t really have 2,000 ounces of tea around here! Many of my teas have only one teaspoon left… maybe two. But I like keeping them in my cupboard list for reference to what I could be sipping. Usually, I write tasting notes once for each tea. I’m still drinking them, just not writing tasting notes each time!
I’m always in search of: Hattialli, Qu Hao black, Jin Jun Mei, teas using marshmallow root.
My dislikes: hibiscus, ginger (unless in chai), turmeric, bee pollen, charcoal type flavors
My ratings:
95-100 – Super awesome deliciousness favorites – cupboard essential
80-95 – Also pretty delicious
65-80 – Pretty good
50-65 – Okay
1-50 – Probably won’t want to sip it again
I’m planning on being a Steepsterer as long as there IS a Steepster, so if you’re not hearing from me, that means something happened to my health… if you know what I mean. (Or as evidenced by the great computer hiatus of 2019, something happened to my computer… I have a dumb phone so can’t access internet on that. As of 12/20/21 my wifi might start getting unreliable.)
Happy sipping!
Location
USA
Thanks for giving it another try. :) We don’t all get the same things from tea so it was very dedicated of you to try again. :)