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I was lucky that Cameron B wanted to do a cleanup of teas, because I received an amazing treasure trove of teas yesterday. I couldn’t help asking for some, as there were some that I had wanted to try for years and also some old favorites that I didn’t have around anymore! Thanks so much, Cameron B! I appreciate it!
I can tell you right now… I LOVE THIS TEA. What the heck. I also feel like I have problems with cherry flavoring, just as Cameron B does, but sometimes cherry teas hit that right balance with other flavors, making them not taste QUITE like cough drops unlike if it was a cherry flavor standing on its own. The balance here with the mild rose is wonderful. And that green tea with oolong! It’s a perfect base. And since this is a Mary Poppins tea and Admiral Boom resides on Cherry Tree Lane firing his cannon from the roof, I get an extra kick that this tea uses GUNPOWDER green tea. I consider Mary Poppins one of my favorite Disney films, so I’m honored to try this tea and even more pleased that I love it. It might be one of the better cherry teas I have tried. It also reminds me of a Bird & Blend tea but I’m not sure which one at the moment. (But this is NOT an exact blend sourced from B&B.)
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for full mug // 30 minutes after boiling // 1 minute steep
Steep #2 // 35 minutes after boiling // 2 min

Not a sipdown but a good time to revisit this lemony green. Of the 26 teas in the alphabet challenge, 15 were actual sipdowns. I think that’s… pretty good I guess. At least it is nice to know that there are at least three letters that still only have ONE tea representing it.

2023 Ode To Tea – Part II – Y

Another sheng I haven’t written a note for yet.  From JakeB QUITE a while ago!  Thank you!  And it’s another sheng I think is a great sheng, as long as I only steep for 30 seconds Western.   I love that only sheng tastes like this and it is just so different from shu.  All steeps were fairly similar in flavor.  It’s almost like an odd, otherworldly tropical fruit with a tangy note, yet also a cream quality.  I think it was a good thing I neglected this sheng for a while?  I bet the flavor improved.  I only have one steep session of leaf left.  I love the wrapper design too.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons // 45 minutes after boiling // 30 second steep
Steep #2 // 30 minutes after boiling // 30 second steep
Steep #3 // 33 min after boiling // 30 second steep
Steep #4 // 30 min after boiling // 45 second steep

I mean… if this started out “vintage”… it is now ancient. haha. I’m not sure what exactly made it vintage? But it’s tasty! I think this was one of the Earls from Tiffany? Thank you! I enjoyed two steeps of this very much. A satchet that didn’t fall apart! An acceptable strong bergamot on what is described on the lovely wrap as assam and Darjeeling but I mostly taste a robust, brassy assam. I’m happy to try this tea that has no other Steepster notes! What a rare tea it must be. Gets a Good Earl pass from me!

2023 Ode To Tea – Part II – X

Still the only tea I have that represents ‘X’. The flavor seemed a little off this time. It’s usually one of my favorite shengs. I saw a note for ANCIENT alphabet challenge and remembered a previous challenge I did was aiming for the oldest tea for each letter! That must be why this challenge seems too easy. :D

This poor tea, so neglected yet so delicious!  SkySamurai sent it over a while ago, thank you!  There are only two search results on Steepster for ‘Wah Estate’ so this tea is a rarity.  This should be a first flush Darj but it seems much more like the green tea it is labeled as.  The first steep was amazing, but the second steep was overdone.  That first steep though!   A perfect green for being from 2017.  All the flavor elements I crave from a great green tea. The second steep was heavy vegetal.    Either two teaspoons is too much or this one likes extremely cooler water.
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons for a full mug // 46 minutes after boiling // 1 minute steep
Steep #2 // 30 min after boiling // 2 1/2 minute steep

Another from StarFevre I haven’t written a note for yet, thanks very much! I’m sure this was much better in its prime. (This is a Frank era pouch.) Hints of blueberry left on a pleasant green base. I’m still in love with the black tea version I have of this (also Frank’s era.)

From Daylon R Thomas!  Thanks so much!   I misspoke the other day when I thought the Charleston Tea Garden was the only American tea grower.  NOPE.  Here is a lovely leaf grown in Michigan — it looks plenty gold in color, yet looks more crumbly than I usually see.  The appearance almost reminds me of Zhen Qu (which I dearly miss.)   I first tried this tea a week ago, using a teaspoon and a half in a mug, but I just didn’t think that was enough leaf.  So here is a note for two teaspoons. I don’t love using two teaspoons, as this is a pricey leaf (that I’m very grateful Daylon decided to share!)  but sometimes two teaspoons is necessary and I think there IS a huge difference in just that 1/2 teaspoon of leaves.  It’s richer this time around, while never being astringent, even with a ten minute steep on the third:  starchy, with a bit of cocoa, malty, sweet and light in flavor while still having a deep colored brew.  Though it’s hard for me to describe, I would say it DOES taste like a tea grown somewhere atypical, not a typical terroir that I would be drinking, so it’s interesting the flavor is different from a Michigan tea!  Very glad I was able to try this.
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 2 min after boiling // 3 min steep
Steep #3 // just boiled // 10 min steep

2023 Ode To Tea – Part II – W

Not a bad peach tea! Bonus if you’re craving a white tea. I wouldn’t mind having this one around.
2023 sipdowns: 76

Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – August 2023 Tea #4 – A CTC tea

This must be one of two CTC teas that I have left in the cupboard!  I don’t know why… I like their strength and don’t mind any CTC in the cupboard.  This one is GOOD even still.  It definitely tastes like assam.  I love a chewy tea in the morn.  I’m not in a rush to finish this one! I’m actually surprised my rating from many years ago is only 71. I thought it would be higher.