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additional notes: Not only did I forget melons existed, as a fruit, I FORGOT I had this AMAZING tea! How could I do that?! What immortal tea magic is this?! Going for three steeps today. Also getting close to a sipdown on Harney’s Valentine’s!

additional notes: Another mango tea I forgot about! And how nice it is! More mango now than cranberry but I’m glad half the flavor is still there anyway. My original note says I didn’t notice cranberry THEN either. I also was drinking David’s Mango Lassi today without realizing it is yet ANOTHER mango tea. I think I should probably look up why I might be craving mango so much lately…

Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – February 2023 Tea #4 -A tea swap tea or gifted tea

I wanted to finish these leaves here from Kawaii433 before they got any older.  The last time I used only a teaspoon and a teaspoon just didn’t seem like enough at the time.  Today I used at least two teaspoons for a big mug. The flavor was better!  These long leaves taste almost like a Laoshan green, just not as strong.  Nutty, creamed corn, a bit vegetal, a bit like spring flowers somehow.  Definitely better with more leaves.  Not astringent or overdone at all.
Steep #1 // 2+ teaspoons for a big mug // 30 minutes after boiling // 1-2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 25 minutes after boiling // 2-3 minute steep
2023 sipdowns: 15

Another from the summer order — I bought this because it seems like a healthy no-caff chai that also happened to have marshmallow root.  Always on the lookout for more teas with marshmallow root.  Sadly, the flavor is most LIKE stevia, reminding me of stevia, probably a combination of the licorice, fennel and turmeric.  Visually, the blend sure looks healthy.  Lots of goodies in there.  I’m not seeing as much marshmallow root as I would like.  The second steep is much the same – a very healthy tasting brew! Some of the spices make more of an appearance.  Hopefully there are some health benefits since the flavor isn’t winning me over.  I thought this would be a nice change of pace from sweeter nighttime options, so it’s a bit disappointing that the flavor most reminds me of a replacement for sugar.
Steep #1 //  1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 //  just boiled // 6-8 minute steep

Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – February 2023 Tea #3 – A least favorite tea

In a rarity, I didn’t do re-steeps on two least favorite teas today, just so I could finish them (this and the Stash Earl).  One steep was enough for both teas (the teas are lucky I bothered with even that.)  That means I had two sipdowns of least favorite teas today,  This is definitely not good. It tastes like dirt & mustard, mustard & dirt.  And mint (but mint oil).
2023 sipdowns: 14

Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – February 2023 Tea #2 – A grocery store tea

I didn’t do the latte prompt today!  I don’t really drink lattes.  However, I DID drink two teas for two different prompts today (I’m behind, I think!).  I had to do a stock check on my grocery store type teas and this was a lingering last teabag that I could actually remove from my tea list.  Definitely NOT a favorite Earl, so I’m glad it’s gone.  I wouldn’t buy this again, but it isn’t the worst Earl.
2023 sipdowns: 13

additional notes: This one is always unnoteworthy, especially for the price, but note to self: I just tried it with two teaspoons and it is a LITTLE better, especially if I really overbrew that second steep (no astringency, but still not many flavor notes.)

additional notes: Another creamy pineapple white I forgot about! Wow, it’s got decent flavor, even still. That is all.

additional notes: I bought these in the summer, but this “harvest” is just way too thin flavored to my liking — I used three huge pearls for a big mug, but there is hardly any flavor here at all. If I lowered ratings, it would now be somewhere in the 50s. It just seems black teas aren’t what they used to be, even when I’m drinking them FRESH.

edited to add: Next day, I looked in the infuser and the three pearls were kind of wedged in the bottom of the infuser, not unraveling, so after making sure they were moved around a bit, a second steep DID taste better, but still not as complex as I’d wish.

oh no, I made the mistake of steeping up two of David’s heavy stevia teas at the same time.  So. Much. Stevia.  Anyway, I haven’t made a note for this one yet, so here goes, the blend is a bunch of tiny chopped things — very colorful.  It even looks like rooibos, but I don’t think there is any here — probably one of the many flowers.  I think the selling point for me here was the GABA (always can use more focus), not sure if there is much even contained in the blend.  The flavor is strong fruit!  There might be a cloying element to this, but I don’t hate it. Would probably enjoy it more in summer. And it also has the coconut that likes to go bad the fastest.  The coconut isn’t bad yet though.
Steep #1 // 1 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 30 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 30 minutes after boiling // 2-3 min