110 Tasting Notes

70

— Color of liquor: Reddish copper brown

— Aroma: Slight muscatel, slight floral

— Flavors: Muscatel, slight cherry, slight astringent

About five years ago, I had a wonderful second flush Darjeeling from Goomtee Estate from another tea company that had an excellent apricot base to the flavor. I have been thinking about this tea and hoping to find one that is similar in recent pickings, so I thought I’d try this one purchased from Upton, hoping the terroir of the estate is what gave my previous tea that apricot flavor. This one is lacking the apricot base I was hoping for, but does have a pleasant muscatel flavor, with a hint of cherries. Astringency was low, but enough to give it character.

This is a nice enough second flush Darjeeling, but it isn’t what I was hoping for. I’ll enjoy the remainder of my order but will keep searching.

Flavors: Astringent, Cherry, Muscatel

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 30 sec 9 g 20 OZ / 591 ML
Courtney

I hope you find what you’re looking for eventually!

teepland

Thanks, Courtney! :) I am going to place another order with a different vendor so I’ll cross my fingers again! This apricot flavor is becoming the white whale to my Captain Ahab-esque search! :)

Courtney

Haha! I have (not intensively) been looking for a Kenyan white that might one day replace Butiki’s White Rhino, so I understand the excitement and ‘frustration’ (for lack of a better word) that comes with the search.

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90

— Color of liquor: Lighter brown, like a bourbon

— Aroma: Petrichor; slight floral; slight muscatel

— Flavors: Petrichor; dry leaves; astringent; slight muscatel

This tea while steeping has a slight floral and muscatel aroma to it, along with the stronger petrichor aroma in front. The floral aroma doesn’t translate into the flavor, but instead has strong petrichor and dry leaves flavors in front and a slight mineral flavor base. There’s an even stronger astringency: this is not a neutral tea, which is exactly why I like it. I followed the recommendation and kept my steeping under my usual four minutes, and am glad I did — otherwise, this could’ve easily turned bitter. The leaves were more broken than I expected, which is another reason to keep the steep time low.

This is yet another excellent example of a Kangra black tea that I intend to keep well-stocked, as Kangra black teas have become my daily go-to teas.

Flavors: Astringent, Dry Leaves, Mineral, Muscatel, Petrichor

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 30 sec 9 g 20 OZ / 591 ML

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95

— Color of liquor: Walnut brown

— Aroma: Petrichor; wet rocks

— Flavors: Mineral; petrichor; wet rocks; astringent

There is a strong mineral/petrichor/wet rocks flavor, with an astringency that doesn’t cross over into bitterness – exactly what I expect and hope for in a Kangra tea. The leaves in the package are broken (unusual for an orthodox tea) and lighter in weight than I expected. This is an excellent example of a Kangra black tea that I expect to drink regularly and will re-order when my stock runs out.

Flavors: Astringent, Mineral, Petrichor, Wet Rocks

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 45 sec 9 g 20 OZ / 591 ML

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75

— Color of liquor: Copper, with hint of red

— Aroma: Muscatel, floral

— Flavors: Stone fruit, muscatel

Strong stone fruit flavors in front, with a slight muscatel base. Slight astringency. A typical 2nd flush Darjeeling – I’ll enjoy it while I have it but likely won’t buy more.

Flavors: Astringent, Floral, Muscatel, Stonefruit

Preparation
9 g 20 OZ / 591 ML

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100

Color of liquor: Orange-golden

Aroma: Fruity, muscatel

This tea is perfection. I cannot think of anything else I would be looking for in a Nilgiri frost black tea. There is no bitterness at all, and just the right amount of astringency to bring you back for more. Forward flavors of fruity muscatel, with a slight petrichor/wet rock flavor that I have always found highly appealing in many Indian teas from the Nilgiris, Darjeeling, and Kangra districts.

I am disappointed that this is now sold out on the website, but will watch and hope it shows up once again.

Flavors: Fruity, Muscatel, Petrichor, Wet Rocks

Preparation
3 min, 0 sec 6 g 16 OZ / 473 ML
Martin Bednář

Oh, well, hi! Welcome back!

teepland

Thanks, Martin! I can’t believe it’s been almost three years since I logged anything! Needless to say, I still was drinking tea during those three years! :)

gmathis

Good to see you!

teepland

Thanks, gmathis! Good to see you again as well! :)

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85
drank Lung Ching by Harney & Sons
110 tasting notes

I didn’t want something strong on caffeine this morning (trying to get rid of my daily headaches, so I am cutting back on caffeine hoping that will help), so I went foraging through my green tea collection. When I’m in the mood for green tea, Lung Ching is my go-to. This tea from Harney is a great reason why: light in vegetal flavor that seems to be so strong in other green teas, with a slight toasted and nutty accompaniment.

Flavors: Nutty, Toasted, Vegetal

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec 6 g 16 OZ / 473 ML

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90

A strong, black tea—a blend of Assam and Yunnan. There is an earthy, malty, and spicy flavor to it, most likely malt from the Assam and earthy and spicy from the Yunnan leaves. But the two varieties of tea blend well together and each add their own flavors to the mix. It’s interesting that I can taste both the Assam and the Yunnan as separate flavors within the tea as I concentrate of its flavor. Overall a very enjoyable, strong tea that I am glad I purchased!

Flavors: Earth, Malt, Spicy

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 30 sec 6 g 16 OZ / 473 ML
gmathis

Been quite a wile, but I remember liking this one!

teepland

gmathis: Just read your tasting note on this tea — glad you found it appealing as well!

gmathis

Good grief…I just looked back, too. Ten years? (Confound it, I’m getting old!)

teepland

Ha! I just appreciate all the years of advice and recommendations you’ve posted on here, gmathis! :)

Sierge Krьstъ

I only once mixed gotu kola with mengsong black. Looking forward to guangdong black from oolong variety by curioustea selection. A drop of vinegar can make all the difference to the visvosity

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95

A sample I received with a recent order from Upton. I’ve never had Colombian tea before, so I was interested in trying it.

I can’t remember having a tea blend that is as smooth and creamy as this one! I can taste hints of cocoa and honey in the liquor, but they are just slight enough to be there. Otherwise, it is a truly remarkable, smooth black tea with almost no astringency. I’ll definitely purchase more of this in a future order!

Flavors: Cocoa, Creamy, Honey, Smooth

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 30 sec 6 g 16 OZ / 473 ML
gmathis

Definitely making a note!

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75

Sample that I received from a recent order from Teabox. The flavor is very typical for a Darjeeling: strong muscatel flavor with a slight hint of cherries. Astringent.

It’s a very pleasant tea but nothing spectacular. I’d certainly drink it again, but I don’t know if I’d order a large quantity to keep on hand.

Date of picking: November 26, 2020

Flavors: Astringent, Cherry, Muscatel

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 30 sec 9 g 20 OZ / 591 ML

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95

Brewed 9 grams of dried tea leaves in 20 ounces of near-boiling natural spring water for 4 minutes.

Dried tea leaves were broken with very little stems. Very light and tippy. More green in tone than I expected.

Resulting liquor is light and golden—much lighter than I expected.

The flavor has strong floral and fruity notes with tropical fruits, cherries, and a slight hint of grapes and raisins most identifiable. Astringent.

This tea is absolutely wonderful! Light, but with a wonderfully full mouthfeel. I am enjoying this on a slow morning, but it would be better as an afternoon or evening tea, I think. I will gladly order more of this in the future.

Flavors: Astringent, Cherry, Floral, Fruity, Grapes, Raisins, Tropical

Preparation
9 g 20 OZ / 591 ML

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Profile

Bio

2025: It’s been awhile, but I hope to be back to regularly updating my tea log!

My tea habits generally depend on my mood and the season but, in general, my preferred teas are black teas, especially those grown in India and Sri Lanka. I will occasionally drink other types, though.

Unless noted in my review, I brew my tea western style and do not use additives (milk/cream, sugar, etc.).

I am definitely not an expert when it comes to tea, so I’d love to hear from you if your experiences differ from the notes in my tea log.

Please feel free to contact me and let me know if you have a favorite that I have to try! :)

My grading for tea:

100: Perfect.

90, 95: Excellent.

80, 85: Very good.

70, 75: Good.

60, 65: Okay.

50, 55: Meh.

40, 45: Not so good.

0-35: Awful.

Location

Indiana, USA

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