I am so behind on my tasting notes it’s almost embarrassing. I have like 10+ to log that I’ve totally neglected! I’ve had a lot of work-related stuff to do the past few weeks, including dealing with NYCC’s ridiculously elaborate press registration. Why do I need to fill out a 5 page form and FAX it? Is it 1990 and no one told me?! Seriously, who faxes anything anymore. But I got my badge, so now that’s all taken care of I need to catch up on tea!
This tea is magical. I think Stacy is some sort of tea fairy who just sprinkles stuff with magic dust and voila, it’s perfect! You see, this is a VERY watermelon-y tea. In the bag it smells like candy. Not Jolly Rancher watermelon, but pure tasty watermelon. When it’s brewed (cold steeped in this case) it’s an almost crystal-clear liquid that smells SO strongly of watermelon it’s amazing! And the taste, wow. It’s SO natural watermelon! And really strong! But, at the same time it’s not overly strong at all. In fact, while it’s very watermelon-y there’s just as much if not more of the delicious white base going on. It’s like… watermelon juice and white tea together in harmony.
I don’t think I am properly describing it, but it’s like… the most natural, perfect flavoring in the world. You’d never know it was actually flavored at all it tastes so natural! Like the tea leaves just grew and tasted like watermelon. My dad, who is wary of fruity-flavored teas, even loved this one! He mentioned it the other day, so I think I might get him some of this for Christmas. It’s just… perfection!
Comments
Sounds luscious, can’t wait to try it. I have to look up cold steeping. I’ve only ever brewed a tea normally, let it cool, then added ice to it. It worked out fine (pretty great, actually), but I ended up steeping the tea for like 12 hours, and I don’t have the patience to do that all the time.
I usually cold steep while I’m sleeping: put it in the fridge a few hours before bed, wake up and voila! Cold brewing is done! When I do them during the afternoon/evening it’s usually a strong black that I know can cold brew in about 4 hours, mostly because I get very impatient and want my tea right away!
Alphakitty, thanks for reminding me that I still have some of this delicious tea left! It really is tasty, & for someone like me (not a big fan of most flavored teas), it’s a real treat!
I do the same as you. I cold brew overnight. Are you only supposed to cold brew black tea for four hours?
No, I cold brew blacks overnight too BUT you can get a really decent cold brew out of a strong one in a pretty short amount of time.
Do you use the same tea-to-water ratio as you do for normal/hot brewing? I’ve read that more tea is used when making iced tea, just curious what you folks do.
I do. I thought you were only supposed to use more tea if you are going to immediately put it on ice since it dilutes it.
Sounds luscious, can’t wait to try it. I have to look up cold steeping. I’ve only ever brewed a tea normally, let it cool, then added ice to it. It worked out fine (pretty great, actually), but I ended up steeping the tea for like 12 hours, and I don’t have the patience to do that all the time.
I usually cold steep while I’m sleeping: put it in the fridge a few hours before bed, wake up and voila! Cold brewing is done! When I do them during the afternoon/evening it’s usually a strong black that I know can cold brew in about 4 hours, mostly because I get very impatient and want my tea right away!
Alphakitty, thanks for reminding me that I still have some of this delicious tea left! It really is tasty, & for someone like me (not a big fan of most flavored teas), it’s a real treat!
Must Try this one!
Must try this one!
I do the same as you. I cold brew overnight. Are you only supposed to cold brew black tea for four hours?
No, I cold brew blacks overnight too BUT you can get a really decent cold brew out of a strong one in a pretty short amount of time.
Do you use the same tea-to-water ratio as you do for normal/hot brewing? I’ve read that more tea is used when making iced tea, just curious what you folks do.
I do. I thought you were only supposed to use more tea if you are going to immediately put it on ice since it dilutes it.
Thanks, Rachel, good to know. =)