I combined 4 parts (2.25 grams) white cucumber w/ one part (.56 grams) home grown dried peppermint and steeped it in 6oz of purified water heated to 180 degrees for 7 min and drank it w/ a salad.
865 Tasting Notes
I combined 2 parts (2.25 g) ginseng green tea w/ 1 part (1.13 grams) dried home grown organic lemon verbena and steeped it for 3 min at 180 degrees in 6oz purified water and drank it w/ my lunch.
I grabbed this in the airport to wash down the subway sandwhich I had for dinner last nite before my red eye flight. Green and white teas are my favorite and I knew iced tea would quench my thirst… I couldn’t easily (or more importantly PROPERLY) steep loose leaf hot tea anyway. I twisted the cap off, chugged about 1/4 the bottle, and IMMEDIATELY knew something wasn’t right… more specifically something was missing from the name of the tea. It should read “Organic Iced Sweet Green Tea”. I know some people would just rudely say “well it’s your own fault for not reading the label” (which I didn’t), but the real issue is that sweet tea and iced tea are two different things. This could get a diabetic or a gastric bypass patient in a whole lot of trouble. If you like sweetener (in this case sugar cane), this is a GREAT green tea flavored w/ spearmint, lemon grass, and lemon verbena. If you don’t (and I don’t), this isn’t the tea for you.
Sample #2 from my white tea sampler…
1st Infusion:
The raw leaf has a stronger scent than I was expecting, kind of like gunpowder- no floral scent as the name implies.
Steeping method:
2.25g of tea per 6oz of purified water heated to 180 degrees F and steeped for 7 min.
The liquor and aroma are both stronger than I expected. The liquor is a medium orange tone and the aroma is solid, no floral notes. Smells kind of like some of the bagged green tea I get when I go out to eat.
The strength of the flavor matches the liquor, but is still stronger than I had expected from a white tea. It’s not heavy like a black tea, smokey like gun powder, or fecal like pu erh, but it’s not light and floral as the name might suggest either. Quite possibly my favorite unflavored white tea so far. I’ve been on a string of “the 3rd infusion was my favorite” teas so we shall see if that continues.
2nd Infusion:
Steeping time: 8 min
The liquor and aroma are both lighter than the 1st… The liquor lost some of the bright orange hue the 1st infusion had and is now duller, almost like tarnished brass. The aroma is still more solid and earthy than I expected from a white tea, especially with the word “peony” in it, but the floral scent is starting to appear.
I love when the aroma matches the scent. It shows consistancy. It is more grounded than I would have expected a white with a floral name, but as the scent eluded to, the floral notes are starting to peak out.
3rd Infusion:
Steeping time: 9 min
I’m still surprised at the darkness of the liquor… The third infusion resembles the flesh of an acorn squash, especially after it’s been roasted. The aroma is slightly lighter than one may expect based on the liquor. It’s light and smooth with a touch of floral.
The taste is something that I’d expect from a 2nd infusion… quite strong considering the leaves have now been steeped for a total of 24 min. There is no floral taste when I take a sip, but there is a very light floral aftertaste. One that would not scare off anyone that hates floral teas.
Conclusions:
Very interesting tea. Stronger in all 3 aspects through out the infusions than I had expected, but not over powering. I probably could get a 4th infusion out of this but I have 2 more teas in my sampler to try so I’ll have to come back to this one.
1st sample I’m trying from the white sampler. White and green teas are my favorite.
The raw leaves have an extremely light aroma, ever so slightly like vinegar yet not NEARLY as strong as some white teas, like their white cucumber which is my favorite.
Steeping method:
2.25g of leaf in 6oz purified water heated to 180 degrees for 7 minutes.
When steeped the liquor is a buttery, creamy yellow and the aroma is MUCH lighter than I was expecting based on the liquor. I almost had to inhale the tea to smell it, but this could be because I woke up congested due to allergies.
Wow… This is an interesting tea… the flavor is light, but also creamy, thick, and buttery. Brandice was right, it does have similarities to broth. Is this the tea Mrs. Butterton drinks? Infact I may add my bullion to this when I make chicken soup instead of water…
2nd Infusion:
Steeping time: 8 min.
The liquor of the 2nd infusion is slightly lighter than the 1st, but I’d say that a better way to describe it would be more translucent. This infusion looks like tea instead of butter.
The scent seems to be stronger for some reason, but maybe my sinuses are clearing.
The flavor is a little weaker, allowing it to be more fluid instead of thick. The 1st infusion seemed to coat my tongue while this one just washes over it. It tastes more like tea instead of butter or broth.
3rd Infusion:
Steeping time: 9 min.
What is it with me and 3rd infusion lately…
The aroma and liquor were lighter than the previous 2 infusions as I expected. The flavor was also a bit lighter (weaker), but it was also lighter as in it didn’t taste ANYTHING like a butter slick over my tongue. Maybe this is what a white version of their cream flavored tea would tast like. It’s light, yet creamy, and yet there’s also a very light floral taste in the back… but it’s NOTHING even close to drinking perfume. I think this is my favorite infusion. I should be able to get a decent 4th infusion out of this, but I think I’ll wait and move on to another white sample for the rest of the day.
Conclusions:
This is a strange white tea. I don’t really care for the buttery texture and taste of the 1st infusion but it isn’t so foul or weak that I won’t drink it. I may make the 1st infusion for a friend:)
I’ve learned that teas can taste like things that aren’t tea-esk… campfires, cucumber, horse droppings, and now butter.
Not my favorite white tea, but I might buy it again and would drink it if someone offered it to me.
I drink this when not even bagged tea is available. I just wish it was unsweetened. It’s drinkable and better than no tea, so thumbs up.
2.25g steeped in boiling purified water for 5min.
Pretty much all I can smell and taste is the cinnamon and vanilla. The cinnamon is WAY too strong. I don’t know what the ratios are, but I’d do 10% cinnamon, 20% rum, and 70% cream instead of vanilla.
Hmmm… I love tea blends and I certainly love white teas, but a blend of white and black tea is interesting. I just hope the black tea isn’t strong enough to upset my stomach.
Steeping method: As directed.
The aroma of the raw leaf is as interesting as the combination of teas. I can definitely smell white tea, but there seems to be a depth to this tea that most pure white teas don’t have.
The liquor is a little bit lighter than I expected. The fact that the Mambo wasn’t the largest factor in the liquor gives me a good feeling about the taste. The sent seems to be layered. The white tea floats to my nose first but is then followed by the black tea, almost as if it’s pulling the white tea back down into the cup.
As I take my 1st sip I get the same layered effect. The white tea dances on my tongue while the black tea coats it. I find this interesting because the “Dancing” in the title, comes from the Mambo, not the white teas.
Conclusions: Very good every day tea, sort of a flirtatious take on a black tea. Will buy again.
I bought this because I love dessert teas where I can actually taste the tea, but I do admit I’m a little nervous about this as black non-chai teas tend to upset my stomach.
As soon as I pop the lid on the canister some of my reservations are gone. This smells AMAZING! The sweetness of the cream hits me 1st, but it’s definitely followed by the typical Irish Breakfast aroma and then punctuated by the rum.
1st Infusion:
Steeping method: As directed.
The liquor is not surprising. Typical of a black tea. The aroma on the other hand is anything but typical. The cream hits my nose like powdered sugar frosting, followed by the solid aroma of the Irish Breakfast, then finally the scent of the rum. Nothing harsh about this.
As I take my 1st sip, the cream rolls around my tongue. I was right. Liquid frosting. But will this be a dessert tea where all you taste is the dessert? Nope. The Irish Breakfast gives it the true tea taste and prevents the cream from taking control and making it too sweet. Most dessert teas would end here, but soon the bite of the rum sneaks in as if to say “SURPRISE!”
2nd Infusion:
Steep time: 6 min
A slightly weaker version of the 1st in liquor, aroma, and flavor.
Pairs surpisingly well with the ham and pepper jack pannini w/ roasted red peppers that I had it with. The Irish Breakfast was strong enough to stand up to the food and the Rum cut thru the Cream enough where it wasn’t overly sweet for the sandwhich.
3rd Infusion:
Steep time: 7 min
Lightest and weakest infusion. More red/orange in the liquor. The Irish Breakfast and the Rum are strong enough to stand up to the beef stew I had with it, but the Cream wasn’t enough to clash with the stew. In some ways this is my favorite infusion. It depends on what you have it with.
Conclusions: A wonderful black dessert tea where the true tea taste is very much evident but it does not upset my stomach. Secondary infusions still pair well with foods that aren’t sweet making it a tea you could drink all day. I’ll buy this one again.
This is my 1st oolong since my shocking cup of Ooooh Darjeeling as well as my very 1st Jasmine.
Raw leaf observations: I love teas that are as much of a delight to watch steep as drink when they are finished. The tightly rolled leaves have a smooth and slightly sweet aroma, nothing similiar to a pu erh as some oolongs have.
Steeping method: 2.25g of pearls in 6oz of purified water heated at 195 degrees F for 5 min in Adagio’s IngenuiTEA.
I’m surprised at the light yellowish-amber liquor of the 1st infusion. By far not as light as a green or white tea, but definitely lighter than most of the oolongs I’ve tried.
It smells just like it did in the tin, although a bit more pronounced. A smooth and sweet scent, yet not flowery or perfumey like rose might be.
This is much more positive than my last oolong experience. It tastes just like it smells. It’s not weak for my tastes although a bit weaker than I expect from an oolong. It does not have a strong punch of flavor that you’d get from a black tea. It’s lighter and smoother. It doesn’t upset my stomach like most black and flowery teas do.
2nd infusion: 6 min. Hmmm… Interesting. This infusion is darker than the 1st. The smell is a bit stronger as well which makes me wonder if there’s more caffeine in this infusion than the 1st. While this infusion is stronger, it’s not too strong. It’s a personal preference as to which one a person might prefer but both are not just drinkable, but good.
3rd infusion: 7 min. Lighter in liquor, aroma, and taste than the 2nd but yet still stronger than the 1st. Still very good. I think I’m going to switch to something else now, but I’d think one could get a 4th good infusion out of this and I will try next time I desire an oolong. I can see myself buying this one again.
I got this in the new arrivals sampler free w/ $19 purchase. It came w/ 2 oolong teas and a jasmine oolong. The raw tea leaves have a very faint non descript green tea aroma.
I steeped 2.25g of tea leaves in 6oz of purified water heated to 175 degrees F. This tea is a very light tea not only in aroma, but in weight. 2.25g is approx. 3.25 teaspoons so unlike a lot of loose leaf green teas I’m expecting this to be a darker green.
Well… I was wrong. 3 min later and this is by far the lightest tea I’ve ever seen. If I didn’t know it was tea, I would probably mistake it for funky water. Surprisingly though, it does have an, albeit very light, aroma. Absolutely no scent of pu erh like some greens, just a light grassy smell w/ a sweet finish.
Surprisingly this does have a taste, although I have to strain to taste it. The flavor is very weak, but the flavor that is there is a very basic but good, smooth green tea. Nothing special.
Infusion 2, 4 min: Ok… Interesting… This infusion is actually darker than the 1st. I’m thinking that’s because there was not enough leaf to require the full min of extra steeping time that additional infusions usually require. Both the aroma and liquor are stronger versions of the 1st, nothing different. The taste is also stronger… I’m wondering if the caffeine is stronger in this infusion even though everything I’ve read says most of the caffeine is released in the 1st infusion.
3rd infusion, 5 min: When I originally steeped this I would have never imagined that I’d get 3 infusions out of this. The 3rd infusion is a weaker version of the 2nd in sight, liquor, and taste, yet stronger than the 1st.
Conclusions: While the 3rd infusion is still of a VERY good quality, I think my favorite is the 2nd. The 1st is pretty much a waste for me. This tea requires quite a bit of leaf for a solid 2nd infusion and good 3rd, but even that much results in a useless 1st infusion. I’m glad I tried this, but I’m also glad that I got it free. I would have been very disappointed I even wasted $2 for a sample of this. This tea requires a lot of leaf and a wasted infusion to get only 2 good infusions (I didn’t try a fourth, maybe that would be drinkable as well) so it’s more expensive per cup than you would think. Just not worth it for me when there are so many other wonderful green teas out there.
Made this for my mom this morning who works full plus part time and goes to school full time. 2.25g per 6oz purified water heated to 175 degrees F.
I drink this every morning except I steep it in 6oz of premade green or white tea instead of 8oz of water.
drank this (3rd) infusion to try to get rid of my headache. Normally 3rd infusion is still good, but this one had really no rose flavor left. It actually tasted like a white tea, which is still a good thing!:)
drinking this steeped in Adagio’s vanilla green to ease my chronic back pain. The Get Relaxed! relaxes me and the caffeine and L-Theanine in the vanilla green aids in pain relief.
Made tea and mom wanted some so I had to make something I knew she’d like.
The rolled leaves in the Adagio brand seems smaller than in the Moroccan Mints that I’ve had… or maybe it’s because it’s been so long since I’ve had it.
This is the 1st time I’ve had gunpowder straight, not in Moroccan Mint. In the tin, the leaves smell kinda like cow dung from a cow that recently ate a LOT of grass thrown into a camp fire. It does have a very slight aroma of a pu erh, but yet grassy like a green tea and smokey like lapsang souchong.
I steeped 2.25 grams of leaves for 3 min in purified water heated to 175 degrees F. The liquor is a medium yellow which is more yellowish than I expected. The aroma is exactly what it smelled like in the tin.
When I taste it, I’m not suprised. It tasted exactly like it smelled both in the tin and after steeping. There is a lapsang souchong-esk taste to it, but that is soon enveloped by a grassy taste and finally a smokey flavor. But the smokey flavor isn’t the same in a lapsang souchong, it tasts more like cigar ashes had dropped into it.
drinking a cup (heck I may need to go thru all 3 infusions lol) to relax while I wait to be able to hand in my application for my DREAM job at a tea shop!!!
I’m shocked! It’s 1pm and I haven’t drank any tea yet! I’ve been too busy working on my resume for my DREAM job! At a tea shop! So the not drinking tea this morning is quite ironic. I’m ashamed. :( I’ll make the 3rd infusion for lunch.
OK. It’s official. I think I have too many favorite teas. This is, or at least I though, my favorite unflavored oolong but I haven’t been drinking it because I’ve been drinking white, green, and chai teas which have always been my preference over oolongs (flavored or not).
When I opened the tin, I was also afraid that my daring tea tasting may have gotten me in trouble. The last time I had this I had not yet tried pu erh, but after trying their Pu Erh Dante, I’ve discovered I HATE pu erh. I don’t remember this smelling like pu erh, but it does. Or more accurately a green tea/pu erh blend.
I steeped 2.25g of tea leaves in 6oz of purified water heated to 195 degrees F for 5 min.
As it steeps the liquor turns a golden amber and the leaves floating on top of the water makes it kind of look like insects are trapped in it.
I was right. It does taste like pu erh although not a strong one- possibly a black/pu erh blend which is odd based on how it looked in the tin.
I’m not sure how I feel about this tea. 2nd infusion might tell me more.
When I took the cover off the tin I immediately smelled the apple. It kind of smelled like their sour apple (which tastes nothing like apple)… I wonder if they use granny smith apples?
I went against the directions and just used the common measurement of 1 teaspoon per 6oz of purified boiling water and steeped it for 5 min.
The liquour was quite dark, but not as dark as some black teas… probably because the spices took up some of the space that would have otherwise been occupied by tea leaves when I measured it.
The first thing I could smell was the apple, followed by the warm spices, then fainly followed by ceylon tea.
This tea is spot on given the title. The first thing that hits my tongue is the crispness of the apple, then the spice, but the spice doesn’t burn. I can even faintly taste the black tea.
The 2nd infusion (w/ an increase in steeping time of 1 min) is very close to the strength and flavor balance of the 1st infusion, but the 3rd one is mostly consumed by the spices. I personally probably wouldn’t do the 3rd infusion, it just tastes like a basic unflavored chai.
Serving suggestions: Unsweetened. Instead of milk like the traditional chai, I’d steep it in apple juice or apple cider (hard or not). Maybe blend it w/ a caramel black tea?
I’m nervous about trying this tea. I don’t like coconut, but came in a sampler set that I got so it’s not like I intentionally bought it per se. I knew I’d like the other ones in the sampler so I hoped for the best with this one.
When I open the tin I’m even more worried. The only thing I can smell is the coconut. No spices. No lemon grass. No ceylon black tea.
Since this has large pieces of flavoring, I decided to measure it by the teaspoon instead of the industry standard of 2.25g/serving. I steep it in 6oz boiling purified water for 5 min.
The tea has a medium amber color, kind of surprising for a ceylon.
The sent when steeped is definitely of coconut… I hope I don’t regret wasting this teaspoon of tea.
While I’m not a fan of coconut, assuming a person drinking it would like it does, I’m very glad I measured the tea by the teaspoon (it’s more dense than 2.25g/teaspoon). Served unsweetened.
It’s a very weak tea, but I’m not sure if I’d prefer it stronger or not. The first thing that hits me is the coconut of course. Second, I taste the lemongrass… well kinda… I really only taste the grass part of the lemongrass. Finally the spices, but it’s not really the flavor the spices. It just burns my throat. There is absolutely no flavor of the black tea, infact because of the “grass” part of the lemongrass this could be mistaken as a green tea chia.
My conclusions: Do I like it? No. Would someone that likes coconut like it? Probably. Would I like it better stronger? I’m not sure. Would someone else? Probably. Would I drink it again? Probably, if that was my only option. Would I buy it again? No. Serving suggestions: unsweetened, steeped partially or entirely in coconut milk if milk is desired, a touch of pineapple juice or a few (dried, candied, or fresh) pieces added during steeping? More leaf used during steeping? Maybe. I voted it thumbs down because I personally don’t like it and I’m not sure someone else would think it’s strong enough when steeped by industry standards, which would be even weaker than the way I steeped it. I also rate a tea based on number of infusions I can get and I’m leary I’ll be able to get the average of 3 good infusions..
I was really excited about this one because flavored oolongs are rare and even taboo w/ some tea drinkers, but was disappointed. Instead of normally measuring it by weight (2.25g/6 fl. oz) I decided to put one teaspoon in because of the flavorings. I steeped it at 195 degrees F for 5 min in 6oz purified water. I personally like at least a 1:1, but preferably a 2:1 ratio of flavoring to true tea tast. Unfortunately the taste of the oolong was completely masked by the lemon. This would be good in TheraFlu or a hot toddy during the flu season with a lil honey and whiskey. I rated it a thumbs down because I personally do not like herbal teas alone, but if you don’t mind that you can’t taste the oolong tea it’s a very good tea.
ok… WHERE’S MY SPOON??? This is by far my favorite dessert tea. I’m picky about my dessert teas. I don’t like purely rooibos or herbal teas. I don’t like a tea where the flavoring is so strong that I can’t taste the tea.
The second I opened the tin I wanted to eat it. I’m pleasantly surprised to smell chocolate 1st because pepperment can be very over powering, folowed by the peppermint, and then last the sencha- but it’s definitely there.
I steeped 2.25g of tea in 6oz of purified water heated to 175 degrees F for 3 min.
Once steeped, it has a very pale yellow green liqour. The second I lifted my cup to my nose I knew I was in heaven. It smelled exactly like it did in the tin. First I smelled the chocolate, then peppermint, then the very slight grassy aroma of the sencha.
This keeps getting better and better. In the tin it smelled great. Steeped it smelled fantastic. And it tasted absolutely sinful! I was not surprised with the layered tast profile. The sweet, but not overly sweet, chocolate (almost like a semi sweet) hit me 1st. Then the crisp peppermint coated my tongue. Finally, the smooth but grassy sencha. I can definitely taste the sencha, it’s slightly stronger in the taste profile than it had been in the scent profile. This would be a wonderful tea to use for green tea ice cream.
I was also surprised by the fact that I can get at least 3-4 infusions out of this. I would have thought the chocolate would dissolve.
The only improvement I’d make is the name. Cocomint is kind of misleading. It makes it sound like it’s coconut mint green tea. Based on the name I would have looked right passed this one, it was only when I read the discription that I realized it has chocolate in it.
I hope I can find a white tea version of this!
I got this tea as a birthday present as I normally do not by bagged tea or herbal/rooibos tisanes, but I was quite amazed at not only the taste but the longevity of the tea leaves.
The first thing you smell when you open the canister is rose. It’s so strong you can taste it.
It says to steep one tea bag in a “cup” of boiling purified water, but to me a cup of tea is 6 oz so that’s the measurement I used. I steeped it for 7 min.
I was kinda nervous about this tea because I hate chamomile, but was pleasantly surprised that the smooth rooibos blended very nice w/ the lavender and the rose so I didn’t even notice the chamomile. Rose was the primary flavor just as it was the primary sent, but it was cut very gently by the rooibos so it didn’t taste like I was drinking my grandmother’s perfume.
If you are like me and don’t drink herbals or rooibos, I’d encourage you to still buy this but rather than steeping it water, steep it in your favorite green or white tea.
I was also surprised that it did have a relaxing effect. I know chamomile does calm the stomach, but when I drink this I do feel some of the stress leave my body.
But most surprising of all was it’s ability to stand up to reinfusion. I got 3 great infusions by increasing the infusion time by 1 min for each cup. I probably could have even gotten a fourth.
