1433 Tasting Notes
Yes, my travel mug permanently smells like this now. Everyone in the office thought I had popcorn with butter. Disappointments abound. For them.
(2017 spring harvest)
Flavors: Butter, Cream, Popcorn, Rice
Where I’m at currently doesn’t have a temperature variant kettle so this is almost exclusively what I’ve been drinking every day- except for my commute travel mug, which permanently tastes and smells like Jin Xuan Milk Oolong types and will never be able to hold anything else.
My sister left the leaves in the pot for at least an hour, yet somehow this tea persisted in tasting delicious and amazing. The world is too good for this tea. Will have to gift some of this to my sis and her special tea brewing style; it won’t punish her for being late all the time!
Steep Count: 2
(2017 spring harvest)
Flavors: Chocolate, Cocoa, Malt, Raisins, Sweet Potatoes
Possibly too fancy for the fate of being a travelling mug on the long the bus commute but I don’t care! It’s a carrot that keeps me on my toes. Also, I can steep it as many times as I like before and after coming home; I started drinking it last night and we’re still going strong! It’s an amazing and generous tea :)
Steep Count: 6
Flavors: Butter, Cream, Floral, Mango, Milk
Preparation
I admire you for having such a long steeping attention span! These days, I’m done by the second steep and already want to move onto something else.
That’s how I feel most of the time but this one is an exception. I just want to chug it back all day. Other people in the household are with me on this, and will even resteep it a couple times for themselves if they see it’s already on the go!
Nice!
This kept me alive at the office today but I think I needed more. I’m fading quickly now.. I will make it stronger next time, and won’t feel so bad about sharing because I see What-Cha has the latest harvest of this and my precious Thailand Sticky Rice Oolong in stock. Just waiting on the Taiwan Li Shan Oolong Tea and maybe the Imperial Brandy Oolong (please come back this year); I want to try those two a lot!
(2017 spring harvest)
Flavors: Bread, Chocolate, Cocoa, Malt, Raisins
Preparation
I finished up this tea months ago, but it feels wrong not to leave a note on such a lovely green tea. I’m pretty sure this was Teabento freebie too.
Jasmine Pearls aren’t always my favourite (they’re my mom’s) but when they somehow end up in my cupboard it’s like stumbling upon a ballet performance in your kitchen. Too fancy, delicate and beautiful for my humble abode. This one stood out from the rest (H&S and Teavivre), lacking the soapy sour veg note of the parenthesized offerings. It was so sweet. If/when I’m looking for the Pearls again Teabento will be on the list of top contenders (it’s a short list but it isn’t a bad one).
Flavors: Floral, Jasmine, Sweet, Vegetal
This is a lovely Dragon Well, perfectly balanced with none of that drying quality that comes from over-roasting. Sweet and juicy (sugarcane, sweet peas, corn, stonefruit) play off savoury notes (butter, toasted nuts, chestnuts). The corn, nut and butter notes come together for a nice cream impression that either leads to a finish of umami-like seaweed (the crushed kind you’d find sprinkled on top of okonomiyaki or something) or creamed corn, depending on how my brain associates it.
I steeped this longer (2-3min instead of 1min) than what Teabento recommends because I like my Dragon Well that way. This particular offering has a gentle enough profile to handle it, imho.
Steep Count: 2
Flavors: Butter, Chestnut, Corn Husk, Cream, Floral, Garden Peas, Peanut, Seaweed, Stonefruit, Sugarcane, Sweet, Warm Grass, Toast, Umami
Preparation
Sipdown.
Dropping this one a little because a) it’s a tricky, inconsistent steeper and b) I just don’t like it as much as I thought. I’m still a kind of fan of the AQ2T honey flavour here and in their Mead Genmaicha (real honey granules) but.. I don’t know. It doesn’t help that Young Hyson holds up poorly to aging.
(2017 blend)
Flavors: Grass, Honey, Jasmine, Rose, Vegetal
Preparation
Heading out to the hairdresser, I made a super happy mistake with this one yesterday. Already steeped three times and in a rush to take a tea to go on the road, I dumped the kettle water without checking temp and let it steep for three minutes. The water was clearly too hot because the liquid ended up a dark goldish hue- think of those “iced” oolong bottles you can get in Taiwan and elsewhere (possibly Pokka brand?).
Luckily, the tea wasn’t as bitter as said beverage, but still more robust than you’d typically desire in a tieguanyin. It worked out great here though, and I have to thank the delicious bananas, which became almost caramelized and creamy, albeit more subtle than the first few cups. It made a refreshing and smooth drink both warm and cooled down! Hopefully I can repeat this mistake for a warmer day :)
Steep Count: 4
(2017 holiday blend)
Flavors: Caramel, Cream, Floral
Yeah, I think I’m adding this one to the exclusively short “Essential Teas” sheet on Excel. It’s a good casual comfort tea. So glad the new 52Teas added this to the small permanent collection list.
Flavors: Marshmallow, Toasted Rice, Vegetal
Preparation
Hey, we’re both drinking this one right now. :D
Genmaicha is a staple in my cupboard as well. I’ve never had a flavored one before though sounds even better.
@tea-sipper, Drinking buddies! XD
@Lexie Aleah, I’d definitely add this one to your to-try list. When I have a more substantial amount on hand I might even share, but that would probably be late summer early fall at this point ;)
Hell yes!
