Dorothy

First off, on the information for brewing this tea it says 4-6 minutes. When I tried this for the first time, at their event. This stuff was SO bitter. I asked one of the tea ladies to brew some hotter samples. Thinking that the tea had cooled too much and perhaps the real flavor wasn’t shining through. Nah, it was still really really bitter. :( I don’t blame her though, 4-6 minutes is the suggested time.
Determined to “get it right”, I tried this at about 3 minutes. It tastes a lot better.

This reminds me a lot of their Pure Chai tea. The cinnamon and cloves in Marsala really express themselves. Black tea leaves and the “Marsala flavoring” are there too. The bitterness is still present, but it can be lessened with a shorter steep time (3 mins worked for me). Overall, it has a strong and delightful flavor. I loved their Pure Chai, so this was an enjoyable cuppa.

I’m not a wine drinker, so I can’t compare this to the real wine equivalent. Seriously though, if you like the Pure Chai blend this is a good pick. If you want wine, get yourself a bottle of the real stuff.

2010-10-22 07:28:14 -0400

205 °F / 96 °C

3 min 15 sec

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Tea addict since 2010. I do not sweeten, add (soy) milk, honey or anything else to my teas. _{(not that I look down upon it, but it’s not my preference)}

Feel free to add me on Steepster, I’ll probably add you back. :)

_{I don’t log tea every time I drink it. Tasting notes tend to be about either one style of brewing or a new experience. It is helpful for me to look back on my notes and see what a tea tasted like or which steeping parameter worked best for me.}

_{When I write “tsp”, the measurement I use is a regular western teaspoon. Not a tea scoop}

_{Recently I have begun listing how much water I use, amount of tea leaves, and number of steeping with their times in my notes. This is for two reasons, firstly so that I can duplicate good experiences and also avoid steep times that were bad. Secondly so that other people on Steepster can suggest better steep parameters. I am ALWAYS looking to improve my knowledge of tea and how to prepare it. :) So if you have a tip, suggestion, or critique, please let me know via comment or private message.}

_{Since I am constantly developing my palate, over time tea ratings can change +/- 10 points. This mostly applies to the first few months I’ve spent on Steepster (I hadn’t tried anything excellent yet!)}

_{All ratings last adjusted: Feb 2nd, 2012}

What my tea ratings mean:

99-100: Teas that blow my mind! An unforgettable experience. Savoured to the last drop. I felt privileged to drink this.

90-98: Extraordinary, highly recommended, try it and you won’t be disappointed (and if you are, mail me the tea!)

80-89: Excellent, a treasured experience but not a favourite.

70-79: Good but could be better. Above average.

60-69: Average, unexceptional, not something I would buy again. Slightly disappointed. I’d rather drink water.

50-59: Doesn’t meet my expectations / Disappointed. Subpar. Does not leave a bad taste in my mouth.

40-49: Leaves a bad taste in my mouth

Below 39: Not suitable for consumption

No rating: Mixed feelings, can’t decide whether I like it or not, not enough experience with that sort of tea to rate it. A dramatic change of heart.