We had some errands to run today before I had a chance to brew some tea and enjoy it, so we stopped at Brewed Awakenings to pick up some tea. I figured I was to be choosing from a selection of Tazo or Stash teas which are generally this area’s choices for bagged tea (since both companies are based in Portland) but was thrilled to find that they carry teas from Steven Smith! Now, if only they’d start carrying loose leaf tea I’d be one happy tea drinker. (although, it might be a good thing that they DON’T carry loose leaf because I could see it as a problem where I want to go there all the time. As it is, it’s nice to know where to go when I NEED tea but can’t go home for some)
This is really good. So good that I will have to get some the next time I’m at the Smith Teamaker shop in Portland, or if I end up resorting to placing an order. Delicious and rich. I like this one a lot.
I did notice though that tea tastes WEIRD when steeped and cupped in a paper cup. I can taste the paper. It’s not an overwhelming flavor, but it is bothersome enough that I may have to find myself a good “to go” cup to have in the car for times when I need tea.
Since this was a bagged tea and it was steeped and served in a paper cup, I am going to reserve a rating for it until I’m able to have it prepared properly.
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I really hate drinking tea out of a paper cup, the paper taste is so distracting!
My husband kind of sneered at me when I mentioned it … like it was insane that I could taste the difference between tea served in a paper cup and tea served in a ceramic mug. But, its there. And it was weird, and I prefer the taste of tea over paper.
I can so taste the paper too!
Ditto! I ordered tea at Barnes and Noble ONCE, and won’t do it again. There was nothing but paper taste, like when we were kids and the school cafeteria had little wooden spoons for eating the ice cream and all you tasted was the spoon.
I liked the wooden popsicle stick flavour! (Different from paper cup flavour though.)
Out of curiosity, what tea did you order at B&N? I work at Barnes & Noble, and was heartbroken to find that our hot water tap used for the teas doesn’t break 165. Now maybe that’s just ours, but I had wondered why my Earl Grey tasted so…bland. I don’t know if it’s company standard to keep the taps that low, or if ours is just bad, but I could see that being a factor. Now I’m looking to pick up a second electric kettle to keep at work.
LiberTeas, Have you had a properly brewed cup of Brahmin’s Choice? Thanks.
Not yet … but, perhaps my next trip to the Steven Smith’s Tea shop I will pick up some … or at least ask them to brew a cup for me if my husband will indulge me the time to enjoy a properly brewed cuppa.
Thanks!
I really hate drinking tea out of a paper cup, the paper taste is so distracting!
My husband kind of sneered at me when I mentioned it … like it was insane that I could taste the difference between tea served in a paper cup and tea served in a ceramic mug. But, its there. And it was weird, and I prefer the taste of tea over paper.
I can so taste the paper too!
Ditto! I ordered tea at Barnes and Noble ONCE, and won’t do it again. There was nothing but paper taste, like when we were kids and the school cafeteria had little wooden spoons for eating the ice cream and all you tasted was the spoon.
I liked the wooden popsicle stick flavour! (Different from paper cup flavour though.)
Out of curiosity, what tea did you order at B&N? I work at Barnes & Noble, and was heartbroken to find that our hot water tap used for the teas doesn’t break 165. Now maybe that’s just ours, but I had wondered why my Earl Grey tasted so…bland. I don’t know if it’s company standard to keep the taps that low, or if ours is just bad, but I could see that being a factor. Now I’m looking to pick up a second electric kettle to keep at work.
LiberTeas, Have you had a properly brewed cup of Brahmin’s Choice? Thanks.
Not yet … but, perhaps my next trip to the Steven Smith’s Tea shop I will pick up some … or at least ask them to brew a cup for me if my husband will indulge me the time to enjoy a properly brewed cuppa.
Thanks!