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LiberTEAS

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Brahmin's Choice (No. 18) from Steven Smith Teamaker

LiberTEAS drank Brahmin's Choice (No. 18) by Steven Smith Teamaker

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.

2012-04-13 20:55:21 -0400

I Like This

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Dinosara 2012-04-13 21:12:57 -0400

I really hate drinking tea out of a paper cup, the paper taste is so distracting!

LiberTEAS 2012-04-13 21:23:07 -0400

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.

JacquelineM 2012-04-13 21:40:38 -0400

I can so taste the paper too!

ashmanra 2012-04-13 23:15:45 -0400

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.

Kittenna 2012-04-14 00:22:02 -0400

I liked the wooden popsicle stick flavour! (Different from paper cup flavour though.)

Blake 2012-04-14 02:31:42 -0400

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.

looseTman 2013-06-18 02:22:55 -0400

LiberTeas, Have you had a properly brewed cup of Brahmin’s Choice? Thanks.

LiberTEAS 2013-06-18 05:29:44 -0400

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.

looseTman 2013-06-18 21:23:08 -0400

Thanks!

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I am obsessed with tea!

I am a co-founder of the SororiTEA Sisters:
http://sororiteasisters.com

I also review teas for the Tea Review Blog:
http://www.teareviewblog.com

In addition to my passion for tea, I am also a mixed media/altered arts artist. You can see some of my art here: http://eccentricpastiche.blogspot.com

I am also a self-proclaimed foodie. I review local restaurants and the food I buy online here: http://hungryinportland.wordpress.com

My favorite teas are Yellow Teas with most Oolong teas at a close second. As far as “flavored” teas go, I love Earl Grey, Chocolate and Jasmine teas.

I also am intrigued by flavored teas with an unusual or unique flavor combination.

I don’t do a whole lot of swaps anymore, however, I do occasionally sell sampler boxes here: http://liberteas.teatra.de/ I don’t always have sampler boxes available as it depends upon how much time I have as well as packaging supplies. I usually post at least one or two sampler boxes per month, though, so if you’re interested, keep an eye out or PM me and I’ll let you know when I have some posted.

Most of the teas that I record in my notes here are going to have a fairly high rating from me. This is not because I am not discerning, but because I do not usually waste my time on drinking tea I do not care for, nor will I waste my time on writing about it.