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14 Tasting Notes

Pumpkin Spice Tea from Culinary Teas
87

I will include more details later, but I wanted to say that it smells as if it contains alcohol though I am sure it does not. It smells a bit “rummy”. It is good, but not great.

Pumpkin Spice Tea from Culinary Teas
87
Vanilla Black from Rishi Tea
91

This morning I drank what was left of the Vanilla Black tea that Rishi previously sent me for review in early 2012.
I thought it was utterly delicious, but then I really like the taste of vanilla.
I could definitely taste a smooth black tea beneath the vanilla. I could not, however, tell which black tea it was. I do not know if I am allowed to leave links. I apologize if not. Here is the full review I gave a few months back. http://www.examiner.com/review/tea-review-rishi-organic-vanilla-black-tea

Euphoria from Kusmi Tea
Pumpkin Spice Tea from Culinary Teas
87

I will be reviewing this tea in depth on Tea Examiner, probably this weekend. The spices are very tasty, but the tea flavor was a bit weak for my personal taste. I felt myself wishing there had been a bit more tea in proportion to the flavorings.
Another thing that crosses my mind is that I have yet to taste a pumpkin spice tea that really tastes like the spices most commonly in pumpkin pie, which seems to be what the tea companies are trying to do. The primary spice in pumpkin pie is ginger, followed by cinnamon, clove then nutmeg. Pumpkin spice teas always seem heavily spiced with cinnamon with the other flavors lagging sadly behind or completely absent.
Despite this fact, however, Culinary Teas’ Pumpkin is a delicious and very drinkable tea.

Serene Dream from Rishi Tea
89

I have to confess, I was leery of trying a new botanical wellness tea, even if though it was from Rishi. I have tasted quite a few herbal blends lately that were supposedly wellness teas that tasted more like medicine than anything i wanted to drink for pleasure. I happen to think that drinking a tea for pleasure is more important than drinking it for wellness purposes.
I should have trusted Rishi. I have never had a bad tasting tea from them. The tea definitely smells and tastes herbal, but in a good way, in a herb garden in the warmth of late summer way. The peppermint was the predominant flavor, but I could also taste the other herbs. What I could not taste was the valerian root, the primary ingredient that causes this tea to be relaxing and calming. But that’s a good thing. Valerian root has an odd taste that most people find unpleasant.
You can read a full review on Tea Examiner on Examiner.com

Zealong Pure from Chicago Tea Garden
97

This tea is full of subtle flavors. I could taste a faint background taste that reminded me of cinnamon flavored cactus candy. Not exactly like it, but similar in an undefinable way. This tea changes flavors as you hold it in your mouth. The flavor is primarily the flavor of a good jade oolong, sweet without being really sweet, floral without tasting as though is were made of flowers. Incredibly delicious in a delicate way that has to be drunk slowly to be appreciated.

The color is pale gold and shimmery.

Bolder Breakfast from The Tea Spot
93

This tea is one of the best things I have ever put into my mouth, including teas, foods, desserts, and wines. The trick is to use exactly the right amount of water (8 fluid ounces) and exactly the right amount of steeping time (5.0 minutes) to let the three key ingredients meld together then let it cool enough to hold it in your mouth. The chocolate finish is heavenly.

White Tea Ceylon Silver Tips from Dilmah
88

I am not a lover of white teas. I prefer hearty black teas, dark and sharp with tannins. White teas tend to be too delicate for me. But Dilmah’s white Ceylon tea was an entirely different experience. It made a beautifully pale liquor that shimmered with tinges of yellow. It tasted like Ceylon tea, with the presence of tannins, but more delicate and fruity. It was the most richly flavorful white tea I have ever tasted.
Now, in the month of April, I am going to seek out and taste test more white teas. I am convinced that my white tea experience has been inadequate. It may be that I only like white Ceylon, but we shall see.

Lover's Leap Estate from Dilmah
100

Reminiscent of a very high quality Darjeeling, but with stronger tannins. The flavor blooms and expands in your mouth. Woodsy, oak-like scent to the dry leaf and liquor. Light like a Darjeeling or a crisp Chardonnay, but fully flavored with layers of depth in taste and aroman

Christmas (Rois Mages) from Kusmi Tea
78

This was a truly delicious tea. I liked the way the orange, spices, vanilla, and almond all blended together so well that they became one flavor. I also liked the fact that I could taste the black China tea. The spices didn’t overwhelm the tea the way they can so often in teas with added flavorings.

Summer Lemon from Rishi Tea
75

This was one of the most perfectly blended black-lemon iced teas I have ever tasted. I was very pleased that the lemon didn’t overwhelm the flavor of the black tea. I like my tea unsweetened, but you could definitely sweeten it without weakening the flavor.

Sweet Love from Kusmi Tea
75

I loved this tea. I drank the version in teabags, but the tea pieces were big so it had full flavor. The teabags are muslin and very roomy. I could taste the tea and the liquorish and other spices. It was all very balanced and smooth.

Earl Grey (loose leaf) from Twinings

Earl Grey is my favorite tea in the whole world. I love the Twinings in the tin. When you lift the lid, it fills the air with a beautiful aroma. I have a tiny tea pot that brews about 1 1/2 cups at a time. I use two teaspoons of Twinings Earl Grey, pour on the boiling water, and let it sit for about six minutes. Then I pour it all into an extra large cup.
Before I drink it, I just hold it and breath in the fragrance for a long time, waiting for it to cool. I never drink it when I’m in a hurry. I want to savor it for as long as I can.

Profile

Bio

I am a writer, an educator, and a tea lover. I write about tea, mostly, but I write about other things, too. I want to see what other tea drinkers are doing out there.

Location

Long Beach, CA

Website

http://www.examiner.com/x-129...

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