Jaime

Another blend from Rachel, by Rachel! Thank you so much for sending me so many great teas to try!

So…I was never a girly-girl growing up. I didn’t have tea parties, or play with dolls, or want to wear dresses. I pretty much just wanted to read books and dig for dinosaurs (and, yes, I did have an excavation going on at the playground across from my house…complete with markers to section off the different digs). Yes, I was a geek, and still am.

So the name of this ever so slightly grates on me, and reminds me of forced play dates with other girls my age who wanted me to wear pink and walk around in their mother’s heels for fun.

But the taste is really good, all strawberry and vanilla. The rooibos isn’t woodsy at all, which is really nice. I can definitely see serving this up to my pseudo-niece at her next “Fancy Nancy” party. But for now, I’ll just enjoy it whilst watching a show about the Mayan 2012 prophecies. Nagana had princesses, right?

Another sample from Rachel!!

Glancing through the tasting notes, I can’t help but think I’m missing something. It tastes…like rooibos. Plain, un-flavored rooibos. If I really try, it’s kinda sweet…but still more like plain rooibos to me.

Finishing up the teaser of this that I had gotten. I need spice to open my nose up and help clear my head (though I’m not sure how well it’s going to work against the decongestants). This one is so very nice. Just the right amount of spice on a background of vanilla smoothness.

Back to my blanket and the DVR!

I’ve actually backlogged this on the same day!

Oh, Frank!! I’m so excited that this tea is included in the sampler!! I love bananas and peaches, and have been eyeing this one really hard!

I’m loving this one!! It’s full-on banana madness, with a side party of peach, and there’s still green tea, and it’s delicious. I bet it’d be awesome iced in the summer; I’m really enjoying it hot!

Second steep: 5 min, much more peach, and the same banana rungs taste. Yum!!!

Finishing up the sample that I had of this. Wasn’t quite enough for a full pot, but it works really well regardless and is delicious. Hopefully it’ll keep me calm around the family this afternoon. Oh, sometimes the holidays aren’t worth the trouble. Perhaps I’ll go to a beach next year and avoid all of it!!

So this was the tea of the day that I ended up spilling a goodly portion on the floor. Yup, little bits of rooibos everywhere. I had just enough for a pot, and have decided to go ahead and brew it up now since I haven’t had it yet.

So I love rooibos blends, and have been eyeing this tea for a while, but haven’t ordered it yet. I’ve been dedicating my tea budget to Frank’s limited edition teas, telling myself that this blend will still be there when I’m ready for it. That and the label makes me kinda snicker.

Cinnamon, apricots, rooibos. It’s lovely. I only brewed for 5 minutes, and while it has a solid fruity-spicy flavor, I think this is one I’d brew for 10 minutes to get a really full-bodied brew (will probably do a second steep). The apricot blends wonderfully with the rooibos (and I maintain that apricot was meant to be blended with rooibos), and the cinnamon is very gentle and slightly in the background (or else it ended up on my kitchen floor).

Nom! Definitely glad this one is permanent!!

And I’m finally done with this tea! Having a big pot (ugh) to finish it off. But I did have two steels of the tea of the day (amazing!!), so that does make up for it a bit. I’m just glad to see this one go!

I had planned on posting this log yesterday…must love holiday travel!! So, here’s what I wrote up yesterday:

Gar, I’m in a rush this morning to pack and travel to my parents’ for the hols. I’ve got so much to do, and I’m supposed to be there by noon…I don’t see that happening. Anyway, I opened up the tea of the day, measured out all of it (3 tsps) and remembered to put 3 cups of water into the Breville!! Oh, joyous day that I did something right tea-wise first thing! And it’s a new tea to me. Happy dance!!

It’s very nice and light. Love the Bai Mu Dan, and there’s just a touch of the black currant to make it gently berry. Very sweet and just a touch tart. It’s delicious, and I’m definitely glad I got to try it. I don’t know if I’ll invest in a full pouch, but if these samplers are regular things (and I really hope that they are, cause it’s a great idea), I’d pick up another one to have a small variety on hand (like I don’t have a variety of tea on hand already).

Backlog from yesterday…crazy day, didn’t get to log anything!!!

Well, I continue in my early morning tea-fails.

First off, let me say how completely excited I am to try this tea. I’ve been wanting to try it forever, since chocolate mint is my second favorite chocolate combination (peanut butter, of course, being the first). And Frank’s blends are amazing, so I was really holding this to high standards.

And then I went and mucked it up. Poured 2 cups of water into Chloe, scooped out 2 tsps of tea. Then I realized that there was only 1 tsp left and decided to just make a three cup pot. Got the brew basket ready, set the timer, and forgot to add that third cup of water. So I got a brew that’s much stronger than it should have been…the mint is definitely strong enough to clear the sinuses and is overpowering the chocolate quite a bit (to the point I’d just call this a mint black tea and leave chocolate out of its name). The addition of chocolate milk helps bring it back into check, though, and I highly recommend drinking it that way (and that’s kinda a big deal for me to actually admit). I’m going to resteep these leaves, this time with the proper amount of water. I’m going to have to preset tea on weekends/snowdays…my first pots these past few days have been utter disasters without tea already in my system.

Second steep at 5 minutes was nice…still more mint than chocolate, though.

Finishing up the last bit of this from Rachel. Have lowered the steeping temperature to hopefully improve this blend.

It did improve. The bitter citrus pith taste is nearly gone. But there’s no pomegranate and no tangerine flavor, either. Just a breakfast tea taste. I’ll be able to finish this pot, but won’t be visiting this one again.

Actually, I imagine this is what the “tea” from the beverage machine in Hitchhiker’s Guide tastes like. It’s more tea-like than actual tea.

Second steep at 5 minutes. I can taste more of the Bai Mu Dan this time around, and the apricot’s a bit softer. I’m not 100% sure yet, but I think this is one that I’ll just end up steeping one time.

I’ve already had a crazy morning. Got a phone call at 6:20 (still in bed, no school = no work = no wakey wakey Jaime) from one of my managers that a vendor was at her school to deliver product (which shouldn’t have happened, but…), so have already had to do some strategic phone calling to get mess fixed. Then I went to open the tea of the day (it’s not this one, don’t worry), and when I was cutting it, I somehow managed to make a hole at the bottom and it started coming out. A goodly portion is now on the floor in the kitchen…and regardless of the fact that it’ll be put in boiling water later, I know exactly how clean that floor isn’t. Perhaps driving into office later is a bad idea.

So, anyway, this sample is from MeghannM. I’ve got enough for another pot, which is great because I definitely want to try different steeping parameters on it! It’s very nice…I can taste the oolong, and the Bai Mu Dan, and there’s a buttery note that screams green tea to me, though I don’t know which green it’s coming from. And all this is gently folded in with the apricot flavoring. Apricot, my friends, was a fruit that was intended to be in tea blends. This is one shining example, and Apricot Kernel from SanctuaryT is another (but in rooibos form). I’m so glad that I’ve gotten to try this…and as the cup cools, even more of the apricot is coming out. I’ll definitely be doing another infusion of these leaves!

Backlog from 8-something this am:

Ah, another snow day. Whilst I don’t like the fact that I have to make up these days later in the year, when there’s a half inch of ice overtop the 1 1/2" of snow on my porch, I’m very happy that I get to stay in and not deal with the traffic.

So, first pot of the day gets to be the tea of the day! I’ve had it before (Meghann had sent me a smidge), but I think this time around it’s even better! Coconutty, creamy, and this time I’m getting a flaky pie crust taste. Mmm…pie. I think I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again, but Frank’s got a way with tea! Love the flavor combinations that his mind comes up with!

Inspired by MeghannM, I’m steeping the last pot of this from the 12 teas of Christmas sampler at 5 minutes. It’ll likely be my last pot of the night…school has already been called off for tomorrow, and there’s a merlot in the fridge with my name on it.

At 5 minutes, I do taste a bit more of the rum and coconut flavors. I’m undecided as to which steep I like better, but I think this one might just be winning out. Yum!!

Oh, and just so you know, I’m about to post today’s tea of the day. So, in case you’ve not looked in your little pack o’ tea yet…well, I’m about to spoil the surprise!

ETA: yup, I like this better at 5 minutes!!

Rachel sent this to me…yup, today I’m digging into my samples to try to get them under control…I think it might be working…maybe?

Anyway, brewed up all of this to have hot, though apparently it’s quite popular iced. 1/2" of ice on top of the snow is plenty enough for me, so I’m having this hot! It’s not as sour as I would have expected. I can taste the lemon verbena and the lemongrass along with the honeybush, making for a gentle, sweet lemon tisane. I think this would make an amazing hot toddy…drop of honey, big splash of bourbon or sweet tea vodka. Sadly and surprisingly, I’ve neither in the house right now. I would love more of this, but since it’s no longer on the 52teas’ website, I’ll have to look for something similar.

frenchvanilla sent this one to me…thanks!!

I’ve not had many of Golden Moon’s teas (in fact, I think I’ve only had their Lapsang Souchong), so I’m really excited about this. I didn’t sniff it prior to brewing (too cold!! Must get tea into tea maker and retreat to nest on couch!), but I could smell it after it had brewed, and it’s got this wonderful oolong scent to it…sweet, golden grassy notes.

Coconut taste is very mild to me…in fact, I don’t know if I would have identified it had I just been handed the cup to drink. It is smooth, and creamier than most oolongs I’ve had (perhaps the coconut milk does this?). I’m definitely enjoying it, but if I’m going to drink a coconut flavored tea, I want it to be really coconut flavored. And probably in a black tea base.

Another sample from MeghannM. Thanks so much!

I’ve got another snow day today, though it could be classified as an “ice” day. So far, this winter is shaping up to be a record-breaker in terms of wintery precipitation. And winter weather = being cold = drinking more tea to warm myself up!

Okay, let me begin by saying that I’ve never eaten chestnuts. I’m not sure why, but it’s probably because my mother refuses to eat them and, thus, I never had access as a child and have never thought to go out and get them as an adult. Mom grew up a few houses down from a small-time chestnut farmer (he had 4 or 5 trees), and she abhores the smell the flowers emit whilst blooming. I don’t mind it so much; then again, I also didn’t spend quite as much time around that smell as a child.

So, having no prior chestnut experience to fall back on, I can’t say whether or not this tastes like one. It’s got a strong black tea base that is very nice, and an earthy, roasty flavor that’s a touch astringent. There’s a hint of something I’d define as ‘nutty’ and perhaps similar to walnuts that have been a bit too roasted. It seems like something one would drink curled up in front of a warm fire and wrapped in a crochet blanket that your grandmother made. As for me, I’m just going to tuck in with my Snuggie and throws, find something to watch on Hulu, and knit a little something to tuck into my Steepster Secret Santa’s gift (that I’ll hopefully be able to pick up at Cuppa tomorrow so I can get it mailed out)).

Okay, a serious bit of backlog…had fully intended on copy/pasting this last night. In prep for the potential snow day we had coming (and we got), my coworkers and I stayed late to make sure payroll was put in correctly, and by the time I got home, I was just too tired to do anything but sleep. Didn’t even make a pot of tea! So, copy/pasting now:

So, in the middle of cooking the fudge this morning, I realized that I hadn’t opened the tea of the day. So for the 20 minutes or so it took to finish it, I was obsessing over what this could be. Would it be new to me? Would I enjoy it? If it was caffeinated so I could make it now, or decaf and I’d have something to look forward to tonight?

I’m so excited that this one is the tea of the day; it’s one that I haven’t had and have been wanting to try! Frank’s cheesecake chais are the teas that convinced me that I do, in fact, like chais. And this one smells so much like the chocolate cheesecake chai! Before, I avoided chais like the plague. Now I’m pretty much willing to try any chai available!

This is smooth, creamy, and perfectly spiced. Very similar to the cheesecake chai, but this doesn’t have the creamy undertones. The spices blend together really well, and I can’t really taste one over any of the others. It’s certainly warming me up from the inside out this morning! Going to resteep these leaves for my to-go cuppa…too good to not resteep!

Second steep yielded a fantastic, fantastic cup that seemed to be even smoother and the spices and chocolate even more melded together. In fact, I think I preferred the second steep (5 min)!

Meh. It’s not better than the Christmas Spice, but it’s not worse either.

This bag is better than the sample bag that came with the catalog. There’s no grit/funny mouthfeel. vanilla_bookworm sent this to me. Thanks!

Today’s the Christmas party at work (yes, technically, to be PC it should be “holiday” or “winter”, but sometimes we’re not very PC). So, to start getting in the celebratory mood, I’m sipping on this (I’ve got a bag of RoT’s Comfort and Joy steeping to have next).

I can already smell the food cooking in the kitchen, and my coworker left her homemade pecan pie on her desk and then left the building. I love pecan pie. It looks really good sitting over there all lonely…

Tea! Back to the tea: this blend is softly spiced, and not very strong if you think in terms of chai blends. I wish there was more citrus and cinnamon here. but it’s not too bad. Probably wouldn’t invest in it again; Christmas Nutcracker by Praise Tea is a much better Christmas blend to me!

I woke up this morning in a panic: today is our holiday party at work, and I’d forgotten to make the peanut butter fudge last night. So guess what I did this morning…

Fudge is now cooling (and it turned out ugly, but rather tasty, and once it’s cut into little squares nobody’s looking at it anyway, right?)), and I’m working on the pot that I set up in Chloe last night whilst today’s 52teas sampler is brewing (it’s a new one for me!!).

I think that frenchvanilla sent me these bags (thank you bushels!)…I’ve been hearing all sorts of things about this brand, and how popular it is. My response was basically “really? I’ve never heard of them before”. But I am from the Land of Lipton Iced Tea, so that shouldn’t be surprising.

I find this to be a very solid black tea. It’s not astringent at all, and I’m detecting some notes of vanilla and nuts. Very smooth and lovely!

I absolutely adore this stuff. Adore it. Tonight, I got it blended perfectly: no chunks of powder that didn’t get dissolved, just the right temperature. I really, really want to try some of the other flavors by this company. This is a vanilla, warm latte-like chai that’s DECAF!! Oh, yeah.

Oh, I do love this blend. It’s almost identical to a real pina colada: pineapple, coconut, all in a warm rooibos base! All I need is some rum. Must remember to get some rum…

vanilla_bookworm sent me a bag of this…thanks so much! It seemed like a good choice for this afternoon…need something comforting after the busy day that we’ve had! It’s amazing how crazy a little snow and a little cold can make people!

So, anyway, this is your basic, no-frills chamomile. Just chamomile. Normally, I’m not huge on straight-up chamomile tea. I find them to be way too flowery. This one is actually very tolerable, though. I don’t feel like I’m in a meadow with pollen clouds wafting by. Which is a very good thing.