Jaime

My last bag of this from Jillian. I’ve absolutly loved getting the chance to try it, and really do enjoy it (so long as you expect orange white chocolate, it’s really good).

I wish there was a way to tag/flag teas that have more than one entry. This one has 3 different entries!! I’ve noticed that it’s very common for the teas I’ve had from David’s. (I’ve chosen to log under this one, since it’s the only entry that has another note).

Anyway, the dry leaf smells like grape sweet-tart candies, or really concentrated grape juice. Very, very strong on the grape flavoring. I’ve brewed it to almost-recommended instructions (I did 2 tsp instead of 3 tsp for 16 oz).

As I sip, I can detect the grape flavoring…it’s semi-strong, but I’m also tasting something that’s rather grape-leaf flavored. This blend is very grassy/leafy/vegetal tasting to me. There’s just a hint of flowers at the end of the sip and in the aftertaste.

I think I’ll hold off on rating this until I’ve had it at a lower temp/steep time.

Very nice blend of spiciness and fruitiness. I can taste the oranges, raisins, cinnamon, and vanilla most prominently. The taste is similar to RoT’s Tea of Good Tidings, though I think that this one has a bit more citrus to it, which I prefer. It’s a very nice cup to wake up to on a cold winter’s morning!

Another tea from the box that Rachel sent! Today is a day for sipping down my samples…I’ve still got a ways to go on getting my real-life cupboard under control. Most of my samples aren’t listed in the one on here!

This reminds me of the Lemon Cream Pie from David’s Tea. Smell is spot on, but the taste here has much less lemon and much, much more rooibos. It’s not bad by any stretch; it’s just that, after having the Lemon Cream Pie, this just doesn’t meet those high standards and pales in comparison.

Finishing up the last bit of this that MeghannM sent to me. Didn’t have quite enough for a full pot, so I just upped the steep by a minute. Delicious! I definitely need to invest in more of this: it’s smooth, creamy, and reminds me of mint chocolate chip ice cream. And the mint really helps to warm me from the inside out!

And back to the snow day schedule: knitting and Lifetime Christmas movies on Hulu!

With a semi-official verdict of 4 inches of snow (and, still, it keeps pouring down), today is a perfect day for this blend by Rachel. Thanks so much for sending me some of this to try!

Having never had the chestnut blend by itself, I can’t tell exactly what flavor it brings here (but I’ve got a bit of it from Meghann, so I can have it later and compare!), but this blend is really nice. I can taste the caramel, and a hint of the cinnamon (though I think I’d like more cinnamon), and a rich, nutty taste that I assume must be the chestnut. Mostly, though, it’s a solid, strong black tea base that holds up well to the flavors and isn’t overpowered by them. It makes me wish I was snowed in at my mom’s house, with her making beef stew or chicken & dumplings for lunch and watching marathons of Most Evil or other crime shows on the ID channel whilst we craft.

Good morning, Steepsterites! It’s my first snow day of the year: I’ve slept in, made peanut butter toast for breakfast, have my knitting at my side, and my first pot of tea is ready.

I’m finishing up this sample from vanilla_bookworm this morning. I’ve brewed it at 5 instead of three minutes. Even at this steep, the flavors are a bit weak. The most prominent one is mint, then the black tea, and then a hint of cocoa. Definitely not getting much “spice” at all. If you’re looking for a minty, spiced Christmasy tea, I recommend Winter Frost (formerly Christmas 2009) by Adagio and blended by the lovely Ms. Rachel instead of this one. There’s similar notes between the two (namely the mint), but the flavors are much stronger in Rachel’s blend.

It’s official: I have a snow day tomorrow! The snow has finally appeared and is, apparently, coming down at a grand clip. To celebrate: tea!

This is delicious! Warm and spicy, with just the right amount of ginger and cinnamon with a fruity base. Everything’s well-balanced and yummy. So, so very good. Now I’m gonna stare out the window at the snow. It’s like I’m in a snowglobe with glitter snow!

Oh, I mades a boo-boo.

See, there’s two Winter Frosts by Adagio on here…and I thought this was the decaf one. So I’m drinking it now…and will likely be awake for half the night. Woops!

Regardless, this is a rather tasty blend by the lovely Rachel. Cinnamon, candy cane, and just the barest hint of vanilla. There’s more candy cane than anything else, but cinnamon is definitely there to. It really does taste like Christmas…and it looks like I’ll be staying up late knitting some more presents!

No notes yet.

No notes yet.

I am definitely looking for this next grocery run…these are the last two bags that Rachel sent me, and I’m finding that I like it a lot. Plus, decaf. Decaf is good to have on hand!

Finishing off the last of this that MeghannM sent me. It’s spicy and warm, though I’d still like more apple in it. It’s something that I’ll probably revisit in the future, especially during these cold winter months. Can’t believe this is the first winter I’ve spent sipping chai teas…I can’t imagine being without them now!

Tastes much more like a brownie this morning! Enjoying it whilst listening to the wind blow and watching the snow fall…we’re supposed to get 3 inches here today. We’ll see…

The smell of this tea is amazing! Cinnamon, apples…yum! Almost inspires me to start baking…almost.

Used 3 tsp for 16 oz water, which is 1 less than the company recommends. Still, I’m finding that, even though it is disturbingly pale, the taste is strong and true. Red Delicious apple and cinnamon. Tastes like a liquid apple crisp, and even has a crusty/crumbly taste to it. Yum!

David’s Tea certainly knows what they’re doing! The more I try from them, the more I love it!

I’m knitting a chocolate brown hat for Dad’s Christmas present so he can match my parents’ rather spoiled chocolate lab on their walks. Seemed only fitting to finish up the sample of Chocolate Chai from JacquelineM at the same time!

I can’t believe I’ve already went through this box of tea! Seems like I’ve not had it that long at all. This is fantastic…and shouldn’t be limited to just a seasonal flavor. Very sad to see it go, and will definitely be getting more of it!

Must convince myself to go out and get groceries in case the weather predicted for the weekend actually happens. But first: chai.

Smooth chai spices, not too hot, blended very well. This smells extremely chocolatey in the pouch and while brewing, but it’s not as strong in the taste. Seems to be a vanilla-ish note in there as well.

I’m wondering how this would be with some chocolate milk added to it…hmm…adding it to the store list.

My first Ducky Life tea courtesy of Geoffrey! I’ve only recently been re-introduced to yerba mate after an rather lengthy avoidance (bad experience with a chocolate flavored one).

This one is really nice, despite having one of my spice frienemies, Ginger. Ginger is a fickle flavor for me, either being a big bully and trying to beat me up or taking care of me and giving me a warm hug. I’m definitely getting a hug this time.

This is a really gentle, warming ginger/mate blend. These two work with each other very well, and blend for a spicy, smooth, soothing cup. I can definitely see how this would be good for the sinuses; I feel like I’m breathing easier already!

Thanks for sending me some of this to try, Geoffrey! I think I’ll head over and stalk their website to see what else would be good to try (like I need more tea…).

No notes yet.

No notes yet.

Tasty vanilla rooibos with a hint of berry. It reminds me of the berry flavored Creamsavers hard candy. It’s very nicely done, well flavored. A nice, soothing cup to sip whilst listening to the operations folk plot Monday (apparently, we’re supposed to be getting a nice, good-size snow Sunday/Monday).

ETA: Thanks, LiberTEAS, for sending me this one to try out! I don’t love it nearly as much as I love the Flora, but it’s still delish!

vanilla_bookworm sent me this bag to try…thanks so much! This is a completely new brand to me!

I’m a little nervous…it’s brewed up to a deep, deep dark chocolate brown. In fact, it kinda looks like coffee. Scent is a deep cocoa/mocha…which, again, makes me nervous. See, I don’t drink coffee or mocha things. I don’t eat coffee or mocha things. Chocolate cake has coffee or mocha in it? I will not touch it. So, this has me hesitating…

It’s…different. It doesn’t taste like coffee, but there is some mocha there. I can taste the chicory, and the cocoa, and a bit of the mate, but the mocha taste is kinda throwing me.

I think that this would be absolutely amazing to someone who liked coffee/mocha things. I also think this would be a good tea for someone who, for whatever reason besides caffeine content, wants to stop drinking coffee and switch to tea. It may even be a good tea for someone who wants to start drinking coffee, but for whatever reason doesn’t.

So, in other words: it’s really good for what it is: mocha-like mate/tea blend with chicory (coffee substitute). I cannot stand coffee/mocha things, and I have willingly finished this cup with no additives. I’d willingly accept another cup if it was offered, but I wouldn’t actively seek it out (unless I was going to be giving it as gift, or needed coffee-like tea for a houseguest). I really do think coffee lovers should give it a try, because I know you’d love it.

Last bag of this from my Bigelow sampler pack. Will definitely have to pick up some more to have on hand…it’s got just the right amount of bergamot flavoring for me!

Does anyone know if Bigelow has a retail shop like Celestial Seasonings and Stash has? I know there’s a Bigelow something-or-other in Louisville, but I don’t know if I can get tea there…