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This tea called to me this morning after reading Doulton’s fabulous write-up on it the other day. I think it was pre-Shakespeare box when I had this last, so I was quite curious to see what I now thought of it. While it steeped I looked at the back of the tea packet where a somewhat lengthier description was written. It was a somewhat vindicating moment in that is mentions Keemun and Lapsang Souchong. The Tea Guys’ website mentions only Keemun and Darjeeling! I thought that I was going crazy as I tried to taste Darjeeling in my earlier cups and kept thinking, “but it tastes more like a Lapsang — maybe it’s how Keemun and Darjeeling interact that makes it smokey?”

With my mind no longer distracted by trying to find things that weren’t in the blend I found this more enjoyable. I think that it’s my favorite Keemun blend by far, and a decent Lapsang Souchong blend. I want to try this tea at boiling next time since I’m getting a dryness at the back of my throat. Bumped up the rating from a 78. NE

ETA: Oh, just remembered the Rose Keemun blend that I loved from the Shakespeare box — so this would be my second-most favorite Keemun blend :)

It was the first day of our Summer Reading Program at the library, so I needed something both yummy and sanity-saving. Earl Grey Cream to the rescue! I now know the secret ingredient (mwahahaaaa!) and I have to say that it truly is the right amount for optimum numminess. I’m dying for another Steepsterite to try this and put in their 2 cents. I’m also dying for Daniel to make this available for sale (hint-hint), because I’m not going to place my order until this is available ;) Bumping the rating up by a point! TG

I also have found the right equation for my JOEmo thermos:
1 tsp and 165 degrees.

What an amazingly nice surprise! I knew that I wanted something with caffeine this evening, and preferably something from Georgiea Tea Company (I want to place an order soon, so I need to try all my samples STAT!). This one was labeled “oolong” so I went with it. Mmmmm…oolong… I thought I recalled that TeaEqualsBliss had reviewed this positively, but part of me still went “erm, anything named ‘weight loss’ isn’t going to taste too nummy.” For once I love being wrong.

The leaves (both dry and wet) smelled…planty? I couldn’t even say. I noticed some things non-plantlike in the mix, but couldn’t identify what the little nuggets were. I forgot about the nuggets until I finally looked this tea up on my second steep.

The taste? I don’t know if I can do this justice. What I kept thinking as I drank my first cup was “this is like drinking the happiest plant on the planet!” It’s like a subtly sweet plant — perfectly delightful. Happy plant = happy tea = happy me

The second steep is just as great (added a minute). I finally broke down and looked this tea up and saw there was green tea along with oolong, mango, and papaya. I can hardly believe it! I also read TEB’s note and have to completely agree with her. This tea is greater than its parts — it’s beautifully blended. This is going on my “must buy” list. TG

NOM! There’s just something wonderful about starting a grey drizzly day with a fantastic smoky tea. This is the last pot of Georgia Tea Company’s smoky teas (I have enought LS for a travel mug) until I place an order ::sniffles:: TG

Usually when I receive samples it’s the Lapsang Souchongs and other smokey teas that I usually separate from the rest of the teas. With the Georgia Tea Company samples it was this tea that I immediately separated from the rest. This puppy is fra-grant! This is also the most confetti-like tisane that I’ve ever seen. I had a moment of panic when I scooped the tea thinking that a metal shaving had somehow gotten into the mix! But no — it’s some sort of uber-shiney petal. And I agree with Kristin that it looks like there are carrots in there.

The smell? It really reminds me of Twizzlers. Strange, but true! The taste is like a healthy, more tart version of Twizzlers. I think that the tartness would probably fade with some sort of additive (like Kristin did with the agave nectar). I also think that this could be amazing iced. I’ve never been a big fan of fruit tisanes, but this was a pleasant surprise. NE

I’ve been meaning to try this one since I received the sample, and today’s Steepster Select was a great reminder. The smell and taste of this tea really reminded me of the Tea Guys’ Mango Rose without the Mango (the tea I was all “Nerds!” about and therefore think that the mango aspect pushed it further into the candy category than this tea).

It’s a really pleasant floral tea. My second steep has cooled off completely and it’s still nice. I will definitely order this one when I finally place another TeaFrog order, but I’m more of a “Nerds!” girl and if I had to chose between the two, then this one wouldn’t make the cut. NE

ANGEL FOOD CAKE!!!!!

I’m not even 1/3 of the way through my huge mug-o-tea, but I couldn’t help myself because from the moment I smelled this tea I was transported to childhood when my mother would make angel food cake from an old family recipe (including homemade cherry frosting). The only difference would be if you substituted coconut frosting for the cherry and toned down the sweetness.

The cup is more coconutty, but the flavors still blend beautifully. I think that perhaps I may be transforming into a coconut fan. I think that the other flavors may come out more prominently as the cup cools, but I’m having trouble putting my cup down so it might not get a chance to cool off much before it’s all in mah tummy. I will edit if anything else needs noting, but oh my lordy: yum! TG

ETA: I think that I finished off my first cup in record time! The fragrance was pretty intense throughout all of it. I’m having my second steep now and I think that I like it even more than the first. The flavors are all meshed beautifully and I’m getting more of the tea base. I love the second steep of this tea. Another big thank you to Daniel Mann for this sample!

What a great way to start my day! I actually slept in past 10am (gone are the days where I could sleep ‘til 1 or 2 in the afternoon ::sigh::). I’m getting a lot more of the sweetness in the first steep this time around. I also drank most of my first cup while having pizza and it paired really well with it. I only have enough left for one more pot so I need to get crackin’ and really try the rest of my Georgia Tea Company samples that the generous Daniel Mann sent to me because there will be an order as soon as I get my mid-month paycheck. TG

I had three rather pleasant steeps of this tea this afternoon/evening using my huge mug. I don’t think that I’ve had a plain “Formosa” oolong. I tried doing some research (i.e. I looked at two sites and then gave up), but I came up no more wise. My brain just sort of glazes over when I start trying to figure out locales/types of oolongs. I was really feeling impressed with myself when I could go “oh, that’s gotta be a Wuyi.” And then I visited Life in Teacup’s site and my head ’sploded a little.

All this is to say I can’t really grade this as an oolong. It has a great peachy smell both with the dry leaf and steeped cup. I got hints of “planty” oolongishness (as opposed to “veggie” or “earthy”). It’s a really pleasant tea but I prefer a bit more “oomph.” I’m quite curious to try it iced. NE

My first 52teas order arrived yesterday — woohoo!!!!! I was too pooped from work and had so many other things to catch up on that I decided to wait until today to start steepin’ (but you can bet your sweet bippy that I opened them all last night and sniffed the leaves). Yummy!

So, I bet you’re looking at the tea that I’m rating and giving me the hairy eyeball. I know what y’all must be thinking: “but she goes on and on about how she doesn’t like chocolate, and yet she buys a big honkin’ 4 oz tin of this?!?! She cray-zay!” Yes, I am, as I think you’re thinking “cray-zay.” I actually really like Girl Scout Thin Mints — they’re sort of in their own realm of chocolate. But then again they’re not available year round, so that makes them more of a treat. I generally prefer my chocolate mixed with other things such as peanut butter, mint, cookies, caramel, etc (never chunky nuts — blech). But even then I can only do a little at a time and then I’m good for at least a month or more in regard to consuming chocolate. So, I think that my tin of this should last well over a year. Well, unless my Mom steals it from me.

This tea truly is like a liquid Thin Mint. It’s sort of like having a smooth black tea while eating a box of those cookies. Like you’ve just swallowed your cookie and then quickly taken a sip of tea. NOM!

This tea also helped me stop crying after a second mystery Samovar package showed up today. It turned out to be my original order that had been mis-handled. I thought that the original package would be sent to me — apparently not. This original box that I received today (2 days after sending out the Geek Prizes almost a week late) has the super-special prize for the Geek Pride grand prize winner placed in a nice gift box whereas the replacement shipment had everything thrown in and individually wrapped up in TONS of bubble wrap (you’ll eventually see Cait — again I apologize). The boxed item takes up about a third of the space of what I sent out to Cait. I was moved to angry tears because I was so very excited to place my first Samovar order and it has turned into such a nightmare. I don’t plan on ever repeating this nightmare ever again — I didn’t spend this much money to get so much grief. I’m awaiting a response from Samovar to see what on earth I’m supposed to do with this box that I don’t want and I’m angry that I have to deal with it. At least I wasn’t double-charged because I couldn’t afford that (my car payment would have bounced). If that had happened, then you would’ve seen Rabs really really mad.

Sorry for the venting, but it does come back around to my conclusion:

All of this frustration seemed to melt away once I sent off my email to Samovar and I was able to concentrate on this wonderful tea. I’m definitely tickled pink with Frank’s customer service and free shipping. The thought of spending my money (and knowing how much further it’ll go) at places like 52teas gives me hope in my tea future. TG