Rellybob

Another sample from Teavivre. They sent a nice big sample! So nice for testing temps, etc… I’m not done deciding on this yet..it has such a delicate flavor I’m giving it more steeps so I can better express it!

Later…ok, I steeped it a little differently and now I can really taste it! I used water at about 190 degrees and used more leaf to water ratio. The aroma and first taste is allll hay and grass, which I really enjoy. It has a lingering, mouthwatering sweetness. I love it! I got four good steeps out of this before I quit!

First of all, a big thank you to Teavivre for the huge samples! I have been anxiously waiting to try their milk Oolongs. I love milk; and I love oolong. How could this not be the best thing ever?!

A first sniff of the leaves is wonderful; it’s more caramelly than I expected. The steepings were the same. The caramelly, creamy goodness stayed through three steepings. The golden infusion smelled amazing the whole way through. I would consider this a dessert tea, it was so sweet! Now to try the unflavored version..

I am drinking this while eating peppery Macaroni and cheese, and it’s a weird and amazing combo! The sweetness really stands out!

No notes yet.

I am still developing a taste for black teas, so I won’t actually put a number rating on this one. I can tell its very high quality, and I appreciate it’s smoothness. It has nummy cocoa notes. I have been resisting milk and sugar because I really want to appreciate the tea alone; it really is a good tea!

I keep this tea on hand for company that doesn’t like tea. :P it’s delicious with cream or milk and sweetener, and always a winner for people that don’t like plain tea. I am not the biggest fan, and I don’t know if it’s this specific blend or the actual rooibus that turns me off because I have no Idea what plain rooibus tastes like. It smells so good that I keep trying it and the result is always the same. It has a weird aftertaste. Again, I don’t know if thats what rooibus is like. So I won’t actually rate this one.

I’ve decided I like the second and third steeps of this best; more of the honey notes come out.

No notes yet.

The jasmine takes a back seat in this one. This te is very affordable at my local grocery store in bulk but it’s not that good, so I think I will save this for when I crave jasmine but don’t have anything else in the house.

The scent of the leaves is very strong, so I steeped for only a minute and half, opposed to their suggestion of two to three minutes. The leaves are small and broken, and at first i think the flavor isnt affected. Initially, I taste very little bitterness.
As the tea cools i can taste more bitterness,which knocks off points for me. The bitterness starts off very subtle but builds until its a bit unpleasant. Next time I will only make a cup at a time instead of a pot, so it has less time to cool. And next time I will try steeping for only a minute or so.
To enjoy this tea, drink it fast right after its steeped, for a very short time.

This is my first gunpowder and I really like it! The smokiness really stands out in both aroma and flavor. Since this is my first one I’m not sure about the quality; the leaves after steeping look small and broken but not really bad. I bought this in bulk at a local grocery store and I am under the impression it wasn’t very fresh; I am a little ashamed to say I still like it! =) Now I’m really looking forward to trying more gunpowders!

I am a bit confused as my package of this tea says it is green tea, and the website says it is green tea. But it is listed here as oolong. The jasmine is pretty strong but I’m pretty sure it’s a green tea.

I love jasmine tea. It has such a pleasing aroma, and I find myself sleepy every time I drink it. As for how I like this one. As always, I enjoy it more as it’s cooling. I followed their recommendation of 195 degree water for 2 minutes. The jasmine is pretty strong, and I like it that way, but this actually comes close to being too strong for me. I didn’t think that was possible! Perhaps it wouldn’t if I steeped it for a shorter time. I don’t really taste the green tea at all.
For the second steep I steeped it for only a minute and half, and I like this much better. The jasmine isn’t so overpowering. There is still an underlying aftertaste that isn’t quite to my liking; I can’t pinpoint it but it ’s there. I am actually surprised by how much flavor is retained in the second steep though. That part is very nice!
The third steep is also quite pleasant, the jasmine getting more muted but still at the forefront.

This tea is pretty pricy, ($5 for a sample!) so I don’t think I will buy it regularly. The pearls are fun to watch unfurl as it steeps, but I think that’s the only advantage of a jasmine pearl over a regular jasmine tea. That’s what I think so far anyway. =) Overall I enjoyed it but it doesn’t quite knock my socks off.

I like Silk Road Tea’s Source Mountain oolong better, but this is still very tasty. I don’t have much experience picking out notes in tea but even I can tell this one is complex. It leaves an aftertaste that I would describe as toasty/fruity, and actually kind of starchy; it reminded me of the taste of uncooked pasta. I couldn’t get enough. I found the roasty starchy flavor more in the second steep and more of the fruitiness in the third steep. This tea is fun to sip slowly and just enjoy. 1 tsp per 12 oz of water at 195 degrees for two minutes at first infusion and at three minutes for the subsequent ones.

It’s just really really good! Very smooth. The first steep was more floral than the subsequent ones. I like floral. =) I found myself draining it quickly and craving the next cup. 195 degrees for 3 minutes, 1 tsp per 8 oz.

I actually enjoy the light tartness of this tea. I find it refreshing and drink it when I’m thirsty, not when I’m craving strong oolong flavor. I won’t buy it again, but I’m enjoying it while I have it.

I was surprised with this tea! My only experience with plain green tea was an extremely vegetal flavor, and this tea is very different from that. I detected a definite nuttiness in the flavor, with the vegetal notes nicely complimenting without overpowering. I wouldn’t say I’m the best at picking out aromas but when I opened the bag I instantly smelled smoke; I liked it! I like this a lot and will most probably keep it stocked. I brewed a heaping teaspoon for 12 oz of water at 175 degrees for 2 minutes.

A delicious oolong! I thought Silk Road Teas described it perfectly when they said sweet without astringency. I’m detecting nutty sweetness; I find the aroma particularly pleasing.

This is my first BaiMuDan and I must say I’m enjoying it. At first I had a hard time picking out the flavors but as it cooled the thing I tasted most was honey! I prepared at 175 degrees for 2 minutes, about a heaping TB worth for 12 oz of water. It was hard to tell as the leaves are large. Nummy.

I really enjoy this tea! I am a huge fan of jasmine though so if you aren’t you definitely will not like this tea. 1 tsp of tea for 8 oz of water at 195 degrees for 3 minutes is what I usually do. The second steep is still drinkable but most of the jasmine flavor is gone.

This is my first genmaicha and I’m in love! The aroma is nutty and very buttery. I steeped 1 TB for 12 oz of water at 175 degrees for 2 minutes. I find it very savory and very easy to drink. It would go easily with food and I could drink it all day. It leaves a distinct popcorn taste in my mouth. I will absolutely be buying more of this!