ScottTeaMan

The third in a trifecta of Christmas teas I’ve ordered from Stash Tea over the past several years (along with White Christmas & Holiday Chai). First cup steeped as stated below. At different points I sniffed the wet tea bag, and thought I smelled each tea. On the teabag wrapper the teas listed are Assam, Darjeeling, Ceylon, Keemun, Sumatra, & Jasmine. So it is possible the teabag blend is different.

The cup was rather dark and immediately I smelled the Jasmine. I also smelled Darjeeling & Ceylon notes, and possibly the Assam. It’s hard to detect everything—sometimes I feel like my nose is playing tricks on me. :// I did notice quite a bit of sweetness in the nose and thought it was the Keemun, but according to the description, “the Jasmine imparts a lingering, sweet fragrance”.

The Ceylon adds a smoothness to the flavor profile. The other noticeable flavors are Darjeeling (not too astringent), Jasmine & Assam. The Jasmine & Darjeeling especially linger on my tongue. A very smooth, and enjoyable cup, that exhibited no bitterness.

My second cup was steeped as below, but at 5:30. The cup was darker, and the aromas were still there, but to a lesser extent. I feel that some of the flavor nuances were lost with the longer steep, while it was still an enjoyable cup that showed no bitterness.

Teabags are sometimes more convenient for me during the Holidays, although the great majority of my tea drinking is enjoyed loose leaf style. I really look forward to this blend during the Holidays, and it is very well balanced and delicious! :))

Cupped: Sunday/Monday, December 11/12, 2011.

Reviewed: Monday, December 12, 2011.

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ADDITIONAL NOTE*** 12/13/2011: I thought I’d add a little milk (very little), and I let the tea steep for 7 minutes. Honestly, the subtleties were lost. I could taste the tea with the milk, but it tasted only slightly better than regular tea. Sometimes I think I do things like this to my tea just to remind myself not to do it again! At some point in the future, I’m sure I’ll gently remind myself…again. :))

Look at this gorgeous tea! That’s right…….I said it. Beautiful black tea with curly, furry leaves. It reminds me of a Black Bi Lo Chun. Not only does it look great it smells great yo! Chocolate notes abound & fill my senses. I was all intent for a fun, yet serious review. Sometimes things don’t work out as planned.

My niece is here from Oregon, and it is great to have here visiting. So, here I was with my tea and ready to get everything right, when she decides to throw trail mix in my Zhen Qu. I said, “NO Brie, don’t!”…….“Stop Brie, you’re ruining my tea!” Of course she continued to fill my tea with various nuts, cranberries, chocolate bits, etc. In the end, I gave up my protest, and eventually laughter filled the air. So I will call this Brie’s Nut Blend tea!

Black tea base was very noticeable….a good quality China black with tremendous nut flavor…actually a pretty good blend. Oddly the liqour transformed from black to milky brown right before my eyes. This blend is alot like Brie…….Fantastic and one of a kind! Like her this blend encompasses lots of spirit. It deserves a very special rating of 86.

Tea drinking can be serious and contemplative. At times, like today, it should also evoke fun and laughter! :)) I’m glad for Brie’s visit here, and the times we’ve shared. She’s leaving soon (Wed), and I’ll miss her dearly, but I’m thankful for the memories!

To be continued…….

Cupped & reviewed: Friday, December 9, 2011.

Off to have another cup of Zhen Qu this late Saturday morning.

OK….lots of chocoloate aromatics in the dry leaf….wet leaf smells of deeper & darker chocolate notes. Nice small, steeped whole leaf. Medium to dark brown in color, the liqour smells so sweet. Mouth feel is full and sweet, with yes, chocolate notes! I really like this tea. It has lots of sweetness with no bitterness…….so delicious!!

Cupped & Reviewed: Saturday, December 10, 2011.

AWESOME! When I smelled this tea…..It is the best smelling Chai! Cardamon and clove are up front with the black pepper and ginger following in toe. A perfect mixture to stir the senses. It looks delicious too. The wet leaves smell phenomenal!! That’s all I can say….sensory overload…in a good way. :))

In the cup I get mainly cardamon and clove, but the black pepper is quite noticeable….the ginger less so. The base tea was noticeable, which I like, even in a Chai, with the other flavors not completely overwhelming the tea. Delicious! I love the way the flavors dance on my tongue, and let me know they’ve been there even after the tea is gone. Three solid cups, just at or below boiling-for 3.5, 3.5 and 5 minutes. My last cup had the most cinnamon aroma and flavor, as it migrated to the bottom of the sample bag.

Overall, this is my favorite Chai, with a good balance of tea, aroma, and taste. A little more black pepper in the cup, and I’d have given it a perfect score. Many thanks Amy! :))

Cupped:Tue/Wed, 12-06 & 07, 2011. Reviewed: Wednesday, December 7, 2011.

This past Saturday I made this my afternoon tea. It had been years since I had Tou Cha, and for some reason I thought the “teabowl” stayed intact. So I put it in a porcelain cup without a strainer, added nearly boiling water and POOF the tea leaves scattered. What were they afraid of?? Surely not hot water!

I had wanted to brew shorter steeps, but after rescuing my tea leaves with my glass press, the first steep was around 1.5 minutes. Dark color & a muddy, earthy, mushroom aroma greeted me. There was also a sweetness in the aroma. Full mouth feel, full of earthy mushroom sweetness I really enjoyed. At 1.5 minutes the 2nd cup was dark and deeper in flavor. Flavors and aromas waned in the 3rd cup (5 min), but it was still sweet, dark, earthy, and quite enjoyable. Always a smooth cup, and one more Tuo Cha for a future brew.

For lunch today I decided to steep my last Tuo Cha longer to intensify more of the flavors. My first steep was 3 min at 205 degrees. Cup was extremely dark, almost black; in fact, around the edges where the tea meets the cup, the tea seemed to have a purple hue. All aromas & flavors were intensified with the longer steep. More earth, mushrooms, and sweetness with no bitterness!

I forgot my second cup and let it steep for 7 minutes at 212 degrees. Flavors were still intensified-although less so than the previous cup. The sweetness in the second cup surprised me. I knew it would be there, but I said, “WOAH”, and couldn’t believe the sweetness that hit my tongue. This was the sweetest of all the cups I drank!

I find this Tuo Cha extremely drinkable, smooth, yet full flavored, sweet and delicious! Its unique qualities make it special. I’m going to experiment with more Tuo Cha teas in the future. Thank you kind Amy for this great sample. :))

Cupped: Saturday & Tuesday, 12-03 & 06-2011. Reviewed: Tue, 12-06-2011.

One week ago I began drinking this tea, as I have done for several years after Thanksgiving. I do have the teabag version, and occasionally I order teabags for their simplicity and convenience.

This is a delicious Holiday blend, even though I can’t taste the black tea. Normally I would mind, but I consider this an exception and a good dessert tea. Predominant aromas and flavors are cinnamon, allspice, clove, and nutmeg. I don’t really smell or taste the ginger root or the rum flavoring, but that doesn’t mean the don’t have an influence in the aroma and flavor. I just can’t detect them and rather than over focussing on details, the enjoyment of tea is important.

Drinking this tea is like drinking pumpkin pie gingerbread cookies. Good, solid tastes on the tongue that linger. I like to add a drop of skim milk once in a while, just to mix it up a little…….sounds dangerous huh?! :)) Anywho, there you have it…oh, I brew it 5 to 8+ minutes. A very satisfying Holiday Chai.

Cupped & reviewed Monday, December 5, 2011.

My morning cup today. I’ve been drinking this tea the last three to four years between Thanksgiving and New Year. I am finishing last years supply, and it is surprisingly still fresh, thanks to foil wrapped teabags. It’s a good Holiday tea.

In the past, it was hard to detect the Ginger-I usually never noticed it. Today I was focussed on the teas qualities, intent on noticing the Ginger if it was there. The white tea is subtle, but noticeable, while the dominant flavor is the peppermint. The description is accurate regarding the ginger. When I swirl the tea in my mouth I detect a hint of ginger. Upon swallowing the ginger hits the back of my throat. The tea-ginger included-stays nicely on my tongue. I guess in the past, I was expecting more kick and intensity from the ginger and it eluded me. The subtlety of the ginger is perfect here. I’m sure the longer steep time brings it out. Overall a really good, satisfying blend I’ve come to enjoy during the Holidays!

Cupped and reviewed: Thursday, December 1, 2011.

My lunchtime tea today. Awesome!! Full review to come later. Thank You Amy!!

Have you ever lost contact with a friend and years later, you pick up right where you left off, the reconnection almost seemless. It has happened to me a few times. It’s funny because I’ve realized that even though people reconnect, they tend to be the same (in some ways), yet they are different, still a friend after all the years. Mei Li is one beatiful tea, that sent me down memory lane, reminding me of good friends, and of a tea I purchased from Upton Tea 6 years 11 months ago.

This tea was called Sword of the Emperor, a China Tea with tea leaves that were long and shaped like swords (of course)! Such a beautiful & delicious tea, I reordered it a couple more times. After it sold out, I came to the realization that I may never see this tea again {SIGHHH}.

Then I received this sample from Amy, and I gave it a try. When I opened the sample bag of Mei Li, I was literally transported back in time, upon smelling the tea leaves! Sword of the Emperor…….my dear friend. No, this was not SOTE, but Mei Li, perhaps a sister, as the characteristics of the teas are strikingly similar and familiar.

Heavenly fresh, with delightful smokey, woody notes fill the air as I inhale. Dry leaves are truly beautiful-swordlike and dark green, with white edges and tips. The wet leaves have a wonderful spinich/asparagus, smokey, woody nose (think grilled asparagus). All of those aromas come across in the cup, and on the palate and tongue, with a full mouth feel. The first two cups are most vegetal, while the last two are less so, exhibiting more of the smokey/woody notes. The fourth cup was still very good with fading flavors. The third & fourth cups were steeped at 2 and 4 minutes at higher temps with no bitterness. Truly a special tea for me, I will reorder this one without a doubt.

Like that special friend you reconnect with from your past, very familiar yet different. Glad to see you Sword….er…Mei Li. We’ll keep in touch! Thank you again Amy, mon ami. :))

Cupped: Thursday, December 1, 2011 Reviewed: 12-01 & 12-05-2011.

I have been drinking Cranberry teas for years around Thanksgiving, and of course it is perfect with Turkey Day dinner, and with pumpkin pie. I first purchased Harney & Sons Cranberry Autumn Tea several years ago and didn’t like it. I couldn’t taste any Cranberry at all! The next year I ordered Cranberry Tea from Specialteas and loved it. I think Upton Tea uses the same supplier as Specialteas, because it looks and tastes similar, or the same-delicious!

It smells so good upon opening the bag, sweet and fruity, and there are huge dried cranberries in the blend. I just wish there were more Cranberries, but if that were the case, there would be less tea. The wet leaves smell do good ’n fruity. PattiM says it tastes medicinal & artificial, but I disagree completely. The liquer is a solid reddish brown. The cup has a good aroma. I really enjoy the flavors on my palate, with the base tea coming through really well (I think it is a Ceylon).

There is a good fruity taste, with the cranberry tartness coming through. Last year I remember more cranberry tartness. My tea is a couple years old so I think some of the tartness has dissipated. Perhaps a longer steep with boiling water will bring out more tartness. Still, this is a really good cranberry tea with that tart “bite” of cranberries I love. This tea is the best Cranberry tea I’ve tasted yet, with fruitiness mixed in to enhance the flavor. The tea base is smooth yet strong enough to make this a well balanced Cranberry tea. Bring on the turkey-actually, my dad and I are having pheasant-and the pumpkin pie! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! :))

Cupped: Wed, 11-23-2011. Reviewed: Wed, 11-23-2011.

Thanks for another delicious tea Anna :)). My tea experience did not coincide with the description of the tea, so this review will be continued. My luncheon cup was steeped as shown below. Dry leaf is very tippy, and smelled earthy to me. Wet leaves smelled earthy, and woody, and like roasted marshmallows, so there was a definite sweetness noted. Cup color was very dark brown-muddy brown, with an earthy sweetness in the nose. Flavor was very smooth, filling my palate with earthiness and mushrooms. I was wondering if the sweetness of wet leaf aroma would excite my taste buds, but if it was there I didn’t taste/sense it.

I forgot my leaves a little in my second cup and steeped for 4.5 min. Cup color was darker and sweet in the nose. Flavors were the same as my first cup, but deeper. I was surprised by the sweetness of the wet leaves, and I really enjoyed the earthy, liquid mushrooms in my cup! This tea is smooth and delicious, and I really don’t believe it can be oversteeped. This is tea I could drink quite often, not every day, but I don’t drink any tea every day.

Cupped: Tue, 11-22-11. Reviewed: Wed, 11-23-11.

How many of you order a tea one year, and love it so much you can’t wait for the new crop from the same garden next year? Last year I ordered this tea from Upton’s and they claimed, ‘Due to difficult growing conditions this year in India, this tea has a more intense flavor, which may be tamed with the addition of milk". I’m paraphrasing, but that was true. This year, I looked to Harney and Sons for my full leaf Assam. When I placed my order in Sept, the 2010 Nahorhabi Estate tea was the only top grade full leaf Assam they had, so I ordered it.

My first two cups were tasted on Sat, 10-22-11. I figured it might be less fresh because it was from last years crop. Man was I wrong! The tea was sealed in a foil bag & maintained its freshness. When I opened the bag and inhaled deeply……….BAMM, I was hit with this wonderful, malty, candy sweet Assam! My mouth literally started to water! I took a few minutes to take it all in. In addition, this tippy Assam possessed good chocolate notes as well. I reduced my steep times to 3.5 minutes to compensate for the claim above. After my tea cooled, the cups aroma came through. This medium brown hued cup smelled malty, chocolatey, with a truly natural sweetness. Definitely very malty, chocolate sweetness on the palate, with full, lingering flavor and yet very smooth. I’m not sure about honey notes. Sometimes I’ll add more tea to steeped leaves and resteep using same parameters. Here the tea is still malty, chocolatey and sweet, although more stout (but not bitter). To subdue some of the stoutness, sometimes I’ll add the smallest dash of skim milk, which brings a creaminess to the flavor, without sacrificing taste.

This tends to be my Saturday evening tea, which I’ve had each week since that first cup. I could drink this tea every day but I don’t, because I believe special teas like this one should be occasionally savored. I look forward to drinking this one every Saturday night! :))

Reviewed: Sunday, 11-20-11.

Years ago I purchased Yamamotoyama’s Genmai Cha from Stash Tea and I did not like it. It was horrible-I couldn’t drink it and returned it. It is the only tea I have ever returned to a company, & looking back on it I wish I would have kept it. I also wish I would have brewed it properly. I used boiling water…ssttrriiiikkke one! I steeped it at LEAST 3 minutes…..ssssttttrriiiike two!! I probably used too much tea and failed to experiment with different water temps and steep times…..sssttttrrriiikkkeee three!!! I was so bush league back then-a mere amateur.

Finally I bought this sample from Harney & Sons and had a completely different experience. Enter glass tea press and Genmaicha tea. Open packet, sssnnniiifff deeply, and enjoy the deep, nutty aroma. Steep parameters below are for first infusion, filled with 8 oz filtered water. What a nice medium deep, yellow liqueur-perhaps not as clear as that of the Buckwheat tea. Nutty aroma very present in the wet leaves as well as the cup, lingering on the palate. The second cup-approx. 195* for 1:15- was the strongest (not bitter), very nutty with a natural sweetness. They don’t call this tea popcorn tea for nothing, and I find that to be accurate. My last steep at 205* for 2 minutes was weaker, but still exhibited good nutty sweet characteristics.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tea, but the second cup was almost too nutty for me….and I’m CRAZY! :)) I would drink this occasionally, perhaps with a meal, and try lower temps and steep times. I wish I had more Genmai Cha….oh wait…I DO! Anna sent me a sample. Wish granted! :))

Until we Genmai Cha Cha Cha again.

Cupped Mon/Tue, Oct 24-25, 2011. Reviewed Thu, Nov 17, 2011.

Good morning everyone. :)) Many thanks to Anna for this generous sample. :)) When I opened the box all I could smell was Cardamon! Wow, what an aroma! The aroma alone scores a 95. Dry tea leaves are a decent size. I put about 1/2 the sample in my glass tea press. The smell of cardamon filled the room. I got three really good steeps from the tea. Good dark brown cup color and aroma. At 2 min the first steep was delicious! I really enjoy teas like this where the base is strong & noticeable, nice cardamon prescence in flavor and aroma. Second steep was at 2:45 to 3:00. Strong aroma and flavor and not bitter. Wow the caffiene was really intense. Third steep was still good at 4:00 boiling. Flavor of tea was weaker, as was the aroma, and flavor of the cardamon. Wet leaves still smelled of cardamon….amazing!

I got at least 30 oz of tea in total! If I tinker with steep times I may be able to get 4 quality cups with the rest of the sample. What a quality tea in every respect! I checked online and the tea is reasonably priced. The website is packed with goodies, and I will definitely reorder this tea in the future.

Cupped & reviewed Wed, 11-16-2011.

The dry aroma of this tea was very nutty. I just dumped the sample in my Bonjour glass tea press and poured near boiling water (approx. 8 oz) over the tea for 1 min. Could smell nuttiness of wet buckwheat, but when I stuck my face in the press and inhaed the aroma it smelled like ashes! I thought of an astray and ashes. Could someone tell me why I kept inhaling the wet ash aroma? Why?….several times….why? I think initially I was in sensory disbelief!

The color of the brew was a medium, translucent yellow, similar to that of Chamomile. The cup had a nutty aroma, and the one minute steep led to a hearty, nutty, naturally sweet flavor. The nutty sweetness was delicious! So clean and refreshing. The second steep was better at 1.5 minutes, showcasing a slightly nuttier and sweeter flavor. The third and final steep at 3 min. was still very good, even though the nutty sweetness had dissipated somewhat. This tea was never bitter, which is a plus for me.

Definitely a very nice tea experience (minus the ashiness of the wet aroma). I would order, as this is a great, relaxing brew before my nightly slumber.

Thank you Anna! :))

Cupped Tue, 11-01-11

Reviewed Tue, 11-15-11

This tea has a special meaning to me. I remember it like it was yesterday…waking up to one of the most beautiful September days in memory. Such bright sunshine and clear, deep blue skies. Such a gorgeous, picture perfect day, only to be scarred forever by the horrors of Septeber 11, 2001! Such a deeply sad day, I still get sick in my gut, and can’t watch the events of that day.

I first drank Hao Ya B on that day, and this tea offered some solace as the events unfolded that day. I remember liking the tea immensely, noting a mildly smokey, dry leaf with chocolate notes, while the cup was medium brown with a smokey less chocolatey aroma. The flavor was mildly smokey & smooth, with chocolate notes in the back end or aftertate. A great tea!

I ordered this new lot before 09/11/2011, and wanted to review it and experience this old friend in remembrance of that day….but alas, the tea order arrived late….:((. So I decided to take my time with the review. I’ve had ten cups since Oct 21, 2011. My first two cups on that night were hindered by clogged sinuses, so I wasn’t detecting any chocolate notes at all, just a mildly smokey aroma and flavor in the leaf, cup, and on my palate. My 3rd & 4th cups (10/28/11), and 5th & 6th cups (11/04/11), were similiar in smokiness, with some chocolate notes detected in the leaf, cup, and palate (to varying degrees).

My last two cups on Mon., 11/07/11 will sum up the review. Chocolate notes were detected to varying degrees, but most notable in the dry and wet leaf, less so in the cup, and in the back end or aftertaste….again less noticeable than in the leaf itself. Smelled more like burnt caramel smokiness. A solid, smooth, earthy, mildly smokey tea that is very enjoyable! I forgot to mention HY B is a small leaf, with some white tips, which lend to the smoothness of the cup.

NOTE: 11-15-11==> Here’s a comment I posted on LiberTeas Hao Ya B review page: ScottTeaMan " I thought I noticed some wine like notes once or twice when drinking H & S HY B, but didn’t note it b/c those “notes” seemed to be playing hide and seek with me. :))" So yes, there you have it, occasional somewhat light, wine-like notes, without the alcohol. :))

This is one of my favorite teas, and if I didn’t pace myself, my 4 oz tin would be gone already!

Reviewed on Sat., 11-12-11.

Yet another Backlog from late August 2005. Three things in the description sold me on this tea—early spring, exclusively for us, and “spider leg” style. Early spring meant fresh and new, plus I liked the exclusivity of the tea, and I really enjoy “spider leg” style teas. Here’s my review from Upton’s:

(5/8/2006)
Dry Leaf: Very Good, Infused Leaf: Very Good,
Liquor: Very Good, Value: Very Good

“I brew this tea around 160-170 degrees for 1.5 min for a sweet, aromatic cup with that sencha bite. Dry & infused leaf smells great! Leaves are soo tender and a wonderful green color. A definite reorder for me in the future.”

Dry leaf aroma was fantastic, with a very green leaf. Green color in the cup, with a very nice aroma. Love the brothy nature of the cup and the flavor was so full and fresh. The sencha bite I describe is typical of many senchas, and to me not bitter. You do have to watch steep time carefully as it can become bitter. Once in a while, I would add more leaf and resteep with wet leaves for a second cup. Usually the second cup was a little bitter, but still a good cup ( 1 min 45 sec at 175-180 degrees).

I always thought I’d reorder this tea, and would….again it sold out! :( Waiting for a restock…….and waiting…….and waiting…….

Reviewed: Sun., 09-04-2011.

Backlogging this Ceylon Tea from my late October 2002 order. I really enjoyed the tea from this estate. A broken leaf style wth a nice dry aroma. Cup color was truly medium gold. What I remember most is a full mouth feel with a definite minty flavor. This struck me as unique, because I had no idea a Ceylon tea could exhibit this quality! Cup aroma was less minty than the actual flavor.

If oversteeped, this tea could get bitter, and occasionally I added a bit of sugar. What a fine, memorable tea from a good estate. I wish Upton’s would restock this tea! Since it is such a memorable tea, I remember thinking of rating it at 4.5 stars, or an 88.

I ordered this tea from Upton’s again in early May 2006. This new lot was not as good as the previous lot. Here’s my review from their site:

(12/8/2006)

Dry Leaf: Good, Infused Leaf: Good,
Liquor: Good, Value: Good

“This tea is a good tea…although I remember the previous lot to be more flavorful. Still after a recent cup I find a full, slightly lemon-like taste. Good with a bit of sugar. Tasty & good when you just need a change of pace.”

As you can see the 2006 lot was lemony, and lacked the minty characteristics of the previous lot. I gave the 2006 lot 3 stars, and probably would actually rate it between 68 to 73.

If I combined ratings of the two lots that would mean a rating of 80; but, I want the rating to reflect the first lot! Hey, it’s my review and my perogative…….so let it be written!

Steep on steepin’ on……. :)~

Reviewed: Sat, 09-03-2011

After over two weeks absense, I’m back for a review. My niece was here for two weeks visiting, so my tea time was limited, but it was nice spending time with her! I haven’t been drinking really top shelf loose leaf tea lately, because the tap water sucks chunks this time of year & I can’t find my filters. So I’m entering my time machine, reviewing this tea ordered late October 2002!

I think my first Tuo Cha was ordered from Specialteas, but they were very similar. I love the bowl like shape of each Tuo Cha and did use multiple steeps (as many as seven). The first three steeps were always the best, and I always increased water temp, and steep time with each cup.

What I remember was a very dark, silky cup color, with an earthy aroma. I was surprised to notice a purple hue around the edges of the liqour. The wet leaf had more earthy aromas than in the cup. Every cup I tasted was silky smooth, with a natural sweetness, and definite earthy notes, reminding me of Autumn. Once I left a Teabowl in my cup for about eight minutes, and still got a decent second cup. At eight minutes the liqour was darker, with more sweetness and earthiness, and so silky smooth! This tea was NEVER bitter, yet full of flavor. I really like this tea, but have not reordered it. I’ll have to reorder it, so I can refine the review and reacquaint myself with an old friend.

Reviewed: Thu, 09-01-2011.

Here’s another tea from Upton Tea I ordered just 13 days short of its sixth anniversary debut….yes, it was August 2005 when I placed the order. I remember ordering tea with a friend who lives nearby, and just before placing the order, I checked the White teas one more time and purchased it. It was like making an impulse buy at the checkout isle at the grocery store.

At the time I brewed all my white teas in a small teapot (from Bombay Company), I got as a Christmas gift from my sister, bro in-law, and nephews. I prepared this tea Gong Fu style adding more leaf, using short steep times, and steeping it several times (3 to 6). The second and third cups were always the best. This year I started using my Bon Jour tea press alot more, because I like to watch the tea leaves unfurl, and smell the tea brewing. So currently I would use it for almost all White, Green, Oolong, and some Black teas.

Here’s my review from Upton’s website:

(7/20/2008)

Dry Leaf: Good, Infused Leaf: Good,
Liquor: Very Good, Value: Very Good

“Dry leaf is downy, uniform with varigated color. Definite dry/infused fresh, nutty aroma. Liquor is smooth with pronounced nuttiness, & melon undertones. My appreciation of this tea grows with each cup, but SNOW BUDS remains my favorite everyday white tea”

By varigated I mean green and white leaves, two leaves and a bud-a very beautiful leaf! By melon undertones I mean cantaloupe or honeydew (perhaps more accurate), and not watermelon.

This was not my first White tea experience; but I sure am glad I made this impulse buy, because Wang Fu Jing Hao was a really good, memorable tea. It was also the only time I was able to order it, because it sold out & may never be available again. {SIGH!} I HATE when that happens!!

Reviewed: Sat, 08-13-2011.

OK Steepsterians, I finally found my Chai yesterday. Before I begin, I just want to say it took me forever to upload this picture of the tea-others I have uploaded were easy. The aroma from my tin was so good. I could definitely smell the cardamom, coriander, & black pepper. I couldn’t detect any ginger (maybe because of my previous experience with Yamamotoyama’a Ginger Tea), or cinnamon. *Note on cinnamon* Upon drinking another cup (08-13), I noted possible light background notes of cinnamon in the aroma of steeped leaves. Hard for me to detect, because most other cinnamon in Chai’s I’ve drank have had stronger presence in aroma and flavor.

I first brewed it hot at 4 minutes, and it was very good. It was even better at 5 minutes. The flavors of cardamom, coriander, and especially the black pepper were more intense, but the tea was not bitter at all. The Ceylon base tea was not masked by the spices, rather it was quite noticeable. This probably was because it was a very small leaf (a CTC by the looks of it), making the base tea stronger in the cup. Overall the wet leaf & spices were more aromatic, as compared to the cup aroma.

The flavor of black pepper was dominant-WOW! WHAT A KICK!. The coriander and cardamom were not shy either. I just missed having a cup of chai, the intense flavors coated my tongue….and stayed with me for quite a while, which I really like in a good Chai tea. If the cinnamon and ginger flavors were there, I didn’t notice them. This Cochin Chai was spicy and not sweet. A little sweetener could change that, but I drink it plain-only occasionally adding a drop of milk (to barely color the cup), and not diluting the flavor. Very delicious!! Rating: 92.

Iced it was very good as well, very refreshing. Same spices prevalent as in the hot tea, but just a little less so. Didn’t notice quite as much in the aromatics either. Still quite spicey and delicious! Rating: 88.

Brewing specs below are for hot and iced tea.

Cupped & rated on Fri, 08-12-11.

At least ten years ago, I purchased the Apricot teabags and loved them. Finally, last Fall (I think), I purchased the loose leaf version which I prefer. Why? Well, with the loose leaf you have more control over leaf quantity, and the leaves tend to be fuller, and there is better chance for leaf expansion & extraction of flavor.

My specs below are for hot tea, but I also iced this tea. The dry leaf aroma is really unique, and very smellicious! There is something really warm, nutty and comforting about this tea. There is a pronounced apricot aroma, which has a natural sweetness….like…like dark brown sugar. The color in the cup is a deep orange/brown. In the cup, I still get good aromatics of warm, nutty, sweet notes of the apricot. I can taste the base tea well enough, with less sweet notes (I drink it plain), while still savoring the warm, nutty apricot flavor. What I like about this blend is that it is straightforward and uncomplicated black tea with really good apricot flavoring. Rating: 86.

I iced this using my french press at 205 degrees, using one heaping tablespoon, steeping for ten minutes.

SIDE NOTE: As I write this the windows are open…this is the first cool night/morning in weeks, and I hear a train in the distance. I really enjoy listening to the sound of trains!

OK….back to the tea. This is a good iced tea. Since the tea is cold, I lost some of the aromas, but the nuttiness of the apricot was there. The taste of the tea and apricot was balanced well, medium in strength of flavor. A little sweetener would be fine, if you like, but I almost always drink my iced teas plain too. Rating: 80.

Cupped on 08-09 and 08-10-2011. Reviewed on Wed, 08-10-2011.

In at least one of my past reviews, I said something like, ‘I don’t drink alot of flavored teas". Well, I REALLY like Ginger, so I decided to review this Ginger tea that I purchased from Stash. I’ve purchased this from Stash Tea a few times, and the quality is consistent. The teabags come wrapped in plastic. As soon as I opened the plastic wrap I could smell the ginger. Then after opening the foil envelope. the smell was incredible!!

In the past, I’ve kept the water temp around 190 degrees using an eight oz cup, leaving the teabag steep till the tea cools. The cup aroma is strongly full of ginger with a deep yellow color. For me, the extra long steep time adds to the character of the cup. My mouth is awash with the strong, spicey tang of ginger! Yeah!! I think the safflower adds a little smoothing sweetness to the cup.

Yesterday I used my glass Bon Jour french press (Approx 20 oz), with three teabags, leaving them in the press. In this case the ginger was VERY strong, VERY spicey (some say hot, but I just say spicey), with a deep yellow color. I absolutely loved it; although, I would only make my ginger tea this strong occasionally.

Shortly after midnight today, I brewed the tea according to time & temp below with an 8 oz cup. The ginger aroma and flavor was still delicious—quite strong and full of flavor. I still think the safflower smooths out the cup, but perhaps more so at a slightly lower temp and steep time. If you’re new to Ginger tea, perhaps a lower steep time and temp would be right for you.

This would be really great iced. As a matter of fact, I first had Iced Ginger tea at a local Thai restaurant, and loved it! This started my quest for ginger tea.

I really didn’t notice the green tea base in the Yamamotoyama Ginger Tea, but I didn’t care in this case…..the ginger refuses to be ignored! IMHO, everyone should try this tea at least once. It is a really great tea!

I do not drink very many flavored teas, but from time to time I will indulge, and also for a nice change of pace. I believe my first flavored tea was Earl Grey, and it is a tea I could drink almost daily, but I don’t….probably because it would strain my tea budget. I bought this at the World Market during Christmas 2004. and again Summer of 2005. Earl Grey is probably my favorite flavored tea, as I just love the scent and flavor of natural oil of Bergamot.

Earl Greyer is true to its’ description, very citrusy and fresh tasting. I didn’t taste much of the base tea, but then again, I didn’t expect to. The dry aroma and cup aroma is fantastic! As the extraordinary Bergamot washed over my tongue, I savored the flavor for a few moments before swallowing the tea! As a hot tea, I use one teabag to the specifications below per 8 oz cup, with a rating of 88. I used this mostly for iced tea in Spring/Summer, as it is extremely refreshing! Same specs as hot tea except I use two tea bags; rating 90.

I did not taste bitterness with the extended steep time, but more flavor.

At the time this was my new favorite Earl Grey, but as I neared the end of the tin I realized something. Iced, Earl Greyer may be my favorite; BUT, as a hot tea, I began to miss the taste of the TEA! I missed the balance of a good base tea, and the natural Bergamot flavoring. Even as the tea cooled somewhat, the black tea base was overpowered by the extra Bergamot. I just prefer a cup of hot Earl Grey to be more balanced.

Overall, it was still delicious and a worthy contender among the competition.

“Teabags” you say? Yes, I thought I’d review a tea I had a couple years ago. “How can you remember what a tea was like two years ago?”. Well, I can’t remember every subtlety, but since I have purchased this tea several times (and don’t plan to purchase it anytime soon), I’ll give it my best shot.

The aroma of blackberries—and to a lesser extent sage—fills my sniffer with wonderful sensation. Even in the cup the aroma is very apparent. It is a good, decent cup of hot tea, with the flavors more pronounced as the tea cools. To my palate, the fruitiness of the blackberry is more noticeable, while the sage never lets you forget it is there. It’s kind of like the demure lady I notice at a party… me, trying not to stare, but at times unable to avert my eyes. It is a very compelling, delicious tea. I just wish there was a stronger sense of the base tea in this blend.

For hot tea I use one teabag per 8 oz cup, at 212 degrees for five minutes. Hot tea rating: 70. I use this tea mostly as a delicious iced tea using twice the amount of tea following the preparation below. As an iced tea I give this one a 75.

O.K. Steepster friends, it’s time to review my first Chai Tea (not first tasted, of course). After many years of drinking Chai, I felt that I needed something a little spicier. I was in the grocery store Summer 2005, I believe; and I thought I’d never find a Chai with black pepper. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I found TAZO Organic Chai! Honestly, all my Chai teas I tasted were in tea bag form back then. I just grew tired of Chai tea… UNTIL I tried Tazo’s brand.

Yes the cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom were all there, and well represented too; but, it was the black pepper that kicked it up a notch. BAMM!! It was just the right kick of added spice I needed, AND I’m so glad this tea lived up to my expectations! For me the black pepper was the star here, but not too overpowering. Every ingredient is tasted here…my taste buds were jumping for joy!

This is the best tea bag Chai I’ve tasted, and bought it several times. I gave it an 85 because there are a couple of loose leaf Chai’s I like better. If you feel the need for Chai tea, and tea bags are your only option, this more than satisfies.

Tea bags aside, this is a really good Chai tea, worthy of any tea cupboard. As you can tell I really enjoyed it! Steep on……………………….