SimplyJenW

I was kind of shocked at how expensive a small amount of this worked out to be. I think I got just a little over a few ounces and it was $9. So much for an inexpensive trial. I guess when you are filling bags of bulk tea yourself, it is a good idea to check the weight on the scale they provide to avoid sticker shock at the checkout.

This one smells so sweet dry. I am not an avid drinker of this type of tea, and I do think I prefer jasmine in blends rather than mostly on its own. However, this tea is sweet enough to stand up all by itself with no additions. It was really pleasant and soothing.

Jumbo mug (16 oz), 2 teaspoons, water just before boiling (can’t wait for that variable kettle!), 3 minutes.

So I took a little adventure yesterday to seek out our local Asian market. I have to say it is the largest one I have ever seen. When we lived near Chicago, there was one I used to go to in the suburbs, and it was not nearly this big. I guess you could say I was curious, and I knew I could find a few of the Korean packaged noodles my college roomies introduced me to. I found the noodles (Neoguri and Chapagetti), and checked out the the bulk tea, and the packaged tea (I am sure I looked like I was lost!). In bulk, I bought this organic Keemun, a tin of Keemun for cold brewing (it was $3.69 for half a pound in a tin!), some Dragon Pearl Jasmine bulk, and Wild Mountain Green bulk. They did also have some packaged Russian teas, and a large selection of packaged tea. Most of the tea was in bags which kind of surprised me.

This tea is a fine basic Keemun. I am not sure I will buy it again as it seems kind of pricey for what it is. Good body, slightly smokey, and very smooth. (Knowing that it cost roughly the same per ounce as Golden Snail gives me pause, though.) I need to try a pot of the Keemun from the tin to see how it compares. I guess being organic is a plus. The leaves do look slightly longer than the Keemun in the tin, and I do see a little more dust in the tin, so they are probably different grades.

24 oz pot, 4 actual tsp tea, freshly boiled water, 3 minutes.

My first coffeeless morning (let’s hope, for my family’s sake, that I don’t get super crabby later)…so I turned to Mincing Lane. I don’t usually add milk to any tea, but this one seemed to be screaming for it this morning. The first cup was just lightly sweetened, and the Assam in the blend was just kicking my tastebuds. At that point, I was thinking it would not be on the reorder list. For the second mug when I added milk, the flavors mellowed out again, and I was happy. Hmmmm. Adding milk has me rethinking stronger morning tea…….

24 oz. pot, 4 1/2 actual teaspoons of tea, freshly boiled water, 5 minutes.

Woe is me. Why is it that when you find something unique and interesting, it is sold out. But then I wonder, is it the fact that it is sold out that makes it so desirable?

I had enough left in my sample of this for a pot and a cup. It is definitely somewhere between a black and oolong in taste, but leaning black. It is definitely large in the leaf like an oolong, and oh so mellow. Ah well. I will just enjoy it, feed a little more tea into the pot in subsequent steeps, and drink this for today. So long. I think we could have been very good friends.

My afternoon ‘dessert’. I do still like this one. I am about half-way through the 3 ounces that I ordered along with my love that is Rosy Earl Grey. I am still on the fence if I will reorder or not. It does have a good basic base, and the blueberry is pleasant.

24 oz pot, 3 perfect teaspoons (about 4 1/2 actual tsp), freshly boiled water, 4 minutes, double the usual sweet.

My tea of the morning.

I am now down to half a mug of coffee in the morning. My Hubby likes to gradually work on eliminating coffee in the summertime. A hot drink loses its appeal for him in hot weather. I have not really noticed that for me this year…I still prefer my tea hot. We are even contemplating giving up the coffee altogether as my beverage of choice is now consumed by tea. (His beverage of choice is beer, but I have a feeling that would not be good for morning consumption!) I guess we will have to see what happens in the Fall. A single cup coffee maker is starting to sound like a good idea!

Anyway, this is not the best Keemun Mao Feng in my cupboard, but it is good. It falls under a mid range for price, which makes it a good budget choice for me. It has all of the attributesof a good Keemun…slightly smokey, cocoa notes, roasty, and is a very good tea. 24 oz pot, 3 level perfect teaspoons (or 4 1/2 actual tsp.), freshly boiled water, 5 minute first steep. Second steep coming up for 7 minutes.

I am getting a variable electric kettle for my birthday (and an early tin of Harney’s Wild Wuyi) next month! So excited!

A generous sample from QuiltGuppy of one of her own custom blends. This one is pretty good. I like that it is lower caffeine, which makes it great for a late afternoon/evening tea. I definitely get all three flavors…the vanilla, coconut, and hazelnut- all flavors that I like . The tea base works with the flavors, too. 24 oz. pot, 3 perfect teaspoons, freshly boiled water for 4 mintes. Lightly sweetened.

This cup of tea should have been a disaster. I overbrewed by about three minutes, and it is bagged. I also skipped any type of additions, as I usually lightly sweeten my tea. However, this is quite good! I am shocked, and this needs to be on my shopping list for when I am travelling. When not at home, it is good to have fool-proof tea on hand…..
Thank you to teawing for sending me some of this to try!

This has been in my cupboard for a few weeks, and I am just now getting around to trying it out. Really, ashmanra should get some kind of kickback from Harney…there were a few things in my last order where I just skipped the sample and bought a tin. I think I did that in my web order before this one, too, come to think of it…..

This is really good. It is definitely different than Vanilla Comoro. The vanilla is lighter, but oh the tea base is sooooo smooth….. I do think I might add a little more leaf to the next pot. 24 oz teapot, 3 perfect teaspoons- level (aren’t these really a tsp and a half? I bet that throws all of my previous notes off for readers, because I always use this spoon to measure tea), freshly boiled water, 4 minutes.

This is my tea of the evening courtesy of Uniquity. This one is puzzling. I do get a little banana, but it really does not seem to go well with the slight bitterness of the green rooibos base. Hmmmm. They suggest adding a splash of rum in the product description. I think I will try that! I definitely think a little Captain Morgan will fix this one right up!

Edit to add…..yep, pretty good with the rum added. Considering this is my first tea related mixed beverage…. “Cheers! Live long and prosper, dear Steepsterite Friends!”

I owe so many for keeping me supplied in this tea. My first portion arrived from Ottawa Tea, then a sample from Jillian, and then I was able to do a great across the border swap with Uniquity for an amount larger than a sample just before the Canada postal strike. Yes, you could say I would go to many lengths to have this tea on hand. Thank you all for your generosity, and willingness to take a chance on the postal system!

This cup is smooth, sweet, and buttery tasting, with a hint of coconut. Yum. Definitely one of my favorites! I do think this one has the power to make any day brighter for me. Mmmmmm. And this time a brewed a small pot worth.

My afternoon selection. It has been quite a day. I decided I needed a good relaxing tea, but actually, I should have chosen something with a little more “bang” to represent this day more accurately. I do know that my Earl Grey Supreme is always good, and hits the spot, so I went with the easiest choice.

We had one poweful lightning storm go through this morning. So powerful, that after a flash, and a boom as loud as an explosive, I was pretty sure there was a lightning stike somewhere right across the street. Luckily, I live across from a cul-de-sac, and it was just a tree that got hit. ….one right across the street at the end of my driveway. I am feeling very fortunate at this point. Another 20 yards in any direction, and it could have been someone’s house, including ours.

One from the sample bin for my morning tea. This comes courtesy of Ottawa Tea. Thank you for your generosity! I do like getting samples from Teavana. Maybe one day I will find one that is good enough for me venture into their store. (I am not a fan of mall shopping, and really am not looking forward to a hard sell atmosphere, or even the possibility of one.)

This is pretty good, though. Definitely a coffee drinker’s tea. It is a smooth blend of Assam and Mate…two things that I usually don’t like on their own. I get a little of the cocoa, and vanilla, but I am also getting a touch of cinnamon. If I ever do go, I will probably pick some of this up.

I seem to be on a flavored kick. This is my ‘second breakfast’ tea.

I do get the banana and walnut flavors, and the smell is divine. It is probably sweetened slightly more than I normally do. The base is not as smooth as I usually like, but I think that adds to the walnut flavor. A good one! And I bought two pouches on a recent reblend. Yum!

I haven’t had this one in several months. Thus, I decided it would be my morning tea. I am really surprised at how much this tastes like coffee. I just had coffee with French vanilla creamer, and this slightly sweetened tastes so close…. We are trying to cut down on the coffee for summertime, and this makes a great substitute!

My morning tea of the day. I have to say, this is one I could drink every day. It is perfect every time with no bitterness or astringency. Smooth and powerful, subtle and to the point.

No notes yet.

Backlog from a few nights ago……

I needed a non-caffeine tea for evening, and I remembered that Jillian had sent this one to me. (Thank you!) It was just enough for a small pot. I think I brewed it for around 7 or 8 minutes. I could definitely taste the chocolate, and the mint was there, but not at all overpowering as mints often are for my taste. It was really a good evening tea and was great for settling the stomach. Hmmm. I might need to try some mint in some of my other de-/non-caff teas…..

My afternoon tea….

I have to say, this tea has pretty much nudged its way to the forefront of my list when I am thinking of a relaxing afternoon tea. There are a few that come to mind, but this one is definitely in the top 3. I keep thinking I am crazy to love my Earl Grey, hot, even in the summer!

My morning pot….

I am so far backlogged, and have been just a little more frazzled than usual. On the plus side, my kids got out of school, we had birthdays to celebrate, and we had a house full of guests for several days. I also got bit by a dog, and have to get a new roof. Yes, it all is pretty minor in the grand scale of things, but sadly, one of the first things to go was keeping up so well, here. I will backlog the notables…..

On to this tea… It is a really good, fun tea. I love the maple notes and really, that was about all I had time to look for today. The cakey notes are subtle, but I recall them being there in my previous pot. The base is a little more bold than some flavored teas, so I am guessing it is some kind of breakfast blend. I do have to say, it is the most fun breakfast tea in my cupboard at this time. And teas like this almost make me ready to try that Assam sample I have sitting in my cupboard. Almost………

My first brew in my new little 24 oz lime green teapot. It is the beginning of a long and wonderful relationship. Love it! And it is now time for a rebrew!

Backlog from yesterday…..

I made this iced in my large teapot, and then decided to do a resteep in my jumbo mug for hot tea. It actually worked very well. I really like this tea for when I am wanting a fruity tea along the peach/mango/orange range of flavors. And it is very good iced, but requires just a bit of sweetening for my palate.

45 oz teapot, 6 tsp (Note to self: try 5 next time), 4 minutes with freshly bolied water and allowed to cool to room temp, and then refrigerated. Reteep was 5 minutes…shorter than normal due to the greater number of leaves in the infuser.

My morning tea… I have tons to do this morning, and I needed something to put me in the mood for getting things done. It is definitely working, but I think I need at least another cup to be sure….. ;)

One last test of this tea before disposing. I hate to trash tea, but really, this one is not for me as a hot tea. However, as an iced tea, it is not too bad. I definitely get an orangey taste as well as cranberry, and the flavors are strong enough to stand up to ice very well. I am keeping it, but not rebuying……

45 oz teapot, 6 tsp in a paper filter (I hate cloudy iced tea), 7 minutes with freshly boiled water. Allowed to cool to room temp and then iced. No additions.