330 Tasting Notes
Ooooh. This was just what I needed this morning. I snagged the pouch with the last of my old order of this on the way out the door, since I have a nice full new pouch in my cupboard. I’ve been getting a bit burned out on my work stash, so this is a nice change up, and there’s enough left for another cup tomorrow.
Mmmm… the smell of the leaves is awesome, their appearance is neat… and then brewed up… ahhh, I needed that! Even with the low temperature break-room hot water, the half & half in plastic tubs… it’s still good.
Preparation
Got a sample of this when I ordered more Milk Oolong.
Tastes pretty good, but doesn’t have the body or spiciness I look for in chai. And because of the sugar, it’s not something I’ll place an order for.
I might have to experiment with making my own pumpkin chai though :)
I got this to compare it to the only other Milk Oolong I have had – the one from DavidsTea.
The dry teas are comparable in appearance, as are the brewed leaves. The scent of the Mandala tea is more subtle – it doesn’t slap you in the face like the DavidsTea does.
I had my first cup as a latte, which is my favorite way to sip the other version, and it was very enjoyable.
As a straight tea, with no milk or sweetener- I am quite enjoying my second cup this way. The subtle scent, no astringency, all very nice.
I may do a side by side taste comparison tomorrow morning.
Preparation
Yarrrrrrrrrrrrrr! It be the day o’ days again, what ta celebrate seafarrrin’ criminal enterprrrise! International Talk Like A Pirate Day! Arrrr!
This yearrrr, I be drinkin’ a mighty appropriate bit o’ booty from me latest adventures on the high tea – err, sea! Black Pearrrrl, from Mandala! This be my first time raidin’ from those lubbers, and I don’t regret it one bit! The ship’s manifest contained a handwritten note o’ surrender* from one o’ the co-Captains o’ that ship, a Cap’n Garret. I ordered them ta give up 4 coffers of gold, and they were so skeered o’ being keel-hauled, they sent 2 smaller coffers as well! Quite a haul!
The cask o’ Pearls now, they be a fine lot! I’ve plundered pearls from Adagio before, but these have a fuller bodied aroma, like the ladies what hail from Trinidad. They are brighter and more lustrous when compared to those jewels. Darker darks, and more golden golds.
Bit less o’ a chocolate taste, but still malty and sweet. Quite good. I be enjoyin’ me first cup, and look forward ta more!
Arrrrrr!
*note of surrender was actually a very nice thank you for my purchase. No merchant vessels were harmed in this skirmish ;)
Preparation
Hah, the last time I tried this, I had a sore throat then too. Still getting that cigarette taste. The lemongrass is a little more prominent this time. Just not a big fan of this tea.
For the last of the pot, I poured it over ice with some Splenda, and it’s much more palatable. Enough to raise my score a bit. I think it loses the cigarette taste. And feels good on my sore throat.
I definitely won’t be buying more of this though. Now to decide if I want to give or trade away the rest of the tin, or if I will just drink it iced…
Preparation
I pulled this out as my tea to sip while I order more tea :D
It reminds me of autumn days and crisp piles of leaves burning. I am wanting autumn, but it’s still 90 degrees today.
I think I want to try marinading some tofu in this tea. That might be awesome.
Preparation
I was thinking this was an herbal tea, rather than camellia sinensis. Whoops. I hope I can sleep tonight!
Pretty tasty, I like it. I don’t know that I would buy a whole box, since I don’t generally like bag teas, but if someone offered it, I would definitely drink it.
Preparation
We are out of real half & half at work, so I had to use coffee-mate again. Ew. I swear that stuff brings out any bitterness whatsoever in your tea that might be lurking. I was surprised this morning when my dependable Keemun tasted bitter, and I felt I definitely had not oversteeped it. That means the only culprit is the creamer.
Maybe I should start bringing in my own half & half. Because co-workers totally don’t find brewing loose tea weird enough… /sarcasm
I keep my half & half in a glass jar with a lid in the frig which keeps it fresh even longer. You could do that for work and even cover the contents or label it goat milk (that will keep your milk safe).
Hehe, I should totally pick up a glass jar of goat milk and refill it with half&half after using it for Chai :D But, I am not really worried about people at work using it, they are pretty nice folks, even if they do think my tea habits are a bit overboard :)
Hooray, another sample gone.
It’s far too late to drink anything caffeinated. It would keep me up allll night, and I already had a touch of insomnia last night.
Close enough to chai to make me happy for now. This is the last of the decaf black tea I have, everything else is green.
