72 Tasting Notes
It’s supposed to be a chamomile/lemon/ mint blend, but for me it was just an unorganised mess of tastes and smells. Granted-herbal teas/blends, aren’t my thing. In fact, if the missus hadn’t have gotten me this from the hotel, I would’ve been content to have never had this. It’s ok, but I wouldn’t get anymore.
Add some honey and it’s acceptable, as the honey masks the mess of flavors
Preparation
I love this a stuff! Nutty, vegetable aroma.. traditional dragonwell steeping method is the best for this tea and it guarantees exceptional flavour and multiple aromatic infusions. Don’t miss out. The only better longjing I’ve had is the fresh harvest from verdant tea (review coming soon). Longjing teas always have a home in my cupboard and this sits near the front.
Flavors: Nutty, Vegetal
Preparation
Bagged oolong? I’m game – Grabbed a box of 25 at Big Lots for 2 bucks. Initially I was skeptical and mostly uninterested in this, but thought I’ll try it what’s the worst that’ll happen? The dry, bagged “leaves” were unimpressive in every aspect; unattractive, un-aromatic, and unappealing, but I quickly got over these downfalls as I poured the hot water over the bag….
A wonderful woodsy, roasted, campfire, outdoorsy aroma filled my cup. The aroma is truly amazing and exciting to me. The taste left a lot of room for improvement, but wasn’t horrible. I’ll not say it was great, but it was more than expected; a little stale mixed with some potential.
Teas like this are tricky to grade, you have to account for many variables that boil down to personal preference and also remember that this was just 2 bucks… I’d buy it again if not just to fill my house with the amazing aroma, but I dont mind drinking it either. Unimpressive bit completely acceptable for my house.
Preparation
My experience with this toucha was similar to AllanK’s. I got a couple tasty infusions and after 3 it was pretty weak. Tasty and worthy, I’ll pick this one up again to meet my random, impulsive, quick pu-erh fixes.
Used short steeps- 10s rinse, 15s, 20s, 30s,25s, and a final 2 min steep.
Preparation
I like this tea, but I think, as reviewed earlier, the base tea provides a more “tea with vanilla flavour” than a “vanilla chai”. It’s good though and definitely worth checking out if you enjoy vanilla.
Preparation
Love this stuff so much that I dedicated an yixing pot to it. An excellencent green tea, though as mentioned in another review, it’s not as sweet as other mao fengs I’ve tried. I don’t mind though.
Preparation
Smells like Bassett’s Jelly Babies sweets; which is a good thing in my opinion. it isn’t that sweet to taste though. Very nice on a hot day. Plus it has the cool gizmo thingy. My son loves opening these for me.
For an on the go drink, this one is a keeper. For the health nuts out there it says 2,188 mg antioxidants and 40 cals per bottle. 10g sugar.
Been hanging onto this for a year or 2 now, time to give it a little taste.
10s rinse.
15s: Colour is peachy; reddish/gold.
Green taste, like grass, and straw. Javan was spot on with the observation of artichoke.
30s: Deeper golden colour. has a slight smokey aroma; like tobacco.
Taste is more astringent; not overwhelmingly so. Leaves a great mouthfeel.
-Mouth cleansed with ice water.
20s: Same deep golden red colour and smokey aroma. taste causes an increase in saliva. Getting the melon flavour Javan spoke of is like pulling teeth, but it’s there. Cantaloupe specifically. Empty cup smells sweet.
30s: Pale golden colour, the red seems to be leaving, as does the smokey aroma; both haven lessened noticeably. Much of the same flavour with an increase in bitterness.
35s: Slightly darker brew, with the same colour scheme; reddish gold. The smokey aroma is back. but the pleasant mouthfeel is gone. I’m left with a dry mouth and a thirst for more of this delicious tea. Just wish it wasn’t making my mouth dry..
- Many leaves in my gaiwan are still pressed together, I’ll agitate them and poke at them a bit with the lid to see if I can expose more leaf/flavour.
-Fresh pot of reboiled water cooled to 195F. Same leaves.
40s: Woah Surprise of the session – Colour has gone almost darker than the initial steep and has toned down the smokey aroma, Which can be good or bad depending on how you like your sheng. The taste is bitter-ish still, but vegetal to boot. I like it. Drank this one down like a blonde on spring break getting free shots.
50s: Getting quite bitter in these longer steeps though the colour is very appealing. Tossed this one out .
35s: Much better. Think this is the sweet spot steep time for me. No discernable change from my previous 35s steep. I’m feeling this tea’s calming effect quite well.
4 more steeps at 35s yielded much of the same, albeit slightly weaker.
40s: trying to get a little more life out of this tea with a slightly longer steep. I’ll do a few more of these 40s steeps and then I think I’m done.
Good tea. Could mature a bit more, I’ll try again early next year. I bought a few of these touchas so I’m glad to be only tasting off of 1 and waiting until it’s just right to tear into the others.
Preparation
Went to the Padres game last night ( 5-0, Suck it Giants!) and visited the concession stand. Sure, I could’ve paid $10 for a $2 Coors light, but why when I saw this little guy? It has that nice “Wow” factor when activating the Gizmo that drops the tea into the purified water and mixing it all together, and the flavour wasn’t half bad. It’s a sour pomegranate flavour and not much else. Says white tea on the label and I’m sure it’s in there somewhere, but the fruit flavour is very strong. All in all it quenched my thirst at the ball game and I got a a new iced tea experience out of it.
