Stephanie

Pronounced pine and smoked flavor. Cooling and astringent. A perception of ashes in the back of the throat.

This was brewed very strong, using the whole sample packet and boiling water for over 5 minutes.

I actually thought this had yerba mate in it! It smells very mate-ish to me. And at first, it tastes almost off-puttingly herbal—just agressively green and earthy (in a “sawdust-floor, hippie, co-op grocery” kind of way). But then on cooldown, the flavor mellows out to mostly mint and citrus. This is very spearmint-y.

Get this if you like spearmint.

First sips: Lightly peach. Refreshing. Slightly sweet—in a “clear” crystalline way. Like a peach sorbet.

I’ve kept this steeped forever and used boiling water but it hasn’t gotten bitter or astringent at all. So upon cooldown, the flavor just seems to get more syrupy and more candied—like Peach Jolly Ranchers.

I like it! :)

Tastes surprisingly milky! Smells deliciously like caramel and yams. I’m kind of surprised overall by this—I thought it would have been too “cloying” and artifical but it’s not at all. It’s a wonderful sweet potato flavor and very enjoyable. I love the milkiness!

Finally opened my sample packet and used up all the tea.

Tastes like a coconut cassava casserole. Sweet,“thick” and yummy—with a “baked yam” note.

No astringency detected in the black tea base. Just a slight “coffee-esque” bitterness edged with cream.

Pretty good. RIP SpecialTeas!

Thoroughly enjoying my second mug of this excellent brew. :)
I have to admit that this tea has grown on me. I thought it was okay at first but now I really like it. Maybe because it’s had the chance to “age” a bit? It’s just so soothing with its soft biscuity-ness.

The perfect thing after overindulging in pizza for dinner.

A nice smoky, herbally green.

This really tastes and looks so much like a ginseng oolong! Really rolled up and pebbly—there’s even that herbal ginseng kind of “bite” to it. I love the smokiness in this—very mellow, not astringent at all. Kind of “dusky” and smooth with a hint of mint and sweetness.

thepuriTea’s description of this spot on. I think it’s very good!

Sweet, creamy and mint-alicious!! :) Tempered with a slightly bitter, almost tangy, green tea taste—overlaid with a toasty black tea. Refreshing yet cozy and warm. I love the vanilla in this—almost like creme brulee. Super yummy.

I think this tea is growing on me—instead of searching for “cake”, I’m beginning to like this for what I can taste in it—mainly buttered asapargus and Wheat Thins. There is also a flavor of broth and minerals.

I’m not detecting any bitterness or tannins at all. Super smooth—which makes it perfect to just toss into my travel mug and resteep all day. I’m feeling somehow calmer and more centered just by drinking this.

Just a quick impression—

I’ve steeped this with more tea then last time _{(plus a lower temp and longer steep time)}—using about 5 good-sized nuggets (nearly the size of the those little dried, salted plums) to 12.85 ounces.

I’m now getting an abundance of buttery asparagus and hints of wheat thins—but still no cake.

Yay! I got this today and instantly tore into it!

I have to say it’s super smooth and the flavor seems very soft and slate-y. But I’m not getting much of anything else, sadly. No cinnamon, no sweetness, no vanilla, no angel food cake…

Just smooth, soft, slightly rooty puerh-ness.

But wait!…..if I breathe deeply and exhale with each sip—I can taste something like buckwheat…something like malt-o-meal..something like those whole wheat tea biscuits in those cylindrical packages _{(“Digestive Biscuits”?)}. Then, finally some rich buttery notes, upon cooldown.

Wow. Some teas assert themselves right away. This one doesn’t. Patience is key!

Minty, savory green tea. I’ve steeped this pretty potently so the “brothy” notes are shining through. Not bitter at all and very refreshing. After a very late, fun night, I’m finding this very soothing to the tummy this morning!

This would definitely be delicious with sugar or honey!

Tastes very woodsy-sweet—like sandalwood and maple syrup. Has a bit of “chewiness” and a hint of breadiness. The smokiness is more apparent on cooldown.

I’m really enjoying this cup—I think this is (was) a very good tea. It is very yummy. Makes a great breakfast tea—very substantial and invigorating. I love the mapley, caramelly, woodsy sweetness.

In short, Keemuns are great! :)
_{(and R.I.P. SpecialTeas!!!)}

An interesting flavor—I like it!

Citrusy, sweet, spicy, tangy and toasty all at once. Reminds me of Thai food—with all its melange of flavors.

Roasted cardamom and pineapple upon cooldown.

Really yummy…and strangely comforting and refreshing at the same time.

Tastes like lightly roasted white flowers with bits of peach. Soft jasmine-like aroma.

There’s a slight nuttiness and tartness in the aftertaste—like chestnuts and cherries. Interesting!

Honey-like sweetness, mild and smooth. Faint notes of honeysuckle and toast.

A pleasure to drink!

I miss you The Simple Leaf!

Lovely!

I’m struck by the pure taste of gardenias and jasmine in this—yet it’s not “flavored”. It just tastes so…pretty!!

Creamy white flowers. Slightly toasty, steamy “green-ness”. HInts of peach and banana.

Like the tropics in a glass.

What a beautiful tea! :)

First sip…tastes like edamame! A bit briney and a bit sweet.

Next sips.. settles into smooth, slightly smoky, woodsy cocoa with hints of soy sauce.

Super mild—very easy to drink. Not tannic at all.

Another very subtle, easygoing tea. It’s nice, may be best for an afternoon or early evening tea. But for mornings, it looks like I need something with more “kick”.

Smells like rich dark chocolate.

Taste is very mild and smooth with a faint chocolatey essence and just a hint of that distinctive puerh earthiness.

This is good but just super super subtle. I would have a preferred a more aggressive flavor. Next time I’ll use more leaf (I used about a teaspoon for 12.85 oz).

This would be a nice “starter” pu-erh for the uninitiated! :)

First off, I think this smells delicious. All at once sweet, sour and biscuity.

I gave this a quick “rinse” before the actual steeping (as the directions recommended) but I think it may have rinsed away most of the actual flavor potency?

Now there’s just a hint of something like yummy vinegary biscuits—which I know may sound weird but I love vinegar! I love balsamic vinegar over strawberries. I love fish and chips doused with malt vinegar. And I love Sea Salt & Vinegar Kettle Chips!

Wouldn’t that be neat if there was a Salt & Vinegar Chip-flavored tea?

Anyways, this a mild black tea with a subtle “sweet and sour” flavor. Slightly malty. A bit drying on the lips.

Super earthy and “rooty”—like fresh from the ground roots! I feel like I can taste the topsoil in this! Rich, loamy, fertile topsoil.

Woodsy, earthy, bitter (in a good way), herbaceous-tasting tea.

I think this is a pretty good pu-erh blend—if pu-erh is what you’re craving, this will do in a pinch!

Good, “standard” genmaicha taste. Satisfyingly toasty. There’s a hint of salt (like soy sauce) in the taste. Not bitter even when steeped (and re-steeped) several times. I emptied out two tea bags in my 12.85 travel tea mug. Surprisingly flavorful, for a tea bag!

A surprisingly mild and mellow tea _{(somehow I was expecting something more “vigorous”?)}. Very soothing, though.

The flavor is a bit fruity (like grapes). Woodsy with a hint of dampened earth and sea salt.

I can smell a maltiness—but I can’t taste it, for some reason.

Hmm…

This particular tasting is okay—I’m soothed but not very wow’ed. It’s just too mild—meek even. Not much “heft” or body. Thin.

Next time I will use more leaf. I used 1 teaspoon to 12.85 ounces.

I’ve had my sample packet for close to a year and a half now…so I guess it’s sort of “aged” in a way. I love the description for this—“sweet and biscuity”!!

The scent reminds me of sandalwood. Sweet, woodsy and bit resinous. The taste is very smooth almost “sugary”. A bit biscuity too. A hint of smoke adds depth.

Very delicious.

R.I.P. SpecialTeas! Thanks for offering such a superb Keemun! Now I know that I should keep an eye out for Hao-Ya A’s. It is very good stuff. :)