188 Tasting Notes

81
drank Earl Grey Creme by Market Spice
188 tasting notes

Thanks TeaTiff for sharing this one with me with another sample you sent me :)

I’m pretty new to Earl Grey teas & haven’t ventured into them much because I’ve tended to avoid most citrus in teas thus far, especially if they have any main notes in the flavor profile. I may come around to some of them, but grew up not liking the ice tea/lemonade blends that my dad thought were so amazing.

This one intrigued me from the start. The smell of the dry leaf is amazing, sweet and rich.

Steeped this one is a nice base and comes through as creamy, very little bergamot, and I get a peppery finish which I am uncertain about. I’m a lover of pepper on foods, but not sure about it here. I may have to give this one another try at a lower steeping temperature and see if that changes my thoughts on this one. I think I would enjoy this one w/o the end taste of pepper.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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89

I wasn’t sure what I wanted this morning and this one seemed to beckon me. I’ve reached for it several times, only to smell it and change my mind.

Dry it smells sweet and almost peachy to me. I’m not one to like artificial peach so I’ve put it back down for fear it would taste much that way.

This steeps up a nice amber color, like most rooibos, and it smells sweet w/maybe a hint of vanilla… a nice surprise considering I assumed peach was going to come play. The flavor is much the same… vanilla w/a hint of cream & spice. I added a bit of sugar, as my usual, and could see myself trying this with a touch of milk/cream and maybe even a dash of nutmeg to see where the flavor goes. As it cools I get a little bit more spice… Yum!

I don’t really get eggnog as it is, but overall a very nice cup of tea that I could see myself enjoying especially while winding down of an evening. Thanks MissB!

Flavors: Cream, Vanilla

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 4 min, 0 sec
MissB

Glad you enjoyed it!

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My Hubby is into fruit teas and has been looking for a good blueberry. We had one a few years ago when we bought him a bag of loose leaf on a whim, it was a blueberry rooibos blend. The company now only makes their blueberry version w/a black base.

This one smells nice as a dry leaf… sweet and fruity, not sure I can pick out blueberry.

I wasn’t with him when he steeped it, so don’t know if he followed directions well. He drank about 3/4 of the cup and even tried a bit of sugar, which isn’t his normal, and he was ready to discard the last bit.

I offered to try it and see what he was tasting. To me, there was a berry flavor, but mostly hidden beneath the green tea flavor, and it seemed to have a thick mouth feel. I think this may be one of the first fruit flavored green teas that he has had. He has had plain greens at restaurants before, so he’s familiar with the flavor.

I’m going to hold off on rating this one until I have a chance to try it & be sure it is steeped correctly and see where we are after that.

He did try a blueberry blend from American Tea Room after trying this one and it was received much better (can’t get Steepster to let me review it, so I’ll try it later). Still not quite what he had before.. but closer.

Thanks MissB for sending these one our way for him to try!

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94

I can see why MissB loves this one so! I too enjoy mint tea and this one is a nice caffeine free blend that is soothing and flavorful… that’s the short version ;)

Dry it smells lightly of sweet peppermint. I think this is my first green rooibos, and there are little flecks of red to make this feels like Christmas time… although it would be good anytime.

When first steeped and still hot, I tried this w/o my normal sugar, and ended up adding just a pinch with this one. I could’ve probably done w/o, but wanted to see how much it brought out the true candy cane flavor. This tea was minty, but not overdone, and very much in the candy cane flavor.. not just pure peppermint. I don’t know how to describe the difference, but somehow, unless it’s a mind thing, it seems more like the candy version of peppermint… Yum!

I really enjoyed the lingering coolness in my mouth after each sip that you would also notice after eating a peppermint candy. I don’t always get that sensation after other peppermint teas, I’m not sure the difference, but I found it enjoyable.

I can see myself reaching for this one when I want something light, without too many flavors… or too strong of flavors, sitting around thinking about Christmas with a hot mug of it in hand. I could also see this one maybe being really refreshing iced on a hot day… I might have to find out, that minty cool aftertaste just might hit the spot.

Major backlog on this one! I can’t believe I kept forgetting to make a note on this when MissB sent me one of her favorites! So sorry! Thanks for sharing and introducing me to this one! & Simpson & Vail (Hubby & I also love the cinnamon chocolate brownie!).
I might have to place an order for these for my birthday next month!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 30 sec
MissB

Woot! I love that you love this as well. :)

Suziqzer

Yum! :)

hapatite

How does this rank compares to TSTE and Teavana Candy Cane ones?

Suziqzer

Think the purest candy cane and that is what you get with this one. Simple, refreshing, & more candy cane than peppermint somehow… even though that’s what a candy cane is, I know. Somehow it’s different though.. maybe it’s just the colors of the tea that make this one seem so much that way.. the visual play on the flavor. Or maybe because it’s such a simple, light flavor.

The TS&TE one has black tea with rich chocolate notes, and is a heavier tasting and feeling tea in general.

The Teavana one you sent me, White Chocolate Peppermint Rooibos, is that the one you are referring to? It is heavier on the peppermint, has the white chocolate, and is a heavier feeling tea as well. It must be the chocolate and other ingredients together in it that makes it feel that way. A more complex blend of flavor. (Hubby had tried this the other night and really liked it… smelled yummy! I had to get out the other bag today when I saw your question and try it myself.)

I really like them all, even though they are very different. They each have their own place and I could stock all three easily. I’m into peppermint, chocolate, and spice teas right now.. so that probably has something to do with it!

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80

Wowser Mango! I opened the bag of this and the smell is amazing!

I have to say up front that peach/mango isn’t usually my thing, if it’s artificial at all anyway. Love the real stuff! But I gave this one a go anyway and didn’t let the “mango” on the label keep me from opening and trying this one.

Steeped this maintains much of it’s fragrance, and tastes much like it smells. I could see myself drinking this on the rare occasion. Hubby asked what I was drinking because he could smell it before I joined him in the living room. Usually the fake fragrance of mango or peach is off-putting to both of us. He wasn’t disturbed by it, but couldn’t place what he was smelling… good sign!

I have been surprised to find that some flavors that I don’t care for in food/drinks, I can like in tea… This is one. I don’t want it all the time, but on occasion might reach for it for something different. Thanks MissB for including it in my box of goodness ! I wouldn’t likely have tried it on my own.

If I don’t find myself sipping this up fast enough, I’ll likely give the rest to a friend of mine who is a lover of all things mango or peach…. She would absolutely love this one! Or maybe, just maybe, I’ll just serve it to her when she is over with her kids to visit… It might give her a reason to make it over more often :) We all need some motivation to slow down and spend time together these days… why not make some good tea a part of the reason?

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 4 min, 15 sec
MissB

This is the fun part of swapping/sharing teas, is that you try/find things that you’d never find otherwise.

Suziqzer

I love it! Thanks again :)

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86

I was looking for something caffeine free last night and this jumped out at me. I got this from MissB’s stash sale awhile back :)

Hubby had a cup of this recently and it smelled very good, so I had to try it too.

I have to be in the mood for a fruity tea, but apple is one that I can do almost anytime.

Dry this smells sweetly of apple and spices. There are big chunks of what I assume are apple bits just covered in rooibos… and most of the rooibos in the bottom of the blend so you have to be mindful to get a good mix.

Steeped this is overly sweet smelling, but not sweet to the taste. I added a bit of sugar, as to my normal, but think if I wasn’t a sugar user I might have reached for it to make the sweet smell come together in the flavor as well. I found it to be a nice apple/cinnamon cup, with a touch of pastry if you look for it.

I was able to get a second, weaker, steep on this one.. although I did leave my steeper ball in my mug while I drank it. ;)

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 30 sec

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84
drank Coconut green by Zen Tea
188 tasting notes

I gave this one a go this morning.. Thanks MissB for sharing this with me!

I do think I am still coming around to greens, so long as they are flavored and balanced well.. and this one certainly works.

I have found that I really enjoy coconut in tea and this one is mostly that.. ! Dry leaf smells great. Steeped and while very hot it comes through as mostly a green tea, but as it cools to warm and drinkable, the coconut shows itself.

I added a touch of my normal raw sugar to help bring out the coconut sweetness. I found that they do make an oolong version which might be nice to try sometime, but I’m not real familiar with those yet.

Flavors: Coconut

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84
drank Snow Apple Spice by Silk Road
188 tasting notes

Thanks Eva for sneaking this in as an extra when you sent me another sample!

I wanted something with a black base this morning, and don’t often reach for fruit teas, but this one looked good this morning.. and the smell of the dry leaf put it in my cup.

Dry it smells sweet and faintly of cinnamon and apple. Steeped the flavors come out.. sweet cinnamon and apple (I did add my normal touch of raw sugar after tasting it-could’ve managed w/o, but so much more dessert-like with). Reminds me of apple crisp or an apple dumpling without the crust or crumbles. I would have thought I would have preferred to have the pastry flavor, but in this blend I enjoy that they left that out and let the other flavors come through.. it feels like a cleaner blend without one more flavor competing. I don’t really taste the black base, but I’m ok with that here. I’m more familiar with blacks than other bases, so maybe it just blends well and I don’t recognize it as standing out.

This is the first I’ve heard of Silk Road, and I might have to take a look at their website soon and see what all they offer … maybe I’ll grab a bit of this for my birthday in enjoy March. It will still be cool enough here to enjoy this hot then.

Flavors: Cinnamon

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
Suziqzer

Yikes.. just looked at their website. Shipping will cost me on this one.. might have to find another one similar :)

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92

Thanks Eva for offering to send me a sample of this …
I have put off tasting it for a bit because most of my orders have been Della Terra so far and I’ve been afraid this would mean another one, I’d like to branch out a little, but their sales suck me right in. Eeks!

This one smells great dry. Sweet & cinnamon… Yum! I was skeptical at other reviews that this could actually taste much like an oatmeal cookie. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I get sweet cinnamon on each sip with a buttery cookie aftertaste.

Flavors: Cinnamon

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
Suziqzer

Re-steeped well, but a little weaker. To be expected for a flavored tea.

EveInOrbit

You added sugar and cream right?? ;)

Suziqzer

I added sugar for this cup… after a preliminary sip of course ;)
I did a small cup so I have enough for one more… which will be with cream and sugar for sure.

I found there were some extra bits in the bottom of my cup when I finished that were different than I’ve experienced with any other tea. After looking at the ingredients it must have been oatmeal that made it through my infuser basket.. reminded me of the bits in the bottom of a glass of milk when you’ve dunked a few too many oatmeal cookies.

EveInOrbit

Haha, it’s so much better with it! Hmm… now that you mention it, I want to make a cup to see if mine does the same. Plus now I’m craving cookies.

Suziqzer

Lol.. cookies with cookie flavored tea!
If you made it with milk/cream you might not have noticed the extra stuff in the bottom of your cup… although I found I had to dump it out, and often I’m able to drink it. It tasted good enough that it didn’t bother me though.

Lol.. cookies with cookie flavored tea!
If you made it with milk/cream you might not have noticed the extra stuff in the bottom of your cup… although I found I had to dump it out, and often I’m able to drink it. It tasted good enough that it didn’t bother me though.I have made a few bath teas, one with ground oats, and it reminded me of the wet oats in my tea bag when it’s been used.

EveInOrbit

Ahh, that’s why (I made it with cream). It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised!

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87
drank Paris by Harney & Sons
188 tasting notes

I’ve been curious about this tea for awhile since I’ve seen several tasting notes on it. Thanks TeaTiff for sending a generous sample my way.

This is a nice black tea base with some fruity flavors (no distinct flavor stands out to me)and vanilla. I don’t know if it is the name of this blend that inspires me, but I can imagine drinking this tea in a fancy tea shop with little sandwiches & pastries.

I don’t think I would drink this every day. Maybe on memorable occasions or when I feel the need for something special. I may change my mind though .. :)

Flavors: Vanilla

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Profile

Bio

37 yr old wife and mother who left her day job to take care of our son. Now running a property management business with my hubby.

I grew up on Lipton -hot w/milk & sugar, Lipton iced w/fresh spearmint and sugar, and Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime … Don’t criticize.

I came across Good Earth Original Sweet and Spicy out of chance and it spurred my interested in trying new teas because it was a flavor I had never had before in a tea. I’m now new to the world of loose leaf teas and looking forward to learning what I like as I journey through some new flavors. Hubby has always enjoyed the occasional cup when we’ve been out and about at restaurants.. now we will find out what good teas are really all about! On with the adventures!

Still relatively new to loose leaf, but I’m learning… Coconut, cinnamon, chai, chocolate, mint, & pineapple are just a few of the flavors I enjoy. I have found that I can do green teas so long as there are other flavors as well and it isn’t the primary flavor. I have only found 1 rooibos blend that was too woodsy for me, most of the time the base is hidden or blends well enough w/flavored versions for my liking. I’m beginning to enjoy fruit teas more and more. I occasionally like a straight black tea.

Hubby likes milder flavors, any base, berry flavors, sweet aromas, sometimes tart, and or floral, and chocolate to my surprise! Almost the opposite of me.. go figure!

My 8 year old just took interest and loves root beer.. so far Butterbeer is a hit, but we haven’t tried any root beer or cola teas yet.. soon thanks to the Marvelous MissB for sending some samples. He enjoyed Winter Nog (Della Terra) recently, but turned away something else I gave him.. darn if I can’t remember now what it was!

Location

Indiana

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