38 Tasting Notes

83

Decided to give my new gongfu style oolong pot a try from Samovar, paired with their Wuyi Dark Roast. In my opinion, this is the best method for preparing this oolong. Each infusion exhibits stronger singular qualities that are typically hidden when brewing en masse. The Wuyi slowly develops into the sweeter honeysuckle and raisin qualities with each brew and loses some of the stronger peat/chocolate notes that are present at the start.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 0 min, 45 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

91
drank Ryokucha by Samovar
38 tasting notes

Amazing tea. I love the smooth and rich taste of the toasted rice blended with the sencha and matcha powder. It has a great grassy/kelp taste that deepens the overall flavor profile. However, my only gripe about this tea is the brewing instructions. The Ryokucha video online recommends using 16 ounces of boiling water added to 1 teaspoon of tea infused for 1-2 minutes. Yet, the can recommends the traditional preparation with the cooled water, 1 tablespoon, and 2-4 minutes. What do you guys recommend? I basically did a hybrid of the two and met in the middle.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec
takgoti

I do a heaping teaspoon [sometimes I tip a little more in there] with around 8-9 ounces of water at anywhere from 170-190°F and around 3-4 minutes. Clearly, my methods aren’t exact, but I’ve found that it’s remained pretty consistent throughout.

Thomas M. Frank

Thanks for your input! I can tell that I’m going to experiment a great deal with this tea. Not a bad thing considering this blend is absolutely delicious.

takgoti

Fantastic! Looking forward to any insight you have to offer in future logs!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

73
drank White Peony by Rishi Tea
38 tasting notes

A nice floral and earthy tea. Easy drinking with a light mouthfeel.

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 4 min, 45 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

87
drank Moorish Mint by Samovar
38 tasting notes

Very impressive tea. I’ve brewed this blend about 4 or 5 times now, with multiple infusions each time. Really getting used to the multitude of flavors associated with this particular herbal/green. The first time I brewed this tea, I deliberately made the batch a bit stronger than usual to really get a sense of the punch this tea can muster. I was really impressed with the strong mint aftertaste and the hints of fennel, ginger, and black pepper that I’ve really come to enjoy. Each infusion releases different aspects of the tea that were hiding before. One may be particularly strong in cardamom or fennel, while other infusions are more subdued, and tend to exhibit more minty, earthy, and sweet flavor characteristics. Great tea. Samovar continues to deliver on quality and tase.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 4 min, 0 sec
takgoti

I’d say that this is one of my favorite teas from them, but I have at least 5, so I’m not sure what that’s worth. Anyhow, I love this one. It’s also awesome if your stomach’s feeling upset. [Mint in general is – but this one tastes better!]

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

95
drank Russian Blend by Samovar
38 tasting notes

Well this is my third tea that I received in the Diggnation “Hippie Glenn” Samovar set, and I must say I think I saved the best for last. I’ve been a huge fan of Russian/Lapsang blends for years now but I think this one takes the prize. This is the first lapsang style blend that doesn’t “punch me in the face” when I drink it. This blend is creamy, smooth, and remarkably sweet for such a smokey tea. The balance of flavors is impeccable. Great with scones and jam in the morning.

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

I will have to check this one out…place it on my shopping list.

takgoti

It’s really neat to see your progression on this. And I just realized I didn’t log this one. Another tea to add to the tea log pile! Cheers for you finding an LS blend to your liking!

Thomas M. Frank

Thanks Takgoti! Ya, the journey through the tea set has been great. Each steep gets better and better. I just ordered some Ryokucha, so I’m definitely looking forward to brewing some up soon. Love the stuff from Samovar. Great quality so far.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

85
drank Berry Rooibos by Samovar
38 tasting notes

Decided to brew this delicious herbal infusion after receiving it in my Diggnation “Hippie Glenn” Tea Set. The first thing that hit me about this tea is it’s amazing aroma. Hints of blueberry, orange, and hibiscus float gently off of this red, almost fruit punch looking brew. The flavor profile reminds me of blueberry pie, with a tart kick and creamy mellow finish that is dominated by the schizandra. Simply spectacular. As a less than frequent herbal drinker, I must say that this infusion may become a part of my daily routine.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 30 sec
takgoti

Oooh! I think I held off on this one for my incoming Samovar order, but I’ll pick it up on the next one for sure. Sounds delicious!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

83

Just got this tea in today for xmas in addition to the Diggnation “Hippie Glenn” set from Samovar. After about 2 or 3 infusions of this oolong, I have to say I am pretty impressed. The Samovar website lists the flavor profile of this tea to be rich and complex with roasted notes and hints of raisins, barley, peat, and honeysuckle. From what I can tell, they are spot on with their description. Great tea.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 1 min, 0 sec
takgoti

Excellent! I’ve tried this one a couple of times; I’m still trying to get myself acquainted with the darker oolongs. They taste good, I just can’t pick them apart. It’s a newer flavor for me. Looking forward to seeing your thoughts on Hippie Glenn’s tea set!

Thomas M. Frank

I’m a complete newcomer to the oolong world. I very rarely ever drink them, but I’m beginning to love them. Now on to the Hippie Glenn set!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

74

I’ve been meaning to review this tea for quite some time. A staple in my weekly lineup, Octavia’s 100% Organic Silver Needle is a very earthy, sweet, and refreshing tea. The leaves are exquisite with a robust nectar/honey scent and the distinct “fuzzy” profile. They seem to have been packaged perfectly with only a trace of broken leaves. After brewing for about 4-5 minutes, the tea lived up to its description with a natural mellow/sweet finish and a touch of earthiness. Although its not the best Silver Needle I have brewed, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 5 min, 0 sec
takgoti

I’ve been watching Octavia for a while because, and I know that this is completely shallow of me, I like their tins. How do they compare to other companies you’ve tried?

Thomas M. Frank

I usually stick to tea by Upton Imports or Itoen, but for a fairly commercialized brand, this tea doesn’t fall too far behind the others. The quality and taste seem to match up fairly well.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

Market Intelligence Analyst

Location

Erie, PA

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer