TheKesser

I feel very confused by this tea.
Last time I had it, I had added a tiny bit of sugar, but even that was too much for this tea. It made it almost undrinkably sweet. It wasn’t right. So, today, I’m trying it straight up.

I’m finding this one to be confused. I almost feel like it’s having an identity crisis. This tea knows it should be chai flavoured and it’s trying, but at the same time, I feel it’s trying to be something mellower and softer than what it is. It’s trying to be fruity too, but it’s not quite succeeding.
The cinnamon is the strongest flavour in the tea for sure. It’s really all I can taste. I think I can taste the caradmon too. I thought it was nutmeg for a moment there. It’s almost got a cinnamon/nutmeg taste like the cookies I make, but it doesn’t quite work for me for this tea. I might have to try it with milk or try it as a latte.

Straight up I leave feeling sad… haha It’s such a sweet tea… it’s too much…

STOP THE PRESSES!
Hold the phone!

I found an Oolong I like!!!!

I was trying to find an oolong that I liked, but have never found one. I’ve tried the Milk Oolong and the Carrot Cake one from Davidstea, but didn’t care for either of them. I actually gave up trying to find one I liked for a while. I figured I would go my life without finding one that made me smile… but, when I heard about a coconut oolong from Davidstea, I thought I might as well give it a try. I LOVE coconut. I think it’s just one of the most delicious and soothing tastes ever. I think it’s so lovely and should be added to everything. haha

Anyway, this tea is delightful! It is smooth and tasty. I like the smoothness of the coconut and I like how it is the main flavour I get. I can tell that the oolong is in there, but it’s not in a way that I find it too crazy overpowering. I will have to buy a tin of this at some point. It’s too delicious not to.

Delish!!

Sip down! I forgot how great this one is! I always use it to mix with other teas, but I decided that I should have the final tea by itself. I should have made it a bit stronger as the flavours seem to be fading from my stash, but otherwise it is delicious!

I may get this again, but I’m going to wait a bit before I do. There’s no hurry for this one to be restocked as I have so many to still drink.

One more note on this one. This one is good when a migraine is plaguing you and you can barely function. Nothing too crazy going on in this tea and it makes it perfect while I try to calm my head and stomach.

Oh my… this is grapefruit-y… You’d think that for a tea that has mostly orange and very little grapefruit that you wouldn’t taste it the same way. But holy moly.
It’s not my cup of tea at all… too tart…

Another tea from my dad for Christmas!

I’m drinking a black tea without milk?! It’s actually really good. I knew I could taste something other than just pineapple and I think it’s the blackberry teas. The pineapple is very subtle. I do wish it was a bit stronger, but that’s okay. I’m enjoying it. I could see it mixing fairly well with other fruity teas.
Next time I steep it, I might even try it with some milk.

Be forewarned! I’m harsh in this review!

Ew… I don’t care for this one at all. I know I added too much milk (really full milk container threw me off) but honestly, this one tastes bad. I don’t like it. It doesn’t have any real flavour from what I’m gathering. Normally milk doesn’t kill all the flavour with my looseleaf, so it’s very disappointing to me that it did with this one. I don’t know why I keep trying these ‘bagged teas.’ They are always saddening for me. I don’t think I’ll be finishing this one.

I’m starting to realize I really am picky with my teas. I haven’t mastered the love of some of the simple straight teas fully yet, but the ones I have, it’s got to be looseleaf. Otherwise, like with this one, I just think puddle water.

Sorry tea, this one isn’t for me!

Again trying this… cold steeped.

Should have used something other than a metal infuser. It made the tea slightly metallicy. I didn’t notice it in the first few sips but about half way through I did and it wasn’t good. I also should have sweetened it. Cold steeping made me not hate it. I’m going to try it yet again as a cold steep but witha ddifferent filter and sweetened. Maybe then I’ll finally like it… here’s hoping anyway.

I think time’s effect is starting to take its toll on this one. Its very light flavoured. I think I should have added another tsp to my cup of this one.

I do like it tho. It’s sweet and apple cinnamony deliciousness

Sipdown! On my last bit of this one, I felt I should probably just go ahead and drink it on its own as I haven’t done that yet. I always drink it when the hazelnut like I mentioned in my last tasting note.

So, I’m having this one on its own. I’m finding that I definitely put more sugar in than what I meant to. It was kinda an accident. But, meh.

Anyway, I prefer this one mixed with the hazelnut. Something about the combo is delicious. On it’s own it feels like it’s missing something. But I will say this, it definitely tastes like a mellow hot chocolate, with milk and sugar added.

I made this again but iced. I don’t like it. I should have made it stronger but I didn’t. This tea is so lackluster… wouldn’t get this again.

I gotta say, tea is such a wonderful thing. Every day it’s something different, even when you think it’s not going to be. And it’s amazing that sometimes all it takes for it to be different is for the water temp to be too high or too low, or if you let it steep a few mins longer or shorter… This world of tea is really something you can experiment with and never get bored.

And even when you think you might be getting bored, mix it up!

Hate that one kind of tea? Try different flavours or mix them together.
Try different amounts of sweetner or no sweetners.
Try that rooibos with milk! Try it straight up!
Try that black tea with honey! Try it with lemon! Try it in sipping cups instead of a mug!
Try a tea variety that you’ve never had before like white tea or pu’erh, or Oolong!
Try a plain tea instead of a crazy flavour, or vis versa.

Tea is really an expression of yourself, I’m finding. And depending on what tea you grab, can really share your mood and feelings about things.

I am constantly asked what teas I have that are good. What is the definition of good? I think all my teas are good in one way or another. And I know that my teas don’t appeal to everyone either. But, I know what I like, and I try to figure out what others like to help them along the way… which is another reason that I love giving friends samples of my teas.

Anyway, I should really get onto the tea!

Steeped this one for 2.5mins today. I’m finding it a lot more subtle and delicious. I almost wonder if I should stick with the shorter steep time for this one so it doesn’t turn bitter and it stays yummy!
I definitely recommend this one. It’s a very nice black tea with a flavour that isn’t too subtle. It’s lets you know that it’s there. It doesn’t get lost when you add things to it either. Very good!

Another one that work has. I didn’t taste the chocolate at all. If anything it tasted more like the Vanilla bean chai than it did chocolate. Wasn’t impressed by this one at all.

I don’t drink bagged tea anymore… and for a reason. The quality isn’t there, the flavour isn’t there, and I always end up disappointed. I’ll drink it when I’m out and about or if I’m at work, where I don’t want to leave any of my good loose-leaf, but that’s about it.

But, that being said, this tea isn’t terrible. The vanilla flavour is the main flavour. I add milk and sugar and it makes it like a sweet, creamy tea. The only thing is, the chai flavour is almost not even there. I can pick up the smallest amount of it, but it’s really not much worth even mentioning. I wish that it was stronger. I love chai.

As I’m getting closer to the end of the cup, I’m just so disappointed with this one. It really leaves me wanting to go home and make a proper cup of chai tea.

It’s definitely not one that I would own. Maybe I’m just getting too fussy… or… do I dare say it…? Maybe I’m turning into a… tea snob…? Say it ain’t so! But I think it is! I won’t say snob… maybe just a tea connoisseur of sorts? Or maybe I just like the quality loose-leaf has to offer :)

Today it is CHILLY out!! It’s like -23C with the windchill! BRRRR!!! But I must say, I’m loving it! We have so many flu viruses going around that it’s nice that finally the cold is here to zap them all to death. Take that bugs! mahahahaha

And what better to have on a freezing morning in beautiful Ontario Canada, then a cup of Canadian Breakfast! Delish! I think this is one of my absolute favourite black teas. Malty, warm, comforting tea. I’m in love :)

I’m finally trying a Darjeeling!

This one I definitely get the mushroom and floral parts. It’s a nice strong black tea. I’m really liking it. I added milk and sugar, and it seems to be very nice. I didn’t add too much sugar though. I didn’t want to overdo it. I’m not much of a mushroom fan, but I like this tea and how it has that flavour to it. This is one that I wouldn’t be able to drink too much.

I’m so unsure on this one still.
It smells sweet and delicious, but at the same time, it’s almost too much. I dunno.

So, I steeped this one and it’s definitely ice creamy. I only added a bit of skim milk, no sugar. It didn’t need the sugar. I become happier with the flavour as it cools. The creaminess of it seems to come out more and more. This is definitely a tea that I couldn’t drink a ton of all at once. I’d have to have it a little at a time.

This one does do the ‘dreaded oil slick’ on top of it, but I don’t mind it. Swampwater does it too but it’s so delicious that I don’t mind. It’s kind of the same idea here.

1tsp of English Caramel by the Tea Haus, 1.5tsp of S’mores by Teaopia.
Milk and sugar added, but only a bit…

Honestly, not the best combo. I’m finding that the english caramel to be too strong. It actually feels like it’s overpowering the entire goodness of the s’mores tea. My thought when adding these two together was that it would make a caramel-y s’mores tea, but I’m finding that it is just killing it. I don’t know if maybe I should have used less of it, or maybe just used a different caramel tea.

I’m thinking I might try the s’mores with like Oh Canada. Something that is light but caramel-y.

Chance Combinations?! Yes pls!

I’ve done this one before, but I wanted to log it here also as I think it’s a great combo. From the Tea Haus, their Swiss Chocolate and the Hazelnut Cream. 1tsp of each for 3mins. Milk added. The tinest amount of sugar added. Equals chocolate hazelnut bliss! I’m in love. :) And it’s going to help me use up what I have.

One more tasting note on my beloved Stormy Night. The more I drink this one, the more I like it. I almost think of Saigon Chai drinking this one. The cinnamon taste is a little similar.
I’d buy this one again in a heartbeat. I want to get a full tin of it at some point. I have a GC for Davidstea, so maybe once I have sipped-down a few others I might get some more of this one. For now though, I’ll enjoy my last few cups (I have enough for one or two more cups.)

I believe this is the tea that I’m having this morning. I was too slow-moving this morning to actually take the time to make my own tea, which is very unusual for me. Normally that’s the one thing that I always make time for.
Anyway, this tea is fine for this morning. It’s a normal orange pekoe with a mellow/mild flavour. And honestly, that’s all I really have to say about this one this morning…

Five months later, I finally tried this one again. I don’t like it. It’s just not for me. I don’t find the apple taste to be there really, and I think I just don’t care for red rooibos teas that much anymore. I like the green ones much much better.

I’m having this one today again after not having it for a long while. I’ve reorganized my tea collection and moved it under the microwave on the microwave stand. While doing this, I decided it was time see what was nearly gone and condense things. I’ve got a bunch of small tins that I bought from Teaopia before they closed (they hold about 20-25g) and I moved all teas with small amounts into these tins. They are going to be the ones that I try to drink up first.

Anyway, onto the tea. I thought I’d have this one again as I can’t for the life of me remember what it tasted like. It is so perfect for tonight. I’ve been sick and I think I’m finally just about done the cold. So, this one was great ‘cause I could actually taste it really well! The strawberry is smooth and the ginger is a nice little zing! When I worked for the chocolate company, we had ginger chocolates and they were awful. I couldn’t stand them, and to see me liking this one is so funny. The ginger isn’t too strong, but gives the tea just a little something extra. I like the combination and how it seems to all flow so well.

I would definitely get this one again, but I will wait until I have more space in my tea area. I want to get the collection under a bit more control before I buy anymore. haha

I am one of the many people that are fighting a cold right now… boo… I hate being sick. HATE it. But really, who likes being sick?
I got this one when I went to Banff. I got it mostly ‘cause it smells delicious! I wasn’t sick, but rather wanted to have it on hand in case someone got sick or I was just feeling adventurous to try it without a cold.
I think I made this one a bit stronger than I meant to. It apparently made the whole main floor of the house smell like vicks vapour rub. I was able to smell it a bit, but after a while I couldn’t. I don’t think it really did anything for me other than it helped sooth my throat a bit. I would definitely get again though. Others found that it helped them a lot, so I would go with that based solely on their experiences