Uniquity

I’m amazed. It was David’s first birthday at the location near me today so I stopped in to celebrate, re-fill our Jungle JuJu and Honeybee. I decided to grab a cup of this to go, as I am trying a number of mate teas lately and find I am really enjoying them. Caffeine has no noticable effect on me, so they are really just another yummy field of tea for me.

As many know, I don’t really like chocolate in tea but have had such positive experiences today that I figured I’d try for it. And man, am I glad that I did!! This was delicious. At first, it was totally just chocolate and raspberry which isn’t a taste I liked but it totally worked. As it cooled, the chickory, chocolate and mate dominated with the raspberry fading out. I think I am going to go by 100 grams of this tomorrow, as it’s nice to have another delicious substitute for hot chocolate. Honestly, I’m so wowed. Well done David’s! Also, I think I might really like mate…woo!

I did something radical this morning. I steeped a tea – this tea – to package specifications. It’s been so long since I had this that my taste memory is mostly gone but I do perceive some differences. Firstly, I actually got some vanilla flavour. Still no apple, but what the hey. Secondly, it’s actually a delightfully mild but spicy chai.

I used 2 tsp. (I can see why – white tea being so fluffy and all that in terms of volume it looks about the same as 1 tsp. of other teas) and steeped for 2 minutes. My water might have been too hot as I am at work, but it still worked out. I still had that weird smell I get from 52Teas Bai Mu Dan (I don’t notice it with other companies, I don’t know what’s up with that!) but it isn’t translating into the taste. I do get a white tea taste in the middle of the sip, which is also new for me and this tea. Either that or I have finally learned what white tea tastes like. Either way, yay!

Tea #1 of 12 from the exceptionally generous sampler package from Fusion Tea Room. Thanks, Fusion! I have been big into herbals and tisanes for years, and even when I go on a different kick (such as my recent fondness for unflavoured blacks) I always still enjoy them. This one smells very berry in the bag, with no discernible note over-ruling though I do think strongly of strawberries and raspberries. Steeped, it turns a deep red fairly quickly but the smell is muted quite a bit and I couldn’t pick out one particular scent.

First sips are berry, but gentle. The hibiscus does NOT come up as tart as I expected based on the colour but does add a little balanced tartness at the end of the sip. The lingering taste is of strawberry and raspberry (I would say more raspberry than anything) which is very exciting. I have very few teas that capture raspberry and this one does it. Of course, it is still a ‘berry melange’ and not just a cuppa raspberry tea, but it’s really enjoyable and surprisingly sweet. I’ve got to say, this raspberry note sort of blows me away. I think this could have done with a bit more steeping for full strength (I was worried about the hibiscus) but this first cup is excellent. The beau comments that it “tastes like a watered down juice. I like that.” : )

Enjoyed a decadent cup of this at work this morning, thanks to Taryn who keeps posting about it! My cup was very minty, but the chocolate was surpringly rich, almost as good as drinking hot chocolate with mint tea in it, which I love to do. Only better for me! : ) At the very end of the cup the peppercorns really came out to play which I enjoyed. I don’t remember them being very flavourful in previous infusions so it was a real treat to have that peppery edge. It takes this tea from plain but yummy chocolate mint to awesome.

Also, I think I might like chocolate tea in general now, huzzah! I think I finally feel ready to try Joy’s Teaspoon’s sample of Chocolat Pot de Tea.

Okay, it finally happened. I finally, after more than a year of loose leaf love, have fallen out of love with my bagged Twinings Black Currant. It makes me sad, but also excited becuase now I can officially begin the hunt for an amazing loose black currant. Unfortunately, I rarely see ‘plain’ black currant black teas. What’s up with that? : )

Well, apparently I haven’t had this since last year…We bought 2 or 3 berry herbals from David’s Tea at the same time last year and I have always had trouble remembering which ones I really like and which ones come out too tart. Today, this one I really like. I went a bit low on the steep time so the hibiscus couldn’t take over and am having an enjoyable berry flavoured buppa which is what I was going for. I feel like Bear Trap was the one I loved, but right now I’m liking this. And it is cutting through my garlicky hummus breath, so that’s good for my colleagues!

Okay. Months later, I have opted to try this. The first thing I wonder is how others are steeping this? It is far too fine and dusty for my metal infuser, so I’m steeping it in a T-Sac but I even managed to shake some tea dust out of that. I gave it three minutes to steep, no additions, water that wasn’t quite boiling, as it came from the spigot at work.

First sips are confusing. Not the hit over the head ginger and cinnamon taste I expected from similar “bold teas”. At the front of the sip, there is a rich flavour, slightly bitter black tea, but almost more on the edge of the coffee. The end of the sip is well balanced, with a hint of ginger burn on the tongue (if that makes sense). I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it. I do think it would hold up spectacularily to a proper stovetop method with milk, which is saying a lot for me. I think this might be better with a hint of honey to sweeten out the rough edges (ground tea obviously comes off a bit bitter. Silly tannins).

I think I will take it home to make there, as I can’t try stovetop OR honey at work. I greatly prefer 52Teas Gingerbread Chai to this one, but I think that this might be just the thing on a biting winter day, with snow blowing in my eyes and ice trying to trip me on every step.

Update: I found a bit (and I mean a bit!) of white sugar that I had hidden in the cupboard for emergencies. I stirred it in (maybe 1/4 of a teaspoon) and I find that it has managed to mellow out some of the slight bitterness without really adding any sweetness. That’s a yay! Definitely confirming my thoughts about this being a winter tea. Would make a good latte if I had that skill.

This smells amazing, dry. The beau picked it out to drink on our return from the Market and I acquiesced. Then I looked it up..uh oh. Rosehips? Hibiscus? Chamomile? Herm. This is one the 60+ teas (yes, sixty!) that I recieved in my box of wonder that I purchased from LiberTeas via TeaTrade. It’s been so warm the last few weeks that I’ve only been drinking tea at work, and none of these are there so this is the first one I’ve broken into.

Back to the tea. Ever since I read a tasting note on here (don’t remember whose) about squeezing steeped rosehips and having them ooze, just thinking about it makes me a little queasy. I already have a tenuous relationship with hibiscus and hate chamomile, but I am hoping the delicious sweet orange dry smell really translates in the taste.

The liquor is very red (hibiscus) and the steeped aroma is unusual. Tart and dry, with an oatmeal-ish edge, according to the beau. I’m fairly certain the odd scent I keep getting is the chamomile mixing with all the other powerful ingredients. There is no echo here of the dry aroma, this is a whole different beast.

First sips are a relief. The hibiscus isn’t overwhelming and the chamomile is there but not dominant. I don’t get any orange or cranberry though, which is a let down. As it cools, the chamomile takes over. Bleck. I appreciate the chance to try this one, but I think I will try to move the rest of my sample along to a friend. Either that or convince the beau to drink as he DOES get orange and doesn’t get chamomile.

Firstly, thank you to Tea Licious for having sent me this sample months ago. Secondly, I’m sorry Tea Licious, that I took so long to get to this sample. I’m terrible for that, on occasion.

This one is surprisingly pleasant. I don’t have much experience with Ceylons, so I am not sure of the nuances, but it is a wholly drinkable (and enjoyable!) black tea, if a little forgettable. I know this may be blasphemy, but it doesn’t seem terribly diffferent from my bagged Bigelow Ceylon (which I enjoy!). I get something approaching plum or raisin on the end of the sip, quite a sweet taste left in my mouth almost as if I had added a drop of honey. I could imagine this being a wonderful way to convert bagged black tea drinkers to the wonders of loose leaf. It almost has a hint of astringency, but it hasn’t developed any bitter impressions. I imagine it would easily take milk and sugar without being totally washed out, but I think it is fine as is.

The aroma of this as it is steeping blew me away. I was convinced before tasting that it would be THE apple tea for me. I steeped it three minutes and leaned in closer for a better sniff. Hmm. Not good. Up close, this doesn’t smell nearly as good as the tantalizing apple aromas that waft out of the pot. I’m not much of a green tea person, so I was a little concerned about the green tea base, and I think that is what I am picking up on in my “up close sniff”.

First sips echo my recent thoughts. I get apple, certainly, but I get a bit more green tea taste than I would prefer. I found it reminiscent of Baked Apple from the last winter collection, which it took me time to enjoy so hopefully this will grow on me as well. I have 26 grams to learn to love, for now. It also reminds me of the dreaded chamomile apple bagged Twinings that I bought a few months back, and that is NOT a taste association I ever want again. Drinking that made me nauseous.

As it cooled, I got more pastry aspect, though I noted that it could use a bit more cinnamon to round out the apple pie aspect. I considered blending some with a vanilla tea to give it an ‘a la mode’ aspect…this is something I might try later on. The beau made a second steep this morning with breakfast that I didn’t try but he reported that he liked it better the second time and found it had more pie aspect.

While there is always the strong possibility of my mis-steeping it (no temp. gage or thermometer in our house!) this leaves a little something to be desired, for now. As I reported to the beau, I’m on the fence about this one. It has the potential to be great, but it hasn’t shone yet.

I’ve figured out what it reminds me of: Ruby Red from Joy’s Teaspoon. Which I love and have 6 ounces of. This isn’t quite as strong in flavour as the Ruby Red (though I suspect that has to do with the dried fruit, which I have learned to carefuly spread out) but is still fairly potent and very sweetly flavoured. I enjoy this, but when it is all gone I won’t be getting any more. There is almost a pseudo smoke note in the middle of the sip, but I suspect that is the rooibos. I have had this small amount for quite some time, and look forward to finishing it off and de-cupboarding it after one more cuppa. I’ve become quite fond of the idea of de-cupboarding lately, although I never seem to finish any teas. I should get to work! : )

I know there is nothing new about the fact that this tea is tasty, but I am enjoying it so much right now that I figured I might as well log it. My only disappointment with this tea is that it frequently seems to be rather thin, likely because it is a decaf tea. The vanilla flavour is still more caramel than coconut, and though it could be stronger it is a lovely mild tea, not one I really focus on but good to wile away the afternoon at work (though I’d rather have another afternoon at home with a good book!)

Enjoying a surprisingly strong second steep of this today. It is not as tart as yesterday (less hibiscus) and I find the blueberry flavour is more out to play. The sage is still fairly strong, but supportive of the blueberry.

Also, unrelated but I have noticed today that my tea has been bothering the heartburn I have been enduring for a few days. Has anyone else ever noticed this? I’m assuming it’s a reaction to the hot liquid rather than anything else. Stupid heartburn, making me question my tea…

This smells HEAVENLY. I am a blueberry fan, and this smells like sweet ripe juicy berries…even like cooked bluieberry pie, where all you can smell is sugar and blueberries! If I concentrate deeply I get a hint of what must be the sage, but this is mostly just a blueberry assault on the nose. If it tastes like it smells, this might be one I actually keep on hand.

Steeped, that sage really comes out to play, in the smell at least. There is stil a definite blueberry aroma going on, but that sage is surprisingly bold. Honestly, I’m a little concerned about the sage business, I don’t know that I’ve experienced it in a tea before.

First sips are tart blueberry, with the sage hiding under the taste and a sweeper blueberry flavour on the aftertaste. It’s surprisingly complex over the course of the sip. I really enjoy the aftertaste of juicy blueberries, but wish that the tart aspect up front were diminished. This is definitely enjoyable and one that I think I will keep an eye out for, but wouldn’t make a special order for (mostly because I have “too much tea”). I don’t get any alcohol or medicinal taste in this which is, at this point, a huge relief. Thumbs up!

This was a highly awaited sample. When I opened it, it was crushed as finely as my Apricot Amaretto of yesterday, but again I don’t know if that speaks to the quality of the rooibos or the dangers of shipping. This one smells very strongly of oranges (more like the peel than the juice) and mint. I am very very excited!

I accidentally steeped this about 10 minutes and I have a very dark brown brew. The smell is primarily orange peel (you know, but a little juicy) and almost comes off as an orange scented cleanser. I don’t really smell the mint anymore, which is rather disappointing. First sips are vaguely orangey, with a mint aftertaste (but still very gentle). The orange is still more on the cleanser/rind than sweet or juicy, but it is mixing well with the rooibos (which I don’t pick up on at all) and the hint of mint.

I am pre-disposed to liking this, but I am impressed. This one is right up my alley, flavour-wise and actually delivers on the tastes promised. A stronger mint taste would be nice, but there is enough there to reflect an orangey Mojito. Also, I’m slow, I know, but what is with this sampler and the Booze names? Only Kiwi Lime GInger misses out on the alcohol title. I bet it feels rejected because of it. Anyway, I won’t be buying this one either, but I am glad to have tried it. Now all I have left is the Blueberry Merlot.

(In reading others tasting notes, I saw something I totally missed on my own, but really notice now that it has been suggested: this really is quite “jammy”. There is a thicker mouthfeel that lends to the impression of maramalade. Impressive!)

Backlog: I got a box of this from an aunt for my birthday. She knows I’m a tea lover, so she gets me some different bagged teas on occasion. I have had the canned drink before, but try to avoid things like that in general so I don’t remember it very well. This morning I steeped up a hot mug of this with breakfast, and I was surprised. It was very mild and unassuming, unlikely to force itself on you as a favourite but definitely a drinkable bagged green tea. I am not much for iced tea, but I am going to do some up iced at some point and see how I feel about that. It’s one of those teas that I don’t see myself reaching for, but would be nice to have kicking around at work or for making the odd iced tea if I feel like it. Far better than the Tetley bagged greens I have had before.

Lots of dust, weird smell. I’ve gotta say, I’m feeling uneasy about this. I had been drinking these in the order of what I expected to like (least to most). Maybe I was wrong. Dry, I get an odd smell, almost alcoholic or possibly even like hand sanitizer. I can smell something definitely amaretto-esque, but not in any sort of pleasant way. I forget how much I hate amaretto…There is no discernible apricot smell, it is all booze. I’m worried.

The rooibos/honeybush are very fine, almost pulverized, though this might have been a fault of their travels to get to me. It’s definitely some of the finest (read: dusty and falling through my filter) I’ve had. Steeped, it smells a little less boozy, but I must say that they have accurately captured the amaretto scent. Still no apricot though.

First sips are fairly accurate to the smell. There is a tinge of medicinal/alochol based flavour at the end of the sip that I’m not too wild about, but otherwise the taste is fairly unassuming. As I said before, they’ve captured the amaretto flavour well, but there is still no apricot to be found anywhere. Since I quite like apricots and don’t like amaretto, I was hoping it would be the reverse.

I’m going to rate this at 70 for amaretto accuracy, but still factor in my concerns about the aftertaste and lack of apricot. I’m quite pleased to have the flavour profile as strong as the smell, that’s rare in Tea Forte teas I have tried in the past. Once again, I can drink this but I wouldn’t buy it. I would consider gifting it though…

Let me begin by saying this: I am not a cherry person. It is the flavouring/druit that I always pick last and accordingly I am “getting it out of the way”. This Single Steep had larger pieces of dried fruit, almost looks like just the skins of the berries. Dry, it smells a bit medicinal, not quite cough syrup but definitely well on its way. Definitely appetizing though.

I let it steep seven minutes (accidentally) and the result was a bright red liquor with a bizarre and slightly potpourri-esque smell. A hint of spice mixed in with a sweet fruit smell. There’s also a vitamin sort of a smell, if that makes sense. The taste is slightly tart, but otherwise very unassuming. The strength of the smell does not carry over into the taste (as is par for the course with Tea Forte teas). I don’t really get cherry taste, but I do get tart fruit. There is still a hunt of that vitamin aspect, which makes this seem more medicinal. I’m NOT getting cherry cough syrup though, so that is good!

Once again, this is something I could drink if offered but would not buy. A bit more cherry taste would do this a world of good. Mostly just tart red fruit punch-esque drink. Maybe it is the rosehips that give it the unexpected ‘vitamin’ quality. I definitely get the hibiscus, but otherwise have trouble identifying these flavours.

First off, I like the concept of this packaging (single steeps) but the reality kind of bothers me. I try to avoid single use packaging in my day to day things, buying a tub of yogurt instead of singles, not buying a cup of tea in a disposable cup and so on. I buy my tea loose and generally in bulk, so there is minimal packaging waste. While a single steep package I could carry with me on the go is a nice idea, I feel terrible about that waste. If I were to drink these regularly (even one a day) that would really add up.

Now for the tea. The dry smell is very lime, almost medicinal or alcohol smell to go with it. Maybe a hint of ginger, but mostly just lime. I like lime in teas, so that’s cool. Lime it up! Even though this is slightly more ‘leaf’ than I would typically use, I figured I had better follow the parameters if I am going to review this accurately. I used the whole shebang and let it steep for five minutes, despite my better judgment. Even in my Perfect Tea Mug;s fine infuser, a lot of dust shook out in the beginning (I always do this before I pour, I like to get the dust out). I am not sure if it was powdered ginger or broken rooibos, but it was annoying.

I think I might be alone in this, but i am getting a margarita sort of smell from the steeped ‘tea.’ I feel like this isn’t exactly an at work early morning tea. It’s very dark brown and a little off-putting with the tequila, lime and ginger sort of smell. Aside from the alcoholic connotations, this smells like something I would feel obliged to drink if I were feeling very poorly and wanted to get better. I’m a little afraid to drink it…

Aha! First sips are not so bad. All that lovely lime smell does not pass on to the drink (sad face) and I definitely don’t get any kiwi but the ginger isn’t so potent as I was worried it might be from other reviews. The taste is not very strong and honestly I don’t know what I’m getting here. I get a hint of something smoky on the front of the sip (what is up with that??) and then I get a mildly possibly limey aftertaste. I don’t even necessarily pick out ginger, but I assume that is the ‘smokey’ taste I am getting. I’m really surprised at how mild this is. Maybe I really did shake out all the ginger when I got rid of the powder.

If this had more lime taste or any kiwi taste, I would be all over it. For now, this is mostly just a let down. Another Tea Forte tea that smells really interesting but brews up disappointing. The points I am giving this are mostly for the fact that I do get a limey aftertaste and I like that. I wouldn’t buy this for myself or others, but I would drink it. I have the sense that a drop of honey might enhance this a little and hopefully make it less blase, but I don’t have any here so I shan’t be able to try it. As the cup cools, the ginger taste is increasing, I can feel it on my tongue though I still don’t pick it out as a “Bam! Ginger!” sort of thing.

Thanks to Tea Forte for allowing me to try this…maybe kick up the kiwi and lime flavours a bit next time?

Finally, I am trying this. My fear has been overcome by my desire to use up samples. I am still afraid, however. My pyramid satchet let out a lot of dust while steeping, even though I shook it out before hand. The contents looked oddly like crushed peanuts, and it has an unusual smell which I can’t quite place and honestly don’t really appreciate. It’s almost air freshener-esque. It smells very dry which might not make sense to many, but it does, I swear! The liquor is pale yellow and still leaves me uneasy…

First sips are surprising. Very different taste than smell. I get a weak chai flavour at first, but then a smoky flvour starts to build and dominates the sip, leaving a smoky mouthfeel. This smokiness intensified over the course of the cup and really dominates my impressions of the ‘tea’ as the smoke remains even after I’m done drinking – I really feel it in the back of my throat. I assume this is the coffeebean coming out. I don’t mind it, but I don’t particularly enjoy it. It almost makes me feel like I’ve been smoking, and my throat is a bit tickly. Probably my mind playing tricks on me… As a non-coffee drinker, I don’t really appreciate what I perceive as the ‘coffee bean’ flavour. To be fair, I am more than a non-coffee drinker, I’m a coffee hater, but this isn’t like standard coffee.

I am certainly capable of drinking this mug, but I don’t think I would do so again. I have one other satchet as well, and I think I will gift that along to a coffee and tea drinking friend. I appreciate the ingenuity of this and I have never tasted anything like it before, but unfortunately it is just not my thing. Also, this does not hold up well to a light steeping time at all. The packet says 5 to 10 minutes and it means it.

My biggest complain/concern? The dust. I hate powdery or dusty teas/tisanes/whatever we want to call it. I shook off a lot of dust and I still see a lot of sediment in my cup as well as the floaty stuff. I know that crushed spices, etc will cause a certain amount of powder, but I find it very unpleasant aesthetically and calls to mind cheap Tetley bags (even though this is nowhere near that level of ‘quality’).

Apparently I did not log this yet…interesting, as I know I’ve drank it. When I decided to prepare it this evening as a treat I had a memory that I was disappointed last time. Luckily, this time I wasn’t! I get strong apple taste, very green and sweet, possibly even vaguely candied. As the cup cooled, the caramel came out to play and it really sticks around on the back of the sip. I used boiling water and let it steep around 5 minutes, and was initially a little disappointed but this was a tea that only improved as it cooled (I decided to do my daily exercise routine just after pouring this tea, so it cooled for about 25 minutes). Of course, now I am warm and sweaty and drinking lukewarm tea, but this really cheers me up. I’m continually on the hunt for a good apple tea, and a good caramel tea. Right now, this hits on both accounts! It’s a shame the beau likes this one too and we only have the one bag…

ps – I am seriously contemplating adding a Werthers candy in here sometime and see if that melting adds to caramel flavour. That can’t go badly, can it? :D

Well, I’ve had this long enough, it’s about time I had an opportunity to try it. The beau does not like mint teas (or chais, though that’s a different matter) so I usually only drink them at work. This one, unfortunately, had never made its way to work and sat forgotten in the sample basket. Today, it was rescued! Dry, there is mostly a mint smell, but a little warmer and fuller than plain spearmint. Steeped, the aroma is very similar to a plain mint tea, but again it seems a litle more rounded, likely from the green tea.

I’m not much for green tea, but I AM much for mint…this tastes mostly of mint to me, with a slightly thicker mouthfeel than plain spearmint affords. The green tea doesn’t really come forward in any discernible way, but I’m aware that there is something there tempering the mint. I prefer this to my other mint green tea, largely because I find the green tea to be so quiet. I get a little queasy from green tea sometimes, so I prefer not to be too aware of its presence. I do get hints of it on the back end of the sip, but as I said earlier, it is playing nicely with the mint.

For what it is, this is perfectly satisfying, unfortunately there is nothing that stands out about it. Thank you for the opportunity to sample this, however!

I used to sort of like this when I was desperate but I decided today that this dry “green” tea needs to be left in the staff room for others who might enjoy it. As usual for Tetley, it is dry and dusty, with powder escaping and accumulating in the bottom of the cup. The fruitiness is evident and actually pretty good at masking the cheap “green tea” but I just can’t hack it anymore. I can drink it, but I don’t want to, so I shan’t. No wonder so many people think they don’t like green tea…
Adios!

Did things a little differently today and got more the result I’ve been expecting. I steeped this for only 2 minutes and ate a chocolate hazelnut straw at the same time. Let me tell you, that was a good plan. At least, it was until I looked at the nutritional information for the choco-hazel straws. That was a downer.

Anyway, none of the bitterness I remember experiencing with this tea. The base tea is still very mild and unassuming (but bolder than previously noted) and it still isn’t as rich or creamy as I would like, but it is significantly more satisfying. I think a shorter steep is good for the cheap black base, but hurts the blackberry and vanilla tastes. Darn!