15 Tasting Notes

72

The leaves are absolutely beautiful with the mix of green and white slightly crumpled curled forms. The scent dry was of a nice green tea with bit of “grass”(vegetal?) edge to it. When wet, the leaves smelled light, sweet, slightly grassy. I found this tea lovely through the whole pot, since instead of like so many greens, the grassy note is not allowed to become the loudest, and instead as a note in the harmony of the drink.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 45 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

75

Enjoyable tea. I was surprised by the name between ordering and receiving; I had forgotten that it was chocolate not coconut (an odd combination I agree, but I would have tried it once).
The leaves were pressed paper flat and a beautiful dark green. The first smell of the leaves was very strong, very minty, with only a whiff of very fake chocolate scent. While steeping the wet leaves smelled clearly of mint and chocolate and pleasantly “Junior Mint movie time.” Through to the dregs, the taste was steady for me; I used two teaspoons (not measuring spoons, the kind you use on the table). I think it would be great over ice this summer.

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

It definitely was an enjoyable tea, just the naming seemed to throw everyone off. The iced version is good, I should get around to writing another review on this one…Oh well, glad you liked it!

Stephanie

I agree that that name makes me think “coconut”. They should rename it choco nut!

Cofftea

I’ve mentioned to them that it should be chocomint or cocoamint, but they said no.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

78

I received this tea from Cofftea in our “Pay It Forward” Karma Tea Swap and I was thrilled with every cup from my first teapot to a fourth forgotten resteep. The delightful coconut scent came through the envelope even before I opened it. To clarify, this is not an overly sweet coconut flavor; if it is flavored oil, it is used beautifully sparingly, if real coco. maybe it was toasted? The first cup has the lovely Coco. scent again and the color is a deceptive brown rather than green or yellow. But when I tasted it, the green tea came through more strongly and almost drowned out the light Coco. taste at the end. In fact, my first thought on the first swig (sorry aficionados—I rarely sip) was >Bang< “This has an acrid taste” with a quick follow of coco. taste. It may be due to the high water temperature that I used. This did not continue into any following cups from this pot or any following resteeps.
As they unfurled, the leaves were lovely, wide, and green. Most of them were full leaves that flitted and floated while I filled my steeping pot. My tea spent around 4 minutes or so in this pot until I filtered and filled my fat brown stoneware two-cup teapot. It probably would hold more if I used cups instead of mugs.
The rest of the pot was much smoother, giving me nutty oolong flavor with additional coconut scent and taste. Even as the pot cooled I enjoyed the tea.
The next three pots were very nice as well, the tea becoming more and more the background flavor, while the coconut came forward. The fourth pot provided the sweetest cuppa I have ever had black. It was completely cold because I forgot the steeped tea sitting and poured a cup before I left for an appointment. This was just like having a bite of coconut macaroon in liquid form, sweet and light and lovely. The tea will be very nice this summer over ice as well.

Looking back over this rating, I apologize for all the superlatives. I was very pleased with this oolong—I used find them a hit- or miss proposition.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 4 min, 15 sec
Cofftea

Um… no you didn’t… As I don’t like coconut (even though I love pouchong) I would never buy or ask for this one. It was someone else:)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

69
drank Green Tea Kombucha by Yogi
15 tasting notes

This was my first cuppa Green Kombucha by Yogi and overall, it is worth more. The first impression on taking it out of the packet was an overwhelming spearmint scent to the point that I was worried that was all I would taste as well. The box recommends using “very near” boiling water and a 3 minute steep time and I followed those steps.
The first sip gave me a happy light taste of plum, a tart lemongrass aftertaste, and mint refreshment throughout. The mint scent tamed down considerably once under water.
The second brew with one bag was very pale and much less enjoyable even though I left the tea bag in the cup while I drank it. I didn’t try a third.
It is billed as aiding in digestive and immune functions; I won’t put any money on either unless I drank it constantly and there are too many great teas out there to enjoy.
So this is a good tasting tea but not the best bang for my buck since I can’t re-brew it.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec
Janefan

glad to hear it’s drinkable – I just rec’d a sample too. Your notes give me a great idea of what to expect!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

34

This is a nice tea. When I opened the fresh box, I really liked the pear scent & flavor and the vanilla didn’t take over the tea. Now that the box is about three weeks old, the scent and flavor have changed considerably. The vanilla scent is much too strong and the flavor is too unbalanced to enjoy. Since I throw my “boxed” teas separated in air-tight canisters (learned that the hard way!), I don’t see how the pear could have dissipated to this point in 3 weeks.
When new I kept the steep time down to about a minute or so and the light pear flavor came through well. I agree that the vanilla was not always a good addition, based on what I was eating at the same time. I use “getting close to boiling” water, around 195 to 200F.
I don’t know that I’d purchase it again since the flavors were good only for the first week or so after the box was opened.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 2 min, 30 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

77

This is a nice, light tasting tea, very enjoyable. I liked the Goji berry and pomegranate together against the green tea; all three were very well balanced.
I’ll definitely buy this one again. I’ll have to try this over ice in the summer.

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

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

37
drank Wild Sweet Orange by Tazo
15 tasting notes

Backlogging
I drank this tea at a customer location because it was the only non-black available. If I kept the steeping time very short, it wasn’t so sour/bitter. I have to say that some days this tea was as delightful as the others have stated, and other days, it’s like they included too much of the white under the rind. I agree the smell is wonderful and the look & clarity of the bowl beautiful.
But overall this isn’t a tea I would buy in anything other than dire straits because it seems a roll of the dice on taste.
I drink all my teas plain, no milk or no sugar, until I’ve decided it’s not salvageable any other way.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 0 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

65

Backlogging
Quite a number of years ago, this was my favorite when I could find it. I agree with the earlier Steepers (What do we call each other?), the tartness is a bright note and it sparkles when the tea is fresh. I assumed that I received a bad batch because the tea oil tasted off and the lime flavor I had enjoyed had dulled appreciably.
You all have inspired me; I’ll have to try it again.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec
Janefan

This used to be a favorite of mine too, but I also haven’t had it in years. I haven’t forgotten about it though – it’s on my “shopping list.” It does seem hard to find though, and now I’m a bit worried that it won’t taste as good as I remember…

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

54

Not my favorite mint tea. Was re-steepable 2 twice, with extremely fast declining mint flavor leaving very little tea flavor behind. The scent was very agreeable, fresh and invigorating. This is not a tea I can drink all day long because after the re-steep, the taste is disappointing even in a new cup.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 5 min, 0 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

80

This is one of my decaf favorites, both hot and iced. Because of the blackberries, the iced >tastes< like summer. This tea can be re-steeped several times because it is quite strong. #tea

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

I’m 57, used to be I/T project & program manager and live with a pug (Rhumba). I drink white- and green teas almost exclusively to cut down on caffeine.

I enjoyed black tea in college when I drank gallons all day long. Unfortunately the only tea available then was Lipton & Nestea. sigh What a difference now, in the stores and with the Internet.

I’ve been inspired by all of your taste notes to try different manufacturers, URLs, and flavors, so thank you Steepers.

Location

Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer