75

When looking through all my samples, deciding what to test next, this one popped out at me. I forgot about it. I just tested Stash’s Kashmiri Chai Green, so this is another green chai to compare it with. To be fair, this lists ginger as 2nd ingredient (after green tea), and that worries me. I much prefer cinnamon and clove (which were dominant in the Stash).

The package aroma is amazing. Upton seems to use strong flavorings when they flavor. The green leaves while brewing were more abundant. The first sip brings a familiar pause. This is just as light as the Stash one. Cinnamon and ginger…yep. Gosh, I wish I liked ginger a wee bit more. If it doesn’t dominate, I can tolerate it. But I never use it to flavor things on my own. If you DO like ginger and cinnamon, and a lightly spiced chai green tea, give this a try.

Upton’s samples start at $1. Their sample packages don’t reseal (foil that you can fold over, then I use a paperclip to seal). But they are great in that they label steeping instructions individually, with how much to use, temperature and steep time. I wish everyone did this (on full size packages as well).

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec
TeaBrat

I agree, I love that they have the steeping instructions on the bag!

Cheryl

And they are pretty accurate : )

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TeaBrat

I agree, I love that they have the steeping instructions on the bag!

Cheryl

And they are pretty accurate : )

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Bio

Originally started testing teas, to replace a lifelong Coke (Coca-Cola) habit. Now I’m just amazed at all the choices. Still in beginner stage of tea education. Until I get really good at iced/cold tea, the Coke habit remains, but is down to a minimum.

My cupboard here on Steepster was ridiculous, containing each and every sample size that I have been accumulating. It now only contains non-sample size teas. Loose leaf outweighs the bagged teas, but it doesn’t look that way by the list (over 100 samples).

I started my tea journey testing flavored teas. My favorites are chai and mint flavored teas, along with Earl Grey. Also like chocolate, caramel, coconut, almond, vanilla, cinnamon, clove and some others. Most flavors are better with a nice black tea base. The mint ones seem best paired with greens. I’m branching out now to unflavored teas and it is way more overwhelming then the flavored category. Phew.

My (grown) son has decided that he wants to try to find tea that he likes too, so I’ll be passing along the ones I don’t care for to him (with instructions to then pass them on to his sister…evil plot? yes!). So I’ve removed my shopping list from Steepster and moved it to a spreadsheet (swaps are out for now). My shopping list had grown to 197! By going through each one, I was able to split that in half (since many were added in beginning, before I knew what I like/don’t like).

While not swapping, if there’s something in my cupboard that you’d like a sample of, please feel free to ask : )

Ratings (for now):
90s: Must have in personal rotation. Crave it.
80s: Makes me a happy tea drinker. Very good. Unsure of long term relationship.
70s: Like this. Will drink what I have (sample/tin/box), but unsure of whether I’d buy again.
60s: Probably a good tea for what it is. Just not to my personal liking.
50s and below: Do not like…at all. Either poor quality, yuck flavor or … (see tealog).

Old (and still current) obsessions: books, music and fragrances. Hopefully my tea collection stays much more “normal” then those. (too late)

Location

Central Ohio

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