AmazonV

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 bag
Water: 6? ounces hot spigot water from Keurig
Steep Time: 5+ minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Tart, fruit, passionfruit
Steeped Tea Smell: Tart, fruity, Not sweet
Flavor: Tart, fruity, Not sweet
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: tart
Liquor: translucent red-orange

I had this tea this morning in my mom’s office.

I didn’t taste mango at all, I tasted tart passionfruit.

I didn’t really like it, but it wasn’t bad enough to make me want to not finish it. I think it would have been better with some sweetener.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/stash-tea-company-teabag-herbal-tea.html

drinking the last of this today, sweetened it is an excellent dessert pie, i mean drink

last one sniff

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: Peach, citrus, lemon, black tea, sweet
Flavor: sweet black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: lemon, sweet, black tea, clean
Liquor: cloudy opaque light orange-brown

I purchased this while at the airport, it was a very good bottled iced tea, you could taste the quality tea and it was not overpowered by sweeteners or juices.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/harney-and-sons-bottled-black-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: 8 ounces hot spigot water
Steep Time: 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cinnamon, spice, chocolate, fall hay
Steeped Tea Smell: hay, grass
Flavor: hay, grass
Body: Full
Aftertaste: sweet, grassy
Liquor: translucent yellow-brown

Obtained in a swap with Mel, thanks!

Despite the strong chocolate scent it was a surprisingly hay like taste. I enjoyed it for it’s light sweet flavor.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/novoandina-loose-leaf-herbal-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~3 tsp
Water: filtered, 500ml, 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chocolate cake with hints of walnut
Steeped Tea Smell: chocolate, hints of black tea
Flavor: black tea, chocolate
Body: Light
Aftertaste: walnut, slightly astringent and bitter
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

I think I needed to make it longer, and perhaps a bit cooler.

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar – a little more chocolate

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-walnut.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 silken infuser pyramid
Water: 12? ounces hot spigot water (140°F ?)
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes (walking to my desk + steep.it)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cinnamon, clove
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon, clove, mulling spice
Flavor: mild black tea with cinnamon
Body: Light
Aftertaste: cinnamon, spice
Liquor: translucent light orange-brown

Much milder than I expected. This would not be a morning cup of wake-me-up tea.

Mellow, spicy, and makes me think of mulled apple cider. I am enjoying the cup, but not sure I would seek this itself.

Post-Steep Additives: honey stick, sweeter, and spicier

It came as part of the Tea Forte “Holiday Spice” set of 20 silken infusers black and herbal teas. I purchased it specifically for the Winter Chai. The set listed on the website includes 20 pyramid infusers with Five infusers each of: Winter Chai, Sweet Orange Spice, Ginger and Vienna Cinnamon. Apparently this box does not have Sweet Orange Spice and instead has Winter Spice.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/tea-forte-teabag-black-tea-winter-spice.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 infuser
Water: 2oz skyy vodka, 2oz ginger ale
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: lavender, citrus, chemical
Steeped Tea Smell: lavender
Flavor: vodka, ginger ale, lavender
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: citrus
Liquor: translucent pink

After 3 minutes the flavor was weak, so put the infuser back in, while I ate dinner, then it was much stronger.

This is from the Tea Forte cocktails collection.

I like it, I don’t love it, but that may have to do with the vodka?

Very pleasant aroma.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/tea-forte-teabag-white-tea-lavender.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml filtered water 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: STRONG peppermint, then a little vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: mild peppermint, hint of vegetal
Flavor: vegetal, sweet, peppermint
Body: Light
Aftertaste: tingly, vegetal
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

I do not like grassy teas or yerba mate, but this one I found drinkable thanks to the peppermint. It’s kind of soothing actually.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/samovar-loose-leaf-mate-tea-peppermint.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 teaspoons
Water: filtered 500ml °F 175
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: candy, sweet
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, floral, a little black tea, a little green tea
Flavor: vegetal, black, floral finish
Body: Light
Aftertaste: tasty flowers
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

I add to add a minute to the steep time as 2 minutes was too weak.

I won these teas in a contest that was run by Dan on Steepster that was great fun, and got me tea prizes!

I find the labels on the tea samples to be perfect, they include the company name, tea name, tea type, and steeping directions. I have been informed that the samples that you buy on the web site, or any teas purchased on the site, will come in food safe, plastic lined, kraft bags which keep light out and keep the tea fresh for about 4-5 months. Tea is best stored in tins which are not clear and air tight, since light activates the steeping process and moisture as well. The sample bags I received were about 2-3 cups each, where purchased samples are larger.

Resteep: 4 minutes, a weak but floral cup

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-green.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml filtered water 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: bitter, vegetal, grassy
Steeped Tea Smell: grassy, vegetal, a little sweet
Flavor: sweet at first, then vegetal and grassy
Body: Light
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

I do not like grassy teas or herbal infusions, and this was grassy, even though a bit naturally sweet. BLEH

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/samovar-loose-leaf-mate-tea-yerba-mate.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~6g
Water: 750ml 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, roasty
Steeped Tea Smell: cocoa, roasty, malty
Flavor: slightly astringent, malty black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: slightly astringent
Liquor: translucent dark red-brown

This was a tea I had in the morning with breakfast, it was an excellent full bodied kick you into gear drink. It was not in any way remarkable from other high end ceylon teas i have had, but it is a very smooth and nuanced high end ceylon. If you are a fan on ceylon I can not recommend this one more highly. I however am an oolong girl so as much as I enjoyed this, and am presenting it with a full 4/4 leaves ranking, and would love to have it again should the opportunity present itself, I won’t be stocking up on it.

Arbor Teas sent me this sample for free in order for me to review it and get the word out about their teas in October as it is Fair Trade Month. It arrived USPS Priority mail, but had to wait a few days at the post office for me to pick it up. The compostable packages are opaque and have listed suggested steeping parameters and a stapled on paper tag with the specific tea information. They include a note about re-packaging your tea into opaque air-tight containers for longer shelf lives.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/arbor-teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-organic.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~4 heaping tsp
Water: 16 oz boiling filtered water
Tool: adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: 5+ minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: fake cinnamon, wood, something tangy at the end
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon bark
Flavor: natural delicious cinnamon bark, smooth, sweet
Body: Full
Aftertaste: sweet, bark
Liquor: nearly opaque brown-red

I was worried at first by the artificial scent, but it turned out to be a sweet and delicious dessert tea. I adore cinnamon and this hit the spot.

This is the third Arbor Teas sample I have tried, both so far have had a sweetness to them without needing additives. I very much am enjoying these teas!

Arbor Teas sent me this sample for free in order for me to review it and get the word out about their teas in October as it is Fair Trade Month. It arrived USPS Priority mail, but had to wait a few days at the post office for me to pick it up. The compostable packages are opaque and have listed suggested steeping parameters and a stapled on paper tag with the specific tea information. They include a note about re-packaging your tea into opaque air-tight containers for longer shelf lives.

From http://www.arborteas.com/the-environment.html
“Our dedication to protecting the environment pre-dates our love of tea, which is why we’ve taken every step we can think of to reduce the environmental footprint of Arbor Teas.

Never ones to rest on our laurels, we’re always looking for further opportunities to “green-up” our company, giving back to the planet whenever we can. Here’s just a quick summary of the measures we take at Arbor Teas to reduce the environmental impact of our business:
• Our entire catalog of teas is certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program.
• We are the first and only tea company to deliver its full line of organic loose teas in 100% backyard compostable packaging. In doing so, we’ve significantly reduced both the carbon emissions and waste stream associated with our products."

And from their letter to me “every tea in out catalog is certified organic, and nearly two-thirds are Fair Trade certified.”

Resteep: 16oz boiling filtered water, I lost track of time, over 10 minutes, medium bodied strong cinnamon tea, delicious but not as full as the first steep

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/arbor-teas-loose-leaf-white-tea-organic_09.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: filtered, boiling, mug full
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: mostly the paper bag
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet corn, hay
Flavor: sweet corn
Body: Light
Aftertaste: hay
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

Received in a Steepster swap with Mel.

Well, it was sweet, and not bad at all. It reminded me of a light white tea, and was so nice and sweet it didn’t need sweetener. It really didn’t capture my attention or was a memorable enough flavor to leave me craving more but I am very glad I got to try some of this unique tea.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/wang-globalnet-teabag-herbal-tea-oksusu.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~5 tsp
Water: 1,200ml 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, fruity, slightly vegetal
Flavor: slightly bitter, slightly astringent, vegetal, silky, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: slightly astringent
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

This is the second Arbor Teas sample I have tried, both so far have had a sweetness to them without needing additives. I very much am enjoying these teas!

Arbor Teas sent me this sample for free in order for me to review it and get the word out about their teas in October as it is Fair Trade Month. It arrived USPS Priority mail, but had to wait a few days at the post office for me to pick it up. The compostable packages are opaque and have listed suggested steeping parameters and a stapled on paper tag with the specific tea information. They include a note about re-packaging your tea into opaque air-tight containers for longer shelf lives.

From http://www.arborteas.com/the-environment.html
“Our dedication to protecting the environment pre-dates our love of tea, which is why we’ve taken every step we can think of to reduce the environmental footprint of Arbor Teas.

Never ones to rest on our laurels, we’re always looking for further opportunities to “green-up” our company, giving back to the planet whenever we can. Here’s just a quick summary of the measures we take at Arbor Teas to reduce the environmental impact of our business:
• Our entire catalog of teas is certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program.
• We are the first and only tea company to deliver its full line of organic loose teas in 100% backyard compostable packaging. In doing so, we’ve significantly reduced both the carbon emissions and waste stream associated with our products."

And from their letter to me “every tea in out catalog is certified organic, and nearly two-thirds are Fair Trade certified.”

Find Steepster reviews of the tea here.

Resteep: 185°F for 3 minutes, 1,200ml – the same other than the tea became medium bodied not light

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/arbor-teas-loose-leaf-white-tea-organic.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 9.9g
Water: 1200ml at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet floral vegetal, a little nutty
Leaves: green and silver thin twisted strands about an inch long each
Steeped Tea Smell: lemon, citrus, black tea scent
Flavor: slightly astringent, crisp black tea, very clean and light
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet citrus floral notes
Liquor: translucent light red-brown

This was a very nice crisp tea for sipping in the afternoon while browsing the internet. It is not a strong tea to kick you awake in the morning, but more one to be sipped and savored. I very much enjoy this tea, I enjoy when a company strives to be organic and fair trade so long as it is not at the cost of the tea. This tea shows that they are able to provide a high quality tea while striving to help tea farmers and the environment. It does however lack anything completely unique to make it a 4/4 leaves tea (a WOW) that i must keep stocked at all times.

Arbor Teas sent me this sample for free in order for me to review it and get the word out about their teas in October as it is Fair Trade Month. It arrived USPS Priority mail, but had to wait a few days at the post office for me to pick it up. The compostable packages are opaque and have listed suggested steeping parameters and a stapled on paper tag with the specific tea information. They include a note about re-packaging your tea into opaque air-tight containers for longer shelf lives.

From http://www.arborteas.com/the-environment.html
“Our dedication to protecting the environment pre-dates our love of tea, which is why we’ve taken every step we can think of to reduce the environmental footprint of Arbor Teas.

Never ones to rest on our laurels, we’re always looking for further opportunities to “green-up” our company, giving back to the planet whenever we can. Here’s just a quick summary of the measures we take at Arbor Teas to reduce the environmental impact of our business:
• Our entire catalog of teas is certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program.
• We are the first and only tea company to deliver its full line of organic loose teas in 100% backyard compostable packaging. In doing so, we’ve significantly reduced both the carbon emissions and waste stream associated with our products."

And from their letter to me “every tea in out catalog is certified organic, and nearly two-thirds are Fair Trade certified.”

Find Steepster reviews of the tea here.

Resteep 2: 1,200ml 195°F 3min a bit too bitter + sugar = OK
Resteep 3: 1,000ml 195°F 2min brisk w/sugar, nice and refreshing + sugar = good
Resteep 4: 1,000ml 195°F 2-2:30min weak, added 30 sec and got nice light crisp tea + sugar = good
Resteep 5: 1,000ml 195°F 3-3:30min weak, added 30 sec and got nice light crisp tea + sugar = good
Resteep 6: 1,000ml 195°F 4-5min weak, added 60 sec and still weak, stopped re-steeping added to iced tea and didn’t drink

Cold:I took the first hot steep and put it in the refrigerator as it was a hot day. I then added the leftovers of each brew. It was a nice light refreshing black iced tea, it needed a bit of sugar. I used raspberry torani, MilitiaJim used Kiwi. Delicious. I think I enjoyed this as an iced tea better than hot.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/10/arbor-teas-loose-leaf-oolong-tea.html

Steep Information 1:
Amount: 1/4 tsp
Water: 8 ounces filtered 180°F
Tool: Aerolatte
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes 1:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, fruity, tart
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal
Flavor: vegetal, chalky, maybe a hint of fruit?
Body: Full
Aftertaste: chalky
Liquor: dark opaque olive green

Added another 8 ounces of water and blended, weaker, barely any flavor.

Steep Information 1:
Amount: 1 tsp
Water: 8 ounces filtered 180°F
Tool: Aerolatte
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes 2:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, fruity, tart
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal
Flavor: vegetal, grassy
Body: Full
Aftertaste: a little fruity
Liquor: dark opaque olive green

I added white sugar, a lot and it became a weird sweetened grassy fruity drink/

I have come to the conclusion I don’t like grassy green teas, and most green teas taste grassy to me.

I tried an assortment of amounts from 1/8 tsp – 1tbl in varying amounts of water and juices.

This was smooth, not bitter, hints of cranberry that I wish were stronger.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/09/52teas-loose-leaf-green-tea-cranberry.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp (plastic lunch spoon)
Water: 12oz hot spigot water (150-160 historically)
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cinnamon, spice, Christmas
Steeped Tea Smell: floral white tea with some spice
Flavor: fruity, floral with a hint of spice on the back of the sip
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: cinnamon, a touch bitter
Liquor: translucent orange-red-brown

I got this tea through a swap with Mel

I think there was some scent cross-contamination?

Resteep: 2-3 min, pretty much same as the first, this has staying power!

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/09/teagschwendner-loose-leaf-white-tea.html

No notes yet.

No notes yet.

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 heaping tsp
Water: 500ml filtered 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot
This does not follow the website’s recommendation of 185°F-195°F for 3-4 min

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vanilla, lemon, citrus, black tea
Steeped Tea Smell: vanilla
Flavor: spiced vanilla black tea, a little astringent and bitter
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bitter, astringent, lemon
Liquor: translucent dark orange-brown

I bought this when I visited the Kusmi store in NYC, it’s a tiny tin part of the Russian sampler.

It could be my preparation method but i don’t like the bitterness and astringency, but the mix of vanilla and spices and citrus is interesting and has potential if I play with adding sugar and cream.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/09/kusmi-tea-loose-leaf-black-tea-prince.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1/2 tsp heaping
Water: boiling, 6-8 ounces
Tool: aerolatte
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: banana laffy taffy
Steeped Tea Smell: grass
Flavor: grass, bitter
Body: Full
Aftertaste: banana laffy taffy
Liquor: cloudy olive green

I tried this a few times. I started with 180°F water, and progressed up to boiling. I used 6 ounces, and kept adding more water and re-stirring until the matcha was so weak I could not taste it (1 pint). I tried 1/8 tsp -1 tbs. I keep wanting to like matcha, but it is too grassy for me. It is sweet, it smells of banana. The after taste (and if you burp after) is banana.

Mind you this is a laffy taffy / runts strong sweet banana. It’s the grassy flavor that makes this something I did not want again.

Sorry frank!

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/09/52teas-loose-leaf-green-tea-banana.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~6tsp
Water:1000ml 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: It smells like seaweed and rice sushi. The tea looks like dark toasted rice cereal with some green tea and popcorn tossed in.
MilitiaJim: The better bits of noori
Steeped Tea Smell:
AmazonV: brown rice
MilitiaJim: white rice, the sticky sushi kind
Flavor:
AmazonV: toasted brown rice hints of vegetal green tea, a pleasant seaweed flavor
MilitiaJim: It’s like drinking sushi!
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: toasty
Liquor: translucent yellow-green, like mountain dew

Resteep: 1000ml, 175, 4min
MilitiaJim found it weak, I found it fine, a little mellower, sweeter, and smoother.

We drained 2000ml very fast, I think we like it!

In fact we made a second and third fresh pot of tea, and they were both gone in short order. We love this tea.

I was surprised at the shipping packaging – there was an invoice and a wad of paper, but not enough to keep the tea from shifting around in the larger shipping box. The tea was undamaged by this and I wonder if the lack of padding was due to the tea choice.

Included in my package was a small tea ball, I really have enough odd tea making gadgets and was surprised by the inclusion until i went back and looked at the company website again. I will be giving this away to anyone in need of a tea ball.

I was amused by the custom packaging, it has my name on it! This made me feel special, and is defiantly a way to be memorable to your customers.

I received this tea for free for the purpose of reviewing the tea and posting my thoughts of it on my blog. I made sure to try it on multiple days, in between other teas, to make sure my thoughts on the tea were consistent.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/09/teaflection-loose-leaf-green-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~6.4g
Water: 750ml at 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: strong passion fruit scent, candy like
Steeped Tea Smell: lightly fruity, sweet
Flavor: smooth black tea with hints of sweet fruit
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: hint of fruit, a little astringency
Liquor: dark brown

Added a little sugar and it brought out the fruit flavor, I highly recommend adding a pinch of sugar.

Delicious back tea, but not delicious enough to replace my love for thepuriTea mango black.

Images: Steep Information:
Amount: ~6.4g
Water: 750ml at 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: strong passion fruit scent, candy like
Steeped Tea Smell: lightly fruity, sweet
Flavor: smooth black tea with hints of sweet fruit
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: hint of fruit, a little astringency
Liquor: dark brown

Added a little sugar and it brought out the fruit flavor, I highly recommend adding a pinch of sugar.

Delicious back tea, but not delicious enough to replace my love for thepuriTea mango black.