AmazonV

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 plastic lunch spoons
Water: 12oz ~150°F hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: 2-3 minutes (started Steep.it timer late, didn’t pull mesh basket when it completed)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: mildly sweet unidentifiable fruit
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal with an after sweet hint
Flavor: smooth veegtal with hints of fruit and bitterness
Body: Light
Aftertaste: bitter, astringent
Liquor: dark translucent green-brown

I really am enjoying this tea, I think under better conditions it would do better. I also think it will be fabulous iced!

Post-Steep Additives: honey, brings out the fruity sweetness

After adding sweetener I highly recommend you do the same. This is a very soothing cup.

Notes: Since writing this review, and before posting this, we’ve made this tea many times at home in the Breville One Touch. I have reduced the bitterness and astringency, but not gotten rid of them. It really is a delicious tea.

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

Steep Information:
Amount: 6.1g
Water: 500ml filtered water 180°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: toasted vegetables
Steeped Tea Smell: light vegetal, sweet
Flavor: vegetal, bitter
Body: Light
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: pale translucent yellow-green

This was a gift from Melody over at StarbucksMelody.com. If you enjoy starbucks or coffee you should really go and read her wonderful Starbucks fan site / community / blog.

I like how the tea was packed in a plastic bag inside the tin, it kept them from being crushed in shipping.

Made this an additional time with 750ml of water, it turned out better, still a little bitter at the finish. The resteep of the same leaves turned out very bitter, but enjoyable with a bit of honey.

I think i may need to play with the parameters on this tea. It has a nice sweet toasted vegetal promise, and I hope I can smooth of the bitter finish. For now it will have to stay at “acceptable”.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/tazo-packaging-loose-leaf-green-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp – 7.3g
Water: 500ml filtered water 195°F, also tried with 750ml and results were the same!
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: roasty, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, floral, vegetal
Flavor: buttery, vegetal, MilitiaJim got salted seaweed flavor
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

This was a gift from Melody over at StarbucksMelody.com. If you enjoy starbucks or coffee you should really go and read her wonderful Starbucks fan site / community / blog.

The tea came in a nice square metal tin. Inside the tin the tea was inside a plastic bag sealed with a white sticker. I appreciated the careful packing since it got shipped here and arrived in beautiful not crushed condition. This is a very enjoyable oolong. I added a bit of maple syrup when drinking it with breakfast, but it was overpowered by the maple. I have had this multiple times, and have only managed one good resteep each time, after which it gets very weak. Despite that fact using more water with the same amount of leaf on the first steep has provided me with an equally strong and flavorful first infusion.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/tazo-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-ti-kwan-yin.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~3 tsp
Water: 12oz ~160°F hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: 8+ minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: laffy taffy banana
Steeped Tea Smell: honeybush
Flavor: banana runts
Body: Full
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: opaque dark brown

Post-Steep Additives: 1 packet white sugar

Resteep: weak, but drinkable, I left it in for so long I lost track of time!

I love banana laffy, I love banana runts, I LOVE this tea. I will be very sad when it is gone.

Sorry I do not have pictures of the brewed tea, it disappears from my cup very quickly!

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/52teas-loose-leaf-honeybush-tea-monkey.html

Try #1

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 heaping tsp
Water: 12 oz 160° hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: 4-5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweat cream, strawberry, a little acidic
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, sweet
Flavor: creamy strawberry black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bitter, astringent
Liquor: translucent dark red-brown

Too bitter! It distracted from the deliciousness.

Post-Steep Additives: 1 packet white sugar

Try #2

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweat cream, strawberry, a little acidic
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, sweet
Flavor: creamy strawberry black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, bitter
Liquor: translucent light red-brown

This was a bit weaker, in fact too weak, and bitter. This was better than the first try though.

Post-Steep Additives: rock sugar

Try #3

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 heaping tsp
Water: 500ml 185°F filtered water
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2:30 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweat cream, strawberry, a little acidic
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, sweet
Flavor: creamy strawberry black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slightly astringent
Liquor: translucent light red-brown

This was the best so far. It was creamy and delicious with slight astringent and bitter hints. I think 190-200°F would have been better, but 212°F was too hot.

If it was decaffeinated this would be a wonderful dessert tea, as it is the tea is a wonderful afternoon treat.

Post-Steep Additives: rock sugar

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-strawberry.html

Steep Information:
Amount: entire sample
Water: 1200ml filtered water 180°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: slightly floral, vegetal
Flavor: silky, floral, vegetal
Body: light
Aftertaste: bitter, sour
Liquor: translucent yellow green

It was great, until the after taste, but I used up my entire sample so can’t play with this to adjust the parameters to decrease the bitterness.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/thepuritea-loose-leaf-white-tea-white.html

(Note seems to no longer be available online)

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp, 12.2g
Water: 750ml filtered 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: potpourri, floral, citrus, spicy
Steeped Tea Smell: cardamom, pepper
Flavor: black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: spice
Liquor: translucent dark brown

This tea smells spicy, and when you start to sip you only taste the black tea, but as you swallow you are hit with a melody of spices.

I don’t not like the tea, but I really don’t like the tea either. It’s almost a chai flavor but lacking some of the homey spices that would make it my kind of chai.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/kusmi-loose-leaf-black-tea-sweet-love.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~2 heaping teaspoons
Water: 16 oz filtered, boiling
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, almond, coconut
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, nutty
Flavor: sweet black tea, almond, coconut, almond joy!
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: almond, bitter, astringent
Liquor: opaque dark cloudy brown

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.

Delicious candy like tea, but not so perfect as to get 4 leaves, but if you are an almond joy fan I recommend this strongly.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-black.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 6.1g
Water: 500ml filtered water 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: fresh greens, a little floral
Steeped Tea Smell: musky, sweet, a little vegetal
Flavor: vegetal, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent orange-yellow

This was a gift from Melody over at StarbucksMelody.com. She runs an informative, friendly fan site about Starbucks, if you enjoy Starbucks or coffee it is very much worth checking out!

I did a second, new, steep:

Steep Information:
Amount: ~3tsp
Water: 750ml filtered water 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2:30 minutes
Served: Hot

It turned out more of a medium bodied tea, it really is amazing how time and temperature affect leaves!

It’s no a clean enough finish to earn 4 leaves, but is a very enjoyable and not grassy vegetal tea.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/tazo-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-bai-hao.html

drinking the last of it, thanks again Doulton, i am glad i got to order this :)
de-cupboarded sniff

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tablespoons
Water: 16 ounces boiling filtered water
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, grassy
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal, earthy
Flavor: grassy, bitter, MilitiaJim got motor oil
Body: Full
Aftertaste: bitter, grassy
Liquor: opaque with particulate, murky brown-green

We both managed two sips, and then tossed it down the drain.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/samovar-loose-leaf-mate-tea-kuki-yerba.html

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

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

I added 1 minute, the same result really.

MilitiaJim insisted it reminded him of genmaichai (toasty, rice)

I don’t have a strong love of green tea, and this one is not amazing enough, at least the way I prepared it, to warrant me getting it again.

I am greatful to LENA for sharing this tea with me, and her amazingly detailed notes and adorable little tupperware packaging.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/zhenas-gypsy-tea-loose-leaf-green-tea.html

So, I’ve been playing with this tea

190°F
1:30 minute

that is the way to make this tea, smooth, floral, delicious!

it’s pants are only kicked by coconut pouchong in this category

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: very strong jasmine floral
Steeped Tea Smell: jasmine flowers
Flavor: floral
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal, a little bitter
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

The tea arrived in an adorable tin with see through top, since I keep my teas away from the light I like preview windows. The packaging had the tea hand written on the side, but the handwriting was neat and easy to read so I did not mind at all. Overall adorable packaging.

I think i needed to increase the pearls and cut back on the time? The tea was airy and light, like smelling jasmine with your tongue, but with a bitter after taste I did not appreciate. I failed to follow directions and do 2 minutes for the steep as it seemed too light at two minutes, but I now know this is meant to be a light tea since it was not bitter then.

Resteep: 6 minutes, stronger floral taste, but also a stronger bitter after taste, perhaps next time a pinch of sugar?

Disclaimer: I received this tea for free from The Tea Valley Company in exchange for reviewing their website.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/tea-valley-company-loose-leaf-green-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1/2 tsp
Water: 12 ounces boiling
Tool: aerolatte
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: wild strawberry (not sweet store kind), vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal with a hint of berry
Flavor: thin, stirred more, chalky, hints of berry
Body: Light, stirred then Full
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: opaque murky olive green

I keep trying and wanting to like matcha, sometimes it’s good – usually when someone else (a tea shop) makes it for me, but even then not always.

This was OK, I don’t think it’s the matcha’s fault I think it’s mine.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/52teas-loose-leaf-matcha-green-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~6g
Water: 150ml boiling filtered water
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: a little over 1:30 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: honey, sweet, floral, vegetal
Flavor: buttery sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent pale yellow-green

Sweet, buttery, delicious – but not as good as the Zealong Aromatic.

An excellent oolong.

Resteep (2) Information: 150ml, boiling, 1:30 – sweet, vegetal, a little nutty

Resteep (3) Information: 200ml, boiling, 2:00, vegetal, a little nutty, a little bitter

Resteep (4) Information: 200ml, boiling, 2:00, vegetal, a little nutty, a little bitter

Resteep (5) Information: 200ml, boiling, 2:00, vegetal, a little nutty, bitter

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/chicago-tea-garden-loose-leaf-oolong.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 16 oz boiling
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: a little over 6 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: rum, nuts, woody
Steeped Tea Smell: nutty, sweet
Flavor: amaretto, nut, sweet
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: translucent reddish-orange

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.

Post-Steep Additives: Rock sugar, more amaretto flavor

Resteep: weak, tossed

Nice dessert tea.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-rooibos.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: citrus, smoke
Steeped Tea Smell: earl grey
Flavor: smooth bergamot black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: citrus, smoke
Liquor: translucent orange brown

I bought this when I visited the Kusmi store in NYC, it’s a tiny tin part of the Russian sampler. It’s smooth, not bitter, and enjoyable but it doesn’t grab me and demand I keep it stocked.

I think the Kusmi teas, like the french teas, are subtle flavors and I prefer bold.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/kusmi-tea-loose-leaf-black-tea-troika.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 750ml filtered water, 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: just like a freshly made strawberry shortcake
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, strawberry
Flavor: I would have believed it a black tea with hints of strawberry
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: strawberry
Liquor: translucent orange brown

The smell was divine, the tea was surprisingly full for a white tea. This was a swap from LENA who had the teas each labeled and i adorable tiny Tupperware, she included amazing notes for each tea!

I failed to read the Steepster notes first and am surprised everyone else tasted cake and not berry.

If it tasted as amazing as it smelled I’d get it again, but alas the taste is pretty standard.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/08/thenecessiteas-loose-leaf-white-tea.html

had the last of this tonight
3 tsp, 750ml, 212 F, 3:30
black tea with the smell of fig
oh the subtle flavors of the french

Steep Information:
Prepared in store, with 2 tsp Rock Sugar, unknown parameters, using a Teavana® Perfect Tea Maker
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cherry, floral and raspberry
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet berries
Flavor: vegetal, sweet, berry
Body: Full
Aftertaste: sweet, vegetal
Liquor: translucent bright pink-purple

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/07/teavana-loose-leaf-oolong-and-white-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 500 ml filtered water at 165°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: potpourri, like a floral one you’d find in a bag at the store, looks like it too!
Steeped Tea Smell: rose, lemon, floral
Flavor: lemon, rose, floral
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: lemon, floral
Liquor: translucent orange-green

I won this in a SororiTEA Sisters contest (a tea review blog, you should go give it a look).

It’s a very frou frou floral tea, not vegetal at all. I wish there were a bit less lemon flavor though.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/07/liber-teas-loose-leaf-green-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 29 pearls, 4 g (~twice the recommended)
Water: 175°F 500ml filtered water
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (green, custom)
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: feint jasmine
Steeped Tea Smell: barely jasmine
Flavor: a little floral and sweet, barely there
Body: Light
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: translucent honey colored yellow-brown

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.

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar, a little sweeter not much more change

Perhaps I should have steeped longer?

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/07/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-green.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~6g
Water: 8×3oz filtered boiling water
Tool: Swivel Teapot
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: black tea, fall leaves
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, sweet, reminds militiajim of orange pekoe
Flavor: crisp, clean sweet black tea
Body: medium
Aftertaste: fall leaves, in a good way
Liquor: translucent orange brown

It’s not remarkable, but is it a crisp clean black tea that reminds me of fall.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/07/thepuritea-loose-leaf-black-tea-red.html