AmazonV

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 8 ounces hot spigot water
Tool: make your own paper teabag
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes (using Steep.It)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chocolate and coffee, could be desperation?
Steeped Tea Smell: chocolate
Flavor: sweet rooibos
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: coco
Liquor: bright translucent brownish-red

I won these teas in a contest that was run by Dan on Steepster that was great fun, and got me tea prizes! Dan will be running the contest monthly, so keep an eye out!

I am playing a game with the samples, rolled #5

Post-Steep Additives: 1 packet white sugar, sweet chocolate NOMS alternate wit a yummy rooibos flavor. A very delicious treat.

I am putting this right under Coconut custard by teas etc

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-rooibos_25.html

finishing up the sample MeghannM was nice enough to send me (blame her for my love of this frank, all her fault! ;))

breville, 3 tsp, 500ml, 212F, 7 min, 1 tsp german rock sugar, sweet, pineapple, coconut YUM

4tsp, 12 ounces hot spigot water in kati, 5 minutes using steep.it
nutty, chocolaty, yum
best with some honey

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500 ml filtered 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (green, mild)
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: fruity, tropical, citrus
Steeped Tea Smell: fruity and floral
Flavor: vegetal, sweet fruity hints
Body: Light
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: nearly clear translucent green-yellow

This smells divine, probably how it got the name, it is lighter and more subtle than I love but I am really enjoying this cup, I drank it all before I remembered I needed to review. Perhaps a longer steep and a tiny bit of sugar would be the boost it needs?

I won these teas in a contest that was run by Dan on Steepster that was great fun, and got me tea prizes! Dan will be running the contest monthly, so keep an eye out!

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-white.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 7g / 2-3 tsp, one entire sample bag
Water: 22 ounces filtered boiling water
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, honey, melon
Steeped Tea Smell: honey and black tea
Flavor: honey, black tea, astringent, bake-y (like eating toast or a cracker), smooth
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, honey, black tea
Liquor: Translucent dark brown

This tea was one of 5 samples I received from thepuriTea. It arrived well packaged in pretty pillow boxes (see pictures for a side angle of the pillow box if you are unsure what I mean) with packing peanuts and business cards.

This is a smooth mellow black tea that tastes as though you already added honey. Very unique. It is not a strong cup, so I do not recommend as your wake up tea. However this would be a great during the day or while relaxing tea.

MilitiaJim is finding the peppery note when he looks for it at the end of the swallow. I just find astringency at the end of my swallow. Hmm if I chug instead of sip I am getting it as well, nice.

Resteep: 7 minutes, same taste and strength as first steep.

Iced: A strong iced tea, needed some sweetener or perhaps more water to be a sipping with meals iced tea.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/thepuritea-loose-leaf-black-tea-golden.html

sweet, woody, rooibos, dull

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 750ml 212°F filtered water
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (Black, Medium)
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: floral mango
MilitiaJim: candied mango
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet (like sweetener not natural ripe) mango, a little floral, black tea
Flavor: sweet, black tea, hints of mango
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent and bitter
Liquor: opaque dark reddish-orange-brown

I won these teas in a contest that was run by Dan on Steepster that was great fun, and got me tea prizes! Dan will be running the contest monthly, so keep an eye out!

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar, only slightly bitter, still astringent; a little splash of lactose free milk, got rid of the bitter

It is a mild mango flavor, but it’s a dried sweetened mango flavor not fresh and juicy. thepuriTea Mango Black is still my favorite mango black tea.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/thepuritea-loose-leaf-black-tea-mango.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: ~12 ounces hot water spigot
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes (using Steep.It)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: CINNAMON, strong, and mouth watering
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon bark
Flavor: smooth, cinnamon bark, black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: cinnamon bark
Liquor: dark reddish-brown

I am playing a game with the samples, i rolled a 5, see this post for details.

Post-Steep Additives: stick of honey, sweeter more candy cinnamon.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-black_24.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 12 ounces hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: over 5 minutes (using Steep.It)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: fruity
Steeped Tea Smell: hibiscus, berry
Flavor: sweet berry, hibiscus, citrus
Body: Full
Aftertaste: tart
Liquor: opaque dark purple-red

This tea reminds me strongly of Alpine berry by two leaves and a bud. I enjoy this tea, but it is only for hibiscus lovers and those who like strong full flavors.

I won these teas in a contest that was run by Dan on Steepster that was great fun, and got me tea prizes! Dan will be running the contest monthly, so keep an eye out!

I am playing a game with the samples, I rolled a 6

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-herbal_24.html

had cold brewed
bitter, astringent
added mango torani, didn’t help
:(

Grande (16oz) no-water soy chai latte from concentrate
prepared in store

mmmm had hot with sugar, sweet, coconut, delicious desert tonight

had cold brewed this morning, 3 tsp, 3 cups water, BLEH bitter, and the sugar wouldn’t melt

Grande (16oz) no-water soy chai latte from concentrate
prepared in store

Steep Information:
Amount: ~2 tsp
Water: ~12 ounces hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes (using Steep.It)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vanilla
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, vanilla
Flavor: vanilla, black tea, slightly astringent, slightly bitter
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: warm smooth vanilla
Liquor: dark reddish-brown

I won these teas in a contest that was run by Dan on Steepster that was great fun, and got me tea prizes! Dan will be running the contest monthly, so keep an eye out!

I am playing a game with the samples, this morning I rolled #2

My, that is a huge chunk of vanilla bean there, I am impressed!

Post-Steep Additives: 1 stick honey, less bitter, less astringent

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-black_22.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 heaping tsp
Water: 12 ounces hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes (using Steep.It) and then forgot about it! ack, ovesteep!
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: coconut milk
Steeped Tea Smell: coconut, black tea
Flavor: bitter, astringent, black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: coconut
Liquor: dark reddish brown

I won these teas in a contest that was run by Dan on Steepster that was great fun, and got me tea prizes! Dan will be running the contest monthly, so keep an eye out!

I am playing a game with the samples, this was a morning roll of #3.

Post-Steep Additives: 1 packet white sugar, brings our the coconut

Steep 2: 2 tsp new leaves, 12 ounces hot spigot water, same process but more like 2-3 minutes instead of 3+, 1 packet white sugar, much smoother, not bitter, but still astringent, yummy coconut black.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/georgia-tea-company-loose-leaf-black_21.html

I had put a cup of the hot brew away in the fridge yesterday for this morning

it was very bitter and astringent :(

I have a cold brew going as a resteep, we’ll see if that’s better

Steep Information:
Amount: ~ 3-4 tsp, entire sample
Water: 22 ounces filtered boiling water
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer in cup
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet black tea
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea and almonds
Flavor: slightly astringent, slightly bitter, black tea, almond
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: almonds, astringent
Liquor: opaque dark brown

I won these teas in a contest that was run by Dan on Steepster that was great fun, and got me tea prizes! Dan will be running the contest monthly, so keep an eye out!

I brought this one home for MilitiaJim to try since he loves almond black tea.

Post-Steep Additives:
AmazonV: German rock sugar, more almond less bitter still astringent, however when i went to add a splash of half and half it had gone bad and i had to toss my cup
MilitiaJim: salt, more almond less bitter still astringent, splash of milk, no longer astringent but still bitter

I would recommend steeping the leaves for less time.

MilitiaJim find the almond to be more of an after-taste than as part of the sip, I agree.

Needs more almond.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/georgia-tea-company-review.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 5 tsp, entire sample
Water: 1200ml filtered water 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (green, mild)
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Jasmine
Steeped Tea Smell: jasmine
Flavor: floral, vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: translucent green-yellow

These were more oolong than pearl looking.

Not a bad jasmine tea, very light and delicate.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/objective-tea-loose-leaf-green-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 heaping tsp, entire sample
Water: 750ml 212°F filtered water
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (Black, Medium)
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Coco
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, sweet
Flavor: smooth, sweet, a bit astringent, a bit bitter, black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: something sweet
Liquor: translucent dark orange brown

I received this a part of a sampler. See my company review here.

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar, didn’t change the tea much

This tea is a good medium black, but nothing unique pulls it out as a “must-buy” or “wow” drink.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/objective-tea-loose-leaf-black-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 and 1/2 tablespoon powder
Water: 1/3 cup boiling water
Additives: 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
Served: Cold, hot dumped over ice cubes

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: coconut, sugar
Flavor: really sweet, then black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: sugar
Liquor: dark orange

I enjoy having thai iced tea and coffee while out so I couldn’t resist this when I saw it in the store.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/david-rio-instant-powder-black-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp, one entire sample bag
Water: 500ml filtered boiling water 180°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: a little over 4 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: forgot to sniff
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal
Flavor: delicate, light, vegetal, smooth, a little nutty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet, nutty
Liquor: opaque yellow-green

I placed a large order of mostly samples so I could experiment with more flavors from thepuriTea, it’s sort of like pokemon, I want to try them all (mostly).

It was a light and refreshing oolong, I think next time a bit longer steep is in order.

Post-Steep Additives: honey, which even though it was a mild honey over powered the tea, I think that I either needed less or an even milder honey or sweetener.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/thepuritea-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-dong.html

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: mango
Flavor: Mango, cheap grassy green
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: lemon
Liquor: light translucent brown

Well it tasted like mango juice, although it contains no mango juice, then as you finish the sip it’s a cheap grassy green tea, and the after taste is lemony citrus.

It’s not the best iced tea, but not too bad for a pre-made convenience store.

I has this with a delicious TastyKake Rita’s (Waterice) mango pie for a morning snack / lunch ish.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/wawa-bottled-green-tea-green-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2-3 tsp, one entire sample bag
Water: 500ml filtered 212° water
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (black, strong)
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: French vanilla, which made me think coffee
Steeped Tea Smell: french vanilla, milky, coffee
Flavor: bitter, astringent, milky, french vanilla creamer, black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, black tea
Liquor: Opaque dark brown, like coffee

I placed a large order of mostly samples so I could experiment with more flavors from thepuriTea, it’s sort of like pokemon, I want to try them all (mostly).

I think the 3 was a bit long, perhaps 2 or even 1 minute would have left this tea less bitter and astringent.

The flavor though is a very milky smooth wawa french vanilla coffee and creamer. I am not sure if it is the fact french vanilla is permanently affixed to coffee in my head or there is really a coffee flavor to the tea. MilitiaJim agrees.

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar, sweeter, no longer bitter but still astringent. The sweetener brings out the sugar more.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/thepuritea-loose-leaf-black-tea-french.html