AmazonV

12 ounce hot spigot water

in Kati http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/kati-review.html

5-7 min
5 min on http://steep.it/5%20minutes + walking back from hot water spigot

3 heaping tsp

nice dark color

nutty smell, nutty earthy taste

yum!

Grande (16oz) no-water soy chai latte from concentrate
prepared in store
(I am going to start logging all teas i drink to see how much I really drink instead of just new ones)

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: ~12 ounces boiling NYC tap water (boiled in microwave)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Medium bodied
Translucent dark brown
Backlogged from a visit to MilitiaJim’s parents where our friend was returning from India and brought tea with her. She shared this tea with me while we were hanging around the house.

It was a strong black tea with a mild medley of spices, where none stood out. They were perfectly balanced to make you think spice and flavor, but not strong enough to discern individually or overpower the tea.

Not what I typically think of when I think of US “chai” spiced tea (chai actually means tea, there are whole articles on this topic, please note I am using the US definition of spiced tea).

This was a thoroughly enjoyable cup of tea, especially with the honey as it was too astringent and bitter without it.

Post-Steep Additives: a bit of honey

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/organic-india-teabag-black-tea-tulsi.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: 6 ounces filtered boiling
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: hibiscus, apple, floral
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet apple vanilla
Flavor: hibiscus, apple
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet apple, hints of vanilla
Liquor: dark pink

I drank the first cup so fast I couldn’t even log it! The second cup (fresh bag) I drank while starting the post. I am now on cup #3.

I had a wonderful (though tea-less) weekend with my friends, and came home to some drama that had me shaking with fury. I wanted a nice soothing cup of tea to calm down. I choose this for the vanilla. Sadly it is a mild hint of vanilla instead of a prominent flavor. It is however a lovely tea. Not as delicious as the pineapple lychee.

Bobbie and MilitiaJim both are displeased with the tea and find it to have a “fake sugar” after taste.

Note: I love hibiscus

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/republic-of-tea-teabag-herbal-tea.html

Steep #3 and #4 Information:
Amount: 1 nest ~6.7g
Water: 16 oz filtered boiling
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: 60 seconds – I counted out loud
Served: Hot

Remember the leaves were in the refrigerator overnight in the IngenuiTEA.

Steep #3 Tasting Notes:
Darker brown coloring then previous two steeps.
Medium bodied, earthy, tea. very smooth.

Steep #4 Tasting Notes:
Darker brown coloring then previous two steeps.
Medium bodied, earthy, tea. very smooth.

MilitiaJim insists it was “desalinated seaweed tea” but not in a bad way.

I got this as a free sample (it was a limited time run announced May 25 on twitter @WorldofTea) and it arrived today. It arrived with an adorable brewing card that has space for notes. As seen in my prior Company Review, the shipping, packaging, and customer service of this store is impeccable.

I of course choose this tea for it’s name. To my surprise I am enjoying it very thoroughly, I was expecting a novelty tea. A very light mild, earthy and sweet black tea.

It could have withstood more steeps, however I was going away for the weekend and had no desire to leave the leaves all weekend. I believe this would be an excellent tea to bring into work and drink throughout the entire day with lots of steeps.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/chicago-tea-garden-loose-leaf-pu-erh_06.html

finished off the last of this right now sniff
it will be missed
it was delicious hot and iced
see prior notes for details

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 nest
Water: 16 oz filtered boiling
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: 30 seconds – I counted out loud, I did a quick rinse with hot water first.
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: not much
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea
Flavor: mild black tea, smooth sweet and a little earthy
Body: Light
Aftertaste:
Liquor: translucent light brown

I got this as a free sample (it was a limited time run announced May 25 on twitter @WorldofTea) and it arrived today. It arrived with an adorable brewing card that has space for notes. As seen in my prior Company Review, the shipping, packaging, and customer service of this store is impeccable.

I of course choose this tea for it’s name. To my surprise I am enjoying it very thoroughly, I was expecting a novelty tea. A very light mild, earthy and sweet black tea.

Resteep: 16 oz filtered boiling, 30 second counted aloud
Dark brown translucent, more medium bodied, still a sweet, perhaps a bit earthy / briny tea

I am positive I can get more steeps, but it’s bed time, let’s see how the IngenuiTEA holds the leaves overnight in the fridge?

As you may be able to see it held itself together well the first time, the second time it mostly crumbled.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/chicago-tea-garden-loose-leaf-pu-erh.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp, one whole sample bags
Water: 22 ounces filtered, boiling
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet mango candies (ever tried Hi-Chew Mango?)
Steeped Tea Smell: nice, fresh ripe mango
Flavor: nice mellow mango black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: mango
Liquor: translucent orange-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, THIS is mango black tea. I have been hunting for a good mango black for MilitiaJim, as he loves mangos, and this is it. We both agree it’s a nice real tasting mango flavor that balances well with a smooth, not astringent or bitter, black tea.

I will be buying more of this promptly. In fact it’s on sale, via twitter;

@thepuriTea: The new site is live! We’re bringing it in with 10% off Everything for the first week! No coupon code. Happy Shopping! http://www.thepuritea.com/

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar, a pinch = bring the mango out more – I highly suggest lightly sweetening this tea.

Resteep: 5 minutes, added German rock sugar to start, just as delicious as the first steep – sweet mango and black tea with no astringency or bitterness

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

Loose Leaf not teabag

Steep Information:
Amount: 6 tsp
Water: 750ml filtered 212°
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (herbal, strong)
Steep Time: 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Raspberry, but the fake flavor kind not fresh berries
Steeped Tea Smell: fake raspberry flavor (exactly like the torani syrup)
Flavor: RASPBERRY, and tart
Body: Full
Aftertaste: tart
Liquor: Opaque dark purple-red

Raspberries, check. Tart is the hibiscus, and probably the color too, the citric acid and orange are also tart. Not getting what the rest of the stuff is doing.

This reminds me of raspberry zinger, I think mixing this with a bit of lipton, or maybe some Rooibos Tropica.

Hopefully it’s better iced, because right now it’s nice, but not anything I’ll buy again (too many fun herbals out there!).

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/tea-forte-loose-leaf-herbal-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 6 balls
Water: ~16oz filtered, boiling
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: not really getting anything
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet black tea, coco, earthy, malty
Flavor: malty black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: a little astringent, sweet, malty
Liquor: translucent brown

Gift from SoccerMom.

I’ll admit I only wanted it because of the name, DRAGON, RAWR!

It’s a pretty, cute named, black tea.

Post-Steep Additives: lactose free milk, to calm the astringency

Resteep: 5 min, strong black tea, a little astringency

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/adagio-teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-black.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: ~500ml filtered, 212°
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (Herbal, Strong)
Steep Time: 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chamomile, mint, floral
Steeped Tea Smell: rooibos
Flavor: delicate chamomile, rooibos and a hint of lemon
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal, astringent
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

Chamomile overpowers everything in this tea, it’s not a bad tea, I am just finding it to be too boring for me. There is a hint of lemon and rooibos, but where are the other flavors?

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/steven-smith-teamaker-loose-leaf-herbal.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~3 rounded tsp
Water: ~500ml filtered 212°
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (Herbal, Strong)
Steep Time: 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Maraschino cherry, sweet pineapple hints, buttery pound cake hints
Steeped Tea Smell: butter pound cake, pineapple, maraschino cherry
Flavor: sweet
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet, maybe pineapple
Liquor: dark translucent brown, hint of orange

It it more cake than pineapple and cherry…they are mere hints, delicious but not as sweet as I was expecting.

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar
Bring out hints of pineapple and cherry

Resteep: 10 min, 212° just as YUMMY

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/52teas-loose-leaf-honeybush-tea.html

Steep Information: 1 packet mixed with 1 6oz vanilla yogurt

Tasting Notes:
BLEH, green tea vegetal grassy bitter chalky bleh
maybe it would have been a better mixed in water? Judging from *Janefan*’s 11 oz attempt probably not.

I am glad this was a gift from Janefan because I would have been very unhappy if I purchased a multi pack of these.

Sorry i didn’t get after mixing it up pictures, it was a pale green color, but after two spoonfuls I wanted it OUT!

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/teatech-powder-green-tea-jackie-chans.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: ~500ml filtered, 190°
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (custom, custom)
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: jasmine flower petals
Steeped Tea Smell: jasmine flower petals
Flavor: vegetal, astringent
Body: Light
Aftertaste: grassy, floral
Liquor: translucent honey (yellow-brown) green

I love jasmine pearls and figured I would give this a try when I placed my order. I think I should have gone with the pearls. It was too grassy, and astringent, for my taste :(

Post-Steep Additives: honey, which took the edge off the astringency, it was still grassy with only hints of floral after each sip

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/steven-smith-teamaker-loose-leaf-green.html

I woke up to MilitiaJim preparing me this tea the following way:
Breville One-Touch 6tsp tea, 1tsp rock sugar, 750ml water
White, Medium settings

DELICIOUS

frank this tea is wonderful hot and iced, thank you

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: strong citrus (bergamot)
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, hint of bake-y
Flavor: astringent black tea, hints of citrus
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, sweet
Liquor: translucent brown, orange hints

I am not a huge bergamot fan, and I am really liking this tea. It’s a mellow bergamot, smooth black tea, and generally a delicious cup. I can easily see myself restocking this once I have room in my cupboard.

The packaging was a nice sealed silver bag, with a sticker arrange so the bag could stand itself up. The packaging date was written on the bottom with what I presume is a lot number. The packaging is very nice, with the exception that it is not resealable.

Resteep: weak, left in for 15? 20 minutes, perhaps a cold brew instead overnight would work?

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/steven-smith-teamaker-loose-leaf-black.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet and fruity, but not specifically mango
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, mango + other fruits + black tea
Flavor: black tea, dried mango snacks, astringent, a touch bitter
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet fruity, astringent, a touch bitter
Liquor: dark orange brown

Gift generous from Lori which I sadly forgot to be expecting and then was confused, but happy when the tea arrived. I decided to hold off trying it until I could figure out who it was a gift from. We’re always on the hunt for anything with ‘mango’ since it’s a favorite flavor around here.

And now that I know who it’s from, TEA! It, as the name implies, tastes like those dried mango fruit snacks. It’s not the fresh juicy mango taste, but it is truly mango. If we had not tried Mango Black from thepuriTea.com this would be the new favorite. Theirs wins out by virtue of being true fresh mango.

Next time I think I’ll steep 2 minutes.

Post-Steep Additives: 1/2 tsp German rock sugar
More sweetened dried mango, yum yum!

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/california-tea-house-loose-leaf-black.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: 6 ounces filtered, boiling
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chamomile, perhaps a hint of mint if i kept sniffing at it
Steeped Tea Smell: chamomile, perhaps a hint of mint and lemon if i kept sniffing at it
Flavor: chamomile, lemon, mint
Body: Full
Aftertaste: mint and licorice
Liquor: varies! Bobbie’s cup as honey golden yellow-brown and mine was rose!

April 13 I started on a quest to find out what happened to the Chamomile Tisane for my brother-in-law, as he found he liked it while staying at a Hilton.

I found Chamomile Tisane is included in their boxed sets, and can be found online in little boxes, but you can’t get large amounts.

I said I would order some of the Chamomile Citron for him to compare against and see if it was close enough or the same, and I would drink most of the tea (hey any excuse to get tea right?).

April 14 I ordered and emailed support, they got back to me very promptly.

“Thank you for contacting Tea Forte. The Citron is a newer blend from the Tisane. It has the same chamomile but has a bolder taste, with a slight citrus flavor. I hope that it will not disappoint.”

Googling around it appears the Chamomile Tisane was “Tea Forte’s calming chamomile tisane with a delicate fruit finale. Chamomile flowers, orange peel and vanilla steep a gentle brew for relaxation after a long day.”

So the orange and vanilla were swapped for lemon and mint.

I believe he found the tea acceptable but not as good as the original blend. Sadness, as this was the first tea he really enjoyed. I do think that orange vanilla sounds luscious.

Usually I do not include both cups when i prepare multiple cups of tea, but in this case both turned out totally different colors! Quite odd.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/tea-forte-teabag-herbal-tea-chamomile.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: 8 ounces hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 3-5 minutes (steep.it for 3 min, plus walking around office)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, hints of coco
Steeped Tea Smell: hot chocolate with hints of pepper, cardamom, and cinnamon
Flavor: sweet chocolate with cinnamon pepper hints
Body: Light
Aftertaste:
Liquor: cloudy light brown

Tea Tag “Gratitude is the open door to abundance.”

The instructions actually call for sweetener and milk or milk substitute! I fail to follow directions apparently.

I was expecting a stronger flavor, but this is a very nice spiced chocolate tea (tisane). It is very tempting to make this with some black tea and honey though so it’s a bolder body.

This was a gift from a co-worker who heard me and my mad science experiment with the milky way packet and coconut chai earlier.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/yogi-tea-teabag-herbal-tea-mayan-cocoa.html

My last of this tea! sniffles
Went a little crazy and made it with the flavia milky way swirl packet and some white granular sugar

delicious

Steep Information: Flavia machine

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, woody (red rooibos)
Flavor: woody (plain red rooibos)
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent? a little dry wood
Liquor: dark, translucent orange-brown

It’s a plain red rooibos, surprise? it’s not a WOW tea, but it’s a good free tea from the Flavia machine when I need some caffeine free tea. It seems to be discontinued as I don’t see it on my.flavia.com

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/flavia-fresh-pack-rooibos-tea-african.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: 6 ounces filtered, boiling
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: ginger and lemon
Steeped Tea Smell: lemon
Flavor: lemongrass
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slight ginger tang
Liquor: cloudy yellow-green

Meh, it tastes good enough to drink, and is a bit more of a peppy tea than most caffeine free blends. I don’t love it, I don’t hate it. I think it needs to be a tea complimenting something, lemon cookies perhaps, rather than the main attraction.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/tea-forte-teabag-herbal-tea-ginger.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4tsp
Water: 212 ° filtered water 750ml
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (Black, strong)
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chocolate and some unidentifiable spices (pepper? cardamom?)
Steeped Tea Smell: chocolate, black tea, a hint of pepper / cardamom?
Flavor: spiced black tea, astringent, a touch bitter
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: dark orange-brown

I found this at Kitchen Kapers when hunting for a monther’s day gift for my mother. I got this instead for me (and two others).

It’s very much a chai-tea to me, and I think next time I will make it with honey and milk.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/kusmi-tea-loose-leaf-black-tea-spicy.html

Steep Information:
Prepared after the official tasting, during the Steepster meetup and tea tasting

Tasting Notes:
Smell: Sweet pineapple, apricot
Medium body
Taste: Smooth, fruit juice
After taste: mint/menthol

Sorry my notes are so short and cryptic but we were having fun chatting it up. (Thanks again to everyone from Steepster for hosting this.)

Rating: I am intentionally not rating these teas as I didn’t really have a chance to sit there and sip on them and think whether I would by them again, like to play with them more, although none were awful (1 leaf) or fabulous (4 leaves)

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/radiance-tea-house-and-books-loose-leaf_22.html