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Steep Information:
Amount: 4 or 5 heaping tsp
Water: 750 ml filtered water brought to 212°
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, spice, nutty
Steeped Tea Smell: spice, nut
Flavor: apple, wood, almond, cinnamon
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet, then a bit of spice
Liquor: translucent orange-red

Gift from SoccerMom, a while ago, and I am just getting to it! (One would find it hard to believe but I am behind on tea drinking!)

Disappointed I wasn’t getting more coconut or ginger flavor as I enjoy both flavors. I am pleased it is reminiscent of amaretto (I adore Disaronno) – which is why it ended up on my shopping list to try in the first place.

I think it would need to be steeped longer to get more of a kick from it.

Overall a very enjoyable and only slightly rooibossy tea, but not one I think I will keep in stock, but I might pick up occasionally.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/teavana-loose-leaf-rooibos-tea-zingiber.html

Prepared as part of the Steepster meetup and tea tasting
There was a rinsing steep, about 2 seconds
Then it was steeped approximately 2 minutes

It smelled vegetal, it has a light body, the flavor was milky

We learned that higher temperatures (and shorter steeps) lead to sweeter flavor with this brew.

Over all we reviewed that you can come up with whatever method works for you to do temperatures, just be consistent so it’s repeatable (boil the water but pour from arm height if this bring it down to 195 for example)

With a good silver needle there is supposed to be buds, and the leaves should not turn black after brewing. If they turn black then it is old or poor quality / not first pick

We did a second steep that was sweet and milky

For the larger pot we had we could have gotten away with about 3 quality steeps

You should be using 2-3grams per 6-8 ounces

Milky teas should never have been soaked in milk, or contain condensed milk, as this is a mark of fake or low quality.

Sorry my notes are so short and cryptic but it was a whirlwind tasting of so much information and flavor!

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.html

Iced Tea – cold brew
took spent leaves from hot brew iced tea, poured in 3 cups cold water and stuck in fridge overnight
drank with a splash of mango torani syrup – needed a bit more mango but it was a nice smooth iced black tea with a hint of natural sweetness

Iced Tea!
4 tsp leaf, 3 cup boiling water
poured over ice
added 2 tablespoons bacon torani syrup
a bit too much bacon (who would have thought!)
next time i’ll try 2 teaspoons

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: hot spigot water, 8 oz
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: ginger, peach, delicious!
Steeped Tea Smell: peachy, vegetal
Flavor: lightly vegetal, slightly bitter, astringent
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: ginger bite
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

I got this as a sample with the Republic of Tea catalog this month.

I am not finding the peach in the taste, only the smell.

It’s an OK green, I don’t really love greens anyway. I don’t plan to buy it.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/republic-of-tea-teabag-green-tea-ginger.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 bag
Water: 8 ounces hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chocolate mint girl scout cookies
Steeped Tea Smell: mint, lightly chocolate
Flavor: rooibos, mint
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: mint
Liquor: Translucent dark reddish-brown

I got this as one of the free samples with my last order. I had such high hopes for it, and the smell only strengthened my hopes. Alas it’s a mint rooibos and not a chocolate-mint rooibos.

Post-Steep Additives: +1 packet white sugar, sweeter mint, but still only a hint of chocolate

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/mighty-leaf-tea-teabag-rooibos-tea.html

Steep Information:
Prepared in store by staff
Tool: Make your own tea bag
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: Vanilla, caramel, sweet black tea
Flavor: Black tea, smooth with no bitterness, but slight astringency. The caramel is a hint as you swallow
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringency
Liquor: deep dark brown

I had this tea with my fig and turkey panini for lunch. I wanted a caffeinated punch to keep me going through the afternoon, so I stuck to the black tea section of the menu. I decided to give the caramel a whirl as I found only subtle caramel flavors in teas so far. This was no exception, it was subtlety sweet and caramel. This was an excellent paring with the sweet fig.

The search continues for a bold caramel flavored tea, however if you appreciate subtle or are having something sweet there I recommend this tea.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/tbar-loose-leaf-black-tea-caramel.html

No notes yet.

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 heaping tsp
Water: 1 Zarafina cup
Tool: Zarafina Green-Loose-Medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: like cucumber melon hand lotion (not in a bad way, I always think they smell good enough to eat)
Steeped Tea Smell: Mostly cucumber, hint of melon and hint of vegetal
Flavor: cucumbers and melon and green tea, not really blended but in a dance of layers
Body: Light
Aftertaste: slightly vegetal but a pleasant way not bitter or astringent
Liquor: translucent nearly clear yellow-green

Next time i want to try with sweetener or iced.

Resteep:Zarafina Green-Loose-Strong weak, bitter, still cucumber melon, next time will try medium

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/52teas-loose-leaf-green-tea-cucumber.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1.5 heaping tsp
Additives: 1 teaspoon raw honey
Water: 185°
Tool: make your own paper teabag
Steep Time: a little over 4 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cherry, fruit
Steeped Tea Smell: cherry, fruit, tea
Flavor: slightly bitter, vegetal, cherry
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal, bitter
Liquor:

This tea is a mellow, light, fruity tea. the flavorings are slightly more than subtle. I enjoy this tea but always wish it had a little more punch to the flavor. On the other hand it smells divine.

I had this tea while visiting my mom, being a fan of subtle many of her teas are whites, greens, and subtle flavored.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/teavana-loose-leaf-white-tea-snow.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2.5 tsp
Water: 2 zarafina cups
Tool: Zarafina black-loose-medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: campfire
Steeped Tea Smell: campfire, sweet
Flavor: sweet smoke, black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: black tea
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

MilitiaJim was a little excited to have some tea, and grabbed a random Golden Moon sampler pack, so I don’t have pictures of the loose leaf.

The reason I do not like lapsang souchong is not the flavor, but the constant fear and anxiety they give me – I keep looking for the fire and panicking that we need to evacuate.

Overall the tea is a sweet smoky smooth black tea with little astringency.

Resteep: Zarafina black-loose-strong = a very weak cup of black tea with smoky hints

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/golden-moon-tea-loose-leaf-black-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tea pyramid
Water: 6 ounces filtered
Steep Time: see notes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Cinnamon, hibiscus, licorice
Steeped Tea Smell: Cinnamon, hibiscus, licorice
Flavor: Cinnamon, hibiscus, licorice
Body: Full
Aftertaste: tart licorice
Liquor: deep dark red

So first time I tried this I assumed I oversteeped, threw it out. Not sure how long it was.

Next time I went 5 minutes, still way too strong, let MilitaJim have it, he enjoyed it luckily.

Did one at 1:30 – still too strong for me! I have decided I do not like the combination of hibiscus (tart) and licorice. Probably the same reason I did not like the rishi blueberry red iced tea this morning.

I like bold flavors usually so I think it’s just the combination I do not like.

Made one cup hot and put in the refrigerator to try iced, will let you know how that goes.

Resteep: 5 minutes was dark pink color but no flavor.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/tea-forte-teabag-herbal-tea-flora.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 22 ounces filtered water
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, almonds
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, almonds
Flavor: black tea, almond, smooth
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent dark reddish-brown

A generous sample from Doulton!
It was a nice black tea, but not amazing or WOW!
I could see getting it along with an order but not as the reason for an order.

Post-Steep Additives:
+German rock sugar – sweeter, nicer cup of tea, more flavor less black tea
+Almond milk – overpowered the tea, not recommended

Resteep: 3 minutes, just as flavorful and delicious as the first round

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/california-tea-house-loose-leaf-black.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 10 tsp
Water: 4 measuring cups filtered water + ice
Tool: Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: lemon, berry, floral
Steeped Tea Smell:
Flavor: berry, hibiscus
Body: Full
Aftertaste: bitter, licorice, BITTER
Liquor: dark reddish-orange

I got this from Lena or Meghann M, oh my I’ve lost track, sorry!

Smells fabulous!

Taste at first sip is good, hibiscus berry, and then at the end of the sip TART LICORICE TART bleh bleh!

I like licorice, and have been known to gnaw on a licorice root, i like hibiscus, i like berries, and i like rooibos, but something about the combination is bad.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/rishi-tea-loose-leaf-rooibos-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 22 ounces filtered boiling
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: green tea, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: green tea, vegetal
Flavor: sweet, vegetal, green tea, followed by astringency and a touch of bitterness
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slightly bitter and astringent
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

The steeped mate doesn’t look too different from the dry mate.

Really similar to green tea, only you don’t get the same fast caffeine high and crash after – it’s more a little bit of energy to keep you going. However, I don’t suggest this as a wake up cup because it doesn’t kick you awake and say FUNCTION! I do think it would be an excellent follow up cup(s) after your wake up brew.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/teas-etc-loose-leaf-mate-tea-yerba-mate.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Water: 1 zarafina cup filtered water
Tool: Zarafina black-loose-medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: hazelnut, orange
Steeped Tea Smell: hazelnut, almond, chocolate, orange
Flavor: smooth orange black tea with hints of nuts as you swallow
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: a hint of chocolate and nut
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

This sample was from the wonderful Doulton who was kind enough to include two servings, I must assume she is a details person and the other one is for my mom!

This came bundled up with my Dammann Freres (which Doulton was kind enough to arrange, and has thus far made my mother very happy and me kind of sad at French subtlety).

I find this tea a little subtle, but enjoyable. This is not a first cup of the morning wake up drink however.

Resteep: Zarafina black-loose-medium
a slight bit astringent, otherwise just as good

It’s yummy, not craving it, but I will not turn down more, and would consider tossing some of this in an order if I were already placing it.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/o-dor-loose-leaf-black-tea-photo-de.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 loose tea single steeps packet
Water: 12 ounces hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes, well maybe more like 20 minutes?
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: peppermint, mango, licorice, sweet
Steeped Tea Smell: licorice, mint, ginger, hints of sweet
Flavor: bitter (not a surprise with how badly over steeped it is), minty, light ginger taste
Body: Medium/Full
Aftertaste: bitter and minty with hints of sweet
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

I blame Kristin and TeaEqualsBliss – because I saw them both review and decided to jump in the fray.

I blame Steepster for my oversteeping of tea, so much to read I forgot about the tea steeping under my nose! the 3 minutes became 20 since the application didn’t beep.

NOTE: The Tea Forte iPodTouch application will STOP when the screen saver kicks in and hence STOP counting and then doesn’t beep. I believe this is a failure of the iTouch itself to not be able to mutli-task and auto suspending everything when it locks up. To help with this issue in the future I changed my auto lock to 5 minutes instead of 1.

For all I butchered the preparation of this tea it is refreshing and nice. I don’t taste the mango though. The peppermint ginger is really interesting and fresh.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/tea-forte-loose-leaf-green-tea-green.html

No notes yet.

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: filtered, boiling, 6 ounces
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: peppermint gum
Steeped Tea Smell: peppermint gum
Flavor: peppermint gum, no lemon
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: mint
Liquor: light translucent brown

Refreshing, probably better iced with sugar. This is more a soothing cup for afternoons than a before bed steep, like I am doing now. Mint is too peppy for pre-sleep drinking.

Although this is enjoyable, it’s not unique or special. I am not getting the promised lemon which might have turned this from a generic minty tea to something a little more special.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/tea-forte-teabag-herbal-tea-citrus-mint.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 loose tea single steeps packet
Water: Hot spigot water, 12 oz
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: a little over 6 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Very strong bergamot, citrus scent with a hint of floral
Steeped Tea Smell: Black tea, hint of bergamot and citrus
Flavor: Citrus, bergamot, followed by black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: Very astringent and slightly bitter after taste
Liquor: deep dark reddish-brown

Leaves expanded impressively.

Too much bergamot, and I am coming to believe Assam teas are not my cup of tea.

The kati mug is an excellent temperature on the hands when using hot spigot water, as opposed to being a bit too hot to handle when I used my electric kettle at home. Again, this is an excellent loose tea brewer for work, or beginners.

I think this little pre-measured packet is a great first step for converting bagged tea drinkers to loose.

Post-Steep Additives: +2 sugar a bit better, sweeter. It could have used milk as well.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/tea-forte-loose-leaf-black-tea-earl.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 loose tea single steeps! just rip open the packet and dump into the strainer
Water: fill to line with boiling water
Tool: Kati
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: lemongrass, floral, mint
Steeped Tea Smell: mint, lemongrass, floral
Flavor: sweet, lemongrass, mint
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: tingly, minty, lemongrass
Liquor: translucent reddish-yellow

The tea was a nice zippy herbal tea to sip on. You had better like lemongrass and mint as they are the predominant flavors here.

Now here is my thoughts on the Kati system’s goal – introducing bagged / pyramid tea drinkers to loose tea with minimal fuss – I think it does a great job.

I was able, with only boiling water and a timer (a clock would do) to make loose leaf tea. It’s simple – place strainer in cup, dump in packet of pre-measured leaf, add hot water to fill line, wait the designate (on the packet) number of minutes, set strainer on lid and enjoy.

My number one and only complaint is I think a handle would improve the cup. It now is 3 for 3 on being too hot to pickup after steeping herbal teas for 5 minutes with boiling kettle water.

Resteep: just as strong and tasty

>> Here is my kati loose tea system review from a loose tea drinker perspective.
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/kati-review.html

>>Images of the Chamomile Citron loose tea single steeps™
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/tea-forte-loose-leaf-herbal-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 16 oz filtered boiling
Tool: ceramic Tea Forte solstice teapot
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: apple, pineapple, raisin
Steeped Tea Smell: apple, orange, banana
Flavor: apple, pineapple, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: translucent orange-yellow

My mom had some of this in her cupboard from a trip to Teavana we made a while back. It has been discontinued. I won’t miss it too much, it tastes like apple cider with some raisins and pineapple.

I’ve had it before, but not since I started the blog. So when I visited my mom today she sent me home with it so I could revisit the tea and also get a chance to blog it.

In other news she plans to get the Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL for mother’s day. I also want one. I promise to do a side by side review of the zarafina and the breville when they arrive.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: I let it steep forever, I got colored but flavorless water. This is not re-steep-able

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/teavana-loose-leaf-herbal-tea-banana.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 nest ~4.6g
Water: ~16 oz
Tool: ceramic Tea Forte solstice teapot
Steep Time: a little over 1 minute
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: rice
Steeped Tea Smell: rice
Flavor: bitter, astringent, rice, green tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bitter green tea
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

As an aside this online shop has amazing customer service, packaging, and products. I highly recommend them.

MilitiaJim appreciates that it is what it says, rice tea.

I started with a quick rinse steep to loosen everything up. As the nest unfurled the leaves were smaller than I expected. I ended up needed to strain the tea as I poured into my cup.

I think I was not patient enough in letting the water cool from a boil, or 1 minute was too long to steep the leaves as it was bitter. I could both smell and taste the rice.

I’m intrigued and can’t wait to try this tea again later, I am still new to pu-erh teas so the whole rinse and tiny steep concept is difficult for me to time correctly. To add trouble I also always over heat my whites and greens!

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: same as the first in preparation and taste

This gets extra points just for being different and fun.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/chicago-tea-garden-tuocha-green-pu-erh.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Water: filtered, 212° 1 mug
Tool: make your own paper teabag
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: mango fruit black tea, maybe some floral too
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, hints of floral and fruit
Flavor: black tea, slightly astringent and a touch bitter
Body: Medium
Aftertaste:
Liquor: dark brown

I went over my mom’s house to drop off samples of tea, and then we enjoyed a cup of tea one of her patients got her. They tend to find her unique loose leaf tea. This batch came from the Caribbean and was not cheap (I of course looked it up online).

Mom used her variable temperature Breville electric kettle and the paper make your own teabags to make us tea.

The tea was a smooth, slightly bitter and astringent, black tea. Another disappointing Mango tea, as I could not taste the mango.

This was not a full strong tea I would recommend as a first wake-up cup of tea, as it was not that kind of strong caffeine hit.

Post-Steep Additives: none

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/sunny-caribbee-loose-leaf-black-tea.html