AmazonV

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 heap tsp
Additives: none
Water: 22oz filtered, boiling
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Coconut, Nut, Sweet
Steeped Tea Smell: Nutty, Coconut, Sweet
Flavor: rooibos
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: coconut, and then COCONUT CUSTARD
Liquor: Deep dark orange red brown

Thanks to SoccerMom for turning me on to this tea.

First, you smell the tea as it comes up to your nose and you smell coconut custard.

MilitiaJim is flummoxed how something can smell like a texture, but it does.

Then you sip, at first I was sad, it was rooibos. Don’t get me wrong I love rooibos but I wanted coconut custard.

As I swallow the sip I start to taste coconut shell, then coconut.

Then I swallow and there is the coconut pie! Delicious.

Strange the flavor is all in the swallow.

Post-Steep Additives: pinch of German rock sugar
sweeter, yum!

Resteep: 7 min, weak, 10+ min, weak but drinkable

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: hot water spigot, 1 mug full
Steep Time: a little over 4 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: citrus, black tea
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea
Flavor: smooth, black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slight astringency
Liquor: dark reddish-brown

This tea is not a kick in the butt, I wouldn’t use it as a breakfast tea.
I am enjoying it with my lunch at work.

Post-Steep Additives: none

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

Steep Information:
Amount: entire sample
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces filtered boiling
Tool: Mesh basket strainer in cup
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: i forgot to sniff!
Steeped Tea Smell: hibiscus
Flavor: hibiscus
Body: Full
Aftertaste:
Liquor: deep dark ruby red

I like hibiscus, and this is a hibiscus drink. I can’t find the other flavors. perhaps I over-brewed it?

I was hoping for a bit of pineapple hibiscus tea or maybe pineapple coconut hibiscus tea. Instead it was all delicious juicy and tart hibiscus.

I think I need to order some of this, once my other others I have arrive and I drink some space into my cupboard. Then I can fiddle with the amount and times more.

It is very nice to look at with all the orange peels

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar
sweeter, less tart, more delicious

Resteep: 7 minutes was a weak hibiscus pineapple – so close!
gave it a bit longer, orange – pineapple – hibiscus DELICIOUS but still weak, but it shows me the potential of this tea!

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/jade-teapot-loose-leaf-herbal-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag, 1.9g
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces filtered boiling
Steep Time: a little over 4 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Strong odor, Spearmint, chamomile, hint of Lemon
Steeped Tea Smell: mint
Flavor: mint (Bobbie and MilitiaJim indicate “gum”)
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: mint
Liquor: light brown

An impulse buy while grocery shopping at Target.

I thought it was fine, if you wanted and expected a mint tea. Apparently this is not what Bobbie or MilitiaJim wanted or like. Oh well, anyone want some?

Post-Steep Additives: none

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/lipton-teabag-herbal-tea-bedtime-story.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag, 2.2g
Additives: none
Water: 8 ounces filtered boiling
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: lemon, herbs, hint of ginger
Steeped Tea Smell: lemon, ginger
Flavor: barley, chamomile, lemon
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: lightly ginger
Liquor: cloudy orange-brown

This was an impulse buy at TJ Maxx, I always need more herbal teas.

I actually made this for MilitiaJim and stole sips.

I can not taste the rooibos at all, and the ginger is a mere hint.

MilitiaJim noticed it was not a real lemon, it was more lemon grass than lemon.

Post-Steep Additives: pinch German rock sugar
A bit more lemonade like

Well, we’re not tossing it but we’re certainly never buying it again. If anyone wants some let me know and I’ll send it your way.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/davidsons-tea-teabag-herbal-tea-lemon.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 6 oz filtered, boiling, 190°
Tool: Mesh basket strainer in cup
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: not much
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal
Flavor: buttery smooth, vegetal, then black tea, complex, a little sweet
Body: Full
Aftertaste: black tea, slightly astringent, perhaps a touch bitter
Liquor: Dark translucent brown

A generous gift from SoccerMom, since I was drooling over everyone’s posts.

The dry leaves are amazing, they are long thin rolls and just neat to look at.

The smell surprised me, I don’t associate vegetal with black tea.

Sadly I am not getting the chocolate, caramel or honey others were picking up.

I must echo takgoti that it is a rich tea, yet leaves you lightly. Some teas feel as though you have drank a thick shake, and although delicious fill you up. The flavors and scent are rich with Dawn, but leave you with room for more of the re-steeps.

This is not a flavored black, yet it is rich and complex and very enjoyable! quite a contrast to this morning’s PG tips.

Although I can’t jump on the ‘favorite tea’ bandwagon, I am extremely grateful to SoccerMom for letting me try some. I am enjoying my tea and it’s re-steeps and I think if I ever place an order from the simple leaf Dawn will be included. Right now I am not going to rush and place an order just for Dawn.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: 5 min, much the same as the first, very impressive re-steep really. One leaf fully unfurled, hopefully you can see it in the picture.

MilitiaJim took a sip and made an awful face and declared it tasted like mud.

I decided everyone else found chocolate, and I was defective and had a glass with some chocolate cake. Still no chocolate found.

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

Steep Information:
Amount: 3tsp
Additives: none
Water: filtered, boiling, 22 oz
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 2:22 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: astringent, black tea, Assam?
Steeped Tea Smell: Bitter, Strong astringent black
Flavor: astringent black tea, slightly bitter
Body: Full
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: Translucent dark reddish brown

Yes, something can smell bitter.

I admit we bought this at the local grocery store because of the monkey commercials.

Post-Steep Additives: almond milk and German rock sugar
The tea was much smoother, less astringent and bitter.
The tea was barely drinkable before the milk and sugar.
An acceptable cup of tea, but I am not purchasing it again.

MilitiaJim – this is the bold black coffee of the tea world.

Next time we are doing 2 minutes or less.

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

Steep Information:
Amount: 6tsp
Additives: none
Water: 1 cast iron teapot full of 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: Berry, Woody
Steeped Tea Smell: Berry, woody, hint of pepper
Flavor: sweet strawberry, woody
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: pepper
Liquor: deep dark reddish-brown

Swap from Meghann M

This was a very interesting tea, a nice smooth fresh strawberry (not sweet like a pie or candy), with a hint of rooibos, then an aftertaste of light pepper.

I am enjoying my cup, I don’t think I’ll buy it again, but I am very much enjoying this.

The kept saying Rooibush, I am assuming this is the same as Rooibos.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Additives: none
Water: Zarafina 2c
Tool: Zarafina 2c black-loose-med
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Coco, smoky, sweet
Steeped Tea Smell: Light coco, Black tea, Sweet
Flavor: black tea, hint of dark chocolate
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: none
Liquor: opaque dark brown like coffee

If your expecting milk chocolate this is not your tea, it’s more a dark chocolate.

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar, sweeter

Marginally better, but really, it’s lightly coco black tea, good but not amazing. Looking at the other steepster reviews got me all giddy. I was originally afraid I would love the tea and be devastated at it no longer being available. Luckily it’s a good cup of tea, but I’ll be fine without (Florence will see me though).

Resteep: same as first

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

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 2 Zarafina cups
Tool: Zarafina Green-Loose-Medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, honeysuckle (weird I expected Jasmine)
Steeped Tea Smell: Jasmine, honeysuckle, floral
Flavor: flowers
Body: Light
Aftertaste: tingly tongue, I can feel floral perfume filling my mouth
Liquor: pale translucent watery yellow-green

well 4 was too much, 2 was too little, perhaps next time 3 will be just right?

Post-Steep Additives: none

Steep Information:
Amount: 1.5 tsp
Additives: none
Water: filtered, boiling, 6 oz
Tool: Mesh basket strainer in cup
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vanilla, chocolate, sweet-woody (rooibos)
Steeped Tea Smell: berry, hint of vanilla
Flavor: smack me in the face berry! no vanilla, no chocolate, no rooibos (WTH?)
Body: Full
Aftertaste: berry
Liquor: cloudy dark reddish-brown

Swap thanks to Meghann M!

Well, luckily I didn’t buy it, because although it is a nice berry rooibos, in fact I can barely taste the rooibos, I would be disappointed at the missing vanilla and chocolate flavors. Mind you I enjoy the flavor of rooibos so it might be slight but not noticeable to me.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: 10 min, sad and weak, dumped out

Rating: 2/4 leaves

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/art-of-tea-loose-leaf-rooibos-tea_31.html

2/4 leaves – i think with some fiddling with amount and time it can get to 3/4

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 1 cast iron teapot full of filtered boiling water
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: strong lavender and bergamont
Steeped Tea Smell: mild bergamont and a hint of lavender
Flavor: smooth black tea with some bergamont and then a floral end
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: translucent light brown

This came in a cute tea tin with clear labels including the name and ingredients. I wish it had included steeping instructions!

Next time I might do 3 minutes and / or 4 tsp as it’s a bit lighter than I’d like, but with all the over-steeping and burning of leaves I have been doing lightly I wanted to start light.

Instead of awakening I find it soothing.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: 3 min, weak and bitter, bleh! ok so next time 4 tsp and stick to 2 min

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/jade-teapot-loose-leaf-black-tea.html

update:
Zarafina 2 c white-loose-mild
3 tsp
german rock sugar
much better!
tart but not bitter
generically fruity and berry i can’t pick out the specific flavors

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 2 zarafina c
Tool: Zarafina white-loose-medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Sweet, fruity, berry
Steeped Tea Smell: Smells like leaves and fruit, papya maybe, sweet
Flavor: sweet, berry, tart, bitter
Body: Light
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: Translucent orange

I think this is being discontinued as I got it on 50% off sale, no return stamped from Teavana.

I saw such positive reviews on Steepster I decided to try it.

I think I should have chosen mild not medium.

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar, sweeter but still bitter.

Resteep: same as the first.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/teavana-loose-leaf-white-tea-garden.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Additives: none
Water: boiling tap water
Tool: New teapot, poured through strainer into cups
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes we kept messing up the timer
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: black tea
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea
Flavor: strong astringent black tea, bitter when oversteeped
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bitter when oversteeped
Liquor: translucent dark brown

We got the chance to use this new and beautiful, but very hot, tea pot. Charu had just returned from India with some tea (not this one, another one) and some pretty wine glasses and tea service set. We rummaged through the cupboards at MilitaJim’s parents place for tea and had some lovely english breakfast. We should have tried it with a splash of milk as well, oh well.

Post-Steep Additives: honey
It was much sweeter, and enjoyable, with some honey

Resteep: 4+ minutes, weak and watery but drinkable

my last tea for the weekend, i’ll be in NYC this weekend visiting friends, no tea for me

Steep Information:
Amount: 1.5 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 6 oz filtered boiling
Tool: Mesh basket strainer in cup
Steep Time: a little over 6 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: nutty, chocolate
Steeped Tea Smell: nutty
Flavor: nutty, then slightly dark chocolate
Body: Full
Aftertaste: sour
Liquor: opaque dark brown, like light coffee

Post-Steep Additives: 1 tsp German rock sugar=much better no sour note, chocolate more prominent

Resteep: 7 min, weak
put in for….until i forgot about it, got a medium bodied nutty chocolaty (it had sugar dregs in it) drink, i don’t have the patience but if you do it is resteepable.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/teavana-loose-leaf-mate-tea-matevana.html

I can’t wait to try it mixed with my morning mate!

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag 1.8g
Additives: none
Water: hot spigot water, 1/2 mug (6 oz?)
Steep Time: a little over 1 minute
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Mango, fruity and floral, honey
Steeped Tea Smell: Floral, something else…
Flavor: Light, weak, watery
Body: Light
Aftertaste: none
Liquor: Translucent yellow green

Free sample included in the mail order catalog they send out.

Post-Steep Additives: none

gave another 1 minute (2 total) and it got very bitter

it was not grassy though

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/republic-of-tea-teabag-green-tea-honey.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 5 tsp
Additives: none
Water: filtered boiling 1 cast iron teapot full
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: Wood and chocolate
MilitiaJim: Cake
Steeped Tea Smell: Rooibos, Mint
Flavor: mint
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet, woody
Liquor: Cloudy dark reddish-orange-brown

Swap from Meghann M

Hmm

Mint, rooibos, none of the chocolate

Luckily I wasn’t expecting much from you tea, because your just managing minty. I mean if i wanted mint tea with a sweet undertone to keep it from being 100% mint, I’d want you. Just not in the mood. Not really impressive.

However very drinkable.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: 7 min, weak, still tingly mint

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/art-of-tea-loose-leaf-rooibos-tea_26.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 1 zarafina cup filtered water
Tool: Zarafina Black-Loose-Medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: coconut, chocolate, nutty, roast
Steeped Tea Smell: coconut meat and flesh
Flavor: black tea and coconut shell, the shell WTF?
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: none
Liquor: translucent dark brown

Steepster Traveling Teabox Tea

A very smooth and enjoyable tea. Although the coconut isn’t a very strong flavor (it’s more of a strong after taste and smell) it is there, in an odd way. The coconut shell was what I was picking up.

Not sure if I’d trudge through snow for it, but I will enjoy a cup from time to time.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: Zarafina Black-Loose-Medium
Beautiful! Just as robust as the first cup.
I added a touch of sweetened coconut milk, which brought out the coconut meat flavor.
I think it could easily have done another steep, only I had to leave and get my train into work.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/premium-steap-packaging-black-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag, 2.6g
Additives: none
Water: 8 ounces hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: roasty leaf
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea
Flavor: black tea, astringent, bitter
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: grassy green tea, bitter
Liquor: translucent dark brown

Steepster Traveling Teabox Tea

I can see having this tea again if it were free and I could drown it in sugar and milk. This tea might have been better if I went to less steep time, but as I only have the one and am at work there is not much room to experiment and play.

Post-Steep Additives:
+1 packet white sugar=slightly sweeter, still a very bitter finish
+1(2) packet white sugar=palatable, wish i had a bit of cream to toss in

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/tazo-teabag-black-tea-joy.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag 2.6g
Additives: none
Water: hot spigot water, 1 mug (12 oz?)
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chai-like, spicy
Steeped Tea Smell: chocolate, nutmeg, vanilla
Flavor: chocolate, nutmeg, rooibos, earthy
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: nutmeg, cinnamon, warm spicy
Liquor: dark cloudy reddish-brown

Steepster Traveling Teabox Tea

It doesn’t have quite enough kick to be a chai. With all the rave reviews I was expecting something a bit more amazing. It is a nice spicy chocolate tea, but not something I am going to go out of my way to try. I am very glad I got the opportunity to give it a try via the teabox as I am not sure I would have been pleased to end up with an entire box of this tea. There are so many teas out there I want to try that i don’t want to be stuck with good tea, I want to only stock up on amazing tea.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag, 2.9 g
Additives: none
Water: hot spigot water, 12 ounces? in mug
Steep Time: a little over 4 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: orange, bergamont, floral
Steeped Tea Smell: vanilla, black tea
Flavor: smooth black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: translucent dark brown

I purchased a sampler and this was included.

The smell was amazing, the tea was a quality black tea but what happened to the orange and vanilla flavor?

Post-Steep Additives: +1 packet white sugar – not much change, a slightly artificial aftertaste
+1 (=2) packet white sugar – very artificial aftertaste bleh!

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/mighty-leaf-tea-teabag-black-tea-orange.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag, 2.9g
Additives: none
Water: hot spigot water, 160° 1 mug (12 oz?)
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: peachy, floral
Steeped Tea Smell: barely there, floral, sweet
Flavor: slick, it’s made my mouth smooth, and there is a flavor a light flavor i can’t place b/c it’s barely there
Body: Light
Aftertaste: fruity and floral
Liquor: translucent honey yellow-brown

Steepster Traveling Teabox Tea

Well I am going to finish this mug but I don’t like it.

Note: I am not a white tea fan, it’s too delicate and subtle for me.

Post-Steep Additives: none

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/mighty-leaf-tea-teabag-white-tea-white.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 1 zarafina cup filtered
Tool: Zarafina oolong-loose-medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: I forgot to sniff I was too excited!
Steeped Tea Smell: buttered vegetables
Flavor: SILK, silky smooth vegetal, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: fuzzy, it makes my tongue fuzzy
Liquor: translucent green-yellow

SoccorMom was kind enough to send me some of this, one of her favorites.

I think this is the first oolong I’ve blogged, at least my labels didn’t have oolong in there yet.

Wow! the leave started out squished little things and they unfurled and became HUGE.

Although I am really enjoying the silken texture, I don’t see myself craving this daily. I can see buying this from time to time for a nice smooth sweet tea with no bitterness.

So not a favorite, but a very enjoyable mug of morning tea (boo morning!) so SoccorMom won’t have to fight me for the supply ;)

Post-Steep Additives: none