AmazonV

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 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: Banana (MilitiaJim Fake banana) chocolate if you look for it
Steeped Tea Smell: woody
Flavor: woody, banana, sweet
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: banana
Liquor: deep cloudy reddish brown

This was a gift from Teaplz

I am sadly not getting any of the chocolate, very little of the banana (it might be a brief flirt at the beginning but then gone), the apple I think just sweetens it.

In summary, smells better than it tastes, it doesn’t taste bad it just tastes like rooibos and after that smell you expect and want something more.

I have enough left for another pot, perhaps more, I think I’ll try a shorter steep.

Post-Steep Additives: none

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

Steep Information:
Amount: 4g
Additives: none, MilitiaJim: Honey
Water: 2 zarafina cups filtered water
Tool: Zarafina Green-Loose-Medium
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: very light bad to get very close to smell it, vegetal and sweet
Steeped Tea Smell:
AmazonV: again a very light smell, vegetal, light, sweet, minty
MilitiaJim: medicinal
Bobbie: bengay
Flavor:
AmazonV: delicate, light, sweet, minty, refreshing
MilitiaJim: earthy like an unwashed potato, maybe dirty cinnamon
Bobbie: eww
Body: Light
Aftertaste: minty, refreshing, tingly
Liquor: pale yellow-green

So Bobbie and MilitiaJim gave me their teas to finish as they did not like this tea at all. I was surprised I liked this tea and found it refreshing as I am not a green tea person.

I did find it earthier with the clover honey. Not in a bad way though.

I think this tea came though best without additives.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: Zarafina, 2 c, Green-Loose-Medium
pretty much the same as the first steep, less tingly though

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/life-in-teacup-loose-leaf-green-tea_11.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 teabags
Water: 12 ounces filtered, boiling water
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: no scent really, paper maybe
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet honey, chamomile flowers, maybe a tinge of the licorice?
Flavor: light licorice, chamomile, very watery
Body: Light
Aftertaste: none
Liquor: deep dark brown

I blame the fact these are probably a good few years old and have only been in the waxed paper bag they originally came in. I purchased them a long time ago and shoved them into the cupboard and neglected them ever since.

Perhaps 1 bag would have been sufficient, but they were so old and not scented….alas not the comforting cup I was seeking.

Out of deference to the poor conditions and age of the bag I will refrain from rating this tea, I have memories of it being a good bed time tea.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/celestial-seasonings-teabag-herbal-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 Teabag, 2.1g
Water:154° 8 ounce hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 4 minutes, I started with 2 and kept adding
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: not much smell from the bag
Steeped Tea Smell: not much smell from the tea
Flavor: brown water, no flavor
Liquor: dark brown

This came as part of a gift and is of unknown age and history so I am refraining from rating this tea. I had very low expectations to begin with as I look down on decaffeinated teas (caffeine free is a different story) but I was expecting bitter not flavorless.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/twinings-of-london-teabag-black-tea.html

finished the TTB sample off this morning with a splash of almond milk – needed sugar and perhaps a little less steep time (4 min but a bit over 3 tsp for 1 pot)

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 bag 2.2g
Additives: none
Water:150° hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes (Steep.It)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: peppermint, lemongrass, lemon verbena
Steeped Tea Smell: lemon verbena
Flavor: lemon, not a very tart shocking lemon but a nice soothing lemon
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet floral
Liquor: medium honey brown

Gift from Janefan, yea! (only 3 more flavors she sent to try and review left)

I was expecting tart and sour and instead got nice and smooth.

I wasn’t feeling too well and was hoping this herbal would help.

I believe this is a good herbal, and recommend it as a under the weather stash.

Post-Steep Additives: honey, mmmmm delicious like a lemon candy

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/bigelow-teabag-herbal-tea-i-love-lemon.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 2 zarafina cups
Tool: Zarafina Strong-Loose Leaf-Herbal
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
MilitiaJim: It smells like root beer with a hint of overcarbonization.
AmazonV: Minty birch beer.
Steeped Tea Smell:
MilitiaJim: This tastes “funny,” And by “funny” I mean exactly like root beer. Except hot. And flat.
AmazonV: smells minty, birch beer, just like birch beer I tried to save too long and kept until it went flat and was warm…with mint.
Flavor: rootbeer, followed by mint
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: mint
Liquor: deep dark reddish-brown

I was skeptical of this tea. There have been many teas in the past that sounded good, maybe even sounded and smelled good but didn’t taste like I wanted.

So i purchased a sampler from the website. It holds about 6 tsp. I like that it comes in a nice ziplock bag.

I do not like that the website does not have ingredients listed. The sample bag does have them listed.

This tea is confusing….it’s hot root beer…it smells the part, and tastes the part perfectly. I think the float part is a bit of a stretch though.

We need to try this iced, and buy some more, it’s delicious!

Post-Steep Additives: lactose free milk, makes it creamier and hides the mint in the sips but not the after taste.

A touch of German rock sugar only makes it better.

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

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces filtered boiling
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: red tea (woody)
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet red tea, woody
Flavor: smooth red tea, floral
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: deep reddish-brown

This is one of the flavors in my Mighty Leaf Variety 15 pack

It’s a solid rooibos that isn’t very strongly woody (how i usually describe rooibos as tasting). I wouldn’t mind in another variety pack but I personally would rather a fruity flavor than floral as flavor in my tea.

Also, I could not taste the hibiscus at all, and I love hibiscus.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/mighty-leaf-tea-teabag-rooibos-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Additives: none
Tool: Zarafina herbal-loose-strong 2 cups
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: coconut, pineapple
Steeped Tea Smell: not much, little hints of pineapple and coconut but you have to sniff hard right over the cup
Flavor: rum, coconut, slight pineapple
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: deep dark reddish-brown

This tea does not taste woody like rooibos, and it is sweeter (due to flavoring or not I am not sure as I have never had pure honeybush). I very much enjoy the flavors as the blend very well into a smooth fruity fun drink. The flavors are all mellow, but present. Don’t expect the same kick in the pants strong flavor as an actual pina colada and you will be happy.

I think it would do very well iced.

Post-Steep Additives: added one teaspoon sweetened cream of coconut, delicious! Highly suggested.

Resteep: weaker but enjoyable

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/52teas-loose-leaf-honeybush-herbal-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 bag, 1.7g
Additives: none
Water:8 ounces filtered boiling
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: fruity, mango
MilitiaJim: vaguely tropical, hint of mango
Steeped Tea Smell:
AmazonV: Mango, black tea
MilitiaJim: Does AmazonV know what a mango smells /tastes like?
AmazonV: I peel your mangoes!
MilitiaJim: generic fruit
AmazonV: Mango snob
Flavor:
AmazonV: Mango, black tea
MilitiaJim: slight fruit and black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste:
AmazonV: bitter
MilitiaJim: none
Liquor: deep dark brown

Republic of tea sample (included in catalog they send)

Neither of us got the sunflower flavor.

Post-Steep Additives: 1/2 tsp white sugar, got rid of the bitter for me, he didn’t notice anything

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

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces
Tool: Mesh basket strainer in cup
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chocolate, it reminded me of a tobacco store
Steeped Tea Smell: chocolate
Flavor: very smooth, lightly chocolate, black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, slightly bitter very breifly
Liquor: dark brown

Steepster Traveling Teabox tea

MilitiaJim did not like it at all.

Neither of us got the hazelnut, maybe that was what I was mistaking for tobacco?

Either way a delicious chocolate tea.

Either way after everyone rating this so highly on Steepster I was expecting too much. This is a great tea and I will probably purchase it occasionally but to fall in love perhaps I need to tweak my preparation methods?

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: 6 minutes, lighter color and taste but still good

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/harney-and-sons-loose-leaf-black-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag, 2.8g
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces boiling
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: not getting much smell, and MilitiaJim agrees
Steeped Tea Smell: orange black tea
Flavor: smooth strong black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, briefly bitter
Liquor: dark brown

This was my free gift when I ordered using a twitter code.

This tea would likely do well with a bit of sugar and splash of cream.

It’s a smooth quality black tea in a convenient bag, nothing WOW but certainly better than most bagged blacks I have encountered.

Post-Steep Additives: none

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/two-leaves-and-bud-teabag-black-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: a bit under 1 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces / 8 ounces boiling filtered water let cool to 175 then steeped in cup with mesh basket
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: AmazonV: Nothing / MilitiaJim: Faint green tea
Steeped Tea Smell: green tea (slightly vegetal)
Flavor: green tea (slightly vegetal)
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: translucent green (MilitiaJim: de-neon-ed mountain dew)

This was a sample from Life in Teacup

I was very pleased that this tea is not bitter! I tend to over heat or steep greens and get bitter tea. This is a nice mellow green tea and I am enjoying it. I wouldn’t mind getting it again, although I know I am more a black tea / red tea person than green.

Post-Steep Additives: honey = sweetened green tea

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/life-in-teacup-loose-leaf-green-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 1 full cast iron teapot of filtered boiling
Steep Time: a little over 4 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet and nutty (almond biscotti or cookie to AmazonV)
Steeped Tea Smell: almond cookie, or almond sweet breakfast cereal (Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds)
Flavor: not sweet almond black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent and bitter briefly (MilitiaJim says it doesn’t do that when hot)
Liquor: cloudy translucent reddish brown

Steepster Traveling Teabox Tea, grabbed because MilitiaJim loves almonds

MilitiaJim: It tasted more almondy than it smelled which is a good thing.

AmazonV: The smell was so sweet, I think the tea needs sweetening to match the scent. I also think a splash of almond milk would do it well. This was a great tea.

OMG this is near me, I can go there!!!!

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: 8+ minutes, fail, watery almond water

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/premium-steap-tea-store-loose-leaf.html

tried 3 bags, 12 ounces, 1 tsp german rock, 8 min – 2 bags is better

Steep Information:
Hot from the Flavia machine, about 8 ounces (it’s a mystery)

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: lemon head candy
Flavor: lemon, but slightly sweet (apple) and floral
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: apple, slightly sour tang
Liquor: bright yellow

I am at work, the flavia is free, this one is enjoyable (please note i enjoy lemonheads and other similar candy), and great when you aren’t feeling well (scratchy throat)

Post-Steep Additives: none

Rating: 1.5/3

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 teabags
Additives: none
Water: 16 ounces hot spigot
Steep Time: a little over 6 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
Steeped Tea Smell: sour, berry, floral, defiantly getting hibiscus and blackberry, if i sniff and think hard i get the citrus note at the end lightly. Not getting the apple or rose at all.
Flavor: delicious apple berry hibiscus punch! a little tangy, starts sweet, then sour/tang, then sweet again. I love it, it’s like a fruit cocktail.
Body: Full
Aftertaste: sweet berry with lingering apple
Liquor: deep dark opaque purple-red

See my company review here.

I love this tea, it’s delicious and full of flavor, and the flavors and a blend, you can pick them out if you try (well i can’t find the rose) but not the weird teas that the flavors seem to be separate and not mesh.

I need to cut back on my caffeine so there will be plenty more herbals coming up.

This packaging is excellent for at work, the individual packs keeps it fresh and i don’t need to keep the box when it gets low (and my drawer will still be clean). Also teabags are just so convenient at work.

Post-Steep Additives: none

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/two-leaves-and-bud-teabag-herbal-tea.html

per last notes
2 teabags
1 flavia cup hot spigot water
7 minutes
honey

i was forced to stir as all the color and flavor were on the bottom
smell is strong cinnamon and apple spice (mulled cider)
taste is juicy cinnamon apple, much better with 2 bags

2 bags, honey, boiling water 7 minutes
it’s a fine red tea, but the hibiscus isn’t strong enough for me
and i was getting a weird minty flavor? usually it’s more of a lemony floral
resteep fail as usual

sugar brought it up to 50%

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teaspoon
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces filtered boiling
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Vanilla
Steeped Tea Smell: Vanilla, black tea
Flavor: bitter black tea, but creamy
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slightly sweet vanilla
Liquor: deep translucent brown

A Steepster Traveling Teabox Tea

I was expecting more vanilla flavor, and less bitterness.

Post-Steep Additives: 1/2 tsp German rock sugar, bring out the vanilla, and of course makes it sweeter. still a bit bitter

Resteep: 2 minutes, 1 tsp German rock sugar, very sweet, vanilla, same dark coloring, and bitter black tea

kinda feeling ‘meh’ about it, if it were a cheaper bagged tea i would find it acceptable, but I have higher expectations for loose leaf teas.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/mcnultys-tea-and-coffee-loose-leaf.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: lactose-free fat-free milk 6 ounces, 180 degrees
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: dark chocolate bar, nutty
Steeped Tea Smell: Hershey’s chocolate milk
Flavor: Hershey’s chocolate milk, but with not enough chocolate
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: none
Liquor: light milk chocolate colored

So last time this tea was kinda weak watery chocolate, and now it was creamy weak chocolate milk. Disappointing. Next time 2 bags per 6 ounces of milk.

Post-Steep Additives: none, and none needed

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 teaspoons
Additives: none
Water: 2 zarafina cups
Steep Time: no idea, until the zarafina was done – setting – herbal, loose leaf, strong
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: honey, raspberry
MilitiaJim: fake sugar, fruit, vague bread sense, he is angry and upset by the fake sugar smell
Steeped Tea Smell: raspberry (MilitiaJim got fake sugar still)
Flavor:
AmazonV: woody, raspberry
MilitiaJim: floral
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slightly raspberry
Liquor: deep reddish-brown

Got my 52Teas order Today! This was during one of the so-popular-they-had-to-reblend periods. They even were so kind as to hold of shipping for one week while I drank room into my cupboard (now that’s customer service!)

I expected a sweet fruity tea…never had cream cheese in my tea so wasn’t sure what to expect.

The tea itself is not sweet, and is defiantly predominantly raspberry. the danish / cream cheese aspects aren’t coming through and the honeybush is only adding a slight undercurrent of ‘tea’ and contrast to the berry flavor.

Post-Steep Additives: 1/2 tsp German rock sugar

The German rock sugar seems to bring of the cream cheese flavor. I definitely think this tea needs to be steeped with sweetener.

Not so sure I’d get it again, but I will enjoy this bag.

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: flavia hot spigot, 1 mug full
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cinnamon, but you had to get close and sniff
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon, again you had to get close to it, it didn’t hit you from say the desk while it was sitting next to me
Flavor: weak black tea, light cinnamon
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bitter, astringent
Liquor: dark brown

One of my coworkers shared the tea love and gave me a few bags of this tea (yea!).

I was hoping for more of a hot cinnamon heart POW, but it was more a subdued cinnamon flavor. I may add sugar next time to try and round the tea out more.

Post-Steep Additives: none

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/bigelow-teabag-black-tea-cinnamon-stick.html