AmazonV

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: perfume
Steeped Tea Smell: Nut, Cherry, Bakey
Flavor: Smooth, bakey, hint of cherry
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent, bakey
Liquor:translucent dark orange brown

Good, but not great.

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.teatra.de/2012/07/08/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-cherry-garcia/

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 8oz at 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: approximately 3 and a half minutes
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cardamom, spice
Steeped Tea Smell: bakey black tea
Additives: 2 tsp sugar, ice, 4 tbl sweetened condensed milk
Flavor: heavily spiced black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet, astringent
Liquor: nearly opaque dark brown to a cloudy light brown

Delicious! Very much like the many thai teas I have had while dining out. I zipped through this sample in the hot weather and was sad to find I had no more sniff

I tried the next batch hot and cold, both were good
(4 tsp 500ml at 212°F – 3 minutes, 2 cups 1 tsp sugar each, 4 tbl milk each 2 hot and 2 cold)

I even did a resteep, and it worked out fine

Note: breville had lots of grit in cups / teapot – suggest using tsac method

Rating: 4/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.teatra.de/2012/06/24/arbor-teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-organic-thai-iced-tea/

Steep Information:
Amount: 3tsp
Water: 500ml at 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: citrus, chemical tang, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: citrus, vegetal
Flavor:fruity, vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: a little bitter
Liquor: translucent light orange

Not bad, but not great, dislike the after taste

Post-Steep Additives: agave syrup – increased fruity flavor, decreased (bu still present) after taste

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.teatra.de/2012/06/24/52teas-loose-leaf-green-tea-sea-breeze/

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water:500 ml at 185 °F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet grape
Steeped Tea Smell: Grape jolly rancher, hint vegetal
Flavor: Vegetal, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: none
Liquor: Translucent light brown

Post-Steep Additives: Add sugar, slightly more grape…meh

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.teatra.de/2012/06/24/52teas-loose-leaf-white-tea-concord-grape-bai-mu-dan/

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chocolate
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, bakey-black tea
Flavor: sweet black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent dark red-brown

not getting the cookie or chocolate or milk

Post-Steep Additives: german rock sugar, chocolate coming out, a little bakey for cookie, no milk

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/06/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-milk-and.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 packet
Water: 3Qt
Tool: Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: natural coconut
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, hint of coconut
Flavor:very strong, mostly black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: dark brown

it’s for 4q i had 3q

Post-Steep Additives: sugar, water – delicious! smoother, medium bodied, stronger coconut flavor, great summer drink (see what you get for following directions)

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/06/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-coconut.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 12oz boiling
Tool: kati loose tea system 12oz
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, floral, black toasty tea
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, floral black
Flavor: smooth, sweet, slightly toasty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: slightly opaque dark brown

good, not remarkable

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/06/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-pot-o-gold.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 3tsp
Water: 500ml at 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Peach, orange, sweet, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: peach, orange, pineapple, fruity, sweet, slight vegetal
Flavor: orange pineapple, vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: citrus tang
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

good! I am enjoying this for breakfast

Post-Steep Additives: touch of agave make it fruiter

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/06/52teas-loose-leaf-green-tea-virgin.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 500ml at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, light, toasty
Steeped Tea Smell: Floral, fresh vegetal, slightly roasty, sweet
Flavor: Sweet, toasty, smooth, almost silky
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet, toast
Liquor: translucent honey yellow brown

Lovely, light, sweet! In addition it have this beautiful sweet floral fragrance that I could not stop sniffing. It is not a morning wake you up cup of tea but a slightly floral sipping tea. It is delicate on the tongue, but with enough presence to make sure you know it’s delicious.

Resteep:
500ml at 195°F for 3min

Just as good, slightly less smooth mouthfeel

Third steep was too weak at 4 minutes

I thoroughly enjoy this black! I don’t love it as much as the oolong

Rating: 4/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/03/zealong-loose-leaf-black-tea-zealong.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml at 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: hibiscus berry, fruity
Steeped Tea Smell: berry, fruity
Flavor: cranberry, smooth sweet black tea, berry end
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: hibiscus
Liquor: translucent dark brown

It is a nice not overly sweet fruity black tea, where the tea is smooth and present. Not fabulous, and being they have lots of nice teas I can see how this might have got cut.

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/teas-etc-loose-leaf-black-tea-cranberry.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 12 ounces, boiling
Tool: kati loose tea system 12oz
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, toasty
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal, slight toasty
Flavor: toasty, vegetal
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slight astringency
Liquor: translucent dark brown-green

I know I should not use boiling water, but I am at work and busy / lazy / distracted

Resteep:
2 minutes+, boiling, 12 ounces

Usually a little better (less astringency)

This tea puts up with 2+ steeps, boiling water, irregular steeping times and is still consistent and a great drink at work.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/teavana-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-phoenix.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: strong sweet passion fruit
Steeped Tea Smell: hints of sweet passion fruit, slight toasty tea
Flavor: toasty tea, with a slight sweet passion fruit at the end of the sip
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slightly toasty
Liquor: barely translucent dark brown

Post-Steep Additives:
agave nectar, brings out the sweet fruit a bit more

Resteep:
500ml at 195°F for 2:30minutes
tastes like a light black tea

Unremarkable, tastes fine but not novel or extremely well done

Gift from a friend.

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/ching-ching-cha-loose-leaf-oolong-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 500ml at 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: berry, floral
Steeped Tea Smell: peppercorn, berry, fruity, floral, woody
Flavor: spicy, woody, sweet
Body: Full
Aftertaste: berry, lavender
Liquor: opaque dark red-brown

Good flavorful rooibos, a bit woody for those who don’t like that, nothing too remarkable.

Gift/Swap from chana karma

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/totalitea-loose-leaf-rooibos-tisane.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 500ml 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 7 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: pineapple, orange, banana, sweet
Steeped Tea Smell: pineapple, banana, orange
Flavor: honeybush, sweet, hints of banana
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: orange, pineapple
Liquor: opaque dark brown

fairly delicious

Post-Steep Additives:
1 spoon agave nectar
brings out all the fruit flavors and puts the honeybush as a secondary, aftertaste

I am really enjoying this!

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/52teas-loose-leaf-honeybush-tisane.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: grape, fake grape, hints of oatmeal
Steeped Tea Smell: grape, roasty tea
Flavor: roasty black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent dark brown

Post-Steep Additives:
agave nectar
sweet, raisin, toasty black tea

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-oatmeal.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 500ml at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Sweet maple, smokey tea
Steeped Tea Smell: maple, toasty black tea
Flavor: sweet black tea, hints of maple, end of sip is a bit oaty, slightly gritty mouthfeel
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent dark brown-orange

The maple seems to mask or overpower the brown sugar, perhaps if I add some sugar? Overall a nice sweet (without additives) black wake up tea.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-maple-and.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 5.4g
Water:750ml at 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, sweet, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, floral, lightly delicate vegetal
Flavor: smooth, silky, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: floral, vegetal
Liquor: translucent light yellow-green

Resteep:
750ml at 195°F for 3 min
weaker flavor and smell

Resteep:
750ml at 195°F for 4 min
weaker flavor and smell, no longer silky smooth mouthfeel

Steep Information:
Amount: 4.8g
Water:750ml at 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, sweet, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, floral, lightly delicate vegetal
Flavor: smooth, silky, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: floral, vegetal
Liquor: translucent light yellow-green

Delicious, smooth, silky, wonderful cup of tea for just sipping and enjoying. 2 minutes was better than 3.

Rating: 4/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/teavivre-loose-leaf-white-tea-white.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 500ml 175F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cherry cheese danish
Steeped Tea Smell: genmaicha (vegetal, rice)
Flavor: bitter green
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: translucent honey green-yellow

Next time less temp? less leaves?

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 500ml 175F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cherry cheese danish
Steeped Tea Smell: genmaicha (vegetal, rice)
Flavor: green, rice
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent honey green-yellow

Much better at 2 min, cherry is still mostly in smell, but smooth genmaicha this time.

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/52teas-loose-leaf-green-tea-cherry.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 6oz boiling
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cinnamon, wood
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon, cardamom, wood
Flavor: rooibos woody, cinnamon, closes with cardamom kick
Body: Full
Aftertaste: cardamom, hints of wood
Liquor: dark opaque red-brown

Really have no feelings good or bad, it just seemed average.

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/teagschwendner-loose-leaf-rooibos.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 6.3g
Water: 750ml 195F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, floral, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: floral, sweet, vegetal
Flavor: smooth, silky, sweet
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent honey yellow-brown

enjoyable, comforting

Resteep:
Not as smooth or sweet

I decided to have a bit of fun, I made some plain oatmeal (you know the kind you never want to eat in the variety pack) with the tea, and mixed in a bit of cranberry and almond. It was good, The tea was hidden by the other flavors and next time perhaps a fuller tea would show more.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/teas-etc-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-green.html

Steep Information:
Tool: Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Served: Hot

I ordered a 2 person pot, the leaves were brought out with pot, and more hot water was provided.

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: toasty, floral, light peach
Flavor: roasty, nutty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: floral, slight perfume, hints of ginger
Liquor: translucent brown-orange

The peach comes through as a slight sweet flavor.
The ginger is a back of the tongue tang after each sip.
The tea is enjoyable, but not extraordinary.

Resteep:
Just as good

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/01/zhi-tea-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-ginger.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 7g
Water: 750ml 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: light toasty, not strong
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, toasty
Flavor: smooth, sweet, slightly toasty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: slight astringent after
Liquor: translucent light orange brown

lovely black tea

Re-Steep Information:
Water: 750ml 195°F
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

stronger brew, but same taste

Placed leave in fridge over night

Re-Steep Information:
Water: 750ml 195°F
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

lighter brew, but still good

Placed leave in fridge over night (again)

Re-Steep Information:
Water: 750ml 195°F
Steep Time: 4 minutes
Served: Hot

lighter, sweeter but still good

It kept on going, even after suffering through time in the fridge (repeatedly)I decided to stop as it got very light and I wasn’t sure it could take another steep.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/01/thepuritea-loose-leaf-black-tea-hong.html

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: lime, pomegranate
Flavor: sweet, lime, vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: pomegranate

Really good iced tea with flavor (as opposed to fruit juice with some tea in it)

I would buy it again!

It is nice to find quality ready to drink teas.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/01/steaz-ready-to-drink-can-white-tea-lime.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 12 ounces hot tap water
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, roasty, delicious
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, roasty, delicious
Flavor: sweet bakey
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: toasty
Liquor: translucent dark brown

Delicious, from the smell you knew it would be a smooth toasty black. It has its own sweetness, and just enough toast to be soothing but not an astringent black.

Resteep: 2 minutes, 12 ounces hot tap water
Lighter body, but still delicious

This tea puts up with poor preparation (at work) and has been a once a week treat on my first day of work. The smooth mouthfeel and gentle toasted sweetness wake you up gently and not with the vicious shake sometimes given by an assam.

Solid performer, I have been drinking this at work and it has been hard to mess up, and consistently delicious without being jarring. This is not a kick you awake tea but a tea to perk you up with friendly soothing sips.

Rating: 4/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/01/teavivre-loose-leaf-black-tea-bailin.html