AmazonV

Steep Information:
Amount: 5.6g
Water: 750ml 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: toasty, then vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: roasty, light vegetal
Flavor: smooth, sweet, a little vegetal
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: toasty
Liquor: translucent brown-green

Other Names: Iron Goddess of Mercy, Ti Kuan Yin, Ti Kwan Yin, Tie Guan Yin, Monkey Picked Oolong

A smooth and sweet Ti Kuan Yin, I even had a leftover cup from the refrigerator and it was good. Not all Ti Kuan Yin ice well.

This was smooth, but not as silky a mouth feel as some very nice Ti Kuan Yin I have had. It is on par with the one from Teavivre. The better Ti Kuan Yin I have had was from Chicago Tea Garden. This would do far be my second favorite.

Resteep Information: 3 min
same as first

Resteep Information: 3:30 min
lighter than first

I gave up on the leaves so I could sleep. This is one of those darling teas you really get your money worth, and it keeps on ticking, just add a bit more time and voila! If you drink a lot of tea start your day off with this and it will keep going all day for you.

My apologies for not getting pictures of resteeps and spent leaves.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.net/2011/12/teas-etc-loose-leaf-oolong-tea.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: coconut, runts banana
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal, barky, roasty
Flavor: coconut, roasty, vegetal, hints of runts banana
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent, roasty
Liquor: translucent dark brown-red

meh…I wanted more banana and coconut, it’s hints of favor in a roasty vegetal brew.

Post-Steep Additives: sugar
brings out the coconut flavor

It’s an OK cup, but I really haven’t been fond of any hojicha teas.

Blog: http://amazonv.net/2011/12/52teas-loose-leaf-hojicha-tea-coconut.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: strong cinnamon apple, minds me of a nice mulled apple cider, hints of roasty tea
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon black tea, hint of sweet apple if you sniff hard
Flavor: sweet black tea, spice notes and a subtle sweetness
Body: full
Aftertaste: cinnamon, apple
Liquor: translucent dark reddish brown

It’s a smooth and lovely tea. It doesn’t call to me in such a way it’s going to be an addiction but I am enjoying this and hope it gives me another couple steeps. I should warn you I am suffering from a head cold so scents and flavors may be muted.

Resteep: 500ml 195°F 3 minutes
resteep weaker, but not bad, perhaps adding 30 seconds would have done better?

A warm, comforting, fall feeling cup of tea.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/12/teas-etc-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-cinnamon.html

Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: sour, green tea, faint coconut
Flavor: Sweet (passionfruit?), bitter, pineapple, coconut
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: Sweet, then bitter
Liquor: Translucent green

If I had to guess it’s the yerba mate I don’t like

Rating: 1/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/12/bazza-ready-to-drink-bottled-green-tea.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cucumber, vegetal, hint of perfumy strawberry
Steeped Tea Smell: cucumber, vegetal, sweet, hint berry if you try
Flavor: crisp cool (but its hot!?!) Cucumber, then a hint of sweetness that might be strawberry
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent honey yellow brown

Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar
not an improvement

Resteep: 500ml 185°F 2 minutes
more vegetal, and cucumber no berry, slight bitter tang

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/12/52teas-loose-leaf-white-tea-cucumber.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: strawberries, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: strawberries and bread
Flavor: sweet strawberry, vegetal
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bread, astringent
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

Delicious sweet green tea, slightly gritty mouthfeel. The pancake seems to be in the end / after the sip with the sweet strawberry upfront, and a strong vegetal flavor in the middle.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/12/52teas-loose-leaf-green-tea-strawberry.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: 12 ounces boiling water
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: lapsang souchong (campfire smoke)
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, lapsang souchong (campfire smoke), bake-y, citrus
Flavor: smokey, bakey, citrus, astringent back tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent dark brown

I am not a huge smoke-y fan, but I do love how this combines earl grey into the smoked flavor.

I love the quality of packaging on Kusmi products.

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/12/kusmi-teabag-black-tea-earl-grey-smoky.html

No notes yet.

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Mango, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: Vegetal, hint of pear
Flavor: vegetal, a little bitter
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: translucent brown-green

I made this while visiting my mom, she has a lovely tea collection and an area just for tea!

I think it needs less time or lower temp…not bad, not great

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/12/premium-steap-loose-leaf-white-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: hot spigot water, 6-8oz
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes (http://steep.it)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, herb-like
Steeped Tea Smell: grassy
Flavor: grassy
Body: Full
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: translucent dark yellow

too hot water? too long? anyway, grassy

Thank you TeaEqualsBliss!

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/12/two-leaves-and-bud-teabag-green-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 5g
Water: 750ml 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: fresh, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: vegtal, light, floral
Flavor: smooth (but not silky) vegetal, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: nutty?
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

Resteep: 195°F 2 min
same quality, slightly darker, odd stronger on steep two, i guess the leaves being open made a difference

Resteep: 195°F 2 min
same quality as the second

Resteep: 195°F 2 min
same quality, touch weaker
refrigerated – BLEH not good cold

At this point I gave up
The leaves could have probably done another cup

Not the best I’ve had but a good iron goddess, slight nuttiness, smooth vegetal, just keep it hot.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/12/teavivre-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-tie-guan.html

Steep Information:
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: Chrysanthemum
Flavor: strong cane sugar, Chrysanthemum, sugar
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: cane sugar

It is hard to describe, if you have never had chrysanthemum
I would have liked a bit less sugar, but was happy it was real sugar

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/yeos-can-of-herbal-tisane-chrysanthemum.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: boiling, 2 mugs
Tool: my grandmother’s Bee House Ceramic Round Teapot (like this one)
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Strong hazelnut, hints of dark chocolate
Steeped Tea Smell: hazelnut
Flavor: black tea, hints of chocolate and hazelnut
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent dark brown

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/tea-forte-loose-leaf-black-tea-hazelnut.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 5.8g
Water: 750ml 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal
Flavor: vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: translucent green-brown

Too light to taste at 3:30, so I tossed the leaves back in for another 1:00.

Too vegetal without anything else for me, but a smooth cup of tea. Have it with some cookies or snacks.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/teas-etc-loose-leaf-white-tea-bai-hao.html

No notes yet.

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 ball
Water: 12 ounces, boiling
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, fruity
Steeped Tea Smell: jasmine, vegetal
Flavor: green tea, jasmine
Body: Light
Aftertaste: none
Liquor: translucent honey yellow-brown

Like most flowering teas I feel the flavor is sacrificed for the beauty. It’s an OK cup of tea but nothing exceptional. On the other hand you can tell it was made with high quality tea as it is drinkable and pretty as opposed to many flowering teas which are for looks only.

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/teavivre-loose-leaf-green-tea-true-love.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: boiling, let sit 1 minute, 12 oz
Steep Time: a little over 1 minute (http://steep.it/)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: mint
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal
Flavor: lemongrass, mint, vegetal
Body: Full
Aftertaste: mint
Liquor: translucent brown-green

not really exciting or delicious, a lemon-grassy green tea.

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/tazo-teabag-green-tea-zen.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 7.4g
Water: 500ml 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 10 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: candied apples
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet apple cider
Flavor: like caramel apple spice drink from Starbucks
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet, apples
Liquor: translucent orange-yellow

Delicious! A sweet treat, without sugar, probably even better with!

Steepster Secret Santa gift from Infusin_Susan.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/teagschwendner-loose-leaf-herbal-tisane.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, fruity, floral
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, light, jasmine
Flavor: sweet, jasmine
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

delicious, light, refreshing, lovely

Resteep:185°F 500ml 4 min
med body, still delicious!

Resteep:185°F 500ml 4 min
3rd steep is too bitter and astringent

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/teas-etc-loose-leaf-white-tea-jasmine.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: boiling
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vanilla, mint, fake cherry
Steeped Tea Smell: cola, sarsaparilla, mint, vanilla
Flavor: black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent, mint
Liquor: translucent dark red-brown

Post-Steep Additives: +1 tsp German rock sugar – more sarsaparilla flavor to the tea

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

more sarsaparilla, still minty, no cherry

Rating: 1/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-cherry.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, vegetal, toasty
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, toasty
Flavor: smooth, slightly sweet
Body: Full
Aftertaste: slight astringency
Liquor: translucent dark orange brown

I knew this would be a nice cup of tea from the smell, it was fresh, and sweet. This tea needed no additives.

Resteep: 3 minutes – Good, but not as great as the first cup. I didn’t have time for another steep at work.

I honestly recommend this as a nice solid naturally sweet and smooth black tea to anyone looking to steep tea at work and keep at it through the work day.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/teavivre-company-loose-leaf-black-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: boiling
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes…I forgot about it so + ???
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: mulled apple cider (cinnamon, apple)
Steeped Tea Smell: mulled apple cider (cinnamon, apple)
Flavor: black tea, hints of apple, cinnamon, spice
Body: Full
Aftertaste: slight astringency
Liquor: translucent dark orange-brown

As usual, the smell is much stronger than the taste.

Post-Steep Additives: +1 tsp german rock sugar = brings out the flavors more

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-apple-cider.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet blueberry, and something…floral
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, hints of sweet
Flavor: astringent black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: blueberry
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

It was a cup of black tea…with hints of blueberry. I do not like the black tea base 52teas uses. sigh

Rating: 2/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-boo-berry.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 6.6g
Water: 750ml 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: very floral, light
Steeped Tea Smell: floral, vegetal
Flavor: light, sweet, crisp, vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent honey yellow brown

I enjoyed this tea, but it was a bit light for me. When I went to eat a snack with it, the tea was overpowered. This is a tea to drink alone. Alone it is a light, refreshing, drink. Somehow it comes off crisp, not exactly sure how to describe it other than that.

Resteep: 4 minutes – just as good as the first round

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/teas-etc-loose-leaf-white-tea-white.html