AmazonV

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: boiling, 12oz
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes (http://steep.it/2 minutes)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: nutty, chocolate, black tea, mixed spice
Steeped Tea Smell: spice
Flavor: watery peppery burn
Body: Light
Aftertaste: burning
Liquor: translucent brown

I added 2 minutes

A stronger tea, but still burning!

Post-Steep Additives: + honey
= sweeter, but still burning

Too much spice for me, but I could see people who like spice steeping this in hot coco (I never think there is enough chocolate flavor).

TeaEqualsBliss gift, thanks

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-mayan.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: boiling 16oz water
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes (http://steep.it)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal and black and sweet
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet black and a little vegetal
Flavor: black tea with a hint of vegetal
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent dark orange-brown

This is a seasonal tea which is no longer available online at the Starbucks Store, you may still find a tin in your local Starbucks or online retailer.

This year the tea is full leaf and in a sachet as opposed to CTC in a paper filterbag.

Starbucks Tazo Tea – ‘Tis the season of Joy – Guest Post at StarbucksMelody.com http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2011/01/03/starbucks-tazo-tea-tis-the-season-of-joy/

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/tazo-teabag-black-tea-joy.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, cinnamon
Steeped Tea Smell: clove, cinnamon
Flavor: astringent, spiced (cinnamon, clove) black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, a touch bitter
Liquor: translucent dark brown

I am glad I did not do 5 minutes as suggested. I was not thrilled, it was rather ho-hum spiced black tea.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/harney-and-sons-teabag-black-tea.html

Steep Information:
Served in a teapot with a t-sac
Steep Time: over 2 minutes (I let it sit 2 minutes after it arrived at the table)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: indistinguishable spice, hints of chocolate
Flavor: black tea, cinnamon
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, a touch bitter
Liquor: translucent dark brown (amber)

The tea was good, and the chocolate croissant was warmed and went very well on that cold night. I wasn’t getting strong notes of chocolate, but it was a nice smooth spiced tea.

Not something I would miss if it were off the menu, but I might pair it with a chocolate croissant again some night.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/tbar-loose-leaf-black-tea-chocolate.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: ginger
Steeped Tea Smell: ginger, lemongrass, spice
Flavor: ginger! spicy
Body: Full
Aftertaste: spice
Liquor: translucent dark yellow

5 min was too strong, I had to toss that one

3 minutes worked well, I had to add honey. This worked well for my sore throat and head cold, but not something I would drink normally.

Does not resteep well, very weak.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/tea-forte-teabag-herbal-tisane-ginger.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 500ml 200 °F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 6 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
MilitiaJim: That’s a lot of fruit. The strawberry is kinda takin’ over.
AmazonV: It smells like strawberry and cherry. Now that I’ve dug in a bit more I’m maybe getting the lemongrass?
Steeped Tea Smell:
MilitiaJim: fruit
AmazonV: strawberry, fruity, hint of lemongrass
Flavor:
MilitiaJim: They mixed everything together enough that its a hot fruit punch, not any fruit in particular.
AmazonV: A melody of fruits, hard to pick them out individually
Body: Full
Aftertaste: strawberry, apple
Liquor: translucent dark pink

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/persimmon-tree-tea-company-loose-leaf_16.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 750ml 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 4 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: vanilla bean ice cream
MilitiaJim: Yup, vanilla, a bit of bean in there
Steeped Tea Smell:
AmazonV: vanilla bean ice cream
MilitiaJim: tea with some vanilla
Flavor:
AmazonV: vanilla, black tea
MilitiaJim: Wow. Oversteeped bitter. Nice vanilla flavor though.
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent dark brown

Next time it needs to be steeped on the lower end of the parameters.

Post-Steep Additives: cream, sugar

Much better, less astringent, more of the vanilla flavor comes out as well.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/persimmon-tree-tea-company-loose-leaf.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: boiling
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes (http://steep.it/)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: rooibos
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, spice
Flavor: pepper
Body: Full
Aftertaste: woody
Liquor: translucent red-orange

It was a nice and spicy rooibos! For those who don’t like hibiscus you can’t taste it.

Gift from TEB, thank you, that was mauled by the post office.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/teaspree-teabag-rooibos-tisane.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: boiling
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes (http://steep.it/)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: raspberry, hibiscus
Steeped Tea Smell: hibiscus, raspberry
Flavor: hibiscus
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet, vanilla
Liquor: opaque dark pink

Not really getting raspberry or vanilla. I was a fine cup but not something I want more of.

Swap with oOTeaOo , Thank you

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/taylors-of-harrogate-teabag-herbal.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: boiling
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cinnamon, hibiscus
Steeped Tea Smell: floral, plum, cinnamon, generally sweet and spicy
Flavor: sweet, cinnamon
Body: Full
Aftertaste: cinnamon, hint of ginger
Liquor: barely translucent dark red-purple

Swap with Meghann M, Thank you!

Very festive, pretty yummy, the plum is weak and the cinnamon dominates. It has a sweetness to it, not sure what from, but I am glad I taste before sweetening.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/celestial-seasonings-teabag-herbal.html

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: honey and green mate
Flavor: bubbly, fizzy, acidic, fermented honey
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent, bitter
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

I think it tastes better hot than cold (left it in the car in the summer).

Got this drink at “The last hope” and “The next hope” and on various visits to NYC Resistor.

At first I wasn’t happy about it, but I needed the caffeine for the convention, and it is true you get used to it. I drink it for the caffeine and for the memories.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/brauerei-loscher-kg-bottled-mate-tisane.html

Steep Information:
Amount: ~3 tsp (plastic lunch spoon)
Water: hot spigot water (usually ~160°F)
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: 4+ minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, sweet, fruity, a little coco (smell cross contamination?)
Steeped Tea Smell: apple, hibiscus
Flavor: bitter and sweet berry hibiscus, apple
Body: Full
Aftertaste: sour
Liquor: opaque red-purple

I got this in a swap with Mel.

A bit more bitter than I would like.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/walnut-street-tea-company-loose-leaf.html

with a bit of milk, 195F, 3 min, 2 tsp, 500ml -floral mostly

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 12 oz hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: a little over 1 minute (http://steep.it/)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: amazing, delicious! sweet, berries, hints of champagne and vegetation
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, vegetal, berry
Flavor: vegetal, berry, sweet
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: translucent murky olive green

I think less time cooler water or less time? and a touch of sweetener, really enjoying this berry green though.

Yes, let the spigot water cool and keep it to just a minute and it’s a sweet vegetal with hints of berry. I wonder how this would fair as a tea cocktail?

This was a surprise gift from Newman who had read about my trip to the tea and champagne bar in NYC. Not only did it have a nice note but it was the most observant gift I’ve received in a long time!

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/01/teas-etc-loose-leaf-green-tea-champagne.html

Steep Information:
Flavia machine

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

It appears Flavia has been re branded THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY.

http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/bright-tea-company-fresh-pack-herbal.html

Steep Information:
Flavia machine

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: citrus, floral
Flavor: light vegetal, floral
Body: Light
Aftertaste: chemical citrus
Liquor: opaque cloudy orange-green

Ick! Could not finish.

It appears Flavia has been re branded THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY.

http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/bright-tea-company-fresh-pack-white-tea.html

Steep Information:
Flavia machine

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: jasmine, a little grassy
Flavor: artificial jasmine, chemical?
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: tangy grass
Liquor: translucent amber

Smell is much nicer than the taste.

It appears Flavia has been re branded THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY.

http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/bright-tea-company-fresh-pack-green-tea.html

Combo Himalayan Majestic / Splendor and Raspberry Riot Lemon

Steep Information:
Prepared in store, iced, in a Perfect Tea Maker with 3 tsp rock sugar and poured over ice
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: berry
Flavor: lemon, berry, sweet
Body: Full
Liquor: translucent hot pink

A delicious treat while wandering the mall on a hot day. It tasted like a juice not a tea.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/teavana-loose-leaf-black-tea-and-mate.html

Combo Himalayan Majestic / Splendor and Raspberry Riot Lemon

Steep Information:
Prepared in store, iced, in a Perfect Tea Maker with 3 tsp rock sugar and poured over ice
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: berry
Flavor: lemon, berry, sweet
Body: Full
Liquor: translucent hot pink

A delicious treat while wandering the mall on a hot day. It tasted like a juice not a tea.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/teavana-loose-leaf-black-tea-and-mate.html

Steep Information:
Prepared in store, and bought some for home.

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: (lapsang souchong) smokey
Steeped Tea Smell: (lapsang souchong) smokey
Flavor: sweet, smoky, black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: none
Liquor: translucent dark orange oaker

Lightly smokey, less than a lapsang souchong, with the nice hint of fruit.

MilitiaJim had this for breakfast at the Yerba Buena Gardens location. It was a part of the “Russian Service”

Tarragon-Marinated Beets, Smoked Whitefish & Horseradish, Devilled Egg with Caviar, Herbed Crackers, Fresh Fruit, Chocolate Brownie. They say that Tolstoy fueled his creativity by drinking Russian tea from the samovar. See what it does for you. Start with our zavarka, dilute it with a tad of hot water and add milk and sugar.

MilitiaJim experimented with it plain, milk, sugar, milk and sugar. The tea came from the samovar and then was diluted with hot water in a kettle on the samovar.

The location has comfortable benches, outdoor seating, huge windows for natural light and is very cozy. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.

The box we purchased was a nice recyclable cardboard, containing a plastic bag containing the tea, held shut by metal clip. There was also a sticker included. Not sure why.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/samovar-loose-leaf-black-tea-russian.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Water: boiling, 12oz
Tool: kati loose tea system
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes (http://steep.it)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Cardamom, clove, POW!
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon, peppercorn
Flavor: bake-y, cinnamon, cardamom
Body: Full
Aftertaste: ginger
Liquor: barely translucent dark brown

+ honey stick

You can see all the spices, whole cardamom pods, whole cloves, it looks lovely.

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/arbor-teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-masala.html

1 tsp is as good as 2 tsp, delicious!

Steep Information:
Prepared in store, paper cup and t-sac
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: Smell apple cinnamon
Flavor: Sweet more cinnamon than apple but mostly black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: Bark
Liquor: Translucent dark brown

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/tbar-loose-leaf-black-tea-cinnamon.html

Steep Information:
Amount: entire sample
Water: 1000ml boiling water
Tool: Swivel Teapot
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: I forgot! I was too excited.
Steeped Tea Smell: chamomile, lemongrass, citrus, mint
Flavor: lemongrass, chamomile
Body: Light/Medium/Full
Aftertaste: mint
Liquor: translucent green-yellow

Gift from TeaEqualsBliss, thank you.

It’s OK, it’s nicer than plain chamomile but not anything special.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/compass-teas-loose-leaf-herbal-tisane_27.html

Steep Information:
Prepared and served in a teapot with a t-sac with a dish for the leaves when steeped enough.
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: lightly floral, very vegetal
Flavor: vegetal, silky
Body: Light
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: translucent brown-green

It started out very weak, and got good and vegetal floral, then I let it steep a little too long and it got bitter.

Too weak for me.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/tbar-loose-leaf-green-tea-osmanthus.html