AmazonV

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 infuser
Water: 50ml Goldschläger
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: spicy, peppery
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon
Flavor: cinnamon
Body: Full
Aftertaste: peppery
Liquor: translucent orange-red

O.M.G. the cinnamon burns

Post-Steep Additives: ice, seltzer

Mellower on the burning, it has potential, perhaps in a cream liquor?

http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/tea-forte-teabag-black-tea-silkroad.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: 12 ounces boiling water
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet vanilla
Steeped Tea Smell: caramel, vanilla
Flavor: bitter black tea, caramel
Body: Full
Aftertaste: bitter, astringent
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

Post-Steep Additives: + German rock sugar = more caramel, vanilla

Not bad, not great – works well as a quick minimal thought work tea.

http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/lipton-teabag-black-tea-vanilla-caramel.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 infuser
Water: 2 oz Bacardi Select, 4oz seltzer
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Cold

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: lemongrass, mint
Steeped Tea Smell: RUM
Flavor: Rum
Body: none
Aftertaste: rum
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

15+ more minutes, and then left the infuser in.

Steeped Tea Smell: lemongrass and mint
Flavor: rum
Aftertaste: lemongrass and mint

This is from the Tea Forte cocktails collection.

Meh, more interesting than straight rum. I’m not much of a drinker so take my review with a grain of salt.

http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/tea-forte-teabag-herbal-tisane.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: 160°F hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, cinnamon, vanilla, clove, and something else I can not quite figure out
Steeped Tea Smell: vanilla, cinnamon, sweet, cardamom
Flavor: mild black tea, vanilla, cinnamon
Body: Medium
Aftertaste:
Liquor: Translucent green-brown

Gift from a co-worker who loves strong black teas.

I am shocked by the mild nature of the black tea in this blend. It relaly takes a back seat to the cinnamon and vanilla.

Post-Steep Additives: one honey stick. Now the flavor is a nice mellow sweet cinnamon, with hints of vanila.

Just too mild for me. It was a nice sipping tea, but I want my spiced black teas to have a kick.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/twinings-of-london-teabag-black-tea.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: hot carafe water, paper cup
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: black tea, toasty
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, toasty
Flavor: thick, dark
Body: Full
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: opaque dark brown

Post-Steep Additives: white sugar

Not the most fabulous tea, but it was very good at waking me up during the meeting I was in. I think the tea might have been a bit better had there been boiling water. A surprisingly good teabag.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/bewleys-coffee-and-tea-company-teabag.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 3 teaspoons
Water: 750ml @ 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: it smells like chocolate peppermint
MilitiaJim: they started with chocolate, then added bacon and then it got weeeird.
Steeped Tea Smell:
AmazonV: chocolate, mint smell then a slight toasty black tea finish
MilitiaJim: There is that weird mintiness
Flavor:
AmazonV: roasty tea, hints of chocolate and smoke
MilitiaJim: the flavor of chocolate, then something trying to be bacon but it is mint
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: mint, smoke
Liquor: translucent dark orange

I wish I could give this tea a higher rating but the odd mint (perhaps cross-contamination?) is throwing it off, plus most bacon items are not as marvelous as I imagine. I did stop half way through for a glass of orange juice and bacon.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-chocolate.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 teaspoons
Water: 500mL @ 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 1 minute
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
MilitiaJim: Ricey woodness
AmazonV: Vanilla paint thinner
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal, vanilla
Flavor: sweet, vegetal, light vanilla
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: vegetal, bitter
Liquor: translucent green orange brown

It was naturally sweet, and only slightly vegetal. I wanted to try a Hojicha, and i like vanilla. It’s not bad but it’s not really something that I want to make again.

I purchased this at a tea shop inside of a grocery store in New Jersey.

Refrigerate after opening, seriously?

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/ito-en-loose-leaf-hojicha-green-tea.html

Steep Information:
Prepared by staff
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: Sweet, vegetal, floral
Flavor: Silky, vegetal, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: Sweet
Liquor: Translucent honey golden yellow green

The tea was well prepared, no astringency or bitterness.

The store itself was roomy, bright, full of people quietly talking or working on laptops. There was a nice large selection of teas. I ordered a butter cookie and the oolong tea and sat for a few hours while reading my book and waiting to go to dinner and then the airport.

I never felt rushed, and the staff was friendly and helpful.

I highly recommend you visit this location if you find yourself in Seattle. I would like to thank Prashanthi of Makeda Coffee for this fabulous recommendation.

Resteep: When I pour the last of the tea the waitress promptly asked if i would like a resteep, the resteep was just as flavorful as the first steep. I wish I had more time to try another steep of the leaves they were large and only partially unraveled.

White chocolate then a creamy spiced center – cinnamon, cardamom, clove…not sure I can pick the spices out of the melody of spices but I think this is delicious. The crunchy dark chocolate topper is delicious as well and I enjoyed the nice crunch. Not a strong tea flavor, but a strong spice flavor.

After the Jasmine I was hoping this would be my favorite, surprisingly the Lapsang Souchong won out as the best.

If you know anyone who loves chocolates, I recommend these as a unique and delicious gift (the entire set) – however they don’t carry a strong tea flavor so you might be disappointed if you want tea with chocolate favor instead of chocolate with tea flavor.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/arbor-teas-tea-infused-chocolate_14.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag / silken pyramid infuser
Water: hot water spigot, 6-8 oz
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cinnamon, clove, red tea, woody
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon, clove, woody
Flavor: cinnamon, woody
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: spicy
Liquor: deep reddish-brown

Last year’s winter chai review http://amazonv.blogspot.com/search/label/winter%20chai

Resteep: 6 minutes or more, not as strong but drinkable.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/tea-forte-teabag-red-tisane-winter-chai.html

AmazonV: Pretty. Sweet white chocolate, mellow firm chocolate center. I think I get hints of grapefruit, I don’t get jasmine :(

I was hoping this would be the best as I adore jasmine.

MilitiaJim: Is this jasmine? White chocolate shell works well with the inside of this one. Jasmine is subtle and would have been overwhelmed by a different shell.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/arbor-teas-tea-infused-chocolate_09.html

Very pretty swirl of glitter on top.

Dark chocolate, toasty, smoky, delicious interplay, smooth but not creamy.

A favorite thus far.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/arbor-teas-tea-infused-chocolate_2627.html

Very sweet, creamy, gritty matcha filling goes well with the chocolate shell.

Delicious, a little gritty, reminds me of a Starbucks green tea frappuccino but with chocolate, maybe I can get pumps of chocolate in my green tea frappuccino!

MilitiaJim: The matcha is creamy and sweet. The chocolate is smooth and well done. The two are not improved by their addition. 2 + 2 has come out to 3.

http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/arbor-teas-tea-infused-chocolate.html
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/arbor-teas-tea-infused-chocolate_08.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 6g
Water: 750ml 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, lightly sweet
Steeped Tea Smell: light, vegetal, sweet
Flavor: smooth, vegetal, sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent green-brown

Meh, sweet light tea….not bad, not memorable.

This was a swap with LENA. Thanks LENA!

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/adagio-teas-loose-leaf-white-tea-white.html

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, fruity
Flavor: sweet, hibiscus, cinnamon, apple, berry
Body: Full
Aftertaste: tart
Liquor: translucent purple

Tart fruit juice. Not bad, but not something I think I’ll get again.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/tazo-company-bottled-herbal-tea.html

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: black tea, sweet, lemon
Flavor: black tea hints of sweet and lemon, but not strong at all
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: black tea and lemon linger
Liquor: translucent orange brown

Very good bottled tea. I would happily select this while out.

images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/tazo-company-bottled-black-tea-organic.html

Sweet citrus (bergamot) dark sweet chocolate ganache that melts in your mouth, the milk chocolate shell gets lost with the stronger flavors.

The truffle melts away in your mouth, and the bergamot of the tea shines through.

Images:
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/arbor-teas-tea-infused-chocolate.html
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/arbor-teas-tea-infused-chocolate_8642.html

The first thing I tasted was smooth delicious dark chocolate, followed by the creamy center which was a mild green tea with a hint of sweet pineapple.
Good chocolate truffle, but not a strong tea flavor.

Images:
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/arbor-teas-tea-infused-chocolate.html
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/arbor-teas-tea-infused-chocolate_07.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Licorice, Ginger, Berry, Lots of dust
Steeped Tea Smell: Spice, Orange, Berry
Flavor: Fruity, berry
Body: Light
Aftertaste: spice
Liquor: translucent light pink

I had this at work, I believe I had recieved it for free through a sample promotion held on facebook.

I don’t think I like licorice in my tea, despite liking licorice. I do not want this tea again.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/yogi-tea-teabag-herbal-tea-berry-detox.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 4 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: orange, lemongrass
Steeped Tea Smell: orange, lemon, floral
Flavor: sweet, citrus, tangy
Body: Full
Aftertaste:
Liquor: translucent orange-red

A fellow Steepster member was kind enough to mail me this and I am sad to admit I forget who it was!

Tangy, bitter, not very orange, not very sweet either!

Bleh :(

I couldn’t finish my cup.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/tazo-teabag-herbal-tea-wild-sweet.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: hot spigot
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes (and then I went to have a discussion in another cube, not sure how long)
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cinnamon, natural barky
Steeped Tea Smell: natural cinnamon, sweet
Flavor: black tea and natural cinnamon
Body: Full
Aftertaste: barky, sweet
Liquor: translucent dark red-brown

Delicious, reminds me of Harney and Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice.

It came as part of the Tea Forte “Holiday Spice” set of 20 silken infusers black and herbal teas. I purchased it specifically for the Winter Chai. The set listed on the website includes 20 pyramid infusers with Five infusers each of: Winter Chai, Sweet Orange Spice, Ginger and Vienna Cinnamon. Apparently this box does not have Sweet Orange Spice and instead has Winter Spice.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/tea-forte-teabag-black-tea-vienna.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Woody, pumpkin, cinnamon
Steeped Tea Smell: Pumpkin spice (but not pumpkin)
Flavor: Pumpkin spice not pump w/wood
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: After sweet wood
Liquor: Translucent Reddish orange brown

I had this tea at my mother’s, sorry I forgot to get pictures of the tea itself!

It was enjoyable, but I was expecting pumpkin pie, not pumpkin spice (despite the name). A nice rooibos, but nothing unique.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/zhenas-gypsy-tea-teabag-rooibos-and.html

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

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: light slightly vegetal black
Steeped Tea Smell: delicate citrus, floral, black
Flavor: sweet, toasty black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, toasty
Liquor: translucent orange-brown

Too delicate for a morning tea, but simply delicious for sipping. It has this light, sweet quality to it that is refreshing and relaxing. I am very glad I was able to pick this tea up.

I am surprised by how little the leaves unfurled during the steep.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/11/perennial-tea-room-loose-leaf-black-tea.html

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