Amy oh

My first time trying a green pu-erh so I really have nothing to compare this to…

I infused this for about 3 minutes western style. The tuo cha does not want to open up and come unfurled – is this a good sign? A bad sign? Who knows.

First infusion is very mild, green tea is not a very prominent flavor here. I am getting apple and a bit of malty sweetness. Like many pu-erhs this reminds me of mushrooms, but a delicate white button mushroom instead of a deep, dark shiitake.

Second infusion is very much the same with no loss of flavor… a very light and aromatic brew. Not sure I will need to buy this again because I think I prefer the black pu-erhs but it has made for a very nice sample. :)

Thanks so much to Charles for sending me a sample of this!

This is definitely a keeper – delicious smooth mellow tea with hints of chocolate (but no, it is not flavored). I am getting something buttery here which some people are picking up as caramel. A little bit winey at the finish. A really great tea to start my morning off with, it is definitely worth the accolades it has gotten here on Steepster… :)

Ah… I love cinnamon in tea and I found this one to be particularly yummy… again I think this is probably a ceylon due to the description – a coppery Indian tea. It IS a decaf tea and I think this could be impacting the flavor… a bit. But it’s a great evening choice for me with some soymilk. It’s brisk and delicious and rich. A great dessert type of tea for me! I might need to get some of the regular caffeinated tea just so I can compare notes.

Organic, free trade + compostable packing is a bonus!

No notes yet.

I still like this blend; one of the only things from Teavana that I have enjoyed a lot! Sweet and fruity… a yumlicious afternoon tea.

Thank you to the adorable Jenn for sending a sample of this to me!

I was a little nervous about this especially since it has rose petals in it… I’m not really a fan of roses in tea. Fortunately the taste is largely of white tea with coconut and vanilla, which I DO like! There is a faint rose/floral flavor but it is very slight in my opinion. This tea is very lovely, and a little girly, so how perfect for a wedding!

I thought this was a nice flavored white tea but I don’t think I like it enough to buy any… I’m glad I got the chance to try it though!

having a cup of it this morning, very big on strawberry flavor, I have not really been in the mood for it lately but it’s nice for a fruity tea…

I loved mangoes so I figured I would give this one a shot. The company’s website say this is made with brisk Chinese tea (does not say which one and I’m not sure I could hazard a guess, perhaps it’s the Keemun?)

I feel there is a quite a bit more tea in here than flavoring, the mango is a bit subdued which could be a plus or a minur depending on your point of view. I am also wondering about the calendula flowers here and whether they really add anything to the flavor. It is mango-y but also a bit strange somehow, like a burnt mango. Not too bad but not the best mango tea I’ve ever had.

bonus for compostable packaging. :)

Twinings English Breakfast tea with water heated up in a microwave, my only choice this morning, I guess it’s better than nothing…

Having a cup of it this afternoon and would consider purchasing this – it’s very nice. :)

This just arrived today with my second order of Cinnamon Roll Honeybush (yes, I am a fan!)

I was not expecting to like this much at all but I wanted to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised! I don’t normally like banana in tea but this is very tasty. The coconut is more of a back-note and they both complement the mellow, roasted quality of the hojicha pretty well. These flavors are pronounced but they are not nauseating or artifical tasting, both of which can be an issue with flavored tea. There is a slight “cream” feel to this but I did cheat and punch it up some by adding vanilla soymilk to it also. Here is a nice afternoon or evening dessert tea which is also light in caffeine. I got two steeps out of this and they were both yummy. :)

Thanks to Jenn for sending me a sample of this, especially since I’d been thinking about buying it.

When I first opened the bag I got a whiff of something similar to the smell of paint drying. Not really a good sign.

I brewed this in an infuser basket for about 3 minutes with 180 F water. It is vaguely carrot-y and fruit-y but nothing very cake like is leaping out at me. I added some Vanilla soymilk and this has made it more like a dessert tea. Still the weird smell which is putting me off a bit.

This stuff is okay but I’m not totally crazy about it…

very yummy and delicious this morning… I am off to go on vacation and anxious that I am leaving all my tea behind!

No matter how hard I try I cannot get myself that interested in plain white tea (but yes, I keep trying)

The first time I brewed this I let it steep too long which was definitely a mistake. Steeping in cooled water for around 60 seconds seemed to yield the best results. It is sweet, and delicate and light but I think perhaps the subtle nature of white tea is kind of lost on me. This was a pleasant cup but I really prefer flavored white tea if I am going to drink it…. sorry purists!

I don’t normally drink a lot of bagged tea but I picked this up to take on a trip I am going on soon and teabags are just so much more convenient than carrying around your brewing stuff.

I don’t believe I have ever had a gunpowder green before and this is very intriguing. Vegetal, but also very earthy and with a taste of smoke in the finish like a lapsang souchong (hence, the gunpowder green name, I guess). This definitely seems like a nice afternoon tea but not something I’d want to drink first thing in the morning.

Organic, free trade, biodegradable teabags – all a plus! Nice, I’m glad I tried it.

I’ve had enough of flavored tea for one day. This is a delicious brew!

Thanks to Jenn for a sample of this… it’s okay but a little heavy on the grapefruit for me and I’m also not a big fan of bergamot. It’s a little on the tart side. Not sure I am dying to have more but will certainly finish the cup. If you like a citrusy sort of earl grey this might be good for you…

Another flavored oolong from my Naivetea sampler.

I did not know exactly what a yuzu was (aside from it being a type of fruit). Upon smelling it I was expecting something very tart like a pink grapefruit tea. There is a citrus note here, however I am finding it exceedingly subtle. I believe the base of this tea is an ali shan.

There is a lingering sweetness here in the finish that is difficult to describe, Sweet and vegetal, perhaps I am reminded of corn.

Overall I do not think I like this quite as well as Naivetea’s passionfruit oolong but I still like it quite a lot. The yuzu flavor is very delicate and allows the base notes of the oolong to come through. Does not taste artificial or cloying at all. Another job very well done by Naivetea. Check this out if you are looking for a gentle flavored oolong.

I’m having a strong glass of this pu-erh this morning, very heavy ginger and pungent. Steeped in boiling water for 4 minutes it is pretty strong but I like it this way… nice and warming for the cold weather.

A true gem I discovered thanks to Steepster. So smooth it’s like drinking hot chocolate. yummm

I increased the rating a little bit this morning. It is very pleasant.

Kusmi Tea sampler 5/5

Bouquet of Flowers – I was leery of this from the get go due to the name and the fact that flowery teas do not tend to be my favorite. The aroma is definitely that of shower gel or soap but the flavor of this tea is not terribly unpleasant once you actually brew it up. Flowery with a touch of earl grey. Eh, it isn’t awful but I do not think I will need to buy it again.

having a bit of late afternoon boost… yumlicious!

still one of my very favorites!