Azzrian

This stuff is DA BOMB tastes just like the ice cream people I really mean it I want MOAR NAOW!
Can’t wait to try the whole line up of these teas! WOOT excited yes I am!
Made them ICED no less hahaha yes I know they ARE iced teas … ANY way … very much worth getting! Made two HUGE iced tea travel containers of this stuff – one for me one for my daughter.
I even re-stepped the bag and it was still great!
Getting more!
Thanks Frank for making good stuff!

Zo and I – as I am affectionately calling him have just had our maiden voyage. Okay I have not made tea with him yet but he got a first boil clean out.
So far I love this thing!
Handy as all get out, cute musical alarm to tell me the water is ready, four heat settings, reboils water SUPER fast for those small repetitive infusions of tea, a nice nifty handle to move from one room to the other with if need be, and small enough to sit on my coffee table to enjoy pu-erh all day long!
I am going to be in heaven with this thing!
YAY!

A big Thank YOU to Kittenna for this sample!
Well I am a self proclaimed Not a DT fan but this is just darn fine!
I did add a little german rock sugar from Butiki to my tea.
Its perfectly sweet, tastes like blueberry jam and not one little bit tart which is one thing I do love about this tea! Sometimes blueberry can be a tad too tart for me.
I got a nice sample with tons of blueberries in it! Either Kit was very generous or this tea is riddled with lovely little blueberries!
Seemed to be an equal ratio of blueberries to tea!
As good as the blueberry is a nice simply black base comes through.
Not very complex of a tea but really does take care of the sweet tooth craving!
LOVE IT!
Thank you Kit and I do hope one day to place a DT order. Its funny that I have managed not to as of yet.

My daughter and I made lemon cupcakes with buttercream frosting thinned a little with fresh lemon juice.
Instead of adding water to the cake mix (yeah we didn’t go homemade we took the lazy way out) we added this tea.
Let me tell you these are the best cupcakes E V E R.
Like fluffy airy clouds of melting lemon yumminess floating on your taste buds.
Yay for Lemon Zest!
:)

I am exhausted and the day is only half over considering I got up at a reasonable time today. However I know I will have my second wind around midnight so I have a ways to go.

So I began my day with this tea by accident. I had ordered two yixing pots from Mandala and one was called Black Pearl. Instead of that I got this but I am not unhappy about it. I almost ordered this with my yixings and other offerings but took it out of my cart to stay under my budget. You see the black pearl tea in the 4 ounce quantity is almost the exact same price as the yixing pot! Needless to say I wrote Garret and said I would keep this tea and get the second yixing soon. So happy accident. The best kind!

The first thing I thought when I saw the tea was “wow those are some big balls”. Okay if you are done laughing – they really are large when compared to say gunpowder green or jasmine pearls etc. So I now have a very immature and yet affectionate name for this tea.

I had two steeps this morning then ran errands, went to our tiny local Asian shop, grabbed some Pad Thai noodles, some siriacha sauce, ube ice cream, and white rabbit candy. No really knock out teas there but its not like I need more tea.

Then I came home, seasoned my yixing pot which is now soaking, and am having my third steep.

The tea is awesome. Toasty, chocolate notes seem to be what really grab me. I also enjoy the malty notes and the grain notes as others have mentioned. It has more than endured three steeps and I project can go at least 2 if not 3 or so more.

I stepped 4 pearls in my Kali Tea cup with infuser (8 ounces).

First steep 1 min, then 2 min on steep two, steep three I was distracted by several things, my daughter’s soup I was making, neighbors dog loose, a fire truck showing up down the road at another neighbors, (hope she is okay), etc and so on.

This steep got a good 10 minutes or more and it is SO rich SO yummy yet it is not astringent, nor bitter! WOW!

Perhaps I won’t be able to get those other steeps since I totally over steeped this one yet on smelling the leaves they still seem to have far more to offer! The leaves now have a lovely vegetal aroma to them! The following steeps will be interesting indeed!
More to come if I remember to note more.

Well dang – again – a tea that is riddle with hibiscus flavor and fails to impress. I am so disappointed at this point I am done ordering ANYTHING that has hibiscus in the ingredient list unless I have heard from others that FOR SURE the hibiscus does not take over the whole tea!
Disappointment.
I should have read the other tasting note BEFORE ordering my fault.
BAH BAH BAH!

This is delicious! Thank you Missy and Dylan for sending me a sample of this!!
You know I have not had the best of luck with coconut flavored teas – with the exception of several good coconut oolongs and pouchongs. This however is a really good tasting tea! I like that it is a mix of rooibos and black as I enjoy a soothing morning cup now and then.
The flavors are vanilla, coconut, and cocoa.
Not over powering, very smooth, just YUM!
Steeped the same way that Missy had in her notes and while I was skeptical about the short steep time it works perfectly!

Indigobloom shared a sample of this one with me. Thank you Indigobloom for all your generous samples!
I am not sure this is my cup of tea.
Its naturally sweet and has a nice body of flavor but it just has a flavor that is not hitting me right today.
Its a little sour tasting but not bitter or astringent at all – a little like something that sat out on the counter for too long.

My gut said not to use boiling water and upon checking a few notes here of others I was validated in that so went with a 195 degree at 3 min steep.
Results:
Smell – I am picking up the green tea aroma quite nicely! Peach is lush and juicy smelling, a small aroma of the black base coming through as well.
Mostly smelling the lovely green tea base however then peach.
Color is a light reddish brown – I can see the bottom of my cup.
Flavor – the green base is most present, peach is light, a little too light for me but I will say not artificial whatsoever. Very fresh, juicy tasting ripe peach. The black base does not over power at all but is lightly present minding its manners.
After taste of the peach is more present now which is lovely. I may have to take back what I said about wanting it more predominant, this is nice to have this light fresh after flavor.
Very bright cup, I know I keep saying it but VERY juicy.
No astringency, no bitterness, I recommend this temp and steep time.
Flavors become more predominant as tea cools somewhat but I find that with many teas.
Not sure how it would fair iced and since I only have the sample I will remain unsure but I agree with the other person who suggested the Joy’s Ocho sampler! I love my little tins and have washed some of them out to send others samples in! Great for the crafty sort of people who want to store gems, beads, pins, buttons, etc.
This is an excellent tea for those who like a light flavor that is very authentic tasting in a lovely mixed green and black base.
Personally when I have a flavored tea I like a tad more punch – I either go ALL natural with straight teas or all the way to the other spectrum with super sweet teas. The ones that lay in the middle are just not my thing but I can sure appreciate this tea for its super good quality, excellent flavors, and wonderful base. Artfully mastered!

So delicious!
When I ordered it I THOUGHT that it was Strawberry Rose not Rose’ – I did not pay attention when ordering on Lupicia I guess.
Order frenzy you know – things just get added to the cart sometimes.
I am not huge on Rose teas but at the time thought oh well I’ll give it a shot.
Boy was I confused and surprised when I first tried this one!
I have to say I am SO THRILLED I LOVE champagne and wine infused teas!
This is by far one of the best I have tried to date!
Really good when it gets cold too!

This is something I must have more of!
Now I am not sure why – maybe my palate is just different from others but I get a definitive spicy element in this tea! Chaiapple tea perhaps? I know that the description says nothing about spicy but I was absolutely getting a chaiesque flavor in this tea! The delicate floral oolong base was outstanding and came through loud and clear. The pineapple – superb! Not one artificial flavoring element within this tea whatsoever – perfection!
I ate all the pineapple out of the leaves after the second steep and I do not recall ever having such tasty juicy sweet delicious pineapple before!
I will absolutely get me more of this wonderful stuff!
I still am confused over the spicy element in this tea but I loved it – was a nice surprise!

I have only skimmed the tasting notes on this one as I am not feeling well. This is my comfort tea for today. I did notice in my skimming of the notes that many people seem to turn to this tea in times of illness or emotional upset. This seems to be the go to tea for that sort of thing.
It sure is interesting for a green tea. Its one everyone should try.
I just want to slink back onto the sofa and indulge in this one.
Roasty, toasty, vegetal yet chocolaty – a bizarre mix that just works for me!
Sorry for such a lame tasting note, need to get rid of this incessant headache and clear the sinuses.
Next time I will use less leaf and or lower the water temp – seems to be a little finicky but I love it none the less.

Have not had time or energy to tea log today. Computer has been running slow all day due to cruddy internet connection. Started a new exercise routine which is kicking my butt BUT needed lol and trying to focus on work more.
Miss you all though and try to catch up late at night but will try to pop in tomorrow more and read more of your tasting notes!
For now I am going to cuddle up and watch How I Met Your Mother – we are into season 6 now (I think) and enjoy this wonderful lovely tisane – my favorite. Yummmmmmmmm

I love this tea. Probably one of the most naturally flavored berry teas I have tired. I find it interesting how it seems to magically wake up when sugar is added. While I do not really like to add sweetener to my teas I do on occasion and this is one of those occasions. Why not its champagne after all :)
This tea does not need sweetener mind you, it stands very strongly all on its own, but the sugar does seem to perk up the deep strawberry flavors.
Thank you Indigobloom for sending me a sample – this is absolutely staying on my shopping list!
Happy Dance!

My this stuff is Super Good!
Thank you Indigobloom for sending a sample of this may way!
Absolutely going on the shopping list for a bright fruity and smoothly chocolaty morning brew!
I was very surprised as I was only expecting this to be your average every day black tea.
It really is so much more!
LOVE IT!

Yup this one is EXACTLY how it is described! I could not give a better review of this one so just read the notes in the listing for this tea!
It DOES have that carbonation soda like fizz to it too!
This is a keeper!
Thank you so much Stacy of Butiki Teas for always creating the most wonderful blends!

Thank you to Indigobloom for this wonderful sample! I have not had a lot of Teaopia teas but this one is really quite good!
It has a nice marshmallow creaminess with an almost toffee like flavor that is soothing and sweet.
I also could totally get the graham cracker flavor in it which I happen to LOVE!
Thank you so much IB for this sample!
:)

This is pretty good. The hibiscus really seems to compliment this tea nicely.
Definitely has a good watermelon flavor.
Hubby thought it was sweet even without having added any sweetener to it.
I did not find it sweet at all more refreshing and light.
Would be excellent iced.
On the second cup I added sugar in the raw and enjoyed it even more.
I feel the sugar brought out more of the other flavors in the tea without making the watermelon less prominent.

I have been drinking a LOT of non nature flavored teas lately. I have a couple samples from steepster friends I want to try but have not had the time to sit with them and review them fairly. Not that I have with this one yet either but wanted something I knew would hit the spot and that I could enjoy when I really do not have as much time as I would like for a first time tea.
This is mellow, relaxing, and soothing. I need that right now.

Thank you ashmara for sending me so many H and S samples to try! This is totally helping me decide on my shopping list with them!
This is not one I will order.
Its good – don’t get me wrong I knocked back two full cups quickly however there are better chocolate flavored teas for me.
Thank you again ashmara I am enjoying the H and S experience!
I just realized when I went to rate this that I have in fact tried it before Mercuryhime had sent me some.
I would have kept the rating the same anyway – its good – just not the best I have tired and others I like FAR MORE from H and S that I want to get more as well!

Earlier against my better judgement I had some froyo from Orange Leaf. It was good don’t get me wrong but the sappy sweetness was clinging to my taste buds about making me ill so I reached for something I knew would not be too sweet but just the right amount of natural goodness to follow up my fruity but TOO sweet froyo! (frozen yogurt).
I think this may save me from my food coma!
So silky in the mouth, so cleansing, so clear and crisp and so natural! Just the right touch of strawberry goodness FRESH strawberry and as stated before NOT sugary!
I think I need to add more leaf though as it is a TOUCH weak which is probably my fault I was being greedy with it as I only got a 1.2 ounce :(
My mistake there!
Next time I must get a larger quantity!
Thank you Stacy for saving me!

Well I want to give a HUGE Thank You to ashmara for this sample which is more than a sample in my opinion! I love this tea!!!!!
I have yet to try Tower of London yet wonderful generous ashmara also sent me a sample of that!
When I opened the bag I got wiffs of sweet yummy fruit and RUM!
The tea even tastes a smidgen like rum and fruit!
Oh yes I AM going to make some of this cold steeped!
I am absolutely ordering more when this is gone and I am doing a little happy dance right now! Not often do I fill my cup before it is empty but this one was half gone and I was dumping more in! I need a larger cup for that matter!
I also saw the BIGGEST cherry in my basket when I measured the tea out!
YAY!
Most of my fruit flavored teas are green ones. I needed another good solid black fruity tea in my stash and this is going to be in my PERM stash!
Love love love!
ashmara you made the cutest little name tags for the tea samples! Thank you – really appreciate this!

Steeped 6 grams of leaf (full sample packet) in 2 cups (500ml) of water at 195 degree for 6 minutes.

I want to note that to me, the minty sensation others are getting does not come across to me as “minty” but more as a cooling sensation. When you take a sip, wait a few moments, then open your mouth and suck in some air, there is this breezy cooling feeling that ices over the inside of the mouth a little bit. Is that the minty sensation others are getting? I do not taste mint but FEEL it.

I absolutely taste the charcoal roasty flavor, very nice. Sort of tastes like a camp fire that has been allowed to slowly smolder out over the course of an evening when you wake up the next day and all that is left is a little smoke slowly lifting from the ashes.

The aroma of the dry leaf to me smelled of milk – slightly warm milk.

There is a creamy texture and mouthfeel to the steeped tea, and a milk flavor as well.

Only a slight vegetal flavor is present.

A light sweetness is present.

After taste lingers in the mouth nicely leaving a rock mineral flavor behind.

There is a juicy erupting throat feel to this tea – we often speak of mouthfeel but this tea has a throat feel as well. As if you just bit into a ripe juicy peach or apple and it has shot down your throat a little surprising you.

Mild sensation of drying in the mouth once the after taste dissipates which I find typical of most oolong tea.

Over all this is one of the finer oolongs I have sampled. It is unique yet true to what I think an oolong should be. Oolongs are my favorite guilty pleasures which I tend to save for moments I can take some ME time.

A very nice tea – thank you Fong Mong Tea for the sample!

Yup I still stand by my earlier note about this tasting like a wine. In fact my husband was standing at the counter as I poured a cup and he made this face as if he had suddenly become alert. I asked him what that expression was about and he said – that smells familiar. I looked at him and asked him “wine perhaps?” and he said “yes! That’s what it is!”
Now what you need to know is that I used to drink wine often. He didn’t just me, he never cared for wine. It has been about 3 years since we have had any wine in the home. So for him to pick that aroma out of thin air (literally) was pretty amazing and just an testament to how winey this tea is! Oh and a testament to my hubby’s good nose! :)