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31 Tasting Notes

CTC Irish Breakfast Blend TB12 from Upton Tea Imports
85

Perfect for breakfast — it steeps super-fast with great taste. I think it gives a fuller flavor than the Twinings Irish Breakfast teabags, but steeps in about the same time. I need to experiment with water temperature to find the highest it can stand.

I definitely like this one better than River Shannon — it’s pure Assam tea rather than a blend of Assam and Ceylon. I think it’s more a matter of personal taste, though, as I love the Assam.

Aquarius (The Zodiac Series) from Adagio Teas
82

I think every time I have this tea, I like it a little bit more. It’s a unique flavor, nutty and malty but somehow sweet and almost tangy. The tea flavors shine through the most, the vanilla and hazelnut just accent it. I’m so happy Adagio gave free samples — I love my “birth tea”! Most of all, I love how resilient it is — I steeped it twice as long at the same temperature as my Upton River Shannon tea just now and it’s only got a tiny hint of underlying astringency. It also takes honey VERY well. I plan on buying more of this for sure — I bet it would go great with spicy food.

River Shannon Breakfast Blend (TB20) from Upton Tea Imports
55

Short steeping time and fairly hot temp — because I couldn’t wait to try it. I’m thirsty and so it might not be the best time for me to drink a brand-new tea, but I wanted something plain black.

It’s pretty nice, but not quite what I want for an everyday tea. My first impression of the similar Upton offering, the CTC Irish Breakfast Assam tea, was much nicer. It may be the hot temperature but this one is a little more bitter and astringent — this reminds me more of English Breakfast or English Afternoon tea than the malty taste I want from an Irish tea. That said, despite not suiting my tastes, It’s quite a good blend and well worth a try, and I definitely look forward to finishing my sample using lower-temp water.

Mango Ceylon from The Republic of Tea
58

A pretty good, basic tea. It does not at all take to oversteeping well, or to hot water — be careful with this one. It’s fruity and nice, and blends really well with other flavors, but can stand alone too if you’re up for it. Personally, I won’t be restocking this one, but I didn’t mind having it.

Mt. Kilimanjaro Blue from Simple Bodega
100

Mmm…I’m doing my best not to drink this all at once, but I really love it. I can’t resist. Just adding the listing of this tea reminded me to drink a cup!

It can be weak if you don’t let it steep long enough, but it’s a great flavor when it opens up. It’d probably go great with milk, and it’s definitely good sweetened.

Earl Grey Moonlight from Adagio Teas
67

It’s good! But I was looking for a cup to replace Teavana’s Earl Grey Creme so I have zero dependence on them anymore, and this cup just doesn’t do it at all. It’s nice, a bit sweet, and almost a pancake-syrup scent to it. But it’s nothing as balanced and drinkable as the original Earl Grey Creme that so many other brands carry…It’s a great alternative, if you like that, but it’s not the same basic every-day that I’m looking for.

CTC Irish Breakfast Blend TB12 from Upton Tea Imports
85

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