564 Tasting Notes
I’m not sure if my tastes have changed in the last month or if this was just more exciting when it was new or what. I lower my rating each time I drink it.
Weirdly bitter, sharp, not all that fruity, candy sweetness underneath it all. I’d have a hard time describing the oolong base at all. Won’t be rebuying, kind of dreading using up the rest of it but I only have about two cups left. Maybe I’ll try cold-brewing? There has to be some way to make this better.
Darjeeling is becoming one of my favorite morning teas. I think I may have put myself off earl grey with my recent eg tasting spree, but luckily I have a few darjeeling samples to take its place.
This one is nice hot but not all that exciting. Pretty standard darjeeling, a little lighter than the usual with a hint of…something. Not sure if it’s lemon or caramel, but something’s there. Cooled down, though, it’s wonderful. I admit I’m a serial tea-forgetter, but this time it actually worked out. Smooth darjeeling base with a strong, sweet caramel note and a hint of citrus on the end. With that in mind I’ll have to ice it sometime.
Not sure why I hadn’t tried this one—the sampler is right there, waiting!—but now I am. Oolongs seem to be true treats for me in a way few other kinds are. Perfect after my first day back in classes.
This one is very complex, very interesting. It seems to change with every sip! It’s definitely smooth and just a touch sweet, but there’s also a slight roasted or maybe even malty flavor. The overall effect is a good, rounded cup of tea. I’ll have to resteep a few times and see what else happens with the flavors!
Got my beginner’s sample kit today and this was the first thing I went for. It smells amazing in the cup, a little like toasted sesame. I haven’t encountered toasted rice before but it’s a great smell and taste.
Unlike other greens I’ve tried, this isn’t grassy at all. It’s sweet and toasty at the same time. I didn’t think it was possible, but I’m really happy with it. There’s one other genmaicha in the box and I’m excited to try that one! I might turn into a green tea fan yet.
Recovering from last night’s migraine and trying to get myself to class means it’s time for a spice tea. I’m pretty sure the smell alone could cure anything, but the taste is even better than I remember. Going to have to up my rating on this one. I can’t believe I’m the only one in my house who can stand it! Oh well, more for me.
One thing I hadn’t noticed much before is just how messy this one is. I mentioned before that all the cinnamon is escaping its sachets, which is still true, but it also leaves oily residue on the cup. It’s not a dealbreaker for me, but it is worth noting.
Very nice! And this is coming from a mint skeptic. It tastes a bit like a mint chocolate candy, although the chocolate is subtler than I expected from the ingredient list. I don’t taste any peppercorn at all, but that’s fine with me. It’s enjoyable as-is.
Peppermint by nature is very strong, but the white chocolate is sweet enough that it balances it out well. That said, I wouldn’t consider this a sweet tea. It’s actually a pretty weird one: it reminds me a little of pleasant toothpaste. It’s also oily, murky, and contains the dreaded peppermint (for some reason, it continues to be my least favorite mint flavor), and yet I’m really enjoying this cup. I didn’t expect to! Also eased my headache a little, which makes it a winner.
Oh, hibiscus, I like you less and less the more I try of you. It’s really a shame, because this has the makings of a nice herbal. Unfortunately the hibiscus is so strong that it completely takes over. It’s as if someone took a nice apple pie and smothered it in flowers. Ick.
I think I’m going to stay away from hibiscus for a while, because it seems like most of the herbals I dislike have it in them.
Finally tried this with milk—much better than it is straight up. Some earl greys seem to be fine without milk and some truly need it: this is one of the second type. The milk makes it smoother and cuts the intense herbal taste the lavender can develop. On a side note, I’m pretty sure I oversteep this on a regular basis. Oops.
Very nice afternoon tea with a sweet floral aftertaste. In my opinion there’s nothing better than something floral for calming down.
My first sip of this was horrible. It tasted like eating vanilla icing, which isn’t something I tend to enjoy. I was all ready to give this a bad review and then I took a second sip and it mellowed out into a slightly sweet, smooth earl grey. Huh.
It smells interesting in the bag. A slightly odd mix of the bitterness of orange peel and the sweetness of intense vanilla. It brews up slightly darker than the usual earl grey and tastes fine. I’m not wowed but it won’t be a trial finishing off my sample. After that alarming first sip it’s not over-sweet at all, and in fact it could do with being somewhere more in between my first and second tastes. It does leave a chalky feel in the mouth, which I’ve noticed with other earl greys but don’t especially like.
Made a pot of this tonight because I wanted an oolong. I’ve found that the more I drink other oolongs the less I like this one, and it’s probably because of the artificial flavoring. It tastes artificial, a little bit like fruity candy. It’s not all that raspberry-y, although I do still like the smell. Probably won’t rebuy when it’s gone.
