Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea
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Pretty typical Jasmine aromas. I don’t (generally) care for Jasmine teas. While the nose turns me off, the flavor is great. Slightly sweet—not at all bitter. Really impressed. Only A & D could make me like a Jasmine.
One minor gripe, the dry leaf is small with lots of broken pieces.
Preparation
I’ve been spoiling myself all day…first Dawn, now Jackee…
By the way, if anyone has any recommendations for Keemuns or Yunnans that are smokey and delicious like Jackee, let me know! I’m already dreading the day my tin runs out…
Preparation
You know how there’s that whole anti-woman b-s stereotype of women always trying to change their partners? Well, I think I’ve been acting out that stereotype—yikes. Because Jackee ain’t no dessert man—-he’s pure smoke, pine, savory velvet. And I don’t know why I spent so long trying to change him to some kind of caramelized wimp, because he is pretty awesome as he is. Giving him a huge ratings bump.
Preparation
I measured up 11 ounces of water. I heated the water to around 194 degrees. I added a little less than 1.5 teaspoons of dry leaf to my teapot. I timed it for 3:45. I tried it plain. With Splenda. With milk. But the result was always the same—no caramel!
This tea is yummy on its own, as a smoky, non-bitter, savory tea. The texture is like silk, and it goes down easily. I won’t have any trouble finishing it off. But I wanted caramel, damn it!
Preparation
Drat. Maybe I’m just crazy. I’m going to have to do this again soon and see if I notice anything in particular. The only thing I can think of is that when I drink my tea I usually hold it in my mouth and swish it around; I almost never swallow straight-away. Black teas in particular require a bit of taste acclimation before my taste buds are accustomed to it. Other than that…I’ve got nothing. So sorry!
Maybe my tastebuds are just wonky :)
I tend to find flavored teas that other people say are “weak” flavored pretty strong, so perhaps I’m just too sensitive to the smoke flavor to taste caramel? I also tried Adagio’s caramel recently, which is like “holy shizz caramel!!1” tasting, so I might just be expecting too much.
Sadness! I’ve tried this twice so far using my Zarafina, and I never got the caramel taste. Instead, I got smokiness—almost like the black tea version of Shanti by The Simple Leaf. The cup I made at the “green” Zarafina setting was not bitter at all and went down easily without sugar or milk—a rarity for me. I didn’t get to taste the tea made at “Oolong” setting until 5-6 hours after it had been brewed, and it was cold and super bitter (there was a lone tea leaf in my mug, so maybe it kept steeping).
Sigh. I need a thermometer, I guess.
It doesn’t say what the temperatures are supposed to be for the different settings? That’s a bummer. But yeah, with the caramel thing [and may my losing of the caramel and nearly full-tin journey to regain it bear gravity to this statement] it’s requires some rather strict adherence to the parameters. If you really want to get it I’d measure out your water, too. That was the killer for me – the 11 oz. to 1.5-ish teaspoon deal.
Backlogging.
Tiger, did you think I’d forgotten about you for Thomas? I actually drank this later in the day cause I really needed to wake up.
2nd steep: 5 min 30 sec.
Preparation
Backlogging.
Just to try something different, I added this as my bit of fresh leaf to a second steep of A&D’s Ceylon. It was unmemorable.
Preparation
Damn it, I’ve accumulated a backlog again. At first it was only 3-4 teas, now it’s up to about 10. Okay, must slog through getting these tealogs done. =D
What’s not the love about the Tiger? I’ve been steeping him slightly stonger lately.
2nd steep: 6 min.
Preparation
Backlogging. Tuesday morning.
The Tiger needs no reason. Okay, he’s what I usually drink in the morning if I don’t know what I want. My tin is definitely at the half full point or less now. =( Currently, I think the Tiger is my favorite of all the A&D teas.
2nd steep: 5 min 30 sec.
Preparation
Backlogging. Thursday morning. (This is the end of the very long backlog that has kept piling on itself as I tried to work my way through it.)
Mixed with equal parts of Ceylon and EG in hopes of recapturing an earlier tea blend full of deliciousness. It did not quite work as well.
Preparation
Backlogging. Last Tuesday morning.
Second steep. A mug of my usual half A&D’s EG and half A&D’s Ceylon was good, if a bit boring. I decided to kick it up a notch by using the Tiger as my fresh leaf addition. It was surprising SO GOOD.
Preparation
Yesterday morning I had Tiger with breakfast – an English muffin with butter. It came out very strong. I drank the second steep right after the first. Mid-morning I had a smoothie to use up very ripe fruit – plain yogurt, peach, strawberry, blueberry, and spinach. It was one of the better smoothies I’ve made lately.
2nd steep: 5 min 30 sec.
Standard ceramic mug = 10 oz. One rounded teaspoon.
Preparation
It seems like it’s been quite awhile since I’ve had any Tiger, though I think I had some last week. Either way, today’s mug was pure comforting, strong, yumminess. Again, using a more correct amount of leave for water, the Tiger had more taste without necessarily being stronger/more steeped tasting.
2nd steep: 5 min 30 sec.
To my husband. ♥
All the standard ceramic mugs = 10oz. One rounded teaspoon.
Preparation
Backlogging. Three days ago.
Tuh-Tuh-Tuh-TIGER! yeah.
No resteep. Too hot for more tea, then too late in the day.
Preparation
Chrine’s First Comment Contest
Now that I’ve tried all four teas from LeafSpa, I am paying it forward by sending a sample of each to someone, or two, who comments on any of my tealogs now through next Wednesday, the 4th of August. I will select randomly and I will include this messsage as the first comment on each of my tealogs until then. The teas are: Darjeeling Goomtee, Blink Bonnie, Kenchajangha, and Honeybush Apple.
This Yunnan sold out before I was able to buy any. I wonder when the next A&D series will come out…its been quite a while since this one.