Choice Organic Teas

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Recent Tasting Notes

70

Okay, I owe this tea an apology. It turns out that the awful taste that I first experienced was not the tea’s fault – instead, it was lovely Santa Barbara’s water, which is all sorts of foul tasting.

I had a different tea, which I knew should not have tasted oily and evil, but did. So I switched from the tap water to bottled filtered stuff to brew tea. And magically, the tea stopped tasting awful.

It’s still bagged tea so the quality is nowhere near what a loose hojicha would be, but it’s decent, and caffeinated, and doesn’t make me want to gag because it tastes like sweet oil.

Seriously, what the heck is up with the tap water here?

TeaBrat

hmm maybe it’s the drought?

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70

This is the weirdest hojicha I’ve had. It doesn’t taste like hojicha.

I’m currently visiting a friend in Santa Barbara and we went grocery shopping. He asked what I have for breakfast, and I responded – naturally – “tea.” The selection of tea wasn’t great – mostly bagged, though I later discovered there was some loose stuff toward the front but by that point I was fine with the lone box of Choice I grabbed. I’d had good luck with their bagged tea in the past, but this one was… ugh.

I’m not sure what was wrong with it. It just tasted so off. It was oily, and did not taste pleasant at all. Hopefully I can sneak into a store later and get something better. And a strainer – the man does not own one.

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85

A nice English Breakfast tea though I’m not sure I’ll make this my standard. I’m not a great fan of the plastic mesh pyramid bags (I prefer something that decomposes).

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10

Smells interesting. Like a swamp murder. Tastes like dragon piss. I tried it black, with sugar, with milk, with milk and sugar, with Jameson, and came to the conclusion that I am not a Lapsang Souchong girl. Banished it to the top of the refrigerator because it was stinking up all the other lovelies in my tea nook. Has since been relocated to the trash bin.

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My green tea of choice. Absolutely amazing.

The aroma is a earthy, sea weed like smell. However it’s not too overpowering. It’s just right. As it goes down, the seaweed flavor is in full effect but its not screaming or kicking but simply making its presence known on the palate.

My only complain is that, for my own preference, I have to add a sweetener because it is be bitter plain. But that’s just me, this is a fantastic tea.

Flavors: Earth, Seaweed, Tannic

Preparation
3 tsp 14 OZ / 400 ML

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82

Finished up my box of this one. It was always nice to have around for those times when I wanted a cup of something warm and soothing and not exactly subtle, but not too strong or flavored either. I’ll have to look for something similar to occupy the same place in my cupboard! A houjicha would probably fit the description nicely…

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82

I think this is the same thing as Twig Tea by Choice Organic, which is already in the system. They must have recently changed the packaging, because it’s now sold as Twig Kukicha in stores.

This is a good, simple toasted tea. The toastiness is very much present in both the aroma and flavor, and there’s a touch of creaminess and toasted rice. The brew is rich without being strong. I’d call it the comfort food of teas.

I originally purchased this because I was curious about Lupicia’s kukicha, but wanted to try a budget version first to see if I liked this type of tea in general. It turned out to be highly enjoyable, but I’m not sure a down-to-earth, hard-to-get-wrong tea like this would be improved by coming from a fancier brand. So I might just stick with this one in the future.

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66
drank Twig Tea by Choice Organic Teas
2816 tasting notes

I have so many things to do and have been procrastinating like crazy, as is my wont…

I could be much more productive if I blocked everything about tea and my personal social media accounts from my computer! But it shall not be!

Anyway this tea has been in my cupboard for a while now. I drank it years ago and decided to pick up a box recently to revisit it. It is pleasant and has a roasted, nutty and slightly vegetal taste. I used to drink it all the time with soymilk. Now it reminds me of soba (roasted buckwheat) tea or the roasted dandelion I had recently. If you’re a fan of roasty type teas, you could do worse than a cup of this. I will probably finish the box eventually, it is nice for evening time too due to the low caffeine content.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
TeaKlutz

I know what you mean about tea-related procrastination!

boychik

dont worry, you are not alone ;)

TeaBrat

lol… I know I find some similar minded people here ;)

gmathis

Bonus points for using wont correctly in a sentence! (We are a literate bunch here, aren’t we?)

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65

I enjoyed this, it was very nutty. But it had an almost smokey taste that was a hair reminiscent of coffee. I probably won’t repurchase, but will enjoy what I have. Recommended for those who like strong tea.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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65

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82

I get this tea every spring. It’s become a staple on those chilly, rainy days when everything is just beginning to turn green. It’s one of those days today, in fact.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec 12 OZ / 354 ML

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68

Paradoxically, although Choice Premium Japan Green tea tastes marginally better than Touch Organic Green, I have concluded that in an all-things-considered analysis, Touch wins the steep-off.

In truth, I do not recommend either of these teas, since there are much better options for filter bag sencha. Both Harney & Sons Japanese Sencha and Stash Premium Green are better and cost less than the Choice. The Touch costs one-third what the Choice costs, but the Choice is not three times better, hence the in some ways bizarre result of this afternoon’s steep-off!

Preparation
170 °F / 76 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 g 10 OZ / 295 ML

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68

In today’s brew of the Choice Premium Japanese Green Tea filter bag, I used less water—only about 8 ounces. The flavor was quite a bit more pronounced, so definitely this bag is not meant for a big glass. I do not think that the flavor was weaker than the Harney & Sons (in the sencha steep-off today), but I do find that the Choice smacks quite a bit of seaweed—so much so that I began thinking of sushi!

Choice would be a good Choice for those looking specifically for an almost fishy-seaweed sencha experience from a simple-preparation filter bag. I prefer the Harney & Sons, but I do own that this tea is better when brewed in a smaller volume of water, so I am increasing my rating a bit.

Flavors: Seaweed

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 4 min, 0 sec 2 g 8 OZ / 236 ML

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68

I decided to try the Choice organic Premium Japanese Green tea bags to see whether they are on a par with the Stash Premium Green and the Harney & Sons Japanese Sencha filter bags. I’m a big fan of sencha filter bags because they are the exception to the general rule that filter bags offer an inferior tea experience. The Japanese have perfected the sencha filter bag format, and from their centuries of toil on this front, all of us benefit!

The first surprise with this Japanese green from Choice was that the bags are wrapped in the cheap-o Lipton-type paper envelopes—so no attempt to maximize freshness, as with most teas with organic credentials and boasting “premium” quality. I’d have thought that any company charging 30 cents for a filter bag would take the trouble to wrap it in an airtight (foil) envelope. Not Choice.

I know nonetheless that this tea must be relatively fresh—or at least recently packaged!—since the expiration date is not until January 2017, which I presume means that it was only just produced. So the flavor was a bit disappointing, but not surprising, given the budget packaging. The box itself comes wrapped in cellophane, but it did not really seem airtight and hermetically sealed to me. Now that the cellophane has been removed, the tea is going to be exposed to air until the other 15 bags are gone.

I guess that I’ll try to drink these rapidly, because the flavor of the freshest bag, the one brewed today, was a bit wan. The pale greenish-yellow cloudy liquor was promising, and reminded me of Harney & Sons, but the flavor was less pronounced. I’ll try brewing my next Choice filter bag in less water, but my favorite double-walled Bodum glasses—the ones which I use specifically for sencha—seemed to be too voluminous for this 2 gram serving of Choice Premium Japanese Green Tea. Note, however, that the bags contain exactly the same weight of tea as do the Harney & Sons Japanese Sencha filter bags, which I find to produce a much more satisfying cup. I’ll do an official steep-off of these two filter bags soon, but I’ve imbibed enough Harney & Sons Japanese Sencha to be able to speak ex cathedra on these matters—it seems to me!

Preparation
2 g 10 OZ / 295 ML

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75

Dug this one out of the deep recesses of my tea cabinet (yes, I actually have dedicated an entire kitchen cupboard to my absurd tea collection). Brought it to work because I want to get rid of it.

It’s unique, and it sticks with you, certainly. But it’s not a great summer tea. The smokiness lingers in my mouth for a long time. Much better for winter.

Flavors: Bitter, Char, Smoke, Wood

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75

It turns out that the other intern who is working with me this semester and I have a lot in common, including being total tea nuts. Yayyyyy! Now we have stuff to talk about during those excruciating periods of down time in the mornings. Plus, it’s tea. Which I love.

Anyway, this tea has really grown on me. I’m really digging the smoky black teas lately. Mate, lapsang souchong, black-and-mate blends… I love ’em.

Something about the winter makes me crave them. Maybe it’s because they remind me of fireplaces. The smokiness makes me think of warmth, which is what I want in the winter. It makes sense, right?

I like the taste this tea leaves in my mouth. It’s like an old-man tea, but whatever. I’m old in my soul.

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 30 sec

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75

Ummmm. Wow. This is definitely a unique tea. I would say that it is closest in flavor to traditional yerba mate. Very smoky and strong! Kind of tough to take first thing in the morning, but maybe it’ll grow on me.

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80

No notes yet. Add one?

Preparation
2 min, 15 sec

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80

Subtle woody flavor, one of my favorites.

Flavors: Wood

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I’m obsessed with chai blends lately. I guess I’m waiting for winter to finish up around here and let spring have a chance.

As I’ve remarked before, nothing particularly special about this one. Choice is a pretty failsafe organic option if I’m ever on the go, but I’ve yet to try a blend from them that is really memorable, save for their lapsang souchong Russian Caravan. I wish the spices were just a little bit stronger in this, but it’ll do.

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I had this lovely moment of total peace this morning while I was waiting for my water to boil. Two of my housemates were making their breakfast in the kitchen with me, and we were all doing something different, but it felt so quiet and lovely and homey.

Anyway. I acquired 2 bags of this tea from my school’s cafeteria. I’ve had a few of Choice’s blends before and been quite pleased. This one smells like your average chai. It steeps a nice amber color.

Sipping… Good. I’m picking up ginger, more so than in any other chai I’ve tried. There is also something almost marine about it, too, although that may be my school’s heavily treated water poking through.

Hmmm. Just your basic chai, I’d say. Good for when you are in a rush on a cold day.

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78
drank Oolong by Choice Organic Teas
152 tasting notes

Tasted more like an assam than an oolong to me, still quite nice. Medium bodied, pleasant flavor. It’s a more oxidized oolong but not too heavily so, and with a bit of roastiness. Good quality for a bagged tea.

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78

Makes a rich, deep cup. Almost black, with a body close to coffee.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 45 sec

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