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Dethlefsen & Balk

Recent Entries

Lychee / Bamboo from Dethlefsen & Balk
67

I received this in a swap with Ellyn! The aroma of the dry leaf is quite unique. After I read Ellyn’s review on this tea I was kind of afraid to try it becuase…. you know.. pickles…
The flavor is interesting. I can definitely taste the lychee and the only way I can recognize the bamboo flavor is because I have tried just plain bamboo tea. The lemon and tangerine flavor really stick out. Everything just blends in an odd way. This is a very exotic tea and I think it’s ok. Not the best, not the worst. I think it would be pretty good iced. Thanks again Ellyn!

Lychee / Bamboo from Dethlefsen & Balk

I am not adding a score for this one…it tastes like pickles! I had my husband try it and he thought it tasted like pickles also….very strange. Any reason why this would taste pickle? I got it in a swap but it had never been opened…..

anyone want it? maybe you will get lychee or bamboo….

China Yunnan Special White Leaf Tea (22307) from Dethlefsen & Balk
82

Subtle floral taste, no grass, sweet rather than astringent. Very refreshing!

Orange Sencha from Dethlefsen & Balk
84
22443 Flavored Sencha tea Champagne from Dethlefsen & Balk
69

I believe this is the tea I have been sold as “Delícia de Champagne”, and if so, it´s marvelous. Long, whole sencha with champagne flavour and a strawberry decoration. Lovely lovely.

Sunny Passion (Mango) from Dethlefsen & Balk
66
Yunnan Imperial from Dethlefsen & Balk
66

Although I prefer bitter taste this one was sweet surprise ;)

China Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearl from Dethlefsen & Balk
88
Mango Yoghurt from Dethlefsen & Balk
41

Funny how I mention every time that i don’t really love fruit infusions, but end up drinking them constantly in the summer. I think it is because after a good hardy meal I want something light, crisp and sweet. So of course today I opted for a “mango” flavored tea. I don’t know how many people have tried Indian Mango Lassi (a type of mango smoothing that is typically served in many Indian restaurants), but I was craving one and so I decided to go for the mango tea instead.

To my sad dismay this tea was more sour than sweet. Mayhaps the sourness was coming from the attempt to imitate “yoghurt” but nonetheless it was a disappointment. I ended up drinking it iced any ways…. O well

China Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearl from Dethlefsen & Balk
100

I have a friend that always brings me tea souvenirs from her vacations. Most of the time it is Jasmine. I’m not sure is this is because it is her favorite or if I once made a comment while we were eating at our local Asian lunch haunt. Anyway, when I saw yet another Jasmine, I secretly wished for a little change. Luckily I got it. I’m one lucky steepster!

Don’t try to rush this tea experience. It is fun from the start. The pearls are beautiful as they unfurl so be sure to brew using a clear glass container. Next the sweet smell of flowers hit you but the flavor is mellow. It all works together for a wonderful experience without overwhelming the senses. Quite enjoyable.

Sunny Passion (Mango) from Dethlefsen & Balk
52

I think I’d like this better without the roses. I’m sensitive to roses and think just about anything that has them tastes like soap. This has an aftertaste of soap.

The green tea base is stronger than the white tea (I can’t detect the white tea). So, I’m first getting green tea flavor, then fruit (it’s a light tropical fruit flavor, probably because it’s mangos and pineapples), then SOAP.

Yunnan Imperial from Dethlefsen & Balk
75

This is my everyday tea right now. I brew it in my iPot teapot with water heated on the stove in a tea kettle. I let the water come to a full boil and pour over the tea leaves. This tea steeps for 3-5 minutes and produces a yummy, tasty, refreshing tea. I like my tea sweetened with sugar. I have not tried this tea with milk or cream but it seems hearty enough to stand up to either.