Steven Smith Teamaker

Accidentally let this sit for six minutes. But it’s forgiving, although a little sharp. This tea really defines “malty”; I think of cracked wheat bread when I drink it.

Brewed, this smells strongly of Assam. The taste is incredibly flavourful—Assam on the first note, strong but not sharp, followed by a definite Keemun taste. I’m not immediately getting any Ceylon, but it might just be the Ceylon that’s tying the two together and toning down the Assam. Background-player.

It’s cooling now, and I think I’m getting a bit of the Ceylon.

I’d also like to point out that mine (and all, I assume) came with a card inside the box that reads: “For best results, serve others first.” Sadly, I had no one to share with, otherwise I would have.

The first notes that hits me are chamomile and linden. I think the rooibos has dulled down the overall flavor just a bit. This tisane isn’t very exciting to me, as it has a very monotone character, but it might make a good sleepy-time tea.

I’ll try steeping it for longer and see if that brings out any of the other, more interesting, components (like lemon myrtle, hyssop, cyani and rose petals).

Lord Bergamot is exactly what you’d think in the bag–it’s all about the bergamot, baby. There’s barely any underlying tea smell, for all the cool-toned flowery-citrusy-ness blanketing everything. Luckily, once steeped, the Assam knows what it’s doing and takes a firm hand with its floral companion: “Calm the hell down, Sparky.”

As a result, you think you’re safe from a botanical invasion until you take that first sip. Bergamot goes, “Hey, didja miss me? Huh? Didja?” and by now, once your drink has cooled to bearabili-tea, there’s no room to reply, “No.” (That is, of course, unless you love bergamot. Earl Grey fana-tea-cs, with this tea you may well die happy. It makes for a brilliant cup of serious getting down to business that will take you through deadlines and exams with fortitude to spare.)… Full review here: http://snooteablog.com/2013/07/16/snooty-tea-review-steven-smith-tea-round-1/

With a name like Kandy, you’d think that the blend would have nothing to it but overwhelming saccharini-tea. Yet as we’ve seen with other teas in this collection, names can be misleading. A Ceylon by any other name would indeed smell as sweet. We have to keep in mind that the natural sweetness of an un-doctored black tea is it’s own brand of confection. If you’ve got the palate of a compulsive sugar-adder, then Kandy’s inner complexity might go over your head. The nice thing about it is the statement it makes when steeped; a distinct fruity aroma that doesn’t hide away in the auburn liquor.

Some really nice orchard notes come out on first sip: roasted apples and lush plums ready to burst off the tree. There’s the South Asian muscatel hovering about the edge of your tongue as well. Kandy rests on your shoulders as a robe of the most valuable, richly-made silk–but of a simple hue… Full review here: http://snooteablog.com/2013/07/16/snooty-tea-review-steven-smith-tea-round-1/

Masala Chai hits you with gingery, ginger, ginger from the get-go. (It’s like all the ginger that was missing from Chai Diaries found its way in here. No complaints!) The dry bag has no hint of anything but the arid, zingy spices–you’d be surprised that there’s any black tea at all. Yet in the cup, all of that melts away, as the ginger is overtaken by clove and cinnamon, with peppercorn bouncing in the background. That ingredient is an unusual one for chai, adding just the barest touch of savory to an otherwise notoriously sweet tea. Mad points for originali-tea.

Once you start sipping, the immediate question is, “Where the hell did all the ginger go?”… Full review here: http://snooteablog.com/2013/07/16/snooty-tea-review-steven-smith-tea-round-1/

Right out of the bag, that Darjeeling beckons with kohl-lidded eyes. There’s enough smoke to offset the sultry aroma with a hint of danger: “Come hither–if you dare.” But once steeped, this rounds out into golden smoothness, the kind of salt-copper scent you’d associate more with a Fujian or a Yunnan. This is definitely a Darjeeling with at-tea-tude.

The sip-’sperience is a letdown. When will we ever learn that dry leaves can tell many many lies? Bungalow leads you into the darkened bedroom and then expects you to play Solitaire for the rest of the night… Full review here: http://snooteablog.com/2013/07/16/snooty-tea-review-steven-smith-tea-round-1/

Brahmin‘s dry leaves start off with a definite maltyness, as promised in the description on the packet. It’s very Keemun-y, with that fireside feel you get from East Asian blacks. The scent hovers on the edge of smoke, but shies away at the last moment, safe under the protection of its Ceylon’s wine notes. In the cup, the Keemun continues to be at the forefront of the aroma, refusing to be ignored. You’d think that the Assam would take the stage in this blend, given its decidedly South Asian name, but our Chinese black is having none of that.

However, when you start sipping, it becomes clear why the Assam is so self-Ass-ured… Full review here: http://snooteablog.com/2013/07/16/snooty-tea-review-steven-smith-tea-round-1/

Goodness, but it’s been a very busy week.
In the last week I have-
1. Gone to the hospital because of severe and unexpected neck pain (I’m fine!)
2. Worked a full week
3. Done the last full weekend of the play I am in
4. Started two new knitting projects
5. Caught the office cold. Ow. My throat.

So I’ve been drinking tea non-stop, and this has been fully sipped down.
I’m sure I’ll bring it back, when the chance presents itself. I think of it more as a spring and summer tea, and I am ready for the winter flavors.
So, sipdown!

My favorite chamomile blend, with its delicate flavors, and goodly warmth.
A sipdown, for now, anyway.

This was my evening cup last night, as I worked on cleaning the living room and organizing the books. I am nowhere near done organizing the books. Books are on every possible surface. I need more shelves!
A rainy evening, but I suddenly felt for this, which always reminds me of spring. Not in a fake, Easter-basket kind of way, but in the true feeling of that new warmth and softness that comes in that season.
Its probably my favorite chamomile tea, and I did drift off fairly easily last night. I didn’t manage to stay drifted off, mostly due to a few text messages at 3 in the morning (ugh), but hey. Not the teas fault!

This is a backlog from last night. My favorite chamomile and myself had a date!
I’ve been nursing a headache for a few days, which I suspect is my sinuses. It has not rained around here in ages, and theres all sorts of gunk in the air, which is no fun whatsoever. Bleh.
So I thought this might be nice, as I worked on the scarf I’m knitting (only my second knitting project. I’d say its going well so far, though I do need to learn how to keep my edges tighter.), and I was right. Its all very nice, and the warmth made me feel better.
I’ve gotta drink more evening tea. Why did I stop? (Oh right, summer. 100 degree days. You don’t even want to look at a heat source from there.)

Ahh. I don’t know why I’ve let this one languish undrunk on my shelf for so long. Its a lovely chamomile, probably my favorite chamomile I’ve tried.
So, to sooth the throat, I’ve brewed up a cup of this.
It goes down so smoothly, and has a faint aftertaste of honey, so its good stuff.

My favorite chamomile has got to be this. Is delicate, with a somewhat creamy finish, and a delicate breath of light… floral is not right, but theres something very fresh about it.
Why didn’t I drink this more during the summer? It would have suited very well…. but it will be a gorgeous cup of springtime some winter evening.

My friend made it out safe and sound, and we had a lovely evening. She’s a fellow tea drinker (I know only the best people), and we had fun among my stash picking out a soothing tea before bedtime.
This was her pick, so I brewed it up.
Its the perfect spring and summer chamomile tea, complex without being overwhelming, delicious and light. A perfect end to our evening.

On a long day like today, accept no substitues. Only the best of the herbals for me tonight!

This is such a nice blend. I have one cup left, but I shall be where I can buy it very soon. Yay tea!!!

This is from yesterday. I had a really rough weekend, and I needed my favorite chamomile to lure me into sleep. Even though I am perilously low on this. This is when you break out the good teas- when you need them.

My favorite chamomile to crown off my day. A contented sigh.

Backlogg from yesterday. Still feeling poorly, I reached for my very favorite chamomile, which I am hording and parcing out bit by bit. It went perfectly with my evening read of a silly murder mystery, and then I went to bed.
This is such a nice tea. Complex and light and everything an herbal should be.

Ahhh. Meadow is the chamomile that I have been looking for. This is as rich and flavorful a chamomile tea as I have ever said. This was part of a bunch of teas that I got the last time I was in Oregon, and I really, really like it. I am always questing for a good chamomile to crown my evenings. This isn’t available anywhere locally for me, but thank goodness for the internet. I’ve got to try some more Smith Teamaker teas now.

Thanks for this sample Amy oh :)

I’m writing this a couple days after drinking it. I logged it so I wouldn’t forget to write a note.

This is a pretty good bright and happy citrusy tea. Heavier on the citrus than on the mint. I would have liked more mint, but I can just add some of my own next time.