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75
drank Hunan Dark Tea by TeaSource
218 tasting notes

This tea was a little weird. Unusal is probably a better word. Like no other straight tea I have had so far.

I expected it to brew pretty dark but it didn’t. It had this very curious color that was brown, yellow and dark green, all of these at once. I know it doesn’t sound appetizing, but it was actually really pretty. The aroma was mostly earthy with very strong grape notes. This is the first time I smelled grapes so distinctly in a tea.

The flavor was very bold and unique. Kind of like… if you kept your green/oolong tea leaves out because you wanted to resteep them but then you forgot about them and the next time you got to them, the leaves were getting a bit damp and perhaps even moldy, but you steeped them anyway ;D Sounds horrible, but that’s how it tasted and it was good! While it is not something I would like to have in my cupboard, it was definitely very interesting to check out.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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100

This is does not have a strong flavor, but still retains many of the unique profiles you find with fermented teas. In fact, this would make a good replacement for coffee.

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88
drank White Peony [duplicate] by TeaSource
257 tasting notes

This is a tea to play with for sure. The dry leaf looks like a crushed mix of all the different white teas. Different hues of green, a silver needle thrown in here and there. It looks a bit like Shou Mei and it smells creamy like it too only it’s wilder and has more colors to the mix.
I brewed this Western style checking at each minute and stopped steeping after 3 minutes at 165F.
The wet leaves look like crushed up leaves from an Autumn leaf pile and smell like potato peels.
Liquor is golden champagne color and smells like honey and spices.
The flavor is sweet, cream, honey, a very light light cinnamon and nutmeg.
Overall, a fun potpourri type of tea with lots of different colors, flavors, and scents going on because it seems to have lots of different styles white tea leaves all mixed together.

I brewed this one at a lower temp but next time I will try a few degrees hotter to see how this one changes.

Flavors: Cream, Honey, Nutmeg

Preparation
165 °F / 73 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
TheTeaFairy

I love this review. I find Bai Mu Dan tea to be underrated. Some say it’s boring and too subtle, but just like you, I think it’s full of flavours and nuances, a beautiful tea.

Lee

Yes, I thought this one didn’t seem like straight White Peony,,,it was more mixed to me. I love White Tea :)

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52

Thank you darby for this sample. Unfortunately I don’t get much flavour neither tea taste.
Tea Source says this tea is perfect as iced, so this is how I will use rest of the sample.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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97

I really need to have more oolong, it’s becoming one of my faves. This one is from the Steepster Select box. It has a sweet, floral scent I can’t quite place. The flavour is honey, mildly fruity, and some orchid. I rather like it.

I’ll have to try it again when I’m not having oatmeal.

Flavors: Honey, Orchids

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 45 sec
darby

Ooooo! I’m going to have to get this one. I just picked up their Rhubarb oolong the other day and am blending it with the strawberry oolong and cold brewing it

Tealizzy

Mmm, that sounds delicious!

Kaylee

Looking forward to reading that review! I’ve never blended my Butiki teas but it sounds like a great idea!

Lariel of Lórien

There is such thing as Rhubarb oolong?

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This came in my Steepster Select box.

It smells vaguely vegetal. The flavour is mellow and sweet, and semi-fruity. Not bad, but I much prefer to cold brew my white teas.

Preparation
165 °F / 73 °C 2 min, 15 sec

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drank Hunan Dark Tea by TeaSource
104 tasting notes

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drank Silver Bud Ya Bao by TeaSource
218 tasting notes

This was a part of my free Steepster Select package. I remember having some ya bao tea as a part of a Verdant blend (the one that tasted herbal to me even though it was not an herbal) but this was the first time that I had it straight.

As lovely as the dry leaf looks, there’s something about this kind of white tea that doesn’t sit well with me. And that doesn’t mean it’s giving me indigestion or anything. There’s just something about the way it tastes… Like drinking tea sap. And I don’t think I am fond of this note. I can’t explain it! It’s like some honey note that went wrong and fermented into wood-shavings.

Well, either way, I will venture to try it again since I have one more single serving packet, and I am not going to rate it either for now * shrugs *.

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90
drank Hunan Dark Tea by TeaSource
58 tasting notes

This is my first pu-erh tea and I really like it! I’ve been hesitant to try it because i’m not into strong, pungent flavors but this is actually relatively smooth and quite delicious. I’m starting to tread softly into the realm of dark teas and boy is it exciting.

I won’t get into tasting notes, the experience is different for every drinker in my opinion.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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drank Hunan Dark Tea by TeaSource
391 tasting notes

Soooo…. it tastes good. I get that oolong sort of taste from it. I wish my taste buds were better because I don’t really get all the tastes like grape or whatnot. It’s good though. Ah, Happy Easter! Tea and chocolate bunnies :). I did 2 steeps, I don’t know how people do more I just can’t drink that much.

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81
drank Dark Rose Tea by TeaSource
1113 tasting notes

After my bad puerh experience this morning I wanted something “safe” I know I like this afternoon! Plus I was still craving pu. This works out nicely :)

Thanks again for the cute little heart tea Amanda Wilson !

Terri HarpLady

I’ve been thinking of trying these little hearts, always open for a novelty. They look adorable, anyway. :)

Stephanie

They’re simple, clean tasting, lightly fermented, and reasonably priced. Can’t really go wrong! Seems like folks who don’t like shu don’t like it. I could send you a couple if you want to try them, Terri

boychik

So it’s not puerh. Is it heicha?

Stephanie

They call it “Dark tea” but I think they might be the same thing boychik

Terri HarpLady

Stephanie, that would be awesome!
Seems like I owe you some tea, don’t I?
(I know I owe tea to boychik, & several others…sorry, I’m a slacker lately…no, I’ve just been incredibly busy for awhile)

boychik

no worries, Terri.

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81
drank Dark Rose Tea by TeaSource
1113 tasting notes

Thanks so much Amanda Wilson for sending me a very generous sample of this tea!

I had an AMAZING day yesterday you guys! HUGE all day outdoor art fair with incredibly beautiful weather, and then a gallery opening in the evening. The theme of the gallery show was a movie mashup- The Big Lebowski in Little China, LOL. Anyway both went great, and my Lebowski piece sold within an hour of the opening starting and I’ve already taken two reprint orders! WOO!

ANYWAY, yesterday was long and good but I reached for this tea because I may have had a little TOO much fun at the gallery opening (it was at a bar/cafe) so I reached for this one assuming the cute little compressed heart was some kind of puerh…

I’m not totally sure it is! It sure tastes more like a black tea to me. Nice and dark and malty. Also I think the rose adds a nice subtle sweetness but is not too overpowering. Very nice tea. I will enjoy drinking the rest of this sample packet for sure, whatever it is :)

TheTeaFairy

That is so great, Congratulation Stephanie :-)

Courtney

That’s awesome, good job!

Terri HarpLady

Yay Stephanie! Is there a photo?
This tea sounds interesting too!

Stephanie

Ok guys here is my Lebowski piece! I added a watermark so the internets can’t run of and steal it ;) http://twitpic.com/e1nngt It looks really great printed out, I made it a 16″×20″ :)

Terri HarpLady

That is awesome! :)

boychik

Omg Stephanie, that is huge!!! I love it. Congrats!!!

caile

Congratulations!! That is wonderful!

Stephanie

Thanks everyone! I’ve been working in photoshop for a living for the past 10 years, but I think this piece was the most fun I’ve ever had in photoshop! :D

__Morgana__

Wow, awesome! Congrats!

TeaNecromancer

Yay! So glad you like it! I agree, even though it is a Dark Tea (Hei Cha, or whatever other names exist for it) it does taste a lot more like a black tea.

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97
drank Rare Orchid Oolong by TeaSource
17 tasting notes

This was very delicious! It had a sweet finish as well as smokey floral notes. I was very pleased with this tea. Will buy more!

Preparation
165 °F / 73 °C 2 min, 30 sec 2 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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97
drank Rare Orchid Oolong by TeaSource
17 tasting notes

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62
drank Silver Bud Ya Bao by TeaSource
43 tasting notes

I had never seen a tea like this before! I was even a little skeptical that pouring water over it would result in tea after 2.5 min, but it did.
Let my water cool a little too much before adding- steeped for 2.5 min as directed at 150F. I wish I had let it go for a little longer- the flavor is nice but a little too light.
Second steep, let it go for about 5 min, taste was roughly the same.
Grassy and fresh- exactly how you’d expect something that looks so fresh to taste. Didn’t love it though.

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85

Rare Orchid Oolong is quite the experience. Because of it’s ability to re-steep, this oolong continues surprising long after its first infusion. It is distinctly floral with mentionable sweet undertones. The flavor evolves as it is re-steeped, certainly a great investment for those who like exploratory teas and flavors!

Flavors: Honey, Orchids

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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84
drank Hunan Dark Tea by TeaSource
43 tasting notes

My second tea from Steepster Select and a second hit! Packaging said this was good for 5+ resteeps, but I have to say it was only good for 3 cups for me. Three delicious cups.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 30 sec 12 OZ / 354 ML

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85

An interesting tea to say the least. Fuzzy silver buds come tumbling out of the package when you first open it, giving way to an herbal scent with sweet undertones.

The flavor is surprisingly mellow, allowing me to agree with the listed tasting notes. The tea sits at a nice green/gold color.

The package suggests a 2.5 min steep, I think a little longer is better for my personal taste, but I like the tea a little stronger.

*A great tea if you’re into this sort of flavor, but I prefer teas with a little more kick. It’s not a bad tea by any means. It tastes similar to a jasmine tea in my opinion.

Flavors: Flowers, Fruit Tree Flowers, Honey

Preparation
160 °F / 71 °C 3 min, 15 sec 8 OZ / 236 ML

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41

This may just be someone’s cup of tea—it’s not mine. It’s made with milk, and I can distinctively taste it, and couldn’t help thinking that if I want milk in my tea, I’d like to add it myself. My aunt who loved the Rare Orchid and Light Roast Tung Tings the other day, found this one “blah.” Not a tea I’ll order again. If I want a tea on the creamy, silky side I prefer TeaSource’s Sweet Silk Oolong.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 24 OZ / 709 ML

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87

This has the fruity sweetness of some oolongs and laid over Is the roasted note—earthy, tobacco-y, in a way that makes it smooth and mellow. My aunt who can be picky flat out “loved” this tea. Definitely a keeper (even if I personally preferred the Rare Orchid Oolong we first tried yesterday.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 15 sec 3 tsp 24 OZ / 709 ML

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90
drank Hunan Dark Tea by TeaSource
30 tasting notes

This is the first high-quality pu-erh I’ve tried and it’s unlike all that came before it.

It doesn’t brew nearly as dark or pungent as the previous ones I’ve tasted.

The first sip tastes of malt, maple syrup, and vanilla. Further tasting reveals peaty, mossy, and earthy flavors.

Overall, this tea is quite enjoyable.

Something about this tea reminds me of going to Dickens Fair at Christmas time. I can’t quite place it, it’s not cinnamon or cardamom, nor douglas fir trees. It has a holiday spice quality that I really like but can’t name. Roasted butternut squash with brown sugar maybe?

Flavors: Butter, Caramel, Earth, Malt, Molasses, Peat Moss, Vanilla

Preparation
Boiling 1 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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100
drank Silver Peony by TeaSource
257 tasting notes

The dry leaf is a fun menagerie of White Peony and Silver Needle teas with scents of after dinner mint & dried basil.
The packaging had low brew temp instructions which I love. I have brewed White Peony at 185 before and it brings out a good sweet and champagne colored liquor. I chose to go with 160 F and then just left the leaves in longer, for 5 minutes.
This created a light silver green clear colored liquor with flavors of Honeycrisp apple, Asian pear, pie crust. Yumm this tea is a mix of fun, delicious and lovely.

Second Steeping – I resteeped this at 185F and it brought out a more colored liquor and deeper flavor. Still lovely with accents of apple and pear.
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7/25/14
Brewed this Western style today at a very low 165F temp. The liquor is pearl color and the scent is light light fruit.
Flavor is fruity and creamy. There are notes of pear and peach with cream. This is a nice white.

Flavors: Cream, Mint, Pear, Stonefruit

Preparation
160 °F / 71 °C 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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89

Lovely—if I don’t rate it at the tippy top, it’s because I try to rate my teas in such a way as to make it easier to know which ones to buy again, so my favorite gets 100, and the next 99 and so on. Of the Oolongs I’ve tried, the only ones I liked as much or more were Sweet Silk, Big Red Robe—and my favorite tea of any I’ve tried—Oriental Beauty. Rare Orchid I’d definitely order again. It’s honeyed, silky smooth and fruity, but in subtle very drinkable ways that aren’t overwhelming. That’s just with the first steeping, I haven’t had a chance to try others—but it’s wonderful right from the top.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 24 OZ / 709 ML

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89
drank Hunan Dark Tea by TeaSource
439 tasting notes

This maybe a fermented tea, but it’s unlike any pu-erh I’ve ever tasted. That being said, I really liked this tea. It tasted like roasted grass to me, and unlike any Hojicha. I get the mahogany notes too. Not really tasting the grapes or much sweetness. The tea is complex and different from black or pu-erh teas.

Flavors: Grass, Wood

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