The Steeping Room

For some reason, I’ve never logged this, even though I had two ounces and I used the last of it last night. This was one of my first loose teas, and I’m sad to see it go. I’ve had it for almost two years now, so it was about time it was drunk. This is a very sweet peach tea, it smells a lot like the gummy peach rings I used to eat all the time. So, I may like this partially because of nostalgia, and partially because it’s local, but I promise this is a good peach tea if you’re looking for something sweet. If you’re in the Austin area, check out the Steeping Room. I hear they’ve remodeled recently, I may have to go back and get more of this and check out their new look.

One of my favorite teas. Nice and warming, not too much cinnamon and fig flavor – just the right amount. Great with a bit of agave nectar.

I had this at the Steeping Room on Lamar in Austin, Texas. It came out the perfect temperature, the aroma was absolutely mouthwatering. A little agave nectar made it dessert in a cup, it was like drinking a slice of cake. Buttery and nutty with strong vanilla. I had to take some home!

Unfortunately, the aroma of the tea in the bag is so overpowering that it almost puts you off drinking it. A very, very situational tea. I can only drink it on rare occasions that I am in the mood for something powerfully sweet. Thankfully the tea itself isn’t as cloying as the leaves. Don’t steep for too long or too hot.

Thanks for this one Emilie! This smelled terrific!

The aroma and taste is that of a peach and floral combo over a medium-strength black. I like this a bit better cold than hot but both are tasty and I am thrilled I got to try it!

As a fan of Earl Gray, this blend of mandarin orange and bergamont is satisfyingly strong in citrus flavor. The addition of the mandarin though adds some complexity and takes away some of the weight that a heavily flavored Early Gray might have. Delicious hot or cold, I will often make a pot and then drink it through the day after the tea has come to room temperature.

No notes yet.

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Cold-brewed this for 24hrs.

Very intense flavor. VERY floral in the back of throat and mouth. Delicious if you like such, in this case I do. Yum. But not for every day.

I can never get over how lovely this tea smells when brewed. It’s a strong dark and smokey scent… just lovely and pleasing.

The taste, as I’ve said before, is quite smokey, too. Nothing about this tea overwhelms, it’s a delicious flavor that balances just right in your mouth.

Brewed this after a day of a less than impressive Assam, for a nice change. Just the scent of it while it’s cooling to drink temp is gorgeous. Floral, rich, delicate, pleasing.

Again the flavor is SO good. Malty, astringent around the sides of the tongue, a tiny bit of floral off the front middle of tongue. Just lovely and exactly what I needed.

No notes yet.

Honey colored, seed-toned scent; the flavor is very interesting, front of the mouth is the tiniest bit sweet and tan, the back of tongue is very nutty and rich. Little finish, but pleasant. Best when drunk when juuuuustt cool enough to drink; letting it cool more leaves out a lot of the flavor.

Smokey, wonderful scent and flavor with lingering finish.

Like the description says, it is a strong Earl Grey that was a bit too bitter for me. The addition of agave nectar (or, most likely, any other sweetener) showed a change from the bitter drink that I had a hard time swallowing to a pretty fantastic cup of Earl Grey. I will definitely buy it again but I’ll make sure I have a sweetener around when I have it.

What a wonderful black tea – I am a beginner at 58 years old – I used to compare Bigelow to Twinings and have now left both in the dust. This is my current favorite – I can’t discuss this in trade talk but I do know it is a wonderful cup of tea. Yea! I discovered the Steeping Room through a staffer at Starbucks over at the 1890 Shopping Center. I have thanked him more than once for sending me over. The folks at the Steeping Room are particularly patient as I ask multiple questions. Thanks for being there! Grins.

Pleasant malty, round flavor with a light apricot astringency to the sides of the mouth and tongue. Very pleasing.

picked up some more of this. Just the thing after pulling an “all nighter”…gods, I haven’t done that since college (measured in decades ago)

No notes yet.

No notes yet.

Found a rock in my tea this morning. Decomposed granite from the looks of it. Insert bad puns about mineral taste in the tea :-)
This is the end of this sample. I believe I’ll have to get some more. Its a good anytime tea thats a little stronger than average.

Having this over ice this afternoon. Quite tasty. The smokiness helps it stand up to dilution by the ice.

An excellent Ceylon. Not as brisk as Kenilworth, but excellent. This is from a local tea house, but as I put into the base notes, looks exactly like Ceylon Vithanakande FBOPF (EX) from SpecialTeas

brewed this a little longer this morning…it really pumps up the smokieness, without really pumping up the tea flavor. Not sure that I cared to learn that since I’m not a strong fan of smoke. The resteep went well though.

This is growing on me…I might have to keep some of this around as a staple tea for savory meals.