3021 Tasting Notes

Discontinued. One of my least favorite words in the world, at least when it pertains to a tea I have grown to love and rely on. I have one box left, which I will ration sadly and carefully.

In the meantime, I will have to start a new quest for a strawberry black tea strong enough and authentic enough to suit me. Sigh.

ashmanra

NOOOOOOOO!

Cameron B.

Aww this was the best one of the series!

gmathis

Care to come storm the Bastille with me?

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Ever find yourself throwing a halfhearted tea bag into your out-the-door tumbler because you don’t have time to make good tea? This morning I did, thanks to ashmanra and this really, really nice breakfast tea.

The steeping instructions are right up my alley: boiling water, 45 seconds for a good cuppa; 90 seconds (and I quote) for “profound.” I went straight for profound. Beautiful fruit and cherry wood veneer. The proprietor recommends milk, and I’ll give that a go later, but it was so, so nice on its own!

ashmanra

I am so glad you liked it! <3

gmathis

Definitely!

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A thoughtful work friend brought me back a little souvenir from a tea shop run in Springfield, Missouri (Chabom Teas + Spices). This is a new-to-me brand.

The Holy Grail of Decaf Black Teas does not exist. It is a myth that I will chase down until my poor old heart gives out. It’s either next to the pot of gold under the rainbow or with the black sock I’ve been trying to hunt down for two years. Ty-Phoo Decaf is the only tea I’ve tried that’s a contender.

That said, this one isn’t bad. Like all unflavored decafs, most of the flavor has been leached out in the treatment process, but it has a nice color and a nice, hefty body. Puts a little weight on your tongue. With an additive—little milk; little mint; little something—it might just fool me.

ashmanra

Decaffeinated by Harney tastes almost just like full strength black tea to me!

Arby

I might be the only one but I can’t tell the difference with most decaf teas. I just brew it a bit longer, usually. I was going to say that I usually drink Yorkshire or Typhoo decaf when I want plain decaf black and I find them pretty good compared to the regular versions. My vanilla comoro from H&S is decaf and it tastes identical to me compared to the regular version.

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This is more a “random steep” note than anything else; I just used a bag of this very nondescript decaf as a holding device for the first fresh apple mint of the season. It’s been monsoon season in Missouri and the plant has been loving it…has already put out its first “tentacle” barely three weeks after we potted it.

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As “tea” is actually the last thing mentioned on its ingredient list, I hesitated to add this to the lineup, but for what it is, it’s surprisingly tasty! Locally, we can find it at Atwoods, a farm and ranch store chain that offers free popcorn, saddle blankets, rabbit food, empty egg cartons, live chicks, and an interesting assortment of grocery whatnots.

Normally, I avoid bottled sweet tea because the citric acid reminds me of a bad chemistry experiment. The metallic sharpness spoils what could be a potentially decent drink. In this case, it doesn’t overpower the tea, nor does the sweetener (pure cane sugar; no stevia). It’s more “peach” than “tea,” but the fruit flavor is respectably accurate.

We have a front stoop instead of a front porch, but if I had one, I’d be on it with a rocking chair, the rest of the bottle, and my phone poised toward the maple tree knothole. Hootie has owl babies!

ashmanra

Atwood’s sounds like a fun place to go, and hooray for Hootie!

Jen vB

I love learning about regional shops. How many owlets?

gmathis

Two, we think. “And” and “The.” The dad, living nearby, is Blowfish.

Kaylee

I can’t tell what’s more delightful, that she had babies or the amazing names you’ve given the family!

gmathis

If there was just one, he/she was just going to be Andy. “The,” best we can tell, is quite a bit smaller and isn’t quite tall enough to peek all the way out of the hole. Mostly we see fuzz and wings.

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drank English Breakfast by Gourmanity
3021 tasting notes

Part of a cute little gift threesome in glass test tubes with corks. English breakfast has never been strong enough to wake me…it’s more like gentle tug on the sheets at the bottom of the bed instead of being whapped in the face with a heavy pillow.

That said, this is adequate for office use. Says it’s a blend of Assam, Nilgiri and Ceylon. I say it’s heavy on the Ceylon, but the other players keep it from being too astringent and whiny. Tastes like “just tea.”

Michelle

Hmmm, I’m wondering which tea is like awaking to a bucket of water over the head?

gmathis

The two current candidates at my house are Rare Tea RAFA Tea for Heroes (looseleaf) and Taylors of Harrogate Assam (bagged). WHAP!

Michelle

I agree that Taylors Awesome bagged tea is a good and convenient way to wake up!

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drank Ms. Gardenia by Xian Cha Tea
3021 tasting notes

It’s been an eventful Easter—torrential rain overnight; Turkey Creek overflowing in the neighbors’ yards; some joy and chaos with my church kids (can you balance six jellybeans on a craft stick clamped in your mouth and say your memory verse?); a quick and quiet lunch followed up by tornado warnings bullying their way through several counties.

Sun’s out now and Hootie (yep, we named her) is peeking out of the knothole to see if the coast is clear. We think she’s got eggs or babies in the knothole because she’s had to fend off some greedy crows. Never underestimate the fury of a mama owl on the warpath.

In all the excitement, I’ve almost forgotten what I planned to say about this gentle oolong, other than my thanks to Martin is long-g-g-g-g-g overdue! I kept the steep time and temp very light, so the essence of the oolong base and the gardenia was barely there. Not heavily floral at all, but that’s the way I like my oolong.

ashmanra

I love Hootie! What a great name for your owl friend. The tea sounds marvelous, too.

gmathis

It’s one to sit and enjoy slowly and thoughtfully; I haven’t had the time for slow or the brains for thoughtful of late!

Martin Bednář

I think it is just right between too strong floral notes and too boring “just oolong” notes.

gmathis

That’s a great way to describe it, Martin!

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drank Braveheart by Savoy Tea Co
3021 tasting notes

Sigh. I hate change. Such as the marketing email I received from Savoy this week announcing that they are closing their physical storefronts. Online only. No doubt my favorites (like this one) will still be readily available, but there’s just something about that first step inside the door of a favorite tea shop, that first whiff of leaf, that makes your blood pressure drop and your smile slowly curl up at the corners like the Grinch.

Braveheart isn’t for the weak-minded. Stout, brassy, rye-bread goodness. I hope a packet delivered by mail tastes as good as one you’ve carried out of the store with your own two hands. I have doubts.

TeaEarleGreyHot

How sad it is to see one’s favorite retailer/storefront close up. I do think I’ve visited Savoy’s Rogers location once, back when I frequented that area.

gmathis

The Rogers store went first…that was a mandatory stop when we went on an Arkansas shopping run.

ashmanra

Oh no! I am so sorry! I still miss Southern Season horribly. The smell of that place would chase any blues away.

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drank White Christmas by TeaMaze
3021 tasting notes

This isn’t a new one in my collection, but the packet is slow to empty … this chamomile and apple blend requires such a long steep time, you have to calendar it in. Tonight, I put the leaves in to stew, left it an hour, then reheated it in the microwave. Manhandled that way, it’s delicious! Silky; nice balance of fruit to cami. A good nightcap after a sulky, rainy day.

Michelle

It’s always tea time, no need for a calendar. Good things come to those who wait (and have a microwave, you heathen)

gmathis

;) It’s at least 20 years old, if not more … there are times I could heat things quicker by building a fire by hand!

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drank Snowberry Frost by Simpson & Vail
3021 tasting notes

If you live near a Smallcakes Cupcakerie, consider yourselves fortunate. We miss ours! Little boutique cupcake and ice cream place that changed its flavor lineup weekly. They had a moist, melt-in-your mouth strawberry cupcake that I could gnarf in about three giant bites, I liked it so much. Snowberry Frost is its liquid stepchild. Berries and buttercream, compliments of the lovely ashmanra. Thank you—I needed the smile!

ashmanra

I am so glad you liked it!

Leafhopper

Could that bakery open a location in Toronto?

gmathis

Looks like the farthest north they go is Long Island, NY or the Chicago area. Bit of a commuute for you! (There is an “open a location” button on their website!)

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Bio

Steepster “geezer;” tea barbarian who has no systematic method for storage, preparation, classification, or rating; lover of strong unleaded builders’ tea. Never quite grew up—I cut and glue, play with Legos, design kids’ curriculum, and play with fifth graders every Sunday.

Location

Southwest Missouri

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