Ian

Backlog from Sunday

I had this the other day at a restaurant after my first VYO concert of the year!! It was pretty exciting and we sounded really good, and I can’t wait for the rest of the season (VYO stands for the Vermont Youth Orchestra, for those who are knew/have forgotten. It’s the top youth orchestra in the state and one of the best in New England). My parents all got food but I had had a burrito a little while earlier and I was literally stuffed so I figured it would be best for me not to get any food (but I really wanted to! It was this really good burger joint called Sky Burger and they have this burger called the jalapeno popper which has pickled jalapenos, cream cheese, jalapeno pepper jelly, and slaw and then has a jalapeno popper on top! Yum!!!!) so I settled on some tea instead. They brought out a little box of Tazo teas (which, I must admit, I actually like a lot) and I settled on this one.

In all honesty, I really liked this. I left the tea bag in the entire time so the flavors got a little too strong towards the end, but I really do like it for a nice alternative. I don’t know about it’s calming effects because I had the earl grey right after, but I do actually enjoy the taste of this.

I’M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

Did you guys miss me? I missed you!!! I’m super sorry that I’ve had such a long absence but I’ve come back to everyone still being here and to a lovely message from Bonnie, thank you for that!

This summer was pretty hot therefore tea free and I went out to explore more interests that I’ve had, and that is what usually happens-summers are tea free because of laziness and then when things actually start and I don’t have time to make a bunch of different teas I want to start again! Anyways, this is (in all honesty) the first tea I’ve had since probably June-ish.

This is still as tasty as I remember! It’s a very full (please don’t laugh at my tea-describing vocabulary, I haven’t done this in a while and I’m afraid I lost a little bit of my touch!) tea and it’s really really nice and comforting.

I’m sorry that my return is somewhat short as I have some other things I need to get to tonight so I’m afraid I’m going to have to leave it at that but I will be back ASAP and I hope that you are all doing well and didn’t miss me too much :P

No notes yet.

Sipdown!

I made a huge gallon pitcher of this one iced the other day. I knew that I didn’t have enough tea left for just the right amount so I dumped the rest of what I had left and kept it in the fridge for well over 24 hours to get the most out of it.

OH MY GOODNESS! The rating on this one is going waaaaaaay up! This is one of the most interesting iced teas I’ve ever had! I’ve iced this one before by pouring it over iced but cold steeped this one really shines! The sage and lavender really came out this time! That paired with the fruit is just sooooo delicious, I can’t even handle it! It’s such an interesting herb-y than fruity flavor combination! I’m ramblin so I’ll stop but omg this one is soooo good cold steeped!

Backlog. Thank you to TheDJBooth for sending me this one!

This had been in my “Try” basket for a while and I finally got around to making it the other day. This one was iced by pouring over ice. Is “Dragon Eye fruit” supposed to be dragonfruit…..? I can’t tell….. Anyways, I love dragonfruit. It’s unique and I think pretty tasty! This tea however…… Not so much.

Not that it’s bad because it’s definitely not horrible but, like others have said, it’s very perfumy. Like a fruit and flower perfume. Not so much my thing, but I’m glad I got to try it! Thanks again TheDJBooth!

This one was sent to me by brandy! Thanks so much!

Hmm…… it’s odd how there’s no info OR reviews for this one…………

Anyways, this is a backlog. One reason I hate doing backlogs is because even if I don’t forget how it tasted, I literally ALWAYS forget my brewing parameters… Sorry folks!

Anyways, I iced this one (double strength then over ice) to compare it to Adagio’s raspberry black tea. And oh my goodness. This one is so much better! No sugar needed to be added to this one! It tastes like a real, juicy and perfectly sweet-and-tart raspberry! None of that fake fruit crap! And I could taste the black base, it’s pretty nice. My guess would go to Ceylon but I’m not 100% positive on that… goes to check hmmm there doesn’t seem to be any info on the website so I guess I guess I’ll stick to my Ceylon assumption.

This one was super yummy! Thanks again brandy!

A backlog from my lovely Memorial Day dinner! It’s the same mix as last time (Sencha Jade Reserve from Teavana, Fresh Green Mate from Mate Factor, and Fusion Tea Room’s Orange Grapefruit). I used 1.5-1.5-1 in terms of measurement (respectively) and then I poured it over ice.

Yumm! So tart and then there’s the grassy flavor of the sencha that provides a nice contrast. Yummy!

In other news, this three day weekend was quite rough. Saturday was very busy in a not-so-pleasant way (between marching in a parade in a full suit in 90 degree weather to then rushing to an improv show to then going home and doing chores in the hot weather) and then on Sunday, we had to put my poor kitty down :( Well, not really a kitty, as she was older than me, but still! I’ve come to terms with it now, but it is a weird adjustment because I’ve literally had her my whole life and it’s weird that she just isn’t here anymore. However, it was her time and she was in pain so I’m glad we were able to put her down and send her to a better place without any misery on her part!

For those looking for a visual, here’s one from quite a few years ago, though she doesn’t/didn’t look any different (she was quite……. large to say the least :P): http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/215913_1021623156092_1690618482_40422_2489514_n.jpg. This was the only image I could find :( It’s not very good but that black one is our other cat who is now larger but still a kitty

Backlog.

See previous notes. This one is a nice morning chai, I really like it! Spicy and a nice fruity background note

Backlog 10/10

Okay I realllly have to go now but this one is super yummy and I’m bumping the rating up a few points! Probably my favorite from Teavana (that I’ve tried so far). See previous notes for more info!

Backlog 9/10

See previous notes!

Backlog 8/10

This is another from Michelle! Thanks!

This one is super quick but it’s really gross and chemically and I dumped it after two sips. Ewie.

On a side note it’s way easier to make quick tasting notes for teas you absolutely hated!

Backlog 7/10

ALMOST THERE! I have homework and such so I’m trying to hurry these up! This is another tea from my swap with darby, thank you very much!

This is another I made iced, and another that was just okay. Nothing remarkable. I would like to try it again so I can see if I can perfect it. I think the ice kind of watered it down so I’m gonna try again, maybe cold steeping.

Backlog 6/10

I got this one in my swap with darby, thank you! Last weekend I went on a craaazy spree realizing that I could ice any tea I had…. I know that seems stupid but I just don’t know why I never made that connection.

So, I made some of this up double strength and then poured it over ice. This one is…. Okay. I found that I mostly tasted black tea so I added some sugar and it tasted the same so I added a little more and then all I could taste was fake raspberry :( Sigh. I have another raspberry black from brandy and I’m gonna try that one soon to see how it compares.

ADAGIO RASPBERRY I EXPECTED MORE FROM YOU!!!!

Backlog 5/10

All previous notes still apply to this one! I love this so much, it’s really creamy and sweet and yummy! I’ve noticed that it smells a LOT like cake batter and I love that smell (and that taste, shhh don’t tell anyone I eat raw cake!) so that adds even further to my delight! Yummy!

Backlog 4/10

Alright well, this one isn’t TECHNICALLY a backlog because I cold steeped a huuuuge gallon pitcher and I still have a little left, but I made it a few days ago so that’s why I’m including it. As I just said, I made a gallon and in the process used up almost all of my 2 oz, so that’s a little upsetting. I’m glad I did it iced though, because no way jose would I drink this one hot.

The verdict: this one is soooo yummy! Definitely one of my favorites from Teavana! I didn’t leave the leaves in for long enough (about 16 hours, it should have been more like 18-20 or even a full day but whatever), so it’s a little weak, but not enough to make it bad. This is so yummy anyways! It’s lovely and fruity, not quite true blackberry but definitely berry esque, and has a nice refreshing mint tone that stays in your mouth. Yum yum yum yum yum! I’m actually considering buying this one online to make more because it’s so yummy!

Thank you Bonnie for recommending this one, I would have otherwise overlooked it and I’m glad I bought some!

Backlog 3/10

This is another I believe was sent by Michelle, thank you so much! I tried this one about two weeks ago when I was really sick and wanted to clear my icky-ness. I haven’t had any of Tea Forte’s single infusion pack things but they’re made for 12 oz’s which is the size I have so it was perfect measuring and steeping parameters!

Unfortunately, I had to dump this one. Tooooooo much ginger. Like, way too much and way too spicy and I couldn’t taste anything at all. I had a scratch in my throat and this elevated it 10 times over and it was not pleasant. Ew. I’m not a huge fan of ginger anyways, but I like it in small amounts but this was way to much. I know I shouldn’t judge Tea Forte based on this, but I’m sorry this was atrocious.

Backlog 2/10

This one was sent to me in the big box from LiberTEAS I got a while ago and I haven’t gotten around to trying it until recently. I had this one right before I went into my HUGE Vermont Youth Orchestra audition (I auditioned to get into the top group which I REALLLLY want because I’m not challenged enough anywhere else, I bombed the audition but they know me from previous years plus I have good credentials, so fingers crossed!) to help calm me down. I can’t really say if it worked or not because I was still nervous, but I don’t actually really know the effects of tulsi that well because I haven’t had too much of it.

When I went to put this one in a mug, the bag was stuck to the wrapper, so I had to tug to get it out and in the process, the bag ripped open so I was forced to put a whole bunch of little leaves in my strainer travel mug (which almost all coincidentally escaped, but it was okay because it’s an herbal) and brew it that way. So I guess this is half bagged/half loose leaf tea :P I don’t remember a whole lot about this because I didn’t write anything down but it was pretty good, though the floaties made it REALLLY strong. It had a definite spice note to it with a little bit of a lemony hint floating around. All in all pretty good but I would like to try it in a smaller mug without a lot of floaties! :P

Backlog 1/10 (including this countdown so you are all prepared for how much you will want to tear your hair out).

This one was sent to me by Michelle (I’m pretty sure…. If it’s not then I am sorry for forgetting you!). I had a couple of bagged teas over my hiatus because I didn’t have the energy to brew loose leaf. Stash is just an okay company IMO, and this was just an okay tea. It wasn’t very starfruity (for those unaware, a starfruit tastes kind of like an apple but a little sweeter with a unique tartness to it….. it’s hard to describe) and I mostly got really faint citrus-chamomile flavors, which is alright because I happen to like that pairing. This isn’t something I would ever buy but thank you Michelle for letting me try it!

I’M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

Sorry for my 148972238497 year long hiatus, I’ve been busy and tired lately but I am back and needless to say I have quite a few backlogs to do. I don’t know about you guys but I’m going through a phase where I just don’t drink as much tea….. I’m sure you all read that and are now going to unfolllow me because this is of course a tea website, but I find that I often go through phases where tea takes more of a backseat. I frankly hate it, but I hope to get out of this “slump” soon and start enjoying myself again!

Anywho, this one was a sample K-Cup I got from my grandma who doesn’t use her machine for anything other than flavored desert coffees. I’m assuming this one came in the initial starter sampler box thingy ma bob they give you when you buy your Keurig. I need something fast and so I popped this in and brewed it up. I hate brewing tea in a K-Cup because you can’t steep it physically, the water just pours through the leaves like coffee. Regardless, this didn’t taste very weak to me, so something happened right!

The verdict: I definitely don’t hate it, but it isn’t strong and spicy chai like I usually enjoy. I wouldn’t buy a whole box of it because I wouldn’t want tea that I can’t control, but if offered I wouldn’t turn down a cup. This is just a mediocre tea but hey, that’s part of the tea world!

THIS IS A MONUMENTAL POST! DO YOU HEAR ME?! MONUMENTAL!!!!

This is a landmark for many reasons:
1.) THIS IS MY 100th tasting note! I can’t believe I’ve made so many!
2.) I have exactly 70 followers now! Thank you to everyone that puts up with my incoherent ramblin’s!
3.) This is my first 100 on a tea! Ironically on my 100th tasting note! Whuddathunkit?

So, thank you to everyone that’s stuck with me this whole time, I’ve already grown exponentially in my tea experience and I look forward to growing even more! Sorry that I haven’t been on for a few days, I’ve had a lot to do this week AND I wanted to make this note special because, it is afterall a landmark post. Also, I am sad to say that I most likely won’t be on for the rest of the week/weekend because I have the Vermont AllState Music Festival tomorrow through Saturday and then we are having a family dinner for Mother’s Day because my family from out of town are here visiting! Super exciting! You best believe that I will be drinking tea though!

So, onto this tea! Thank you very kindly to Angel and the rest of the Teavivre team, this tea is without a doubt one of the best blacks I’ve ever tried. I know that this will be a repeat of what I have said in the past and what other’s have said, but I love it so much. Last time I reviewed this I was going through a “moody I’m questioning what I like and how I like it” phase, but now I’m back and I can say fully that I love this one to death.

It has all the perfect characteristics that a Fujian should-it’s got a very nice, fresh baked bread taste (rye perhaps?). Alongside that is an extremely dark dark chocolate note that adds…… Not necessarily sweetness but rather a nice accent to the bread. Like a Pain au Chocolat, but a little bit of a grainier bread and a really dark chocolate.

In the second steep (unfortunately all I got to with this session today, although I know for a fact that it could have been steeped AT LEAST one or two more times) a realllllly yummy caramel taste came out. The grain started to back off a little in this one, though it was still definitely there. There was absolutely no astringency in either of these steeps!

This one is definitely going on the repurchase list! Thanks again to Angel and Teavivire for this sample as well as to all of my lovely followers for supporting me and reading my rambli-I mean reviews! Happy Drinking!

Thank you brandy3392 for sending me this generous sample!

Another EXCELLENT tea! The smell of this is intoxicating! It smells like creamy almond goodness, oh my god I can’t even handle it! I got so scared that I oversteeped this one, but in reality it only really went for an extra minute or so. It was still excellent!

This was so sweet with just the flavoring! I added no sweetening and still got WONDERFUL flavor! Gahhhh I love this one so much. It’s sweet and creamy and almondy and sweet and sososososososoososososososososososososososososososo good! I’m getting annoying, I can tell, so I’ll stop.

Just.

Soooo good.

NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM!

Thank you Angel and the Teavivre team for sending me this! It’s hard to believe that I haven’t even reviewed all of the teas they sent me….. I’m working on it!

So, I’m pretty sure that black teas are my favorite. Actually, scratch that, I am sure. I like how reliable they are and how hard they are (most of the time) to mess up. I just generally really like them (I’m going to make an order from Upton hopefully very soon to try some of their millions of blacks, I’m so excited!). This one is no exception.

The folks at Teavivre know their stuff. And they know it well. This one is super yummy. Not quite as good as the Bailin Gongfu, but still very yummy. Others have described this one perfectly, so I’m just going to basically back them up. This one has a very definite yam flavor base-slightly potato-y (in a not yucky way) but with that yam sweetness. Very good. As it cools more, the yam starts to turn more into a yam-mixed-with-a-regular-potato flavor. The potato note comes out more and the sweetness backs off. There’s also a bright, almost citrus, note in the front. Absolutely delicious. I also get kind of a honey sweetness stirring around, playing with your tastes. Also, a little bit of a malty hint, but just a nudge. Not a full-forced push. This one is so good. I love it!

Thank you again Teavivre and I can’t wait to finish this sample off!

Backlog!

This is one of the teabag selections from the selection that I ordered from LiberTEAS. I get kinda lazy at night, and so I go for a bagged tea sometimes. As I said, I’ve been on a spicy/chai kick and so I decided to finally try this one. It’s just okay. I would like to try again with the other teabag I got. This wasn’t nearly as strong or spicy as I’d like. It was okay, but it didn’t really scream chai to me.

Backlog!

Thanks Darby for sending me a very generous amount of this and others! Much appreciated! :)

I really like this one! I’ve been on a spicy tea/chai kick the past couple of days, especially at night, and I have no idea why because I’m not generally the biggest fan of chais or spicy teas, but I have been having cravings for them. This one is super yummy! It smells and tastes like mulled apple cider with the added benefit of tea! I don’t think I would repurchase it, but it is good!