Indigobloom

so after my vacation filled with deeeelicious but terrible (for my health!) food, I’ve been in need of some restorative teas the last few days!!! and this, well for the purposes of fixing my tummy woes, well it really did the trick.
The first time I tried it, I was evaluating for usefulness as a sleepy time tea. and now, well I think it’s more of a soother for the ill!!
The lovely girl in the shop recommended it, and we got into a conversation about the teas many uses… which then sold me on buying a cuppa and I am really glad I did.
Anyhow, my rating here is based on how effective it was in fixing me. and that when I needed it, it tasted like gold. Somehow, when I’m fiddle fit, it tastes ok but I guess that’s just cause the magic hasn’t been activated by need ;)

Wow a vanilla tea that I kinda like!! wheeee! but it does make me feel a little queasy. Not much, which is great! it’s very deep.
I didn’t want to push it so only went through two steeps. The second one was sweeter but otherwise more or less the same.
Thank you so much for the tea experience Amy Oh!! <3

So after trying the Darjeeling from Florida, I need to tone down the rating here :(
This one isn’t fruity or as complex. Also, while it’s satisfying, I’m getting none of the pepper today!! booooo.
Anyhow, this is still a great tea. My rating is still pretty high! It’s just that my perspective has shifted somewhat :)

Big thank you to Jenn for sending me this sample!! I have so many from you, it’s taking me awhile to get through them all :)

Now the tea. When I first opened the package, I was hit with an aroma that set off my internal “allergy” alarm. In a lemonade?! Hmmm. but it wasn’t too pungent so I continued.
I brewed up the tea hot, and steeped it for 90 seconds. My thermometer said 85 degrees but that was only a few seconds after I poured it from boiling. I think it needs to be entirely immersed in the water, which is impossible using my tea pot for one. I could stick it into the kettle I suppose but then that means peerind into the cavernous metal tin spewing hot steam at me, or filling it all the way to the top and wasting all that extra water or reboiling it! Hmph.
Anyhow, sorry I got off track!!
The tea itself was ok. I was able to get through two steeps with no trouble!! however that “vanilla” taste or whatever it was that made me hesistate (I’m afraid I have no idea what vannilla’s supposed to taste like in tea, seeing as all I get is flowery sweet flavour) seems to have conditioned me to have a negative association. Needless to say, I didn’t get any of the strawberry. Well, maybe a tad in the background somewhere but not enough say that’s it, right there! if you know what I mean.
For my third steep, I’ve decided to try it cold. It’s in the fridge now. Hopefully that will spruce it up for me! :)

EDIT: So iced, it’s more or less the same. I wish I could appreciate it the same way I see others doing! oh well.

I don’t feel qualified to review this tea. It smells SO good but somehow, it tastes just like every other fruity green tea I’ve sampled, albeit very smooth. The fruit does blend well together as well so I can tell it’s a well executed blend… I just don’t know how to describe it properly, other than the few notes I’ve given!
Well, there is that astringent sour note I keep getting in other teas.
I’ll leave it unrated, for now. Maybe I’ll try it iced, as recommended in the other review here.

EDIT: First time ever folks!! I like a tea better cold than hot!!! the flavour profile completely changes that way. It’s much sweeter and brighter. A tad bitter but I kinda like it. Yay!! I have a tea to cold brew and love now xx
(also, I’ve now rated it… based on the cold tea)

Backlog #8 – my last for today. I drank more tea than I thought!
Yay, a hibiscus tea that isn’t overtaken by sour notes! :)
Except instead, it’s all about the cinnamon. No plum… just spice. I’m still undecided. Well, it does seem to be a mood tea. and I do appreciate a spot of cinnamon now and again. and it’s loads better than the Kampai :)
Bah, Toronto water will save it. yes it will!!

Backlog #7
Hmmm. HMMMMM. I need to try this again. It brewed up kindof medicinal like… almost as if there was ginger in there. I think it must be my association with Lemon. I didn’t get much fruit. Definitely not my fave rooibos, kindof standard and similar to others I already have. maybe I can marry it with one of my mates or other forgotten samples in my cupboard.
It was a bit biting as well. Harsher than I prefer.

Backlog # 6
I can’t remember much about this tea, I have the notes written down somewhere. I’ll update it when I have the chance… but overall it was a little too fruity for my liking. Reminds me more of a Formosa, or Long Life Oolong from DT, than a TGY really. Decent enough but it’s so standard!
I would never buy any for the house since I have much more affordable alternatives available to me at home. For that reason, it gets a lower score… maybe five points off?

Backlog#5
Yikes, some dodgy reviews here!! I didn’t think it was so bad, maybe my buds were off again??
or perhaps they did give me the second steeping after all. I was chatting with the girl who served me and she agreed that a second steeping is always better… (well, except in Indian black teas I find)
I found the white part to be pretty standard, good quality… and the pear was quite nice. Juicy without taking over the cup.
Is it possible I had a different “White pear” tea?? I asked for the least flavoured non straight white tea they had, and this was the recommendation. They did a pretty good job of hitting what I asked for. Hmmm.
Oh and $5 for the cup! Seriously? I didn’t see any prices listed but never thought anything of it, until the shop girl gave me the total. not cool :/

Backlog #4
Wow, $40 for a tin of this tea?! sheesh.
It was on clearance, for 75% off so I indulged… and I was not disappointed. Much.
I guess I expected it to blow my socks off, maybe even my toenail polish- for that price anyhow! but it was just your regular high quality tasty Asian black tea. Hey I can’t help it if they set the bar sky-high with the price tag! I mean, if I’d spent FORTY buckaroos on this brew, well you can bet I’d be plotting ways to get my monies back.
Either way, it was still pretty decent. Chocolatey, rich, lovely. I made it through for steepings and they were all yummy. The last one was a touch scratchy, which I expected.
I need to give it proper attention next time… maybe suss out some more deets!
Oh did I mention the beautiful rosette it comes in? Definitely a selling feature. However it does make the tin less full than I had anticipated. Not a problem for me, since I will never finish it all before the tin goes stale… knowing me!

Backlog #3
Ok so I got a teensy bit outta control with the tea buying. but it was my first time at Teavana and I had to see what all the fuss was about! Folks here(at Steepster) love to hate and hate to love this place.
I’ll admit, the prices were excessive (I bought this one because it was one of the two cheapest options they sell), but the staff were friendly, and not too pushy like I had expected! just a tad excited about tea, which I totally get ;)
As for the tea, well this is really nice. Moreso than I expected. Kindof chocolatey and nutty. I need to try it here in Toronto but I seem to have left this one in Florida, eek!
Well, it looks like I’ll be a slave to this establishment whenever I’m in town, as much as it pains the wallet…
gah, I so badly wanted to despise Teavana :P

Backlog!! #9- because I don’t feel like renaming all of them and I missed this one :P
Oh sweet heavenly Darjeeling!! So delicate, so deep, so sweet… so perfect!
This is indeed a bit fruity, but I almost mistook that for a honey flavour. My palate isn’t strong enough to determine anything more distinct, but if I had to guess I would say it’s in the melon or cantaloupe range. This comes out more in the later steepings. The first one was less sugary, and more roundish, kindof like an oolong if that makes any sense?
Also, I must remember to let this cool before tasting. When piping hot, the first two steeps were VERY floral- overwhelmingly so.
I think I’ll reserve this one for reading books. It’s perfect for curling up on the couch and getting lost in a tea/plot-line.
NB: the last time I tried teas with Florida water, they brewed up somewhat differently at home. I’m curious to see what happens with my next cup now that I am back!

Backlog… #1 of many :)
I never should have purchased this tea. It smelled a bit musty, which is usually my first hint that it won’t agree with me.
For some reason, I get caramel… a whole lot of vanilla (not my thing) and a sugary sort of pear note way off in the background.
Right off the bat I knew it would be too strong for me, so I gave my Aunt the first steep and took the second one for myself. It was ok that way, better than the sip I had of the first steep anyhow!
There isn’t much else to say about it, for me. I will do my best to find this one a good home. Don’t let my standoff with vanilla keep you away! any takers?

Again with the sourness. I guess my theory was wrong shrugs
This was ok. A little too vegetal for me. I had a busy day at work and ended up forgetting about the second steep of this…
The teaopia version is much toastier, and less nausea causing. Meh. I’m biased, being a lover of toastedness so I’ll not rate this one now!

Well I am off to Florida for two weeks. See y’all in 2012!! and Merry Christmas everyone!!! (Or Hannukah/Kwanzaa/whatever you celebrate!!)

Darnit!! so I got that “hibiscus” taste in this tea! even with milk!! and besides that, it was just boring. Better than the Tims tea I had the other day, and definitely better than Red Rose of course. Atleast there was that!
So I guess my buds aren’t up to par yet… that is what I am guessing. Black tea seems to be the only one that is really affected though. It’s a shame because I really do (normally) love black tea!
Patience m’dear! she says to herself over and over… be thankful they’re atleast partway back!
Besides, I have a specialist app scheduled in January to figure out the issue. Maybe then I will finally get some answers!
Or maybe it was just that this sample was from ages ago, dug out of the cupboard on a whim that really shoulda been brushed aside! bah. Old tea, why did I not drink you sooner?! I still have one serving left!
Well, now I know to avoid the non Asian black teas now! lesson learned :)

Heaven!!! pure, blissful, intoxicating heaven.
The first cup anyhow. Funny, I made it through 5 steeps and the first one was my fave! I guess that is commom with Asian black tea, for me. (Oolongs are a different beast altogether)
Anyhow, it tasted just like dark chocolate. I really felt as if I’d eaten a piece of rich, 90% chocolate. SO good. I could also taste the honey/buckwheat.
The second steep was really nice as well. Less chocolatey… or maybe like milk chocolate? (without the milk, that is!). The sweetness really came out here.
The third steep was more of the same. but the fourth! well, this is where the raisin note that I detected a hint of before, really shone through. and a sortof fresh water note in the finish. Almost sour.
This was hours ago, so now of course I am wondering if that was the hibiscus? Either way, it was an epic experience.
There are enough leaves to make a few more cups but once those are gone I think I will leave it be. One of those things that are just so great that the memory needs to be left intact, unspoiled even. *sighs
Maybe I will save those for my gaiwan, when I finally get one…
Big thank you to Amy Oh for the sample!! you made my dreadfully boring day a whole lot less boring! :)

Ok so I tried this again today… I needed something quick and easy so I went for it. (normally I don’t double down like that!)
Anyhow, I learned from yesterday’s experience and made the first steep super short, maybe a minute… and dumped it! and was rewarded with a rich, smooth and toasty oolong that took me to the moon and back!! It almost reminds me of barley tea it is so intense. Coffee like even. Mmmm.
Raising the rating a few notches. (I’m shaking my head at myself here, falling in love with a bagged, and chopped! tea!)

Well this is the closest I’ve come, a bagged tea! to my precious roasty toasty oolong! not bad, for a bagged tea… and cheap to!
The quality of leaf is not identifiable, being so finely chopped. I’m going by taste alone here :)
The first steep, I wasn’t all that impressed. It was rough, and had characteristics of an oolong… but I like refined teas and this was definitely not that!
The second steep however, was so incredibly smooth and impressive to me that I swung for a third. It was lighter, but still very yummy!
This is my first bag of the stuff, but I suspect it may become a favourite :D
(this gets a high rating because I :heart: this flavour so very much… but I can tell that it would be a smidge better if loose. Does this company sell loose tea I wonder? Hmmm!
More deets later, I need to try this again with a much shorter first steep!

I just tried this at 88 and it came out sortof oolongish! wow!! only a little pepper, compared to the pepper blast when made with hotter water- which is nice. I’m not sure which way I like it better… I’m torn! ha. Curse of a Pisces :P

Lovely! this is a lovely tea. but for some reason I’m not all over it. Why?!?
It has all the criteria for me to go gaga but I’m just not? Maybe I wasn’t in the right mood. Hmmm.
I love coconut, I looooove it! and sometimes it bothers me in a tea, especially when there are whole pieces. (I am fine with the oil, I think)
It didn’t set anything off for me though, thankfully, which I was worried about.
The black base is light, almost airy, and it mixes really well with the coconut. I didn’t add anything at all and it was very sweet on it’s own.
For my second steep, I added some milk. A little too much I think. My arm was nudged by a coworker passing by and I tipped in more than intended. Oh well. It was very tasty both with and without the “lait”.
You know what… it reminds me of my Coconut Oolong that I heart so very much, only it has less depth. The second steep was also rather weak, I kept that bag in until the cup was gone.
In another way, it reminds me of Love tea #7 (I think that’s what it’s called? I can’t remember now). It’s one of my faves…
So of course, if I had to choose between the two, I’d def go with the love tea. Yes that must be why I’m having trouble identifying! between those two other teas, this one just falls short.
That said, if you like coconuts and hate oolongs, this will be the tea for you :)

Thank you Jerry for sending me this amazing sample!
I could so get used to pu-erhs like this!! in fact, once I’ve finished the samples I would definitely consider buying some more. That will take a long long time mind you… since I have to finish all of what I have first!
The only thing that gives me pause so far… is that the steeped leaves smell like wet dog!! blegh. I don’t wanna know what wet dog tastes like…
Moving on! The first steep was very plain. Mellow, but very smooth and comforting. Not bold at all like the last pu-erh I reviewed. It had a natural cakey sweetness to it that lingers for a long time in the aftertaste. The cakeyness seems to be sort of clay-like, in a sort of distant mellow way. I feel as if I’ve just eaten a delicious angel food cake!
Oh and as it cools, there is a hint of astringency coming out. Odd, I think, for a pu-erh.
(I gave it a little rinse first btw! I only do this for fancy pu-erhs hehe)

The second steep is more of the same only a tad more cakey and as it cools a hint of fish. Definitely less cakey or sweet notes here. One of the other reviews mention spinach and I can see where they are getting that from in the finish though I never would have pinned it as such.
Oh wow, I let the cup cool even more and a different sweet note has emerged! or rather the same note, only right before the finish. and in the finish there is a bitter point that I’ve never experienced in a tea!!! it’s so mild that I am actually enjoying the bitter aspect. The bitter part of the aftertaste reminds me of brussel sprouts (only it tastes even more spinachy now, so picture a spinach sprout!). Oh and no more fishiness either, once it’s lukewarm.
I’ve done two or three more steeps after this (I always lose count!) and they’ve been pretty much the same as the first. I’m starting to get a bit of that raisiny flavour from the other pu-erh I reviewed last week, which isn’t really my thing!
Ah well. There are so many things to love about this one! It was never harsh, always smooth, and rather complex! Mmmm. I likey this one, alot!!!

JENN! thank you for sharing this delicious treat be with me! I love it!
Not something I would have often, but boy is it tasty. Just like the other reviews say, banana runts!! It has a distinct banana essence, and a certain tartness to it that brings me back to childhood.
I did have to add some agave though, to bring out the sweet-tart flavour.
No matter, I am super impressed!!!
The rooibos seems to really play up the flavours here. Frank is a genius!
and for the record, the only reason I don’t feel right giving this a higher rating is that I would want this tea on special occasions or when I have kids in the house. Otherwise, it’s perfect!

So. Here I am trying this one again, and I’m getting very much the same as before.
It smells like raisin, and maybe clay… which is pretty accurate to the taste.
(NB: I did “wash” the leaves with a rinse)
My first steep was very raisin like, with a round, sweet base. The sweetness reminds me of what I think honeysuckle should taste like. As it cooled, a hint of clay emerged.
My second steep: less raisin, a touch more clay but only by a hair. The profile is even rounder still. It was sweet, but there was a hint of abrasiveness at the bottom of the cup… like coarse honey on the throat.
Third steep: Wow, this is very sweet! Cloyingly so. It’s very upfront, and constant through the sip. I’m still tasting raisin, behind the sweetness. The raisin and sugary taste seem related somehow… I find it hard to separate them but I know they are more side by side than one and the same. Clay is in there somewhere but wayyyy behind the raisin.
Fourth steep: Still very sweet, hitting the back of the throat now, where the abrasiveness was… and it’s rounder still!! but lighter. I’m having trouble placing the clay-ness here.
Fifth steep: Less sugary this time but it sticks around in the aftertaste. Not so much at the beginning of the sip where I get more clay. The sweetness now reminds me of stevia, only more natural tasting. (I still haven’t gotten used to the stuff)
There is also a clay like dryness. It just showed up in this steep, so suddenly! I had to down a glass of water after this cup so that the pasties in my mouth would go away.
I could have gone for another few steeps but I didn’t like the direction it was going. Still, I’m delighted at having made it this far! I’m bumping the rating a bit.
Thanks again Jerry Ma!!

WOW. WOW. WOWWWW!
I am so happy to have stumbled upon this tea. See we had some samples floating around at work but after reading the ingredients, I saw that it contained the eeeeevil Jasmine… and thus avoided it. Until today.
I was at work, and had no time to even fill my little filter with loose tea… and thus grabbed the first bag I set my eyes on (meanwhile forgetting that it was poisoned).
Anyhow, I guess it doesn’t have enough in it to get me down, because this was sooooo good! Man, I want more!!!
It was sweet and slightly malty, and very round. I tasted something like vanilla but not in the cloying way I normally find it. I only made it to two steeps though. It started to get scratchy towards the end. Then again, I usually don’t go for more than two with a black tea anyhow…
Well, I’ll be looking to buy some of this!
Oh and no sugar or milk either. I need to try it ala dairy :)