Indigobloom

Holeeee matcha! wheatgrass matcha that is. Very tart and fresh tasting, and in an odd way, I really understand what that comment below means about marshy flavours, in a springy fresh way.
I had a sample of this at the Toronto Tea Festival, and I think they made it a bit strong for my liking. Hmmm.
Anyhow, the festival was the highlight of my year. The pinnacle of my tea journey so far!
We were expecting maybe 800 people at most, but instead got blown out of the water with atleast 1200+
I am so impressed that Tao managed to pull together such a massive project, all in the first year. Next year, a bigger venue, more vendors, a broader range of speakers and samplings… wow! it is going to be big. I’m getting giddy thinking about it already :D

Backlog!! I swear I wrote a note for this, but it was during the Steepster blackouts so it must have been eaten. Oh well.
Anyhow, hullo grapefruit! Yep, it’s all there. That tangy citrus note, the bitter aftertaste, and that delicious rindy aroma! The citrus plays well on the green tea, picking up on the sweet dragonwell mid note. A tad bit harsh on the tongue.
This was yummy. Not something I’d crave often though. Mucho thanks to Sil for sharing!

Tea find!!!
So I bought this nearly two years ago and somehow, it disappeared into the shallow depths of my cupboard. Since then, I’ve rearranged things, taken everything completely out and sorted… and it was never found, til today. How on earth does that work? I think it was in that place where socks go, from the laundry. Sighs.
So of course I had to make a cup! and it’s not bad. Alot of the flavour is gone but that was to be expected, I think.
If anyone wants some of this, let me know. I have about 30g and there is no way I can drink it all before going super stale!
Leaving the rating as is because well, I’m just so durn happy to find it again. It’s always bothered me, that I lost this packet!

Thanks Sil for this sample!!
The chocolate in here is indeed artificial tasting but somehow, in this cup, I don’t mind. It’s pleasant.
And… for some reason I am getting fruitiness in the cup when sans milk or sugar. Now that it’s cooled I get mostly chocolate.
Bah! When I portioned it out, I accidentally underleafed my cup so that could be why. Whatevs, it was tasty and I’m happy :)

Liquid maple!! you were so right Sil! Thanks for the sample :)
I do love me some maple syrup and this hits the spot.
Definitely a love or hate it tea, and I love it! although one cup is more than enough, as I am starting to get that thick mouth coated feeling as if I downed a shot glass of maple. Ha!

Thanks to Sil for my sample!
I don’t really care for the mint in here, I prefer a deeper, rounder mint… so this tastes a bit herbal like for me. As if I should have this when feeling unwell.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s refreshing and tasty! but I am definitely getting a toothpaste association, which I have never before experienced. I’ve read about other people thinking that minty teas taste like toothpaste, and now I finally get it lol
Or maybe it’s pine needles that this reminds me of?
As for any chocolate in here, it’s more of a vague background note and comes out more as the cup cools in the end of my sips. I was definitely hoping for a stronger cocoa.
And a rating? I’m quite enjoying this cup, but I can’t see myself craving it often. So… where does that leave me? I feel pulled in two directions here!

Thank you so much for the sample Raritea!!
This is an interesting tea. I can certainly taste the apple, and cinnamon, but it reminds me a little too much of Forever Nuts, which I was not all that fond of. It must be my association with FN, but I swear I taste beets in here to! I am slowly going crazy…

Nooooo!! Steepster ate my note. Grrr!!!

OK now that I am done venting…
This tea is different, I’ll give it that! and definitely reminiscent of what I recall gooseberries tasting like. A little like marmalade, or maybe green grape jelly. I’m also getting a slight bubblegum note.
Overall, I’m unsure if I like it. I certainly don’t hate it though!
Methinks I just need to find the sweet spot.
Kittennas point about this being perfumey is spot on, though less so as the cup cooled. Perhaps I should make some iced when the weather warms up. just for a change!

I need to play around with the settings here. It was fruity, jammish and vaguely reminiscent of what I recall gooseberries tasting like… a little tart and slightly sweet, almost like a green grape, but also a little bubble-gummy to.
I’m certainly not in love with it… nor do I hate it… Methinks I just need to find the sweet spot :)
Might go really well iced.

Apples! cake! Oh my!
Yes this is quite delicious. And bakey. Just like coffee cake. No milk required! maybe a tiny bit of sugar. S&V seems to be really good at creating black tea blends that work well solo. Fingers crossed that it travels well.
Bah, either way I am impressed.
aaaand also a little overwhelmed. I picked up so much tea this weekend, that I have no idea how I’ll ever get through any of it. Upping my intake and a serious purge is in order.

Root beer indeed! add a little carbonated water and it just might become my fave summer tea. Thanks so much for the sample Kittenna!
It smells strongly of root beer. Positively intoxicating. I could sit here and sniff it all day!
The aroma is a fair bit stronger than the taste. The base is well balanced, coming out more in the first part of the sip while root beer dominates the tail end as well as aftertaste.
Will definitely consider this as a purchase in future S&V orders

Oh wow this is amazing.
The first time I tried it, my sample from Charoma didn’t travel well at all. Thank you so much for the sample Charoma, I really appreciate you sending me some!
But then I tried some more the other day from Sil’s stash, and oh my what a difference! yes, oh yes it was quite good. Very mild without any sugar, but just a sprinkle really makes a big difference.
I love how the marshmallow is more of a natural extension of the toasted rice than it is just added flavouring.
The vanilla like notes I see in other descriptions worried me at first but I don’t seem to have any issues with it, thankfully. (my allergies seem to have abated somewhat now that I know to stay away from the EG. Yay!)
Yup, this is definitely on my shopping list. Big thanks to Sil for letting me sneak a cup from your stash!

Sample sipdown!!
I accidentally oversteeped by about 25 seconds so my cup was a tad harsh. Still very tasty, though I wouldn’t order more, I’d rather try the rest of what 52Teas has to offer! Thanks again Azzrian :)

Backlog from last night.
I love Egyptian chamomile. It’s so honey-sweet and soft. Makes me want to drink it all day long!! But… since I use it to help me sleep and I really do NOT want to become immune to that effect, I save it for those insomniatic nights (did I just invent a conjugation? heh!)
I wonder though, are all Egyptian chamys this tasty? or is it the organic aspect that brings this to such a stellar place…
Well, until I try another (organic) EC, I probably shouldn’t rate this one. I’ll hold off for now! as it stands, I’d probably leave it somewhere in the high 80s or low 90s

Bananas are bullies. Yep. I’ve added this to my smoothies before, but today was the first time where I removed the banana entirely. Today, it was just almond milk and pear. And oh boy did it ever make for a creamy cheesy delight! Kindof stale tasting, but only on the occasional sip, and that could be the almond milk.
A spoonful of sugar seriously punches it up.
I’m not sure if this one is worth re-ordering, but my experience today certainly has me questioning that!

I had this at our tea guild meeting today. We made a spice rub, scones with (eeeeevil) Earl Grey soaked currants, and spiced lapsang roasted almonds. I can’t figure out which was my fave part! Seriously, what an awesome end to a really long day. I was at an HR conference/tradeshow schmoozing with the vendors. Whew, what a trip. I have alot of follow up emails to send tomorrow, before I do it all over again :)
Anyhow, this tea was made really strong. I had two tiny cups (as in gaiwan style). Very delicious though, and super lemony. I swear, it was as if someone added lemon.
I’d like to see what a shorter steep would do.
Also, I’m not sure if this was the first or second flush. I suspect it was the second… so I just went with that!
On a side note, you know what’s amazing?? having tea peeps. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without all my peers here on Steepster and at the guild. Coming home from a night of tea talk, and writing about it here to share with my other tea-ples… (yes I just referred to y’all as tea-ples!)
Does it get any better??

Time really does mellow teas out. I must remember that!!
This… well it wasn’t so terrible this time around. Yay! The vanilla, it took a step back and let the berry peek out. Yes I quite enjoyed my cup. Still a bit too dusty and tart, but I can now see myself drinking the rest of it down. Raising the rating a bit!

Oh no, that was weird. I used a brita filter for water. Or maybe it was the fact that I intended a 60 sec steep and got distracted… ending up with a 2min 20 second steep. Either way it was far too floral for me. Adding sugar helped, masking the floral.
I’ll leave the rating as is, because I am sure it’s my fault this time!
Thanks for the sample Mark B!

Thanks to Sil for this sample!!
I totally see what you mean about this being a low grade cocoa. The chocolate note is just… well it’s off somehow.
And the raspberry is so sharp! In a very familiar, artificial sortof way.
At first, I really was not enjoying my cup. Strangely, by the end of the cup, it started to grow on me. I still disliked the fake notes but there was something oddly satisfying there. Like Tim Hortons beverages!(I heard they line the cups with a certain kind of coconut oil, which apparently is addictive so there are tons of people out there who don’t really like their coffee, but crave it anyhow heh)
That said, I wouldn’t go out and buy more. Def not heh.
Also, Dad commented on my cup of tea as it was brewing. First time ever he identified the type of tea, and that he likes chocolate! So I made him a cup and all he would say was “interesting”. Pretty sure he was disappointed though he won’t confirm because he is trying to be nice haha
Anyhow, it’s an almost sipdown, I have enough for a small cup left! Maybe I’ll mix it with my assam :)

I am on a black tea kick! I don’t expect it to last long as they never do, but I am so loving it. Usually one cup every day or two is fine. The last week or so however, I cannot seem to get enough ceylon, assam, or chinese breakfast.
Thus… my cuppa plum spice is really hitting the spot. Mmmmm good!
It also means that I’m neglecting the rest of my stash! heh

Seriously? SIRIOUS LEEEE!
This tea. Oh man is it ever good. Now that it’s cured for awhile…
The mint and marshmallow has really gelled. Minty, marshmallowy goodness!
I’d been off the mint for a few weeks and was missing my intense appreciation for it. Then again I also couldn’t find my Graveyard Mist packet haha

Oh ew. This gets a little meh when made hot and then cooled. Flat and tasteless. I got distracted and so ended up sipping from my mug an hour after making my cuppa… and let’s just say never again. The contrast is just too strong, between hot and cool. I need to try it waterbottle brewed.

Meh. I’ve decided, this one is just a little too fake like for me. Not bad, but certainly not great or true to a truffle.
That’s ok, I have plenty of other matchas to love and I can easily use this up in smoothies or cooking :)

I figured it out!! this reminds me of Creamy Nut Oolong from Teaopia. Yup, they are incredibly similar! even though this is a green tea and the other one was Oolong. That said… In my mind they are identical but I’m sure if I compared them they’d be quite different.