Indigobloom

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.

I made another smoothie today, and I daresay, the caramel one from a few days ago was much better!

The first David’s blend I’ve loved in a long long time!
Now, I remember having had the DT Genmaicha and back then? It wasn’t nearly as good as this sample. So crisp and sweet… lightly toasted. I’m really digging my cup!
On the second infusion now and it is just as good as the first, only a tad lighter.
Definitely not a cooking tea.
Trouble is, I worry that this sample might not be indicative of the quality sold in store, from a tin. They aren’t very good with consistency between batches and I’ve been burned a few times. (elsewhere as well, but most often at DT)
So is it worth it, investing in a tin? or grabbing ten grams and if it’s the same quality, quickly heading back to the shop hoping that I catch it before a new batch is turned over?
Gah! I have a gift card to use up so this would be a pretty decent way to do that…

A friend of mine blended up some chai and gave a small tin to me. It turned out quite nice! I’m really enjoying her creative efforts. Thanks G!!
The first time I made a cuppa, it was super potent. More than I cared for. Now that it’s been a few months, the blend has mellowed out significantly, in the best way possible. I think I’ll go for another!
I added milk and a bit of sugar this time, but I tasted it before that and it really could go without if needed. Yum!

Oh smoothies, you make me happy.
Banana, almond milk, pear, 1tsp sugar, wheatgrass powder (which I am almost out of… nooooooo!)
All of those ingredients make for one superb blend of heaven.
The trick is, I find, the sugar. It really brings out the nuances in the matcha. Previously, I assumed that between the banana and other fruits, there was no need for sugar. But I suppose it’s like any other tea! some need it, while others don’t shrugs
My only regret with matchas is that they can’t be infused multiple times… cuz ya know, you end up consuming it in the drink! heh

This is tasty!
Different than the other Bubbly whites I’ve had, in a few ways. I like it.
First off, I was worried that the dominant flavour would be bubblegum and while that is present, it takes a back seat to the other more complex notes. Something in here is most definitely reminiscent of champagne! I credit that partially to the aroma, but also to the mild grape like taste. Grape skins perhaps? Hmmm. Most surprising is the sparkling sensation on my tongue. How on earth did they achieve that?! Yup, I even get a wine/drying sensation in the aftertaste.
Second, the white tea is blended beautifully. So delicate, and yet not overpowered. There is however, something odd going on… as there is an odd bitter note right in the middle of the sip, and lasting into the aftertaste. Heck, even the aftertaste is complex!

EDIT:
Second infusion was terrible. Milky!! Hopefully it was a one time thing. Bad water? spilled milk from Mums coffee? (my cup was clear… so likely not)
Bah. Lowering the rating a few points. The first steep was great. I’d rate the second one at 65. So reducing it by 4 points is more of a principle thing than anything else. On the plus side, I won’t feel bad taking this one out and about with me! (ie, since I can’t resteep anyhow)

OK so I seriously intended to write a proper review this time but my cuppa today was beyond amazing and somehow ended up guzzled down before I even had a chance to log in here.
Thus, I’ll have to wait til next time. Needless to say, I really do love my Ceylon Osmanthus.

I had this via waterbottle yesterday.
Now, I was in a bit of a rush… but I’m pretty sure I used enough powder. There is no reason it should have turned out to be so darn tasteless!
Next time, I need to use more precise measurements.
This worries me, because the waterbottle has proven to be the most successful “save my matcha” method and this is the first fail!! Oh dear.

Mystery tea!
I ordered Cherry Buds from Kally, a rooibos… and opened my packet to find… a green tea??? Hmmmm.
They are sending replacement tea, but in the meantime, I am trying to figure out exactly which blend this is. None of those on the website correlate.
It smells like overly concentrated floral perfume mixed with Cherry. I suppose it could be pomegranate?
Also there are dried rose petals. Which leads me to think… Cherry Rose tea! only Kally does not have a Cherry Rose green tea!!
Bah.
I brewed up a mug, and it tastes almost as perfume like as it smells. Not really my thing.
In the background there is a distinct fruitiness that could very well be cherry though it’s hard to distinguish through the perfume haze.
The base is pretty smooth. Definitely green. Sencha? Maybe? I can’t find that typical grassy profile, but again, then there is so much ‘floral’ going on that it could very well just be hidden underneath. I’m sure it will mellow out over time.
Oh well, it’s essentially free tea. If anyone wants some, let me know!

Bumpity bump goes the rating again!!
For some reason, I was really craving this. I just knew I had to have a cuppa. Oh man was I ever right, it was so good! The light flowery contrast against the malty assam goodness is great! Only I wish I’d made a whole pot! (which I didn’t do because I’m headed out shortly)
Very glad I have this in my cupboard now :)

Chocolate mint teas are always a little too astringent for me. Why do I never learn?! My cuppa was enjoyable, but nothing to write home about, and not something I’d order again.
On the plus side, things are ramping up with the Toronto Tea Festival! We had our meeting there. I really love the Tsaa shop!

Wow. Queen Catherine? I am sorry but you have been struck off my shopping list.
This tea will do just fine as an alternative! It’s just the right amount of bold and malty, with a teeny pinch of smokiness.
I’m not sure of which specific teas are in here, but I can pick out some yunnan, pu-erh, and probably lapsang. A masterful combo!!
There was also a hint of that abrasiveness I find in some Asian black teas but I don’t care! I drank this bare, sans sugar or dairy, though it would do exceptionally well as my morning breakfast tea as well.
When (yes… I said WHEN!) my cupboard is manageable again, this is going on my must have at all times list.
Thank you Tao for the cup!! I really appreciate it!

This makes for an excellent smoothie. Love!

Four minutes seemed a bit long so I went with 3.5 min.
Either way, I think it would have worked. The strawberry is very light and refreshing.
Second steep was more of the same only a tad creamier. It all works very well with a green oolong base. Yep, this is good tea! thank you Stacy!!
The base seems to be of exceptional quality, as it lends alot to the flavouring as opposed to so many other types that just add flavouring to cover up any base notes.
I feel as if the strawberry here is more of an enhancement to the already present, natural fruity notes.
If only I could afford to stock this in my cupboard always :)

SIPDOWN!!! (you know how football announcers yell out “touchdown”? well that is how I picture saying sipdown hehe)
yeah baby, I have a tin to fill! woohoo!
In the meantime, I’m a bit sad to see this one go. and what a fantastic cuppa to send off with. Very winey and muscatel, smooth, sweet, and lip smackin good. Second steep was great to!

Not gonna rate this because I used the water at a meeting yesterday, and it came out luke warm! so I consider this to be “cold brewed”… well, somewhat anyhow.
And it turned out UBER sweet. Sickly ginger sweet, with a hint of peach pulp.
Definitely need to try again with a proper kettle! I’d rate it around 70 for now.

Water bottle method… ahhhhhmazing!
I swear, it’s just like coffee icecream! Oh YUM.
See, for someone whose body banned them from coffee, this is a deliriously happy moment!!
It’s a little creamy, which I was not expecting but espresso can have milk in it, right? I always thought it was served black…
Btw, no sugar required. It is perfect all on it’s own. Thank you Red Leaf for your superb creations!!
Now I need to try this again as a hot cup…

Oh my goodness, I have never enjoyed a floral tea more! Usually that scent means that I’ll end up tossing the cuppa but nope, this is deeeeelicious. Thank you SO much to Mark B for the very generous sample!
It’s more of a floral scent that then translates into taste, the kind you can’t really taste at all if you have a cold. Behind that there is a light vegetal note. Rapini! I’m getting rapini. Yummmm!
Then there is a very mild nutty aftertaste that I quite like, mixed in with the floral tone. I can still smell the floral long after I’ve swallowed.
Thanks again Mark B!!

Edit: On the third steep it finally started to taste more jasmine like so I stopped it there. I’ll bet it would go much longer in a gaiwan/gongfu!

Sadness. This cup just wasn’t doing it for me. Somehow the brew came out murky with none of the sparkle it had earlier. Bah. Come back to me plum spice, come back!

My first Coconut Oolong in ages!! and oh man is it ever good. Well, mostly. A little too sweet for my liking, and I added no sugar.
First steep was 90s, second at 2min or so (maybe a few extra seconds)
I can taste the oolong, barely… and the coconut is very present. Did they add sweetener, or is that just the coconut? hmmm. Coconut cream! yes that is what I taste.
It’s pretty smooth as well. In this second steep, I don’t think it’s weaker at all. Hoping the third will bring around more lovely oolong.
Also, Raritea I hope you enjoy it! we bought 50g and shared it between us. Can’t wait to go back there :)

EDIT: 3rd steep was seriously lacking. It had some odd grassy/floral note that threw me off. More caramel than coconut. Lowering the rating one point! because I don’t make it past two steeps that often anyhow.

Oh man this is good. So smooth!! I love the brandy note. Yum.
It’s actually improved significantly since my first cuppa.
Today has been a long day and this was just what I needed to wind down and relax before crashing. Wow, I haven’t been tired like this, in that really good way, for a long time.

This reminds me SO much of a tea I’ve had before! But I can’t recall which one. Actually, it reminds me of two. One being Rise n Shine(RnS) from Teaopia, which was awesome. The cola really popped. Mmmmm.
And the other… gah it’s driving me nuts!!
Anyhow, this is sortof a cross between RnS and your average rooibos chai. I’m somewhat unimpressed actually. I used my premium water… and still it turned out to be a boring cup! Hmmm. Not that it’s terrible. Just not all that memorable is all.
I’ll let it sit for awhile. Maybe now that I’ve opened the package it will settle differently. That’s helped with a number of other teas I’ve tried lately, fingers crossed that it does the same here!!