TassieTeaGirl

From Michelle.

I made to for the other half while he was finishing making dinner. He took one sip and said “holey f*#+ this is awesome!”. A ringing endorsement methinks. Yet, he said a number based evaluation would have to wait until he’d had another cup. I think this is a ploy to drink it all on me! At least Michelle was very generous with her sample!

Made a cup of this straight and hot to have with dinner. Yummo!

From my swap with Azzrian.

This is only the second genmaicha I’ve tried, the first being T2’s offering. And this is so much better! I found the one from tea too was too, uhh, ricey? Or perhaps the rice was too toasted? Almost tasted a bit burned (definitely the rice not the green!). But this is divine! I’m really enjoying it! Currently having my second steep.

The liquor is a pale caramel, a bit darker than what I’d expect from the straight green, so obviously the rice is at play there. The laoshan green is just beautiful! With minimal care in the brewing ( just using the pre-set 80oC on by breville kettle and leaving for an un-timed 1.5 mins each brew) its lovely and soft and sweet. Just so tasty. And I’m unsure if its the rice or the green, but there is a lovely buttery texture to the tea too. The rice is very smooth, a great soft toasty flavour. The mix of the sweet and savory works so well in this tea. Beautiful.

I’m really enjoying this one, I didn’t think I’d actually like genmaicha after my initial attempt, so thankyou Verdant and Azzrian! I only expect my rating to improve with subsequent brews.

From my swap with Azzrian.

I had this one yesterday, just did two steeps of around a minute each. 2 to 5 seconds? Really? That doesn’t even give me time to put the kettle back on its base! (Our kitchen is small, I usually make tea on the dining room table next to all my tea shelves). But, when I have more time and patience I might have to give it a try.

My favourite part of this one so far? The oolong base. So smooth and creamy, not over powering or lost in the blend. Lovely and smooth. I actually didn’t get a chocolate taste ( though I must confess, as a bit of a chocoholic I really need it present before I’m impressed). The chai blend was a bit unusual for my taste. I guess I’m more used to traditional Indian blends so the herbs in this one threw me a bit. And they were quite soft, where I prefer my chais to have a bit of a kick in them. Though the spices and herbs were perfectly balanced with the oolong.

Verdict? I think I need to try this again, and be more patient and observant. Perhaps use the instructions on the bag! But an interesting cuppa. Rating to come later…

Another from my swap with Michelle.

This one smells great dry. It’s a lovely smooth chocolate smell, and you can still get a hint of the black tea. I steeped it for about 4 mins, because I really like chocolate! and I figured it wouldn’t be so long the black would go bitter. And I was right – no bitterness in the black base, it was quite soft and smooth. The chocolate was also very smooth, and tasted a bit like a softer, milliner chocolate than something like The Art of Tea’s Chocolate Intensitea, which is a big hit of dark chocolate with a stronger black base.

Yes, I’d say this is a softer, subtler version of AoT’s chocolate. Its quite lovely. Not a full blown chocolate hit, but very lovely all the same. Thanks Michelle!

Oh, I added a little vanilla sugar (from Azz) which brought out the chocolate notes a bit more :). Milk was good too.

Another from Azzrian…

So the smell of this dry, wet, and the taste is something I can’t quite put my finger on. Not almonds. Something like a lolly or a soda or maybe even cough syrup from when I was a kid. Weird. Odd. Confusing.

That is all for the moment.

Irish breakfast tea and porridge on Australia Day. Yep, I’m waiting for the hordes to kick down the door, burn my birth certificate and kick me out. (Btw, if is happens I’ll pack my tea supplies and move to Ontario. Maybe NS, apparently Halifax is my home town Hobart’s doppelgänger.)

Anywho, this is a lovely breakfast tea! Or brunch, as its 10am. Flavorful without being too strong, soft and not even a little bitter. I went with the soft side of Michelle’s recommendation (around 3mins), so I’m looking forward to playing with steep times.

And just because its been one of those weeks, I’ve added a little of the vanilla sugar I got from*Azzrian* in my swap with her. Swap melding is cool. Just another lovely aspect of this cup! Adds a little sweetness, which soothes my soul if not my taste buds (though it does taste delightful!).

Having this iced. Gave it a good 6 mins so the flavours came through when cold. And they do, so raspberry-ee, so coconutty. And the white tea has this comforting, oddly warming sensation even when iced.

Just stunning. If you’ve never tried this, ORDER NOW! Seriously, international shipping be damned, it’s just sooo good.

Had a cup of this hot (on like Tuesday! Only just remembered I had this… Ugh. I do dislike this week) from my advent calendar tin. I really like it! Very goji berry-ee, and the apple and melon are a lovely base. No bitterness whatsoever from the rosé hip or hibiscus, what a win! Going to use the rest of my sample for an iced cup. Very nice.

I did accidentally leave it for about 6mins, not quite as long as it says below ( another iPad hiccup).

What a week. Ever had one of those weeks where you’re so tired you just keep doing stupid things? Like major brain fuzz so normal connections and thought processes just don’t happen. That’s been my week. I’m glad it’s Australia Day long weekend this weekend so I can have 3 days of hibernation and tea drinking.

This is one of the first teas I’ve had all week (yep, brainfuzz to the point I’ve forgotten to make tea. It’s that bad!), the other half made it for me when he was making his morning art of tea vanilla. Hmmmmm……..

Wow. Just a mental day at work. We’re all a bit unhinged. But this is nice and calming. Now I just need a nap.

No notes yet.

Oh my. What a week. Tragic bushfires, nutso week at work (two people off so I’m filling in for them and doing my own stuff), busy-ness at my Art of Tea job, and my man is off hiking for the weekend. I poured my timolino of this into a glass to cool it in the freezer hen I got home, I just didn’t get around to drinking it at work.

Loving the calm…

From Azzrian’s swap.

I’ve brewed up a cup of this this morning while packing away some clothes and other morning chores. I had a momentary panic when I realised I’d forgotten to take out the cup’s strainer, but thankfully on drinking this there was no bitterness. Quite exciting! The berry flavours are more prominent in the dry leave, in the steeped leaf they add just some sweetness to the mix. Might have to try adding some of the vanilla rock sugar Azz sent…

Thanks, I’m quite enjoying this.

This was one of the many many samples in the swap from Michelle that arrived for me today. Thankyou Michelle!

I brewed up 3 pyramid bags of this to make 2 iced teas for myself and the other half to drink while we did an at-home barre class. Now I have to admit these we’re drunk very quickly due to the need for rehydration during our class. I quite enjoyed it, the other half said he loved his. I think ideally I would’ve left it an extra few minutes but it was quite tasty. The rooibos was very rehydrating, the berries added a nice touch of sweetness. But yes, a few extra minutes would’ve made the flavour a bit stronger. Yummo.

The other half just made a glass of this iced, and even though he use 100oC water it still tastes fantastic. Just a wonderful tea.

Over 40oC. Bushfires everywhere, the smell is drifting in my windows. General ugh-ness about today. Iced tea is a lifesaver, probably actually. I hope everyone is safe on this horribly dry and hot day.

Having another one of these iced. So good! Distracting me from the fact I got no sleep last night due to crazy winds (80-100km/hr) and it only got down to 25oC overnight. Ugh. I know its summer, but seriously, calm down weather! Plus, it’d be nice if the whole south east of Australia didn’t get extra crispy, bushfire style.

On an unrelated note, I have a friend who as just moved to London and is looking for a tea pot. Since we all understand the struggles of finding something that is funtional, pretty and speaks to us in a deeply personal way, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions I could give her?

On another unrelated note, who else loves Clara Oswin Oswald?

Another from my swap with azzrian. Thanks!

So, apparently pumpkin chais and I aren’t friends. This is the second one I’ve had, and both times I’ve not detected much chai, and definitely no pumpkin. The black base is fine, drinkable and not bitter, but as a flavored black its missing the flavour. I might on gift this to a friend, see if they like it.

Pleas don’t worry azzrian, I love trying all the new teas you’ve sent, and I’m sure someone else will love it!

No notes yet.

Weird day – I made fabulous sweet potato, aioli and avocado burgers last night, but something didn’t agree with me and I’ve been looking like I’m 4 months pregnant ever since. Ugh.

Anywho, I’ve been drinking this all day, multiple steeps from the same leaves. Holds up quite well! I also think I prefer this at 70-75oC rather than 80. Reduces any suggestion of bitterness. Lovely.

Another of the teas from my swap with Azzrian.

I got home from a morning bike ride to my barre class, then some farmer’s market shopping yesterday, and kinda hit a wall. Ok, time for black tea. I though this might go well considering it was a nice warm day. Made up my cup, being careful to not steep for too long. The tropical scent was detectable in the dry leaves, but not overpowering. But after steeping, I’m afraid I couldn’t really taste too much tropical. The taste was definitely of the black base. But it was lovely! A nice soft black, absolutely no bitterness, with just a lovely, soft, very drinkable taste. I know, not very helpful, might need another cup to get more detail on the flavour notes.

So still enjoyable, just not very tropical.

Did my first iced batch of this last night in my tayeka flash chill set. Was quite yummy! Thoughts I think the flavour distribution was a bit off in the scoops I put in, or maybe I needed to let it steep for a bit longer. I think I prefer it hot. But it was still lovely, and went well with my Bourne trilogy viewing (or perhaps it was the hot sun streaming in through the balcony windows…).

Just made a pot of this in my for life 1L pot to share with the other half for breakfast. Tried at 95oC temp this time instead of boiling and I was able to forgo the sugar. Lovely!