6105 Tasting Notes

91

Sipdown! Another very old sample, but surprisingly delicious. A very nice milk oolong – plenty of both cream and oolong, and it’s durability in a ziplock is impressive. I’d honestly still have rated it solidly in the 80s, which is saying something.

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75
drank Gooey Butter Cake by 52teas
6105 tasting notes

Found a very old sample of this from someone (probably says who in a previous note, if I made one?). Anyways – had low expectations but was pleasantly surprised. Classic vintage 52teas black base, which I adore, with sweet, cakey, lemony notes. I was surprised that there was any lemon left at all! Looking forward to the final cup of this, which I should try to have sooner rather than later.

tea-sipper

‘vintage’ tea. muhahaha. :D

Kittenna

It sounds better than “ancient” or “old”. Ahaha.

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94

So I’m still confused about how this is a tieguanyin (I swore that was a type of oolong, not black?) but it’s clearly a black – and a delicious one at that! Even though… I ordered this between 5 and 5.5 years ago (oops – it was still sealed though). It reminds me of Laoshan Black, but it’s not quite as chocolatey, just very malty and rich. Highly recommend – I’m probably going to have another cup shortly as it’s really quite delicious.

Cameron B.

I think tieguanyin is also a varietal, so perhaps they’re using that but processing it as a black tea?

Kittenna

I think you’re probably right, and because Upton didn’t make a big fuss about a typical oolong varietal being used for a black, I didn’t consider that (I think i thought they mislabled it!)

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77

Another new arrival from yesterday! Never has a “cream cheese” flavoured tea actually smelled so tangy. It was strange. The dry leaf has a definite aroma of banana (halfway between runts and natural banana – not bad) and tanginess. Once brewed, it’s more vanilla banana cake than anything, and that’s kind of where the flavour is too – the tanginess doesn’t really translate. But, it is tasty enough, and the aftertaste is truly like a banana cake – colour me surprised! The oolong is pairing quite well with the flavours, and probably contributing to the delicious cakiness. Overall a solid banana oolong; would recommend.

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67

Just received this in the mail today! I’ve previously loved figgy teas, and was particularly excited about the dragon pearl base. However, I’m finding the tea to be too perfumey for me. I’m not sure if it’s the fig flavouring, or if the dragon pearls are jasmine-scented, but it’s just ok. Not really picking up anything great from the base black either, except late in the aftertase, after the floral dissipates.

Overall, probably good if you like floral blacks, but doesn’t scream jam to me, which would have been more of a rich sweetness.

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77

This tea was in many ways similar to one of my faves from A Quarter to Tea, Peach Crostata. Therefore, I enjoyed it – but not as much as PC. In this last cup I had, I didn’t catch the heat nor the honey, in particular, but I also drank the tea cold while thirsty and trying to calm a fussy baby. So probably wasn’t paying 100% attention. Either way, it was good and definitely reminiscent of PC; I’d be unlikely to choose it over my fave, though, which has some additional delicious flavours.

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Sipdown! (I think). This was likely a free sample from Teavivre (thanks!) Unfortunately, the note I wrote about it when drinking it for the first time is likely lost in a work email I wrote to myself, which is where I put things when I couldn’t post to Steepster. Sigh. Anyhow, I’m sure it was quite delicious when I first had it; it was good this time but as the packet was opened, I can’t write an accurate review for it, but can just say yum, oolong.

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93

Sipdown! This was really good; I quite enjoyed it. The creaminess was present to this last cup, and lasted through multiple infusions. Yum.

(Also – woot for baby finally having a nap not in Mommy’s arms, so she can finally do things that require two hands! Like make tea and write tasting notes! Ahaha.)

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85

Sipdown (kind of; I’m sending off the last cup). A really delicious oolong despite being a little… aged. Thanks to Yezi Tea for the sample!

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88
drank Xinyang Green Tips by Peony Tea S.
6105 tasting notes

A little old, but still decently tasty.

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I have always been a tea fan (primarily herbals and Japanese greens/oolongs) but in the last year or so, tea has become increasingly more appealing as not only a delicious, calming drink, but as a relatively cheap, healthy reward or treat to give myself when I deserve something. I should clarify that, however; the reward is expanding my tea cupboard, not drinking tea – I place no restrictions on myself in terms of drinking anything from my cupboard as that would defeat my many goals!

My DavidsTea addiction was born in late 2011, despite having spent nearly a year intentionally avoiding their local mall location (but apparently it was just avoiding the inevitable!). I seem to have some desire to try every tea they’ve ever had, so much of my stash is from there, although I’ve recently branched out and ordered from numerous other companies.

I like to try and drink all my teas unaltered, as one of the main reasons I’m drinking tea other than for the flavour is to be healthy and increase my water intake without adding too many calories! I’ve found that the trick in this regard is to be very careful about steeping time, as most teas are quite pleasant to drink straight as long as they haven’t been oversteeped. However, I tend to be forgetful (particularly at work) when I don’t set a timer, resulting in a few horrors (The Earl’s Garden is not so pleasant after, say, 7+ minutes of steeping).

I’m currently trying to figure out which types of teas are my favourites. Herbals are no longer at the top; oolongs have thoroughly taken over that spot, with greens a reasonably close second. My preference is for straight versions of both, but I do love a good flavoured oolong (flavoured greens are really hit or miss for me). Herbals I do love iced/cold-brewed, but I drink few routinely (Mulberry Magic from DavidsTea being a notable exception). I’m learning to like straight black teas thanks to the chocolatey, malty, delicious Laoshan Black from Verdant Tea, and malty, caramelly flavoured blacks work for me, but I’m pretty picky about anything with astringency. Lately I’ve found red rooibos to be rather medicinal, which I dislike, but green rooibos and honeybush blends are tolerable. I haven’t explored pu’erh, mate, or guayasa a great deal (although I have a few options in my cupboard).

I’ve decided to institute a rating system so my ratings will be more consistent. Following the smiley/frowny faces Steepster gives us:

100: This tea is amazing and I will go out of my way to keep it in stock.

85-99: My core collection (or a tea that would be, if I was allowing myself to restock everything!) Teas I get cravings for, and drink often.

75-84: Good but not amazing; I might keep these in stock sparingly depending on current preferences.

67-74: Not bad, I’ll happily finish what I have but probably won’t ever buy it again as there’s likely something rated more highly that I prefer.

51-66: Drinkable and maybe has some aspect that I like, but not really worth picking up again.

34-50: Not for me, but I can see why others might like it. I’ll make it through the cup and maybe experiment with the rest to get rid of it.

0-33: It’s a struggle to get through the cup, if I do at all. I will not willingly consume this one again, and will attempt to get rid of the rest of the tea if I have any left.

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