1719 Tasting Notes
I accidentally oversweetened the first cup. I am used to my little yellow packets. At home I spoon it out of a bowl. Apparently I can’t judge. Oversweet aside, this is really good. The first time I tried this after the De La Creme, which rocks, and it overpowered my perception of this tea. I also noticed no stems in this douple scoop of leaf. It seems they were all mostly in the top of my bag. I split it in half to bring some home. Now that I know, I will either pick some stems out of the bag at work (not likely) or mix it better (cause I’m lazy). My guess is I got the bottom of the bag. The bergamot definitely drives this tea. If you don’t like bergamot this isn’t for you. You can taste the light tea base under it. Not sure how they pulled that off. The orange is under it all supporting the citrus goodness of this cup. This tea and me will become good friends this summer. Upping the rating substantially.
Had this with breakfast as usual on a Saturday. This time, and as far as I recall the first time ever with any tea, I added half and half. I really liked it this way. I felt very British, like I needed God Save the Queen playing in the background. Pretty sure the other patrons in the restuarant would have objected to the Sex Pistols though. There’s no accounting for taste.
My discovery that fat-free half and half exists has led me this way, too. I use milk for breakfast, but have been stashing the h&h in the refrigerator at work and occasionally indulging on weekends at home. Hear, hear!
I have on rare occasions added French vanilla non-dairy creamer but never milk or h&h. I think this explains why I have never cared for Breakfast teas.
(whispering she says “organic can milk don’t tell a soul”)
You don’t have to whisper, Bonnie; I’ve used Milnot before and it’s just fine ;)
K S: Those flavored non-dairy creamers are too sweet for me to use in tea. I’ve happily used them in co##ee.
What’s Milnot — is it soy?
Barb: I use them sparingly. To me its like steak sauce, if you need it you should try a better cut of meat. As for Milnot…. uhmmm, I think its like hotdogs or Spam, no one really knows what’s in it. ;p Actually its a brand name of a condensed milk. Oh and you can say coffee, just don’t ask me to drink it!
Check out how pretty the blend is in the picture. I wrote ETS to find out what was in this as it isn’t on their website yet. They are in the process of a major web update which they really needed to do. Now that I have an ingredient list this makes more sense. When steeping it smells a bit spearminty. I only slightly detect that element in the sip. It has decaf Ceylon as the base and a dozen other ingredients. Yes it has hibiscus but it is well behaved, adding only the slightest tartness. I am not a tart fan so I would complain if it were. The brew as I mentioned in my first tasting can turn kind of grape kool-aid if you steep a long time. I only went two minutes this go around. The brew on a short steep is honey colored. I can’t single out chamomile but it is in here as is rose and lavender and orange. This is a tasty late night fruity desert sip. Really enjoying this with a bit of sweetener. Steepster won’t let me add a rating tonight but I give it about an 82.
While I am steeping the first cup, the guy in the office next to mine buzzes on the intercom and asks, “Are you making tea?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I can smell it. It smells peachy”
“Do you like peach?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like me to make you some?”
“Sure!”
Minutes later I carry a cup next door. The power of tea.
My co-worker who had no expectations going in (except peach!) gave it a big thumbs up with a smile. In fact he later asked if I would make him another cup.
An extended review can be found on my blog @ http://theeverdayteablog.blogspot.com/2012/05/fusion-teas-ginger-darjeeling-peach.html
After today, I will have enough of this left for one more mug. That’s a shame. The trouble with this tea is timing. After I bought this, I started drinking the most amazing Chinese greens, and oolongs, blacks, and puerhs, along with some excellent fruit and herbal teas. This one kind of got lost in the drawer. This is a blend of Ceylon, Keemun, and a couple others I can’t recall at the moment. It is way better than anything I can buy locally from the grocery store but it is not the alien sensory journey I have come to love and expect. This tastes like tea. Extremely good black tea, but tea. Does that make sense? As I sit here sipping I am thinking how this is even better than I remember, at the same time I realize it is too familiar. That’s a shame. If you are looking for something to fill the gap between an English Breakfast and Prince of Wales this is your tea.
Ever have one of those mornings where it makes no difference if you have your glasses or not because your eyes won’t focus? Haven’t been sleeping, so I haven’t had much tea lately, which is ok as Steepster hasn’t been letting me post much anyway.
I swear half these TeaVivre samples are bottomless (which makes me very happy!). I think it is because they resteep so well. I pity the fool who doesn’t resteep (said in my best Mr. T. voice). A scoop of leaf and your good for the day.
Dry this smells of sweet hay. Steeped, today it is reminding me of tiguanyin. I would do a better job with a description but my brain waves are on scramble. What’s the frequency Kenneth? Look a squirrel!
I have to be honest, I went in to the tasting of this tea with a bad attitude. I am not a big fan of RoT. Generally speaking, I find the bag size is too small and the price tag is too high. Also when I think strawberry and chocolate, I think Neapolitan ice cream. I really don’t care for Neapolitan ice cream. This tea doesn’t stand a chance.
Steeped for 5 minutes. First taste was ok but a bit bland. Added sweetener (which is my usual habit). Sipped again. I have to agree with Bonnie’s review – this isn’t bad. In fact I kind of like it. Read the label and noticed this is rooibos. I tried but I can’t taste rooibos in this at all. It is just a pleasant mix of strawberry and chocolate actually more cocoa, with a hint of vanilla. It tastes natural to me, not fake or candy. It is rich enough to enjoy, yet not overbearing in the cup. This is not something I would drink everyday but it is a pleasant caffeine free calorie free desert drink. Glad I tried it.
Preparation
Things being as they are, I am now allergic to Rooibos so this goes to the grandsons. However, my daughter got me a tea timer that fits on the lid of their cans…wierd huh…but you don’t lose it that way! So I now have an empty can for it!
If any one asks… tell them its art.
Made a lovely cover for the tin with pretty scrapbook paper, or paint the outside, make a new label, then use it to store another tea!
I thought I could store my small tea spoons in it. Or my Pu-erh knife so my grandsons can’t find it (tempting to play with!).
Oo, great ideas!
2 cups this morning. I have got to get a kettle for home. At work, where I do most of my tea drinking, I have a tea station set up and it works great. At home I don’t need the caffeine in the evenings and we are usually on the run on weekends, so I just use the microwave. I hate microwave water. I thought I had found a work around by pouring the heated water into my press. Sadly it is an improvment not a fix. This tea is fabulous at work and meh ok at home. Not settling for meh.
Go for it! If I had to wait here it would take too long because at high altitude water takes a long time to boil. Buy a electric kettle! (Mine is not the expensive kind)
I wish someone made a 2-4 cup stainless cordless electric kettle with an adjustable thermostat and auto shut-off. My everything list. I wil most likely settle for a plastic 16oz Procter Silex. At least its cheap.
I have one that will show me temperature. It doesn’t do any of the other fancy stuff, but it works well for my purposes.
http://www.amazon.com/Presto-Heat-Steep-Electric-Kettle/dp/B003VOZH4Q
Missy, that kettle is tempting. I’ve been wanting one for a long time but I have no room in my apartment for more contraptions.
My cheap one I’ve come to know the sound of the heat temp. Funny. You get to know how long it takes to get to different temp’s in no time…so why spend a fortune. Just saying. Unless someone gives me a gift in my family which I don’t get either. I love my family but noone has money when raising kids! Cheap is ok.
Yeah mine is fairly cheap as well – under 30 bucks. Trust me I understand not having the space. We live in a cracker box house. Regardless I would toss out my toaster before not having a tea kettle lol.
Wow, I have the opposite problem. Great tea at home and meh at work.
I will definitely do cheap when I do it. I was pointing out there are no real choices if you never need more than 1 or 2 mugs of water
