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766 Tasting Notes

Genmaicha Extra Green from Den's Tea
100
The Mermaid's Kiss from Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea
Organic Jasmine Blossom Green Tea from Good Earth Teas
Organic Apricot Ginger Black Tea from Good Earth Teas
60
Genmaicha Extra Green from Den's Tea
100
Prince of Wales from Twinings
50

I’m still getting used to the idea that I can have caffeinated tea as often as I’d like at work, so it’s taking a while to get back into the routine of making a cup. For now, the bags have it: making it easy to make multiple cups in the course of a day. I’m looking forward to when the bags won’t cut it anymore and I’ll be inspired to move back into loose leaf. :)

Prince of Wales from Twinings
50
Lady Grey from Twinings
60
Cranberry Green Tea from Twinings
Brattle Street Blend from Tealuxe
100
Green Tea Peach from Steaz
50

This was a good drink, but I really would think of it more as a sweet peach beverage than a tea…

Sencha Shot from Ito En
61

Since I’d tried the oolong shot recently, I thought I’d give this a go. It’s good, too! This one seemed less necessary to be so cold, but still ideal that way. It was a rare canned tea that actually tasted exactly as I would hope it should taste. If anything, it was on the toasty end of sencha, which is awesome for me. I’m glad to have tried these Ito En shots!

Assam Ananda Second Flush from TeaGschwendner
66

I ended up getting some of this the last time I was in Raleigh. It’s a good cup. It’s much smoother than the other assam I picked up, and less astringent. If you’re looking, you can pick up chocolate notes…

Assam Heeleakah Second Flush TGFOP from TeaGschwendner
80

This is a good cup of assam! I was interested after the sales person at the Raleigh shop said it was her favorite assam, and it was really toasty. And it is! It was perfect with the oatmeal I had for breakfast, and has enough of a kick that it’s a great way to start the day.

It’s a strong cup, with some astringency (though not too much tannin). Recommend!

Oolong Shot from Ito En
65

Dark and toasty, it feels a bit concentrated, but still quite good even with that feeling. I thought it was a bit dense, but like Cinoi, in the end I found it was the can. It’s a good quick fix for an Oolong tea. I especially liked it really cold.

Sencha Kombucha Plum from Wiseman Tea Company
59

I’m not sure if this is what I had or not today, but this is the actual tea: http://tinroofteas.com/green-aroma-teas/984-kombucha-plum/

That tea shop used to only sell Tea Gschwender tea, but now they’re doing some other ones, too, and Wiseman is an option, I guess.

Anyway, it was really good. I don’t typically drink Kombucha, so I’m not certain what it’s role was in the tea, but the balance of plum to tea was quite nice. The tea had a bit of a kick, too. I picked up three other teas, so looking forward to trying them!

Green Tea with Mint from Bigelow
55

My sister had this in the house, so I had a cup. I wasn’t sure what to expect, I’m very particular about mint in my tea, but it was a pretty good cup. We left on an errand (to a tea shop!) and came home and it was colder, so I microwaved it and it was still pretty good.

Captain Assam from Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea
78
Starbucks Black Shaken Iced Tea Lemonade from Tazo Tea
Oh My Darjeeling from Chad's Chai and Tea Company
55
Masala Chai from Adagio Teas
Brattle Street Blend from Tealuxe
100
English Breakfast from Twinings
Prince of Wales from Twinings
50

Needed something super easy and certain to be tasty, so here we are.

Profile

Bio

a tea drinking geek librarian

I’ve been into tea, at some level, since college with a first tin of loose tea brought back by my parents from Oxford. My love of tea increased with a visit to Boston and a chance cup at Tealuxe. Since then I’ve only gotten more interested in tea and have developed more of an appreciation for it.

I went on a (near) tea fast in 2009 when I was pregnant, and am only now really reintroducing tea at the levels I was drinking it before. I’ve lost some of my tasting edge, but that just gives me an excuse to drink even more. :)

tea rating guide
(updated 12/2010)

100: a perfect cuppa. these are the teas I’ll keep in my cupboard and tend to be one per type of tea.

90-99: will definitely get more of this tea

80-89: likely to get more and perhaps it will become a favorite with time

70-79: very good, depending on my mood or the season

60-69: wouldn’t actively try to get this tea, but also wouldn’t avoid it in a tea shop or restaurant

50-59: run-of-the-mill tea for me

40-49: decent, would hit the spot in some moods, but probably wouldn’t purchase it for my cupboard

30-39: okay, will try again, maybe

20-29: meh. I’d try this tea again if no other were available

10-19: drinkable, but a forced cup

0-9: didn’t even finish the cup

Location

Winston-Salem, NC

Website

http://laurenpressley.com

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