Michelle

Thanks to Teavivre for this sample! Dragonwell is one of my favorite kinds of greens, so I was really excited to try this one. I brewed up a cup of it yesterday – it was morning, and I wanted a nice tea to drink, but I didn’t necessarily need much caffeine. I baked all morning for the tea party yesterday afternoon, and the stress definitely woke me up! I made shortbread cookies, vanilla scones (with the recipe DaisyChubb posted a few weeks ago – delicious!), a fruit salad and a homemade dill and goat cheese dip, and my friend made cucumber sandwiches, muffins and chocolate covered strawberries. We had so much food, and we ended up sitting around the table for seven hours just munching on all the goodies! It was a fantastic day, and the party continued until three in the morning… crazy. And then the next day I went straight to the beach all day and didn’t really get to try any new teas. Anyway, I made this tea yesterday, had a couple of sips of it, and then didn’t get to finish the cup because I was baking so frenetically!

After I drove my sister to camp today, I brewed another cup of this. And oh, it is good. I’ve been thinking about it all day. The leaves are long and flat, a pale grey-green color. The leaves smell beautiful. There’s a very quiet vegetal flavor here – I wouldn’t describe it as grassy, but green. There’s a characteristic chestnut scent there as well.

Sipping it, it tastes just the way it smells. One of my favorite things about a Dragonwell is just how clean it tastes, and this is no exception. Even though I’ve made it with regular old tap water, it tastes like I’ve made it with mineral water. I love it. It’s very light, it’s green and nutty. It’s one of the most soothing cups of tea to me. I’m in love with it. This is going into the order with that black dragon pearl tea… oh, it’s fantastic.

Thanks so much to Angel and Teavivre for these samples! They took a little while to get here, but in perfect condition. Teavivre is, in my opinion, well worth the wait.

I’ve never had a black pearl tea – the only pearls I’ve ever had are the small jasmine ones. I went for that little sample packet first. Upon opening it, I was surprised by how large the pearls are, and how tightly packed. They’re mostly a dark mahogany color with little striations of a lighter yellow, sort of like pine. I suppose trees are on my mind today – it was Red Pine Forest day with my preschoolers at camp. They very much enjoyed building “mouse houses” in the dips between the tree roots!

Tea! The dry leaf smell immediately conjures up something musty and dark. There’s almost a hazelnut to it, but there’s something more than that. It sort of reminds me of walking through a darkened barn, with the scents of hay and leather hanging thickly in the air, the rustle of horses and cows as they shift about and flick their tails to ward off the flies.

Never having had a black dragon pearl this big before, I think I overdid it – I put three pearls in my little tasting cup and steeped for around 15 seconds the first time. The wet leaves have such a distinctive smell – it’s the same scent as of the dry leaf, but sharper, finer, more present. It’s not as muted. I read recently that the human nose works best in warm, damp conditions… I can definitely see that here! I don’t smell so much of the hazelnut connection as I do something burnt… not badly burnt, but deliberately charred. I can’t think of what, though. Chestnuts at Christmas? Macadamia nuts? There’s more than a little bit of dark chocolate in here too, and some notes of currant. Chocolate covered nuts? It’s bothering me that I can’t put my finger on it, especially because it’s so distinctive and I just know that there’s a name for it.

The liquor of the first steep is a warm golden-red in the white porcelain tasting bowl. I notice immediately how smooth the mouthfeel is. There’s almost no astringency or drying, and it leaves a sweet aftertaste on the tongue. The scent I identified in the scent is extraordinarily present in the taste. Usually I have a hard time distinguishing exactly what something is going to taste like based on the smell, especially straight teas (It’s much easier for me to approximate the flavors of spicy chais or fruity herbals) but there’s a direct link to the taste of the tea all the way back to the smell of the dry leaf.

Second steep, and as I pour the water into the cup it immediately blossoms a deep red. The pearls have mostly unrolled and are like spider legs climbing up the side of the cup. The liquor is a deep red-brown color. Definitely overdid it with the pearls – the first thing that hits my tongue is a strong astringency. It actually helps define the flavors I was missing earlier – it almost reminds me of a graham cracker. That coupled with the chocolate notes and the astringency in this steep – it’s like a warm summer night, all your friends sitting around a firepit, roasting marshmallows on sticks, the smoke blowing through the breeze and stinging your eyes when it’s aimed in your direction.

Possibly the best black tea I’ve ever tried!

Edit:

I’m steeping three pearls now, Western Style for three minutes. It’s just as good, and I’m even getting notes of butter in the middle of it. Incredible! This tea just keeps on giving!

Okay, I lied about this one on my previous rating.

I really wanted a fluffy iced lemon rooibos, and even after the lackluster experience I’ve had with this one, I’ve still got 3ish ounces sitting around. So I made it extra strong – 3 heaping teaspoons for ~8oz, added in ~2 tsp of rock sugar, steeped for 6 minutes and then poured it over ice and milk.

It’s smooth, creamy, lemony and sweet. The sugar brings out the sweetness of the tea without making me feel like I’m drowning in saccharine. Definitely upping the rating on this one.

Trying to get rid of this one so I have an empty tin… loved it when I bought it, now I don’t care for it. It’s not bad, I’ve just found other teas I like more.

Huh.

It smells sort of like a chai. I don’t have much experience with these spiced black blends. It smells like cinnamon and cookies. Spooning it into my teapot, I catch a glimpse of a perfect star of anise sitting on my spoon.

I knew this was going to need sugar, so I put some rock sugar in the basket as it steeped. I poured it over ice and added a bit of milk.

It’s a lot better than I expected. I taste the anise, I taste cinnamon, I taste almonds… it’s not really my favorite kind of tea, but it’s a good cup.

This tea is good. It’s one of my first experiences with a Yunnan, and I really like it. I poured it out of the sample package, and the leaves are tightly rolled, shiny and almost snail-shaped. I steeped a few pinches in a paper tea filter. It’s the first time I’ve used a paper filter, and the first time I’ve tried this tea, so I suppose I wouldn’t be able to tell if I was getting paper flavor in my tea, but I don’t think I do.

This is a black I really like. It’s almost a heavy sort of mouthfeel, like it’s solid. There’s a bit of noticible astringency, but it’s not too strong. At the beginning, it almost reminded me of coffee, and as it cooled I’m starting to get some more cocoa notes in here. It’s very smooth.

Sent to me by a friend. It’s hot and humid here (although I suppose I shouldn’t complain, based on what the rest of the country is going through) but we don’t have air conditioning, and I’m a wimp when it comes to heat. So I hot-brewed and poured over ice.

Steeped as recommended, 4tsp/10oz, steeped six minutes.

It’s a bit strong for me. I could see big hibiscus flowers as I was scooping out the leaf, and while I usually like hibiscus, I think six minutes might have been a bit long, or I used too much leaf. It’s sour. I added a handful of rock sugar, and I’m using a honey spoon to stir it with. It’s not having a huge effect because the tea is already cold, but ah well. It’s cold at least!

Sipdown. Which is sad, because I only got the sample a few days ago. Just proves how good it is, I suppose. This is definitely going on the reorder list.

I got this in my recent order with Adagio to replace the Lemon Meringue sample a friend sent me. Sadly, this is a weak replacement.

I’m not sure if it’s the tea itself or the way I’m brewing it, but I don’t taste any lemon at all. I tried it hot a few nights ago, and right now I’m brewing hot and pouring over ice, 4tsp/8oz, steeping 5 minutes. I might have to add another teaspoon or two, but all I really taste is the rooibos and the sugar and a bit of cream and milk. There’s a faint hint of sweet lemon, but it’s nowhere strong enough for me.

Bought three ounces of this, so I’ll experiment a bit more, but all in all I’m not in love with this.

On the plus side, I’m settling into a Hollow Crown marathon on BBC right now, and it’s incredible. Halfway through Henry IV Part 1 at the moment, and I’m looking forward to finishing Part 2 tonight!

One of the samples from my recent Adagio order. I don’t have a lot of experience with pu’erh, but I’d like to try more. I went gong fu with this one, although I didn’t time the infusions.

I did a quick rinse of the leaves, then steeped for around 15-seconds or so. I found the taste to be very light and sweet, without much of the earthiness I’ve come to associate with pu’erh. I wonder if it’s because I didn’t steep long enough; I’ll try Western style next time.

This isn’t a remarkable tea, but it’s light and naturally sweet. I don’t think I’d reorder it though.

When I was placing my last order with Adagio, they offered me a free sample of my choosing if I shared my order on Facebook. I’d placed a big order of blacks and oolongs (because although I usually prefer greens, I never have darker teas when I do want them), so I indulged myself on this one. From the description / reviews I was under the impression it would be similar to a Dragonwell.

The dry leaf is long and loosely rolled. I can’t unroll the leaf without breaking it, but I can peer down the center of it like a little telescope. Sniffing it, there are faint smells of grass and something akin to cocoa powder. Not what I expect from a green, but intriguing.

Steeped this morning in my little Amsterdam 2-cup teapot, which is great for the mornings when I want something a little fancier than a mug. I have a matching cup and saucer to go along with it.

I steeped for two minutes, and when I pulled the infuser basket out and let the excess tea drip from the leaves, it looked clear. In the cup, it’s a very pale gold (although my teapot and cup are rose colored, so colors aren’t completely accurate.)

On the first sip, it reminds me of something in between the first and second steeps of a Dragonwell. It has a vegetal overtone to it, but it’s not as strong, and there’s a buttery flavor supporting it. Adagio compares it to pumpkin seeds, and I can see where they get that comparison. (Although presumably these are pumpkin seeds that aren’t burnt and covered in salt!)

In short: I really like this tea. I’m delighted I got to try it, and I’ll probably keep it in my cupboard!

I got a giant order from Adagio yesterday. Yay! This is the first one I’ve tried. Steeped gong fu in the tasting cup. I’m not scientific with this method; I just kind of toss in a pinch of leaf and steep until I feel like stopping. But it works alright for me.

I like this. The first few steeps were a bit blah, but then it started to get creamy and sweet and smooth. It’s a great oolong.

Thanks to Fong Mong Tea for this sample!

I’ve been on a bit of an oolong kick lately, but at the moment my permanent collection is mostly greens and herbals. I dug through my sample box until I found the last one from Fong Mong.

The leaves are dark brown and tightly rolled, and there are little stems mixed in with the leaves. It smells dark and kind of earthy, (the word “snail” comes to mind) but I’m also getting the feeling of seaweed, like ocean rocks covered in bracken and barnacles.

Steeped 6g/10oz, 180deg, 3min.

It tastes dark to me. There’s an earthiness, woodsiness to it that I’m not entirely fond of. I can certainly taste the charcoal flavoring here. I think it’s just my personal preference for the lighter, greener oolongs speaking. I’m also getting some honey notes and a toastiness not unlike a genmaicha.

All in all, it satisfied my oolong craving, but it’s not something I have a burning desire to keep in my collection.

Tastes like freedom.

Happy 4th everyone!

My sister grabbed this out of the sample bin the last time I was at Virtuous, and I assiduously waited until today to try it. I poured the whole sample into my ingenuiTEA, steeped 3 minutes at 212.

It’s a beautiful peachy-red color. The Yunnan in the blend really comes out; it’s not as much Assam or Ceylon as one might ordinarily find in a breakfast blend. It was incredibly strong, verging on bitter, with a lot of astringency, so I added a liberal amount of milk and a bit of sugar. I’m a wimp when it comes to strong blacks!

It’s good. It’s a well-rounded black blend, and the Yunnan lends a sort of peppery flavor that one doesn’t ordinarily find. It’s a bit malty, but not overwhelmingly so.

All in all, it’s good. I don’t really love the breakfast genre of teas, but I enjoy this one. I might consider purchasing a few ounces of this to take back to school for those days when I do want something a bit stronger.

(Also, is it bad that I’m drinking American-themed tea in a British tea mug? shhhh, don’t tell.)

I always feel guilty about drinking my silver needles. Because it costs more than most of the teas in my collection… but then I never drink it! I suppose it’s one of those special occasion sorts of teas.

Today’s not really a special occasion… I just wanted something light and sweet. I steeped this hot and then poured over ice.

This is how you do jasmine. It’s barely there, just a hint, and it doesn’t overpower in the slightest. The tea has a very soft mouthfeel, almost like I’m drinking the fuzz coating the needles (which, come to think of it, I probably am). It looks colorless while pouring, but in the glass it’s a chrysanthemum color.

Upping the rating a tad because I’m happy about this right now!

Thanks to Fong Mong Tea for this very generous sample!

Several months ago a friend sent me a sample of a Tung Ting that I loved. Of course, the tea shop is halfway across the country and doesn’t have a website. Since then the memory of that tea has been sitting there in my head, and I’ve tried oolong after oolong looking for a similar one… but I was always disappointed.

Until now.

Oh, I love this. The leaves are small and tightly rolled, shiny and bright and soft green. I used the whole 6 gram sample for 16oz, brewing western style because the bowl part of my tasting set has disappeared!

The scent is very light, sweet and a little green, with light floral notes. And the flavor is also very light and sweet, with a base “oolong” sort of flavor – warm and green. It’s like a spring day, when the air is cool and the sun glints through the grass and the wind smells vaguely of the sea.

Fantastic oolong, and I’m so glad to have tried this! Thank you Fong Mong Tea!

The taste of this is a little pale to me – I think I added too much milk. I’ve been drinking straight EG lately and I forgot how light this was. It’s very creamy and sweet and smooth.

I placed a massive order with Adagio yesterday, and I really appreciate living in Eastern Mass for the summer… as we fall within Adagio’s one-day shipping! (As opposed to, you know, the two-day shipping at school, but you know.) I can’t WAIT to try these new ones! Lots of blacks and oolongs :)

Today was a bad day, panicky and strung-out. I went out, drove about an hour just to get away, stopped in a Barnes & Noble for a drink. The B&N by my house has a Starbucks attached to it; they share an entrance but it’s a Starbucks. This one was actually a Barnes & Noble Café. I don’t know what it is – it might just be that I’m absolutely terrible at poker faces, or maybe just that I notice it more – but whenever I’m having a day like this the cashiers and random strangers around me all seem so much kinder than they do ordinarily.

I hadn’t tasted any Harney teas before, and the barista was incredibly sweet. She was a middle-aged Indian woman with a soft accent, and she kept recommending me teas and complimenting me on my choice of cookie. Made my night. Thanks, barista!

~Tea!

I like this one. I walked over to the condiment station and tasted it, and it was just the perfect strength, although I’d only left the bag in for about a minute – really, just long enough to pay. It’s minty and cool without much sweetness, and there’s a little hint of herbal flavors underneath it. All I added was about a half-teaspoon of honey. Perfect.

Sweet and warm and soothing.

Oolongs are a very calming breed of tea.

Hotbrewed this 3tsp/10 oz then poured over ice with a bit of milk and sugar.

I’ve been on a hazelnut kick right now, and this is delicious! It tastes like hazelnut, with a bit of astringency that’s not too bad since I’ve added milk and sugar. It’s nutty and dark and oh! It’s excellent.

Received this on (for real this time!) in a swap with Rachel – thanks!

Dry leaf note: small, twisted grey-green leaves. Smells like fields and hay with little notes of plum.

The liquor is a bright gold when steeped. Smells kind of like spinach and artichoke but with a sweetness to it. Very vegetal. Tastes smoky, vegetal. No real notes of sweetness. Like it, don’t love it.

I really like this EG. I haven’t found a lot of EGs that I like, but this one is balanced really nicely and the bergamot isn’t overwhelming. I’m sad that I can’t buy this by the ounce, but I just placed a massive sample order with Adagio (I had a lot of frequent cup points and ordered about 15 different samples for about $8, including shipping!). I’m hoping their Earl Grey Bravo is similar.

I still have have about half an ounce left of this, so no need to cry just yet!

Steeped 3tsp/16oz, poured over ice with a teaspoon of rock sugar and a splash of milk.

I really wanted an oolong after coming home from work today. It was quiet all night and I got a lot of reading for school done (we have 30 books to read in one semester, so I’m trying to pre-read each of them before school starts) – I finished one play, and almost finished another! Aaaand then I have another three I’m in the process of reading, and a whole list to start after that. Oh well. At least my professor has good taste!

I wanted something creamy and smooth and buttery, but unfortunately my oolong stash is really low right now. Digging through samples, I came across this one. It’s labelled as oolong, but it’s honestly more peach and fruit than tea. It might be because the fruit is sticky and coats the tea, but I can hardly find any leaves in the mix!

It has a very light flavor. The smell is kind of buttery and a little bit fruity. The liquor, however, is beautiful. It’s a light pinky-orange, like a peach that’s fuzzy and just ripe enough. It doesn’t taste so much like peach as it does kind of like nectarine or tangerine or orange. I like it more than I expected to, though! It’s not want I wanted… but after drinking it, I think it was what I needed.

Thanks to Rachel for this sample!

Cold-brewed this in my little infusion pitcher – I regretted buying it at first, since I didn’t think I’d use it much (I was in Teavana, and I’m ALWAYS buying things I don’t need there!) but I’ve been using it daily this summer, so that’s good.

I don’t love this. I get the mint first and foremost, and there’s the smokiness of the gunpowder behind it, but the entire experience is just a bit lacking. I think I’ll leave off a rating until I hot-brew it though!