Spencer

Long single-bag steep in a large pot.

I loved that you could actually taste the green tea, and that this did not just taste like apple cider. Aside from that, I was not too enthused about this tea, especially the tartness of the apple…that taste just doesn’t seem to belong in a tea, in my opinion.

Very tasty, reminded me of bubble gum.

I should have put a bit more sugar in it. This was the first time I’ve ever made a quantity that wasn’t in a large teapot.

A tasty cuppa, and such a nice change from plain cinnamon orange black teas.

Brewed in a two cup teapot. I might not have used enough leaf. I’m curious to see what this tea would be like in a gaiwan.

I’m sad to see this all gone…

First time brewing in a gaiwan. Very tasty. Gaiwan brewing is fun.

nom

No notes yet.

Used one large teaspoon in a gaiwan. Water was boiled and left to cool for a minute or two.
I quickly rinsed the leaves, then set about on this tea adventure!
(Steeps are one cup at a time)
Dry leaves: Tightly rolled and green. Floral and a bit sweet.
First steep: Buttery floral aroma. A bit grassy in taste, but moving toward wonderful oolong smoothness.
Second steep: The aroma has become less grassy and more floral. The flavour, too, is lighter, but with a heavier mouthfeel that I did not notice before. Notes that are somewhat fruity appear in the aftertaste.
Third steep: Two minutes for this steep does not seem to have been enough. Put back for another minute prepares the tea for drinking. Very lightly floral, with a smooth butteryness all about the tea.

No notes yet.

Better than the last time, for sure.

Hmm, the scent of this dry rooibos is legit. And by legit, I mean it legitimately smells like vanilla. Not fake vanilla like is used in various desserts, but real vanilla. Adding three teaspoons of this tea and steeping it in two cups of water for six minutes, I was left being tantalized by the aromas of vanilla wafting from my teapot as I waited. The tea smells sweet, but not in a fake sweetener way. It is more like the sweetness that comes from plants like mint or various fruits. The liquor is clear, yet a very dark red-brown.

My first cup smells warm. And not just from the hot tea. It just has a warm, and soft, aroma about it. It softly caresses the senses and lingers in the nose. Eagerly, I take my first sip and am immediately surprised by how sweet it tastes. The sweetness is very passive, but it is definitely there, and a quite pleasant surprise. This tea’s mouthfeel is thick and smooth. The flavour of vanilla is, of course, at the forefront. The rooibos, sadly, seems to have taken a backseat in this brew, as it does not show its head much, except in the aftertaste.

The flavours do not change much throughout the rest of the pot. I very much enjoyed drinking this tea. It is good, it is unique, and it is well worth a taste or two. I give it a 77/100 on my personal enjoyment scale.

The name makes me curious. Why would a tea be called Love? Aside from being TeaFrog’s most popular rooibos blend (imply that people love it), I couldn’t figure out the reason for the name. So, taking this initial assumption in hand, I had high hopes for this tea. Opening the package, I placed my nose at the opening and was assailed by a myriad of aromas, not the least of which smelled like the Fig Newton cookies I enjoyed as a child. It was different, yet delicious smelling.

The boiling of the water teases me as the scent of the dry rooibos wafts from the open teapot to my nose. Clock-watching begins as the time ticks toward zero…and toward tea time! Three teaspoons, two cups of water, and six minutes later I was ready to enjoy this aromatic treat. The package says to steep for 5-6 minutes, and I chose the upper end as I like my rooibos strong.

And strong it was! Wow, this tea brewed up a dark red, almost muddy complexioned. The ingredients are well balanced, as I can definitely smell the red rooibos in amongst all the other ingredients. It has almost a spicy aroma to it now. Taking my first (big) sip, the subtly fruity liquor, with a tinge of spice (possibly from the orange peel), flows quickly and easily over the tongue. The flavour is well balanced between the rooibos and the additions. This tea definitely leaves one eagerly wanting to take the next sip. While it seems to have a light mouthfeel, the tea leaves a strong aftertaste of the non-rooibos ingredients. It really is quite a delicious blend and seems to be a tea that one would enjoy on a cold day, as the other ingredients combine with the rooibos to create a brew that warms the body and mind. Sadly, more descriptive words fail me as I’m lost in the tasty flavour of this tea. I give it 75/100 on my personal enjoyment scale.

Con un sandwich de queso!

I’m still getting used to the flavour of this tea, but it’s growing on me. It does smell, and taste, like rice just out of a rice cooker. Good pu’erh, but not necessarily my first choice if I was given the option. It does smooth out from cup to cup though.

I’m realizing this pu’erh really isn’t as good as I first thought, but it’s pu’erh, and (to change my own quote) “mediocre pu’erh is better than no pu’erh at all.”

Mediocre Earl Grey. Not enough to get me going this morning.

Smoother than before, now utterly smooth, as this is the second pot.

Tasty, though I think I used a bit too much tea, as it is a bit bitter.

Tasty with melon pan!

Delicious and dark, more to come later.

Several hours later, still as good.