momo

Hmmm so I’m first! I almost drank my entire bottle of this while I was out today, too hot outside…though some of it ended up in the bottom of my bag. I think I need a more trustworthy leakproof bottle.

This was cold steeped overnight, and it was really good. I never really eat grapefruit but I love the flavor of it, so it’s especially welcome here, and one of the main reasons I got this tea. I have never actually had the cocktail but based on this tea, I’d maybe give it a shot. (Though the variation with pineapple juice instead of grapefruit sounds even better.)

This is sweet, a little tart in a good sense, and the base is a nice smooth overall flavor to match. Definitely a very refreshing thing to drink when it’s hot and humid outside. I should have made an entire pitcher since I’m still so thirsty!

Now I’m really excited because one of these weekends, I’m going to go to Orlando and I have no idea what we are going to do, but that’s going to make 2 trips to Florida this year (and one more in October) and I have no idea what to do. My boyfriend said water park but meh, I’d rather take the time to go to a beach instead then.

And yes, this tea’s name did give me that idea.

Perfect tart is more like it. I steeped it hot then poured it over ice, using the whole sample for a cup of water. I think I meant to use half a cup so it’d be really strong but my brain is mush with production possibilities frontiers. I’m actually glad I didn’t do that.

Smells like pear, that’s for sure. I had to add sugar though, because it was just all around tart before that. Now it tastes like pear up front, but it has this weird, tart aftertaste. And actually, tart is too nice. Sour is more like it.

If it wasn’t for that, this would be pretty good. But on the plus side, that’s one less tea I really want. Now I really want a real pear. Poor pears, I wish they could be well replicated in tea.

I will finish drinking it though because it is above what I am studying in less painful things to subject myself to right now.

I coldbrewed this, and while totally delicious and coconutty, the base seemed a bit harsh. Then I came over to Steepster and saw “iced latte.” While the tea isn’t strong enough for that, I remembered I still have a lot of coconut creamer to use up in the next couple of days so I poured a good bit in. For once, I’m drinking a tea where it doesn’t matter if the coconut milk flavor comes through from the addition!

Definitely better now, but I still get something that tastes oddly smoky. I only recently bought this and I haven’t kept it with anything smoky, so I have no idea what caused this. It’s not bad, just seems out of place. Entirely possible it was picked up in the bottle even though I have no idea what would have caused it. But with the creaminess amped up, it’s less noticeable. This is definitely more like just coconut cream, not really getting any sort of crust flavor. Well, kind of, I’ve resorted to the butter cookies again, so I am tasting pie after all, but not solely from the tea.

Definitely will give it a try hot soon, and then properly make it an iced latte.

Second try, this time with a lower temperature thanks to the suggestion from Amy oh. Also this time I won’t let it cool off too much. I completely forgot I have a 3 page paper due tomorrow but I’ve got one page down and I haven’t even written half of what I’ve thought about…and I’m doing this all without the book. I’ve also got an exam already…and no book…and I only have gone to the class one full day…so that will be interesting. I’ve at least got all the notes but yeah, note to self to never get sick and take summer classes.

So this is much better with a lower temperature water. It’s fruity, almondy, just like the description. And although it says it’s good with a buttery dessert, I think it tastes just a bit buttery. Since I just got some butter cookies, I am trying one with it. It almost makes the cookie taste more like an almond croissant. Dessert upgrade magic!

It still has an astringent quality to it, but it’s that good kind of astringency that makes Darjeeling so delicious.

This is definitely a keeper. Too bad I have no money. I’m doing a marketing study the last week of the month and I’ll get at least $85 (possibly $125 if I’m chosen to stay an extra hour, either way $40/hr is AWESOME), and my mom yelled at me for wanting to buy a yixing teapot with it. Not all of it necessarily, since I only want it to be like 6oz max, but I suppose eating might be more important. She told me to live like a college student. Hahahaha. Are we allowed to drink first flush Darjeelings?

I got samples of the rest of the summer teas when I ordered Tropicalia and Luscious Watermelon (though I already have a bag of Swampwater but who wouldn’t accept more) and this one had intrigued me so I am finally trying it. Yesterday I had no time for tea, we went to this animal rehabilitation center called Noah’s Ark, which is well known for a tiger, lion, and bear that live together. They were all kind of relaxing on their own but it was still amusing because the bear had the best napping position. We stopped at this state farmers market (which is MASSIVE) on the way and bought the animals a big watermelon, some blackberries, and also brought some marshmallows for the bears and the lady at the visitors center was so amazed. I can’t figure out if it was because the blackberries were so big and gorgeous or because we brought donations, which makes me sad if most people come there with nothing (it’s free to visit).

I would have fought animals for those blackberries though. At least I got some peaches that are AMAZING but I was sad that I missed strawberry season I guess. Not that it matters, I have a few berries growing outside but I really was in the mood for them! But I had this sample with me today so I decided to try it out iced.

When I opened the bag, it really smelled like granola bars. I steeped it hot for about 3 or 4 minutes since 5-7 sounds a bit too much, then I put it in the fridge for later.

I love the strawberry flavor but the brittle to me just doesn’t make me think shortcake. I still get granola bar. It’s a bit caramel tasting but for the most part just isn’t coming off as creamy to me. And I’m glad I stopped steeping it when I did because the brittle definitely sweetens the tea up. In any case, it’s still tasty once I can get beyond the granola similarities, and it’s quite good iced. I wasn’t expecting much since it seemed like an odd choice for a cold tea.

Now I can’t decide if I should try the other half of the sample hot or cold brew it.

Lesson of the day: Don’t judge a tea by its overwhelming campfire smell.

I was feeling brave so I decided to once and for all tackle the sample Bonnie sent me of this tea. Smelling it once again I almost gave up immediately. It’s like every possible smoked item you could think of to the power of five. Campfires, liquid smoke, leather, tobacco, even after it’s steeped for almost 3 minutes, the cup of tea retains those same scents.

Just keep telling yourself bacon.

Finally brave enough to sip…it’s different. It’s spicy, smoky, and a little sweet. Since I’ve really never had anything smokier than the Smoky Chocolate from 52 Teas I am having a massive “oh my god this isn’t for drinking this smells like bacon dipped in liquid smoke kept in a leather purse!” reaction.

Going to keep sipping though. If I can stand it this way then if I made it more like everyone else has I should have less of a problem in the future. Yay trying new things!

It has a lot of depth but it’s not like being placed directly in the path of barbecue smoke while sitting at a campfire while wearing leather. Oh I can’t get used it yet! It’s just so weird. At least I seem to be having a better time with it than I had with ice skating.

No notes yet.

This has been in my fridge now for a good 17 or so hours, so it’s definitely time to give it a try. I was waiting for a “day in the 80s” according to my first note, but it’s only 78 because of repeated storms since last night; fine by me!

This was amazing hot, so I don’t think it can raise the bar cold. You’d think since it’s based on jello, that wouldn’t be the case but just re-reading my old note brought back the flavors of it.

It really does taste the same, but maybe the lime is missing a bit. The pineapple, the creamy marshmallows, and even the unmistakable jello type taste are all present but it seems like it needs just a touch more lime. Not that it’s not amazing the way it is. It still completely amazes me that it actually has that jello taste to it. It actually just reminded me that when my brother and I were sick, sometimes we’d get “jello water” where I guess you kind of use double the water and drink it before it starts to set. That’s what it reminds me of (though pretty sure we always went with strawberry).

Seriously, this tea is so nostalgia-inducing. Hopefully on my next cup I can finally remember the name of one of those indoor playground places like Discovery Zone that had a circus theme to it, and a Chuck E Cheese type show. I haven’t wanted to call my mom out of the blue to ask if she can remember so maybe this tea will do it…or maybe one of you, but I’m wondering if it was a one-off location or just around the Chicago suburbs way back? Almost 20 years ago I bet. I just wish I could remember! Back to drinking this so maybe I can.

First off, thank you Red Leaf Tea for sending me a replacement for this matcha. It is much appreciated.

On the sad side, I don’t think this flavor is for me. It might have to do with the previous taste ingrained in my mind now, but I still get it. However it’s much better this time around. The soapy taste just comes through at the end but it doesn’t feel like it’s burning my tongue off like the first time. And before that happens, it does actually taste peachy!

Actually, as I drink more it starts to go away. I’ll work with this a bit more but it’s now much better. I’m thinking of making a peach syrup and adding it for a sweetener, since this does need it at least for me.

No notes yet.

I haven’t felt good all week and haven’t gone to class and it sucks. I think it’s a combination of actually being sick and stupid grass pollen. No rest for the allergic. So after whining about not having any soup, it was finally like hey dummy, you have enough tea to supply a small nation-state’s army. Who needs soup?

I’ve been feeling in the mood for white tea so I figured I would revisit this bai mu dan. First time around I was really getting cucumber from it, I remember. Today it reminds me of straw and some light flowers. I feel like maybe even sauteed zucchini is present too. It really is reminding me of cooked zucchini.

This is definitely feeling nice on my sore throat. And even after all the time I’ve had it, it’s still got that lovely fresh aroma and taste, like I rolled around outside in a field. Except I wouldn’t do that right now, it’s too hot.

Thanks WillWorkForTea for these teabags! I cold steeped them in a pitcher overnight.

I’d like this if it didn’t taste purely of lemongrass. I’m not sure how it tastes like lemongrass when it’s not an ingredient but that’s all it tastes like. No mango, no coconut, plainly lemongrass and nothing else. As it’s sat out for a bit there’s a slight coconut flavor before it really gets into that lemongrass flavor. It’s like drinking a very mild tom kha soup..seriously.

Meh. I think I have to just dump the entire pitcher. I don’t mind lemongrass when other things are going on. But this is just one-dimensional. I don’t know why I keep trying TeaForte when they just keep letting me down.

I don’t know if anyone remembers Coca-Cola Blak from a few years back. It was Coke mixed with coffee, and I looooved it. I’m so sad it was discontinued. I have no idea why I loved it. I was reminded of it with this new flavored matcha from Red Leaf so I knew I had to get it. And when you live in the land of Coca-Cola, you kind of need to know how this thing tastes!

I think this would probably terrify many people because it’s pretty unique…but oh man it’s so good.

When I opened the bag it definitely smelled like Coke, it even smells effervescent. I waited as long as I could but I needed to have it ASAP. I figured the only way to really have this is to drink it cold, because hot cola would be kind of weird.

I put a bit of creamer in it, and it really tastes like Coca-Cola! The matcha is pretty much covered by the flavor, but at the end there’s a bit of the flavor of it. I don’t even care. I can’t stand soda other than Coke Zero because of the syrupy nature of it, and this is WAY better.

Imagining it now with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in it…

Just did a quick room temp steep for iced tea. This stuff isn’t even fair. I’m afraid to make a full pitcher of it because I’d go through it so fast. I could down this constantly. I love how the base tea blend actually plays into the caramelized sugar flavor before it turns into that nostalgic cotton candy flavor…exactly like pink cotton candy.

Even though I’ve been continuously drinking tea all day, finishing up the pitcher I had, for some reason this one just feels so incredibly refreshing and invigorating. Totally a summer drink.

This tea is so pretty! And it smells so good. I love the mix of things in here. Smelling it hot, I want to try it iced!

I get a variety of flavors in here. Toasted marshmallow, roses and orchids, jasmine, goji. I’m starting to really enjoy floral teas after finding out I actually do like chamomile, and this is definitely floral.

Definitely getting a glass of this cold steeping in the fridge ASAP. I may just have to steep this again!

Weird that I have a tasting note from 9 months ago but it says last logged almost a year ago…I was like I know I took time off from this tea because I don’t really like it hot.

I have a pitcher of it cold steeped and I’ve been drinking it all day. I really prefer it cold steeped. There is absolutely no hibiscus taste because it’s doing a far better job in amping up the blackberry. The mint fits in nicely in the aftertaste, but for some reason I want more! As usual though, the green tea is not very apparent, but it’s obviously there slightly, because this doesn’t just taste like I made juice out of dried fruit and flavorings.

Also genius just struck: I have some red table wine in my fridge so I poured a bit in a glass then filled it with this tea. AMAZING. I didn’t really measure but it’s a good mix because I can taste the wine and the tea still. A bit like a sangria but dare I say better?

Before I start on my new samples, I knew I completely forgot this one from the last round. Thank you for all the samples once again, Teavivre!

I’m supposed to be in class right now but I just feel sick and I don’t know why. It probably more has to do with the weather…while I appreciate getting rain it’s just so annoying when it’s just overcast for days. At least more lilies have bloomed since yesterday

This tea is really pretty to look at, with its thin leaves. It has a bit of a smoky, spicy scent to it.

Brewed for 90 seconds for the first steep. This has everything. Seaweed, veggies, sweetness, smokiness. I’m thinking I need to at least try asparagus, because all these teas I like that have the flavor according to other notes, I’d like to confirm that with my own taste buds and that’s kind of hard when you don’t eat the stuff. Of course I am probably like a month too late for any, but if that’s what the taste is here, I’m willing to try. I mean, I drank a foie gras milkshake last week just to find out what it tastes like. Probably not the best way to find out (you know, those weeks in France would have been a better time) but still I had to try it once.

I can’t figure out if I want to describe the last note as smoky or spicy because it’s like it changes with each sip. It’s not very smoky, or very spicy, almost just like a roasted mild pepper.

I prefer sweeter greens most of the time, but right now I really could go for a savory, vegetal one like this. I will give it another steep soon.

Seriously how many times this week am I going to sip something and have my first response be “is this tea for real?!” Wow! The tea I actually wanted has gone MIA so I grabbed something else I had yet to try, feeling still in a melon mood since yesterday.

Just the smell of the loose leaf tea in the bag alone is good. I steeped it to the parameters, 3 1/2 minutes with something around 180 degree water.

This tastes like you’d expect, but even better, it tastes like real cantaloupe. It even smells just like the real thing. And while it’s certainly creamy enough, I had to see what it’d be like with a touch of coconut milk creamer. It definitely just turned up the melon flavor and has given the tea an almost ice cream like mouthfeel.

That kind of took away from the white tea, but I think it adds a nice light base with a bit of natural sweetness. This definitely doesn’t need any sugar.

Resteeps to come, for sure. Amazing stuff. This will be repurchased as soon as I’m out of what I have.

Second steep: about 4 minutes, probably more because I needed to have actual ice cream in the meantime. Less creamy, so I added the creamer again, but now it almost tastes more like melon than the first steep. There is a nice floral flavor too, I’m guessing from the flowers…that reminds me, the lilies I planted back in April FINALLY have started to bloom: http://instagr.am/p/LtY1JBpa6v/ I think I like this steep even better than the first one!

I’m more of a fan of second flush Darjeelings both because of taste and price. This one is a serious exception. At $12.60 for a 125g bag, I might reconsider! I only got a sample of course though which isn’t bad ($2.50 for 15g).

As its cooled though it has become very astringent. I steeped it for 3 minutes exactly and it was good for the most part. It’s weird because the almond flavor in here is almost playing on the astringency, and it tastes like a burned almond. Before this happened though it was a bit buttery and mostly fruity, with just a bit of astringency. This is kind of undrinkable now…so at least I have plenty more to now remember this: drink quickly!

And of course, if I can crack whatever it is with this tea, the 125g packet is a definite possibility. Otherwise I’ll stick to those seconds.

This definitely needs to be made strong. I think I just used 1 1/2 tsp earlier for iced tea…I even left the fruit sitting in there while it cooled and it’s just not as good as the first time. It just seems watered down, so I know it needs more. I want to buy more of this because it’s so good when it’s done right. It’s just so pricey in that case!

I had an interesting cocktail yesterday with watermelon pucker and cucumber vodka, shaken with chopped basil. I think with this in place of the pucker, it would be even better, since that stuff hardly tastes like a real watermelon.

Since 52teas’ Citrus Piledriver was the first and only other time I ever have had guayusa, I am reminded a lot of it. Guayusa really does taste good with citrusy fruits added to it. So now it’s time for the next step…all guayusa with flavors!

So for the first time of having something that’s just guayusa, it’s an interesting flavor for me. When I smell it, I don’t want to drink it…then I drink it, and want more. (I’m like this with basil too, when cooking I’m like don’t add too much! And then I’m eating it, I wish I had more.) The creaminess you’d expect in a tea named Tangerine Creamsicle is probably the reason. It tastes orangey and creamy and with that herby, grassy taste of the guayusa, it’s very enjoyable….Should I probably just go back to sleep since I want to describe everything by ending it in -y?

Hopefully this helps wake me up a bit. I got up at the same time I did yesterday because I went to see sheep and goats that are eating the kudzu around Atlanta parks. I fed 2 of them, they really liked whatever I had a branch of, especially the goat…the goat just ripped it out of my hand. I couldn’t stop laughing.

Or if I go back to sleep, no harm done. This is a dreamy flavor, it really tastes like tangerines and oranges with a touch of cream. If you’re interested in trying a guayusa, this is definitely one to check out. You can get a feel for what the base tastes like and enjoy how well it blends with citrusy flavors! This is going on my shopping list for later when I have less things in my cupboard (and boxes and spice drawer and so on), and I bet it would taste so good iced.

Thank you for the sample, Stacy!

Comparing to other flavored white teas I’ve gotten, this has some big fluffy leaves for being $2.50 an ounce (roughly). I cold steeped some earlier, just for a few hours, so the tea was overall light. I wanted that though, because I actually really am not sure I even like black currant. It’s the main berry in here, although I got a bit of blackberry too. Even with just a few hours it still had the lightness of the white tea. I think the longer it would steep, the more it would become straight berry.

I’m going to steep it longer, more like overnight, soon and also give it a try hot. It seems like a good tea to go either way.

I had typed something up last night, thinking Steepster was all set…and then it threw the kettle at me. So here it is again, saved, and appearing now like 15 hours later.

I went to the mall after my class today because I needed some face wash. I ended up also getting a sample of a moisturizer for something different, and I kind of zoned out when the associate was going on about it having white tea for anti-aging because, well…I drink that. And then it was like “TEA. You must go to Teavana since you had to come to the second floor anyway.”

So off I went, and what do I head straight towards? http://www.teavana.com/tea-products/tea-cups-mugs/ceramic-tea-cups/p/laughing-owls-tea-cup Owls on a teacup! So perfect for me since it was also on sale.

By the way getting to and from the nearest mall is now awesome because of a diverging diamond interchange. Check it out on youtube if you’ve never heard of them. I got from the parking lot at the mall to the parking lot of my apartment complex in under 8 minutes. That’s ridiculous.

Anyway. I sort of had been thinking I needed a refill of Blackberry Mojito, though I maintain I have an owl radar (owldar?) and I had oddly made a beeline right over to the sale stuff without realizing it. The sales associate who came over there and I had been talking the whole time, and we seemed to have really similar tastes in tea, so she had me smell this one, which is her favorite.

I was sold on the scent. They should just make it into a perfume too. This is probably like the one time I have actually given in to an upsell there but it was too hard to resist. Then I came home, saw it has somewhat negative reviews here on Steepster, and knew I’d probably like it since somehow that’s how I operate with Teavana blends.

I let this steep at room temp. for around 1 1/2 or 2 hours, long enough for the jasmine pearls to unfurl. This is a hot, hot pink tea, probably thanks to rosehips and hibiscus. This is definitely something I’ll be saving for having cold only.

It really isn’t as good as it smells, but it’s not that horrible. In fact, I quite like it. The problem is the name is silly, because the strawberry and kiwi in here are far more dominant flavors, although I do get a bit of peach. I saw a review on their site where someone said the flavors all kind of intertwine into one fruity flavor, but I can definitely get all three. It mixes nicely with the floral jasmine and the tart hibiscus. It’s not too sweet, and it’s not too tart. Oddly, the aftertaste, which is full on tart, is rather nice in here.

I probably won’t get more after I use up what I bought considering the price, but it’s not bad. Only problem other than the lack of peach considering its place in the tea’s name, is how the actual flavor of the green tea itself is absolutely lost. It definitely would make this tea even better if I could taste more than the jasmine.

Finishing up my pitcher of this tonight, I’ve been using less coconut milk creamer than before…for a bit yesterday I kept overpowering it and it was sad. Splash means splash for a reason! Hopefully by the time the pitcher is empty there will be a new Stanley Cup champion team… /bitter towards both but accepting lesser of two evils

I think I like it better with a bit of rum, but I don’t want any rum today, ha. I guess it’s the coconut rum instead of the creamer that brings out the pineapple even more! I thought it was the creamer.

I think this will just be a staple in my pitcher through the summer.