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YUM! boychik has sent me some of the best shus!

This one is smooth and SWEET. It is lightly earthy and has a dark fruity note floating around. I did a long-ish steep and I’m really enjoying the bold flavor :)

I have a lot of new teas and samples I need to be sipping through and writing notes on, but I was craving this one today. Sometimes you just gotta drink what you are in the mood for you know? And today it is flavored blacks :)

I am home from mini vacation and just wanted to say that I’m drinking this iced right now and it is faaaaantastic!

Also if you are a foodie and live within driving distance of Cincinnati you MUST visit Jungle Jim’s International Market! www.junglejims.com

It is my new happy place LOL. Somewhat disappointing tea selection though…

This sheng is kind of strange. My first steep had a bitterness that reminded me of cocoa…but it is definitely a SHENG so it is really weird. Like, the liquor is a translucent amber…how is this giving me cocoa notes?

2nd steep also bitter, but more fruity. I will have to be more careful with this one in the future- maybe lower temp and shorter steeps…I do feel like the flavors lying under the bitterness are quite interesting!

I need some “cosmic” sheng to cheer me up!

Took my bird to the vet this afternoon. She has a tumor on her tummy :( Anyway, it is growing, and there is nothing they can do for her. Luckily for now she is maintaining her weight (which means she is feeling well enough to eat properly.) She’s getting to be an older birdie, so I am trying to take solace in the fact that up until this point she has had a very pleasant life, and trying to wrap my head around the fact that sometime in the not too distant future I will have to deal with her slow (hopefully not painful) death and all I can do is comfort her as best as I can!

Sorry to be a downer…ANYWAY, I got new birthday present TeaUrchin sheng samples! YAY! So far everything I’ve tried from TeaUrchin has been top notch. This one is pleasant. I think there is something extra special about Autumn harvests, as much as I have raved about a few first flush green teas in the past, heh. My vocabulary for describing sheng flavors is still in its infancy, but this one is rich and somewhat herbal/floral tasting. It has a nice balanced pleasant bitterness/astringency. When I inhale as I am sipping I feel the camphor-like vapors seem to permeate my entire being. Good sheng. Sheng good.

WHOA. I feel like I must’ve tried this one at some point…but I sure don’t remember this taste.

I did NOT expect it to be so fruity! It is REALLY fruity and REALLY malty. Very enjoyable and complex. Lots going on here to keep my interest.

I am pretty sure this sample was from Terri…if so, thank you Terri! :)

Another tea from Terri HarpLady :D

This sheng brings to mind fresh cut wood, as well as slight hints of golden raisins. Strong aftertaste on my tongue. Decent enough sheng but as I’ve been drinking a lot of different ones lately I can tell you this is NOT one of my favorites… but it is hard to pinpoint why exactly. Perhaps the woodier ones are not for me? Still totally drinkable though and I will steep the heck out of these leaves :)

Another lovely tea from Terri :D

Had another crazy busy weekend! Back at work now and very glad for strong teas to drink…

This one I did a real long steep on…OMG SO rich and dark and cocoa-licious. No astringency. It reminds me of Laoshan Black without the creamy/beany element. Very tasty! Hoping I can get a 2nd and maybe 3rd steep despite my long first steep :)

Thanks Terri!

Another one from the group TeaUrchin order.

I have been drinking the same leaves all day, but didn’t have time at work to take detailed notes on each steep. The steeps did get progressively sweeter and more honey-like. There is some slight tongue tingle, but not much. A little tiny bit of woodiness, with some crisp vegetal flavors. When I did a long steep I got a pleasant, light sort of bitterness. I’m excited to explore this one further :)