Featured & Popular Tasting Notes

70

This came in the mail today! My first order from 52teas, but not my first experience with them. I’ve been pleased with them so far, so let’s keep the good teas coming!

This smells very strongly of raspberry. I’m not particularly fond of raspberries, but I certainly don’t dislike them. However, I love cheesecake and things with cream cheese, so I had to try this. I can also smell the honeybush base underneath all that raspberry.

It actually tastes like a danish! I can taste raspberries the most, but the aftertaste is sweet like cream cheese and frosting. Wow! I’m drinking this unsweetened and without milk. It doesn’t need sweetener, but I think a splash of milk would benefit this.

The only thing that is disappointing is that I wish there was more of a cream cheese taste. It’s barely there, even in the after taste.

Yum, the aftertaste really makes me happy. Today has been a good tea day!

Cofftea

YES! More cream cheese!

Erin

have you tried any teas that have a really strong cream cheese or cheesecake flavor?

Cofftea

Nope. Not one. :(

Southern Boy Teas

It’s the fat content that really makes the cheesecake and cream cheese as amazing as they are. You might consider adding some sweetened condensed milk to make it really creamy and rich.

Cofftea

I’d just prefer there be more cream cheese:)

Josh

You make this sound soo good! Thanks to you and Cofftea I think I may have to start trying more flavored teas.

SoccerMom

@ Josh I agree Erin’s post had me looking for a sweet afternoon treat.

Erin

@Josh if you’re looking to try some flavored teas, stay away from Adagio’s flavored blacks. their flavored whites are really good (my favorite is their White Blueberry). everything i’ve had from 52teas has been good, plus they have free shipping!

Cofftea

Josh, as much as I respect Erin, her opinions, and her right to have her own tastes- I’d really suggest forming your own opinions of teas. I love trying teas that people say “Don’t try!”- a lot of the time I’m glad I did.

Ricky

Second the whole stay away from Adagio’s flavored. I think it depends how strong you like your flavored teas. 52teas is a bit too light for me (light as in the flavors too weak). It definitely taste / smells like what it’s advertising, but I wish the flavor was a bit stronger. So you like Jasmine, so you can probably stand floral tea. Teavana perhaps? Or give Golden Moon’s sampler of 31 teas for $20 a try. They have a wide variety of flavored teas there.

Ricky

Cofftea is right too. I mean you might end up liking Adagio’s flavored teas. They do have some decent ones.

Cofftea

Ricky, YES to the whole lighter thing (i.e. this one) w/ 52teas. And YES to the GM sampler which I’m still coveting. =D

Erin

Ahh, Cofftea and Ricky have made me see the error of my ways. Of course try everything; form your own opinions!

Erin

@52teas – I’ll try the sweetened milk idea. Thanks for the suggestion!

Cofftea

Josh, Adagio has some amazing jasmine teas.

Ricky

No, no Erin. I’m totally with you. I tell people to stay away from Adaigo’s flavored black as well. The way I see it, there are some decent Adagio flavored teas, but you can get a lot better flavored teas for around the same price with another company.

Cofftea

Better is so flippin relevent though:) I personally don’t like flavored blacks (other than chai) so I haven’t tried a lot of them, but the ones I have tried have been good for me. So you can either take that as “She has no clue what she’s talking about” or “Wow! Even she likes this!”=D

Ricky

Yes, in the end it really depends on the person =]

Erin

I second Ricky’s latest comment! And I agree with Cofftea on their jasmine.

~lauren.

Can I chime in with my two cents so late in the day? Josh, if you get a chance, try Harney’s flavored blacks – I recently re-discovered them and am loving them (Paris, Florence, etc).

ChariTea

Wow.. when I first saw this, I did a double-take. Cream Cheese Danish?! This sounds so interesting :)

Shanti

Well, I think Erin is spot on with her description of Adagio’s flavored blacks, and it is completely acceptable and DESIRABLE that people on Steepster make recommendations about which teas to try (and conversely, which to avoid). Not sure why anyone would get in arms about that, especially on what is essentially a tea review site. There’s no reason why someone should have to freaking apologize for their comment about a tea they don’t like and wouldn’t recommend. Just my two cents.

@Erin Your description of this tea made me want raspberry cheesecake! Hmm…I wonder if the nearby grocery store has any…

Josh

@ Erin, Cofftea, Ricky, and Lauren
Thank you so much for the debate on flavored teas. When I think of drinking a flavored tea I really want it to pop, otherwise what would really be the point. I have been looking at 52 Teas website today for the first time and they have a few things that really stuck out to me. I also had a look at the Golden Moons Sampler but it doesn’t list what teas come with the extraordinary 31 flavor sampler. Is there a good variety of their flavored teas in that sampler? Also how many cups do you get from one of those samples?
I will most likely order some from both places just because I have never had tea from either one and just try them out for myself.

Ricky

Josh, it doesn’t list what comes with it, because it’s their whole collection. They give you every single of the their teas they have to offer so browse their website or Steepster.

Isn’t that great though? All the teas from a company? =] Use coupon code Steepster to get free shipping.

Cofftea

Josh- Yeah 52teas’ blends are pretty amazing. EVERY one of their teas that they carry come w/ the sampler. That’s why everyone that has tried it loves it and everyone that hasn’t covets it!=D As for the size of the samples, they very- some as tiny as ~1.8g unfortunately. :(

Ricky

They have plain teas and flavored ones. I think what’s great about the sampler is that it gives you a good variety / understanding of all their teas and the company. Each sampler gives you about one to two cups. Of course you can get multiple infusions from each one.

Honestly, where else can you get 31 teas for $20? That’s .65 cents a cup of tea. Free shipping too =]

~lauren.

Hey Josh! Golden Moons Sampler has all of them (31) – Coconut Pouchong, Vanilla Mint, French Breakfast, Nepalese Afternoon Tea, White Ginger Rose, White Tea, Imperial Formosa Oolong, Madagascar Vanilla, Lapsang Souchong, Sugar Caramel Oolong, White Licorice, Snow Sprout, Jasmine, Temple of Heaven Gunpowder, White Persian Melon, Sencha, Orchid Temple Oolong, Honey Pear, Jasmine Pearls, Kashmiri Chai, Tippy Earl Grey, Pu-erh Chai, Darjeeling, Moroccan Mint, Sinharaja, Organic Green Tea, Pu-erh, English Breakfast, Vanilla Jasmine, Irish Breakfast (Special Reserve), RoseTea. Also – just ONE serving. (just got mine this week!). I ordered from 52 Teas but haven’t received it yet :( good luck!

Cofftea

@Ricky, even cheaper if you resteep!=D

Ricky

As for serving size, since there are mixed results. I just weighted two samplers I have laying around. So HMPH!

Pu-erh => 8.7g
Sugar Caramel Oolong => 9.8g

Anyways, a serving depends on the person. One serving to me is 12oz of water, two teaspoons of tea. I like my tea to be strong and bold. When I was talking about the samplers, I was saying you could make 1-2 6oz servings with them.

Ricky

2.5g is generally a serving and that’s for 6oz of water. You can stretch that to 8oz of water if you want. I think most of us just wing it when it comes to loose leaves.

Josh

Well you guys have sold me on the Golden Moons sampler, that just seems like a deal that no one should pass up. Especially someone who is fairly new to the tea world and wants to know more and more. One to two cups per sample is perfect for me because I usually re-steep at least once and sometimes twice. I will have to take another gander at 52 Teas teas and see if anything there really grabs me.

Cofftea

For me the pu erh would make a ~8oz cup, but that’s a lot of leaf, so I’d get 4 2oz servings out of it. Except for pu erh and Japanese greens, a serving for me is 2.25g/6oz. Unlike Ricky, I don’t wing it. I’m very type A when it comes to my tea… which is strange cuz I’m not excessively type A in ANY other area of my life lol!

Ricky

Haha, that’s why I wrote most because I knew you didn’t wing it, cofftea =]

Woaps, was it 2.25? I keep thinking it’s 2.5 for some reason. I guess it’s a rounder number.

Success! Josh will join the Golden Moon Sampler fun. Can’t wait to read those reviews.

Yeah, that pu-erh would make an 8oz cup. 1oz per g for pu-erh. Oh the complications of tea =P

~lauren.

Another GM sampler convert! YAY!

Cofftea

And that’d give you as many as 12 infusions per cup. That’d be just under 2 cents/infusion for me!=D

Cofftea

Ricky, yep it’s 2.25. An even 3g for an 8oz cup.

Ricky

Yay! Keep the posts coming. This is going to be the most popular tea soon enough also the convert Josh to GM thread. Where’s teaplz now!?!?

Josh

How do you guys go about figuring out your g/oz ratio, or is it all just trial and error to your liking?

~lauren.

Erin is probably laughing at us because this did start out as a 52teas tealog!

Cofftea

I stick w/ the standard for teas that don’t have unique authentic steeping parameters (so far Japanese greens and pu erh are the only ones I know of that do). I’d suggest starting there for a reference point and then going up or down as need be.

Cofftea

Haha! Oh yeah Lauren! I forgot lol:)

Ricky

Oh, that’s a general rule. I just do one heaping teaspoon for 8oz of water.

If you don’t know what to do, the rules are 2.25g (corrected by cofftea) for 6oz and pu-erh is a 1g to 1oz of water ratio.

Josh

@ Lauren
Yeah I thinking this should be a Discussion thread…

@ Cofftea
Cool, thanks.

Ricky

Haha, what? I thought this was a Golden Moon tealog! So sorry Frank! We still love your teas, well some of them, drools pina colada

~lauren.

Shoot – sorry, I killed the buzz ….! mea culpa!

Ricky

Nooooo! It’s so close from being the most popular tealog! Don’t let it die guys! Josh any further questions?

~lauren.

I noted your general-rule-of-thumb for my own edification, too! Thanks!

Josh

Well since this is a 52 Teas log, what would you guys recommend for some good 52 Teas to try? Some that aren’t too wild but just overall great teas.

Ricky

Pina Colada (Flavored Honeybush)
Buttered Cinnamon Toast (Must get me some!) (Flavored Black)
Malted Chocomate (Flavored mate)

=] Well these are the ones I’d consider repurchasing.

Josh

I was thinking the Apple Pie a la Mode, Razzleberry Green, Pomegranate Honeybush (maybe,) Banana Peach Green, and the Banana Split sounds pretty crazy.

Ricky

Josh, send me a PM, I’ll send you some 52teas.

~lauren.

Just ordered (7 days ago!) Cucumber Melon Green Tea, Pomegranate Green Tea, Pomegranate White Tea, Razzleberry Green Tea but have NOT gotten it yet.

Cofftea

Josh, back to the “how do you get your general rule?” statement… I know it doesn’t have anything to do w/ flavored teas (well only in small part), but here are great places to start for the different Japanese teas:
http://www.denstea.com/index.php?main_page=perfect_brewing

Josh

Really! Wow, best day ever.

Ricky

Welcome to Steepster ;) We’re here to help =]

Ricky

Dens is amazing.

~lauren.

Oh I have that website bookmarked from one of your other posts containing it :)

Josh

@ Lauren
Hopefully you get those soon, they sound pretty good. I should be getting my Four Seasons Oolong from Samovar on Saturday, I’m super excited.

@ Cofftea
Thanks for the link.

Cofftea

I forgot to mention that flavored pu erh is exempt from my 1g/1oz rule, I don’t rinse it either- I treat it as a black tea (at least the one I’ve tried so far) Oh I should mention that my “general rule” for measuring teas also does not apply to chais. For that I use one heaping teaspoon per 6oz. For my absolute favorite chia EVER which just happens to be 52teas’ Mayan Chocolate Chai, that’s 4g/6oz water or milk or a combo of both.

~lauren.

I ordered from Samovar, too – I wonder when I will get it? Love that teeny-tiny teapot!

Cofftea

oops chai, not chia:)

~lauren.

Can’t talk about Chai’s – am utter failure at chai’s so far.

Josh

The only chai I’ve made was a Masala Chai and I used 2 heaping teaspoons of the chai in 16oz water then while that was brewing I added 16oz of soy milk. It was mighty tasty. Although maybe next time I will use more chai…

Cofftea

I’d personally at least double it, anywhere from 4-5 1/2 tsp (I prefer 5 1/2 tsp)- especially if you’re adding milk.

Southern Boy Teas

Wow. I thought it was an error that this log had this many replies. Either that or I was in trouble for something and people were upset about it. :)

I shouldn’t say this, because all of our teas are great, but since the question was asked, I’ll tell you some of MY favorites of our blends. I do, however, have to preface the list by saying that while this may sound blasphemous, I am largely an iced tea drinker. I grew up in the deep south, and I drink iced tea year round. I’m now in Wichita, KS and we get our share of cold, but I’m still an iced tea drinker whether it’s 110-degrees out or -20-degrees. So, for some really spectacular ICED teas, I highly recommend:

Pina Colada Honeybush
Banana Peach Green Tea
Black Currant White Tea
Shamrock Blend
ANY of our Pomegranate blends (I know pomegranate is kind of ho hum and not as exciting as some of our other offerings, but I personally think our pomegranate blends are three times better than any of our competitors. We use REAL freeze dried pomegranate arils in each of them (and they are not cheap, but I think it really makes a big difference)).

Anyway, those are some of my favorites.

Josh

Yes, those Pomegranate teas are very tempting indeed. I’ve never had a Pomegranate tea before but I am a fan of the Pomegranate fruit so when I go to get some stuff from your site I will definitely be looking really closely at those blends! :)

Erin

okay WHOA! i went away to put on my PJs, take off my makeup, and brush my teeth and i come back and steepster says i have 42 new notices. and they were all for this tasting note! i nearly died laughing! I’m not even going to try to respond on all the topics that have been covered here, but I’ll respond to the latest topic – 52teas. I have only recently started getting into them with a lot of help from Ricky, but so far my favorite has been Malted ChocoMate.

Erin

Also, this was my 100th tasting note! Way to make it a huge deal!!! Hahahaha!

SoccerMom

Frank, Thanks so much for the recommendations for iced and for me getting my 52Teas order in today! It’s just starting to warm up here in Texas and I was thinking about what teas I could start making Iced so this post came in a timely manner for me.

Cofftea

Josh, also check out www.zoomdweebies.com and www.manteas.com (co companies of 52teas).

Josh

ahaha, congrats on the 100th note. Glad we could assist in the huge deal! You missed out on quite a bit in those couple hours you were gone.

Ricky

Back from packing tea! This is Steepster’s most popular tea log now. Success!

http://steepster.com/popular/all

Cofftea

Erin, you should totally chime back in:)

Cofftea

I wish there was a quick way to find that link like there used to be… :(

Southern Boy Teas

@Cofftea. Thanks for the links. I’m so embarrassed by zoomdweebies.com right now. We are working on a major overhaul of the site. Right now it is buggy and just not the site I would like for it to be, but soon….

And the manteas.com site almost requires a warning. It’s a bit colorful and edgy. It’s all done tongue in cheek and intended to be completely satirical, but I have had a few people tell me they were deeply offended by some of the content there. But yes, 52teas and ManTeas are both brands of Zoomdweebie’s, LLC

Erin

AWESOME! Hooray for the most popular note ever! And to think it all happened while I was getting ready for bed.

Ricky

I’m aiming for 100 comments to honor your 100th post.

Cofftea

52teas, just consider this a multi-authored comment/suggestion form for your teas LOL=D

Erin

Hahaha that’d be really cool. But it’s kind of like cheating if we just keep posting about how this is getting really long [that’s what she said?]. I say we actually talk about tea here, to make it legit.

Cofftea

Absolutely- and since you missed out on 3hrs worth, that’s a lot of catching up to do=D Jason, the 2 manteas I’ve tried were smoky bacon and beer- both are amazing

Josh

One more thing, the [that’s what she said?] joke was absolutely amazing! I actually lol’ed when I read that. :)

SoccerMom

Erin okay I’ll bite. I got in my first 52Teas order in today which consists of Malted chocomate and Buttered Raisin Bread. I can’t wait for morning so I can try them !

Erin

Josh – Thanks. I’ve been told I’m a master. [you know what to say here]

Southern Boy Teas

We’re working on t-shirts with the manteas.com logo. They are going to say, “Real men drink bacon tea” on the front and have our new ManTeas logo on the back. I’ve already got a few people clamoring for them.

Southern Boy Teas

Chelsea actually wants one in a ladies cut tee.

Erin

SoccerMom – I also got my first order today! It had the Raisin Toast (which I haven’t tried yet but I am so excited for) and the now infamous Raspberry Cream Cheese Danish. Although I’ve tried the Malted ChocoMate from Ricky and it’s one of my top favorites!

Cofftea

I’m gonna laugh my butt off if a 52teas/manteas/zoomdweebies tea is the SS item for tomorrow.

Cofftea

@52teas, How about a shirt that says “My man’s man enough to drink tea!”?

Erin

Yeah! If that ever happens I might not be able to resist!

Erin

@Cofftea – This kind of goes along with the thread about how men are now starting to drink more tea, but I never really thought of tea as being a girly drink. I know lots of guys from back home in Princeton that drink tea.

Southern Boy Teas

@Cofftea, no SS tomorrow. Jason is waiting on some pictures from me. We could totally do the “My man” thing too. Have you guys seen our new logo? It’s really ridiculous. I think it’s hysterical, tho again, some have been offended. It’s on the website: http://www.manteas.com

SoccerMom

@cofftea, could you imagine if they made your saying on a pink tee shirt! hee hee

Ricky

When are you restocking those matchas?

Erin

@52teas – HAHAHAHA! I just looked at your new logo! It’s brilliant! I can see how some people would be offended by it, but you can’t please everyone. I literally LOL-ed at that one!

Josh

@ Erin, I never really saw drinking tea as a girly thing either, but I do understand where it comes from. I mean little girls growing up were always having their tea parties with invisible tea…

@ 52teas, I think that manteas logo is brilliant! If you made a shirt with that logo on it I would definitely have to get one.

Cofftea

@52teas, you know how many times I’ve been on your site (daily) and I just now got your logo… facepalm…

SoccerMom, eh wouldn’t be too off the wall since it would be a woman wearing the shirt and not a man- well unless it was a man in a homosexual relationship.

Southern Boy Teas

@Ricky, some way too honest for my own good truth: I only have maybe a couple of pounds of matcha left right now, and I have an open invoice with my supplier I have to take care of before I can get some more. LOL. (I’m sick today guys, so forgive me if I’m stupid). Anyway, I was trying to decide whether to reblend the Mandarin Matcha (which would also require more freeze dried orange sections I don’t have) or create a new matcha blend. I’ve finally settled on the latter, and we got some freeze-dried strawberry powder. (Literally, it is powder). We are going to make a strawberry matcha next. I should have it on the site in the next week or so.

Cofftea

Ditto Ricky’s comment! Or better yet, new ones! Art of tea has a ginger matcha and there’s a Canadian company coming out w/ a bunch of flavored matchas as well.

Ricky

Strawberry matcha? I am sold! Save one for me!

Cofftea

HOLY FRICKIN CRAP! Thank you for picking one I’d like! I wasn’t too thrilled about the idea of a banana matcha. How about an orange strawberry blend?

Stephanie

Strawberry Matcha?? Yes! :D

Southern Boy Teas

Maybe after we get the t-shirts in, I can get Jason to run them as a SS item. LOL

Josh

Strawberry matcha! I want some of that. The orange strawberry sounds like it may be a good blend as well.

Ricky

You should help them make some Steepster swag while you are at it =]

Erin

You know what this whole epic tasting note thing has made me realize? Steepster should have a chat feature! PMing is great, but you can’t converse with more than one person easily.

~lauren.

Yay Erin for 100th!!!

Southern Boy Teas

Okay, so I just lost my little online poker tournament (non-cash) I was playing while keeping up with this, and now I am going to take my sick and weary behind to bed. Goodnight all.

Cofftea

Erin, that was suggested a long time ago and I totally ditto that!=D

Ricky

I just finished packing a few tea packages so I’m out as well. Erin weren’t you getting ready for bed an hour ago? Haha =P

Erin

Goodnight Frank!

Cofftea

HOLY FRICKIN CRAP! Steepster Select item is perfect for my type A tea self! One of the few times I will be caving.

~lauren.

Good Night!

Cofftea

Ricky, ready for and ready to go to are 2 different things:)

Erin

@Ricky – Yep! Haha I’m all ready now, but now my mind is full of 52teas thoughts and cheesy TWSS jokes. Oh well.

@Cofftea – I would, but I don’t have an iPod or iPhone!

~lauren.

@ Cofftea – have you checked out the Teavana app? It was free on itunes/app store.

Ricky

Haha, I would aside for the fact that my darn iPhone is too slow! I use this for my mac.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/calculate_convert/minutes.html

Comes in handy at work =]

Cofftea

Ah crap! I didn’t read the iPhone/iPod part… great… now I’m extremely pissed and depressed :-,<… This just may be worth buying an iPod for… It looks like the price is not a special so I don’t have do buy it in the next 24 hrs…

~lauren.

No mac but use google timer app on my laptop and have teavana timer on ipod.

Ricky

I like Teavanas app, it just sits on my phone and it doesn’t do a thing =]

Ricky

So we went from 52teas to Adagio to Golden Moon to 52teas to Teavana?

Cofftea

W/ mentions of pu erh (hello Bana Tea Co sampler!) and Den’s!=D

Erin

Ricky, I use that one too!

~lauren.

Yes, but it has pretty pictures! LOL

Ricky

Ha, I was thinking of bringing Bana Tea’s pu-erh to work tomorrow and have my co-workers help me finish one off. That means I’ll have to jot down some notes so I can write a tea log later in the evening.

I have so much tea, yet also so little! I don’t know how this strange dynamic works.

Ricky

If I stay here any longer I will end up sleeping at 4am, uhoh. Going to get ready for bed as well.

~lauren.

G’Night ALL!

Erin

Yeah, I’m going to leave now. Bye!

Josh

Night everyone, it was nice hearing all of your great recommendations for flavored tea.

Ricky

Ricky’s such a party pooper! ;)

Cofftea

Well you said you were getting ready for, not going to bed… you are a little strange for talking in 3rd person though… hehe;)

Jason

What the crap happened here?!?! 130 comments…that’s awesome! That has to be some sort of record. Congrats, Erin!

Ricky

Well we were trying to set a new Steepster World Record. Personally, I wanted to hit that 150 mark after we made it to the 100 ;)

Haha, I was getting tired Cofftea =P

Cofftea

Haha Jason- I actually laughed out loud when I read your comment.

@52teas, Frank PLEASE make sure you change your steeping suggestions on the packaging for your strawberry matcha (and changing the packaging to get rid of the clear would be great too), everyone knows you do not steep matcha for 3 min. That really bothered me to see that…

Meghann M

Awesome threads here guys, love all the comments about flavors to try of 52teas as I really want to place another order with them, but looks like I may be holding out for the strawberry flavored matcha drool! That sounds so fantastic! Great job Erin for the largest comment section ever and happy 100th tasting note!

Cofftea

And the post lives! I hope Frank makes an extra large batch of that matcha!=D

Erin

wow is this happening again? haha

Ricky

Tonight we are trying to hit 200?

SoccerMom

Erin, Congrats on your 100th tasting note!

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100

This morning, I’m having a kid’s breakfast. I’m hungry cause instead of eating dinner last night, I got drunk…Tea drunk that is. With giggles and all the fun that comes with it.

So I’m making “oeuf dans le trou”. (Egg in a hole???) Don’t know if other people have that dish in the world, but I’m guessing yes cause I found this pic:

https://jillcastle.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_5046.jpg

That’s exactly how I do mine, with a thick whole grain slice of bread and a big omega-3 egg.

When we were kids, It was a fiesta when my mom cooked them…

I dip the little bred circle from the hole in my egg yolk. So much yum, so much fun!

And what best tea to pair with it than by beloved Ailaoshan Black?

The sweet salted caramel notes chase away the eggy aftertaste in my mount, it’s almost like having eggs with maple syrup.

Then on it’s own it’s like having a little dessert. Malt with dark chocolate, sweet dried fruits…
I’ve written it all in previous notes.

This tea hugs me in the morning, and I can only hug back :-)

MzPriss

Yes eggs in a hole! I had so much fun with the tea and giggles last night and there was some dinner skipping here as well. I was HUNGRY and I had avocado toast with a few pecan halves and some pu-er concoction and steeping a cup of this awesome tea right now.

ohfancythat

My mom always made egg in a hole for us as kids, to this day no one makes them quite the same! I try to avoid wheat these days but once in awhile I just can’t resist an ‘egg in the hole’ as a treat. My favorite part was always eating the little square of bread fried up in butter beside the egg in a hole!

Bonnie

Enjoy! More tea after Church!

MzPriss

@whatshesaid – I saw a recipe the other day for an egg in the hole without bread! They used a rings of bell pepper and cooked the egg inside – let me see if I can find it and I will link you. Not the same of course but it sounded good to me

mj

I’m very jealous of your breakfast :-). I only have enough leaf for one more cup of this one so I must hoard it until I place a WP order!

Cheri

Now that’s what I’m craving for breakfast and there are neither eggs nor bread in the house. (I should go grocery shopping.)

Terri HarpLady

We always called it egg in a basket. I loved it, my kids loved it. I miss it, & yes, there are many gluten free variations that are fun, but of course, never the same…sigh…it’s that little circle of toast!

ohfancythat

I agree Terri, It’s all about the little tiny circle (or in my case, usually a square) of toast from the “hole”!

MzPriss, I think I’ve had that before, tasty but definitely no buttery bread replacement :)

Terri HarpLady

I always served it with extra pan toasted triangles too :)

TheTeaFairy

Haha! I’ m overwhelmed with you answers you guys, thought it was local dish or something, this is great! And yes, the little tiny grilled circle IS the best :-)

MzPriss, avocado toast is like a guilty pleasure…without the guilt! I also love toast and coconut butter with crunchy chia seeds on top. Weird but so good! And that pu’erh concoction of yours well…for some strange reason, I can clearly envision what you are having ;-)

Terri HarpLady

Inspired by this post, I made a savory almond flour pancake, topped it with sauteed greens & eggs, & made 3 cute little circle pancakes to represent the circle toast. :)

TheTeaFairy

Aww, terri this sounds so great and yummy! How cute, little mini round pancake :-)

MzPriss

@TeaFairy – for some strange reason I bet you can even taste it :)

@Terri – that sounds awesome

MzPriss

At my sweet little co-op market, they have the best thing now!! I just freshly ground my own CHOCOLATE ALMOND BUTTER!!! Chunks of almonds and chocky chips so so good!

TheTeaFairy

Hehehe, as a matter of fact… I can!!!

TheTeaFairy

Oh, I make my own peanut and almond butter. Never thought of adding chocolate to the almonds. Oh, that would turn like a some kind of crunchy Nutella, without the excessive load of sugar!!! Will try it this week for sure, thanks!

MzPriss

It is kind of like that with a higher nut to chocolate ratio. Very very good!

TheTeaFairy

MzPriss, then this will be dessert today, drizzled with honey on ripe bananas!

MzPriss

OH! I have a banana! I’m going to warm it up a little so it will drizzle and do the same

TheTeaFairy

Ok, let me know how it tastes like, I’ll have mine later…Lol, My review threads always end up talking about eating, I’m such a foodie!!

MzPriss

I am too. I’m cooking right now – just made some cauliflower rice sald (not rice – just cauliflower buzzed in the cusisinart) and stir frying veggies for some lentil curry

MzPriss

salad not said

TheTeaFairy

Hey, we do seem to have similar culinary tastes! Love the versatility of cauliflower so much, I make some sick fake mash potatoes with nutritional yeast…I’ve served that to people who actually like it more now than real mashed potatoes!!

MzPriss

I make those too. And have you made the pizza crust with it yet?

TheTeaFairy

Noooo! Ok, will you pm me recipe when you have a chance? Pleeeeazzzze?

MzPriss

I totally will. I’ll go find it now and send it to you PM

MzPriss

OK – the banana deal: I used my cast iron skillet and wee bit of butter and sliced my banana length-wise and did a little stove-top grill of the banana until caramelized and brown in spots. Warmed the chocky-almond butter for 15 seconds and then drizzled over the banana. Yes – you want it.

Lariel of Lórien

I like to freeze my bananas and then put them in the blender.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Caramelized bananas with chocolate syrup are the most simple and decadent dessert on the planet. Just sayin’. <3

Bonnie

I have allergies to some foods so I collect recipes on Pinterest. Anyone else? Bet Terri does!

MzPriss

*Lariel – easy banana ice cream!

@ Bonnie – I bet Terri does too. I don’t Pinterest – I just bookmark everything. Although I lost a lot of things when the harddrive on my macbook fried a little while back

@Brenden – I’m way picky about chocolate syrup though. I haven’t found one I love that doesn’t have some kind of crap in it. Do you know of one?

TheTeaFairy

Yes I do!!! Just melt 80% dark chocolate yourself, the best!!!!

MzPriss

You don’t have to add anything to it to make it stay syrupy? Doesn’t it harden on the food – or LOL do you just eat it up before that happens?

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Was about to say the same thing, Fairy-awesome-one!

I have a tiny skillet that I use for melting chocolate :) haha

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Chocolate awesomeness!! No I add NOTHING!!! Unless you serve it on something frozen, it’s ok. And as you mentioned, i just eat it too fast for it to have time to cool down ;-)

MzPriss

Well it just so happens that I have some 80% chocolate :D

TheTeaFairy

Well well, how bout that? Sounds like we are having the same dessert tonight ;-)

Oh and Brenden, I too own a tiny weeny little skillet for my chocolate. I don’t put anything else in it cause I don’t want ANY taste transfer. It’s so darn cute:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/laafeevertee/14536236312/in/photostream/

MzPriss

it IS cute!

apt

i had microwaved hot dogs for breakfast

TheTeaFairy

Hahaha! It’s all good apt, we are health freaks, we’re the scary ones ;-)
(I also did have my days of microwave mornings once upon a time, but I was more of a pizza gal!)

TheTeaFairy

Ooh ya, me like the petite size :-) that would be perrrrfect!
But then again, I’m a pots and pans fanatic…If I had a gigantic kitchen, I’d probably own every kitchen gadgets and appliances on the market!

Lariel of Lórien

A chocolate skillet? How does that work?

Whispering Pines Tea Company

:-) I need to get it…Since I’ve condensed my kitchen I realized I’m sort of missing some vital items. I’ve got two cast iron pans, a stainless steel crockpot, and a tiny skillet. I’m a huge fan of Frieling, too, which helps me trust that it’ll be a good investment :)

MzPriss

I’m sorry to tell y’all what I am eating right now

mj

TheTeaFairy your chocolate skillet is adorable!

TheTeaFairy

@WP: Yep, that’s the kind of pan you’ll have for a long time:-) better pay a little more once than keep buying every two years…

@Lariel, it’s not really a chocolate pan, it’s just very tiny and I like to melt my chocolate in it cause I can do just a little bit at a time :-)

@MzPriss: Well Bon Appétit then ma’am!!

MzPriss

fig & mascarpone gelato from this italian guy’s shop where he hand makes it

MzPriss

@TeaFairy – if it would get there from here I would totally send you some so we could share :)

TheTeaFairy

I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that but now I have to hate you….
;-)

Terri HarpLady

This post just keeps getting better & better :)
I want fried bananas, drizzled lightly with maple & maybe some coconut milk on top,& toasted coconut flakes.Yeah…I want that.
For dinner I’m having brats (nitrate & other BS free), a cultured dill from last summer, homegrown asparagus & cukes, & sweet potato french fries fries.
Tomorrow I’m planning to make a batch of cauliflower tabouli. I haven’t had tabouli for a long time & cauliflower makes a pretty good sub for bulgur too. I have all the other ingredients in my garden: parsley, mint, cukes, sungold cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic.
Foodie? Damn right!

MzPriss

Yeah you might have to. A friend just brought it over

TheTeaFairy

Ok, now I can’t hate you no more ;-) I’m going to your house, bye cats, bye dog…

MzPriss

it’s amazing

MzPriss

You can bring them. Although my dogs don’t understand cats

MzPriss

Oh man Terri that dinner sounds awesome.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

My dog thinks all cats are puppies, and so he acts like a daddy dog and goes to snuggle them and keep them warm, but they just smack him in the face and he gets confused…lol

TheTeaFairy

It’s ok…the intention counts, I’ll always remember you offered to share with me:-) enjoy for the both of us!!

Terri, if I was living near you, I’d find an excuse every day to drop by around dinner time, and just pretend I need something. And then you would say, «hey fairy, I was just about to have the most fabulous dinner and dessert, would you like to join? » ;-)

MzPriss

I wish to have that tabouli please ma’am

MzPriss

You know you’d get great tea @ Terri’s too

TheTeaFairy

I love cats and dogs stories, your dog sounds adorable!! …brenden this is how “friendly” things are here :-)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/laafeevertee/12530016644/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/laafeevertee/12529529795/in/photostream/

MzPriss

I am overcome by the cuteness

mj

That dog is GORGEOUS!

TheTeaFairy

That’s Dexter, pretending he doesn’t want to make a snack out of Happy…

MzPriss

They’re snuggled!

Terri HarpLady

I love those pics! I used to have a great dane (Ellie Mae), & when my cat Opal had a litter of 5 kittens, they were HER kittens. She mothered them all the time, they were her babies.

Terri HarpLady

If my kids ever move out, I seriously want to do the bed & breakfast thing, so you can all come visit me :)

TheTeaFairy

Awww for the dog, yay for the B&B. can I reserve now????

TheTeaFairy

Prana is just gorgious. Sigh. i want another dog…there’s nothing like puppy love :-)

Terri HarpLady

TF, it might still be a year or 2, but of course! :)

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Dexter and Happy are totally adorbs too! :)

TheTeaFairy

Terri, i can wait, i’ll be totally worth it ;-)

Thanks Brenden, they are my babies :-)

Bonnie

You guys have spiked your tea, I’m positive. Have you seen Brendens kombucha (or kumbaya whatever)…It’s fermenting into hippie wine (b4 you were born). (Sorry Brenden, it looks like fruity sangria with soggy granola on top. Most of them do not just yours). Need a party somewhere. A cruise! (Keep saying that)

TheTeaFairy

Haha! bonnie I did look at breden’s kombucha, my aunt use to make her own, that’s how I know it…he almost convinced me to try and make my own, lol!

A party with you bonnie? Anytime, let’s have one now, you know how much I’ve missed you :-)

Lariel of Lórien

What is this cukes of which you speak? And also, you guys are making me want to garden.

TheTeaFairy

Lol, we do sound like weirdos don’t we? Lariel, kombucha is fermented tea. It looks gross and slimy but it tastes pretty good and has a lot of health virtues. Brenden had a link on how to make your own on WP website but I can’t find it anymore…

Lariel of Lórien

I know what kombucha is, I’ve had it a few times. I was wondering what ‘cukes’ are slang for. That’s not really a word we use in California.

TheTeaFairy

Oh sorry, I didn’t notice “cukes” and this thread is wayyy tooo long for me to trace it now!

TheTeaFairy

Ah, cucumbers!

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Not to mention, you can make kombucha wine with champagne yeast ;)

Terri HarpLady

Cukes = cucumbers
I grow a lot of them, then I put them into a salt brine for 2 – 4 weeks to make old fashion dill pickles wth lots of garlic & dill.

TheTeaFairy

Ok, bookmarked this time! I can now imagine all kinds of drinks and cocktails with champagne Kumbucha ;-)

TheTeaFairy

And of course there will be some on the table when I go visit St-Louis and stop at Terri’s B&B!!

Terri HarpLady

hell yeah! We’re still eating them from last summer, & I’ve started making the new ones, so there will always be more! Along with home made cultured (and very much alive!) sauerkraut, kimchi, dilly beans, & whatever else I add to my bubbling laboratory :)

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Mmm I bookmarked that one. Sounds yummy :)

Lariel of Lórien

Cukes sounds like an odd word, though I’ve only liked cucumbers if they’re in tahini sauce.

Terri HarpLady

Mmmmm, tahini sauce! Picturing all the ingredients…yup, I could make some of that too!

TheTeaFairy

Lol, this thread as a life of its own now ;-O

TheTeaFairy

I meant “has” silly typo

Terri HarpLady

Just one more reason to love Steepster, and tea, cuz otherwise none of us would have met in the virtual world :)

MzPriss

Exactly! Can I come to your B&B when TF does?? There won’t be much sleeping but there will be lots of middle of the night tea…

TheTeaFairy

…and giggles :-)

MzPriss

Extreme giggles!

TheTeaFairy

You know what they say…if you visualize it enough, you will make it happen :-) see? the giggle part already happened :-)

MzPriss

Well I do keep a travel bag packed…

TheTeaFairy

Lol, I don’t travel much…but I guess it doesn’t hurt to be ready ;-)

Terri HarpLady

YES!
I think once my kids all move out, we should have a mini tea convention/slumber party (with no actual sleeping) at my house, to celebrate the grand opening of my bed & breakfast/Tea House.

MzPriss

So Terri, you know in New Orelans they all the Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs? I think we should name your B&B The Singing Harp Social Aid and Pleasure Club when we move in visit :)

TheTeaFairy

Aww, love the name! (And I saw what you did MzPriss) I totally vote for moving i !! In exchange, I’ll change the beds and do laundry for free. Oh, and I can cook for your guests awesome dishes with foods from your magic garden!!

MzPriss innocent face * what? I will help too. I don’t mind bed making and dish doing or lawn mowing. AND as an extra special incentive – I will refrain from singing! You cannot beat that deal
Terri HarpLady

LOL, I can certainly use the help!
BTW, I think this may be the longest tea posting comments thingy ever! :)

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95

Ok, I made several Mandala’s orders in the last few weeks. It just seemed that every time, I had forgotten something or I just needed more of something else.

The last order was triggered by looseTman. He reminded me of something I had said in a previous review about this tea.

I had written that this was a very masculine tea, a “Stetson and Chaps” kind of guy.

That made me realized I had completely forgotten about it cause I had only a sample at the time.

I don’t know about you ladies, but I just can’t resist stetsons and chaps. So I placed another order for it and now well it’s here!

This tea is solid. It’s a hugger. I just want to cuddle with it.

Oh, the smell of leather bindings and old books, so lovely! Earthy and musty, very sweet with zero astringency. Just a tad of menthol at the end of the sip.

It’s spectacular! This is possibly my favourite loose shou pu’erh ever.

(dare I say it, it might have surpassed special dark just by a tad)

LooseTman, thank you for reading my previous review, the fact that you reminded me of it made me order this and now I’m in tea heaven because of you :-)

boychik

I love this too. A lot;)

Mandy

Stop, you make me want all the teas!

TheTeaFairy

Boychik, I so love it!! And I can’t wait to try phatty cake, got one of this babies as well.

Mandy, that’s only because I keep drinking all the best teas!!!

MzPriss

Cowboys! Oh wait. tea.

MzPriss

And I love this tea. But not more than Special Dark. The Phatty Cake is awesome. And I also have to do yet another Mandala order. I can’t even make that one your fault. It’s Sarsonator’s fault.

Terri HarpLady

This review made me smile :)

boychik

I’m having this right now. Leather and prunes my perfect combo

TheTeaFairy

Hee Haw!!!

MzPriss

And Cowboys.

MzPriss

But I need some help. (No not with the Cowboys – I got that) but I want to mae sure I don’t miss something and have to oder again after this because really. I can’t. I already need to have my credit cards taken away.

SarsyPie

I just looked at my shopping cart over at Mandala and I felt very afraid. LOL. But what the hell? You only live once and pu’erhs are meant to be aged, so it’s not like they’ll go bad, right? RIGHT? :p

TheTeaFairy

Haha! so you also got this one? Oh, I’m glad you did…can’t wait to find out what you think of it :-) Hee Haw!!!

SarsyPie

I didn’t place the order yet, but I added some of this.

Can you tell me the difference between this and the phatty cake? Because it says the phatty cake is pressed from this. So do they taste much different? Should I get the loose or the cake?

Thanks, dearest!!!

TheTeaFairy

I haven’t tried the cake yet, it’s one of my new pu’erh!!! I got it only because I like the loose one so much I figured I must get the cake, lol. let’s ask honeybelle, i think she has the cake.

MzPriss

You know I should try them side by side – never done that. Mostly I think of the loose as easier

MzPriss

Would y’all like for me to set up the side by side test RIGHT NOW and tell you?

SarsyPie

I guess I’ll just have to get both and compare them. In the name of science, of course.

SarsyPie

Oh well. Then yes. YOU do the science. I’ll wait :p

MzPriss

Starting on it. I will put pics on flickr

SarsyPie

This is so fun! I love little comparison tests!!!

TheTeaFairy

Oh, totally missed the experiment! How’s it going? Oh, now I understand the other thread’s comment !! I’m a little slowww today…

MzPriss

OK – after a side by side comparison, I believe I can say with some confidence that it would be up to your personal preference. I used 6 grams of each – did two rinses and 4 steeps of each. It would take a FAR more refined palate than mine to really tell an appreciable difference. And what else did we learn?

I am a badass gongfuy mistress – I can pour two gaiwans at the same time with equal success yo.

I have now dumped them all in one mug which I am enjoying now.

What else did we learn? Don’t use your lacy white gaiwan for shou. It’s little bottom got stained – but fear not! I have magic miracle soak http://shopmandalatea.com/smart-soak-tea-stain-dissolver.html from Garret.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/125488674@N02/14460115030/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/125488674@N02/14646779865/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/125488674@N02/14644590824/

TheTeaFairy

Nice!! I know that miracle soak is awesome, but I always forget to get some!

MzPriss

It is lifesaving to me – especially for my white things. I drink a LOT of Special Dark

SarsyPie

Added miracle soak to the cart! I’ve actually been meaning to so that for awhile

So I realize the loose tea is more convenient, but I’m really digging the cakes, so I think I’m getting the phatty. I really aappreciate the comparison.

I thank you. Science thanks you.

SarsyPie

Oh and also, the tea tray is gorgeous!

MzPriss

You are welcome. Science is welcome. You will thank yourself for the miracle soak

MzPriss

We also learned I need a &^^#$%# pu-pick

SarsyPie

Ah yes. I have one of those in the cart, too!!!! I figured if I’m buying all these cakes, better get the tool to go with ’em.

TheTeaFairy

You will have the perfect haul Sars, so excited for you!!

MzPriss

Please someone remind me to do that and LTF – will you please help me remember what all I need to get?

MzPriss

Oh I’m glad you like my tray. Guess what??? You might tsake a little gander at Garret’s trays while you’re over there….it’s really reasonable too and I LOVE it

TheTeaFairy

What is it you need??

MzPriss

I need to find what we talked about this morning. I have Autumn Song, but I think I need Temple Stairs? And something else. And a pu-pick

SarsyPie

Don’t forget the heart of the old tree!

MzPriss

YES! That! See?? See why I need help? And Cowboys?

TheTeaFairy

Good thing that sars came to the rescue, I had no idea that was the one you were looking for…(we all need cowboys)

MzPriss

Yes, yes we do. That was one of the ones. So I need those two and a pick, cause I’ve been using all kinds of weird things like knives and screwdrivers

SarsyPie

I think you’ll really love the HOTOT.

Lol. HOTOT.

Oh and yes, cowboys, pls.

MzPriss

OK I’m off to get a mug warmer back soon.

TheTeaFairy

Haha! HOTOT Cowboyzzzzz
(i will be calling my old tree cake hot cowboy from now on)

SarsyPie

The hot cowboy tea cake. Love it!

boychik

Never seen live cowboy but firefighters. Omg they are so hot in Brooklyn haha

TheTeaFairy

(Ok now, boychik, you are bringing this topic to a whole new level…let’s try to keep Steepster PG13…)

boychik

I want to go hoomeeee

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Firefighters will have that effect on you I guess ;-)

boychik

Yep, I can’t sleep here. Too quite. I need police, ambulance, fire truck siren , helicopters. I go to bed at 2am then by 5-5:15 I’m up because birds chirping
Oh man, I need to feel I’m safe haha

MzPriss

I used to live next door to a fire station

boychik

You are so lucky MzPriss! I remember we had blackout some years ago. Ppl used candles and then our neighbors had tiny fire across the street. I think it was just smoke. Anyway 3 fire trucks came to our block at 6am. Everybody wearing practically nothing (hot summer night) got on a block to stare at those gorgeous men. It was like a show. Free show.

MzPriss

They used to work out outside. Yeah it was nice

Terri HarpLady

Awww, you got some cutsie tea pets! Look at all that pretty stuff! That lacey taiwan is like what you’d get if a white porcelain taiwan & a bad mitten shuttlecock had babies ;)

MzPriss

Thank you Terri :) LOL that is EXACTLY what that gaiwan looks like. It was the first gaiwan I ever bought and I still love it, I like pretties

MzPriss

My tea is now so far out of control I don’t even know what I have anymore. I HAVE Temple Stairs. SMH. So now maybe I just need some Hot Cowboy and a pu-pick

MzPriss

Garret – when you read this, sorry we’ve turned your beautifully named Heart of the Old Trees into Hot Cowboy. Sorry about that. Sorry.

MzPriss

It might be slightly more accurate to say that I would like to be sorry HOTOT is now Hot Cowboy

TheTeaFairy

(I’m gonna drink me some hot cowboy this very minute…sorry too Garett for the brutality of this…but Hot Cowboy Sheng makes me such a happy fairy)

MzPriss

I’m working on the last steeps of my Wild Mountain Green from yesterday – just got my assistant all shenged-up as well so she can keep up :)

A happy Fairy is a good thing Garret

looseTman

TheTeaFairy,
You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re in “Heaven” and thoroughly enjoying your “Stetson and Chaps” so much! However, I’m now confused. How can you rate Loose and Luscious Lincang – 2007, a shou you “forgot”, higher than your beloved Special Dark of which you’ve waxed poetically about numerous times on Steepster? It doesn’t even contain the most Special tea flavor: Chocolate!

TheTeaFairy

Haha!!! LooseTman, I guess I’m all confused cause Mr. Garret Awesomeness makes too many excellent teas and they seem to compete with one another!!!
Can you have too much of a good thing? And this is all your fault, I totally blame you for this….I had forgotten about this tea…thank god you did remind me ;-)

looseTman

No, you can’t you have too much of a good thing! It’s not my fault. The Devil made me do it! :-)
Did SD just increase from 93 to 96? Thus, making it 1 point higher than your “Stetson and Chaps”.

TheTeaFairy

Yes, forgot to tell you…in all seriousness, SD in a yixing clay pot is very close to perfection, and will probably reach 100 on my next session…

looseTman

Wow! This sounds very intriguing. I’ll have to check out your most recent SD tasting notes & comments.

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95

As I’m having a sleepless night, might as well drink something spectacular.

Using my newly green oolong seasoned yixing pot.

This tea…oh my, this tea.

It’s beautiful. Long twisted strands of jade tentacles. From the most luxuriant tea plantations, one of the greenest oolong there is.

The ultimate refinement. A gleaming Rolls Royce.

Creamy and buttery mouthfeel, French pastries with lingering lilacs in bloom. The taste creates an imprint in my mouth that stays forever. Angel breath…

Needless to say, this is a staple. Been restocking on this for a good two years now, I don’t plan on stopping.

This gets the Fairy stamp of approval!

SarsyPie

Well good morning, early bird!

This sounds really lovely. TeaLux sent me a sample of something. Now I really hope it’s this!!!!

MzPriss

So now I need to try Tealux too?

SarsyPie

Well apparently. :p

I got their Dragon Pearls along with my houhin. I really hope this is my sample, but I’m not ready to get out of bed to go look….

SarsyPie

Oh guess what… When I do make it out of bed, I’ll be making some cocoa Amore in my new vanilla pot!!!! Eeeeeeee!!!!!

TheTeaFairy

Well good morning to you too lovely ladies…this tea is really something. Missy Prissy, we talked about this one a little while ago, it’s in your box…I’ve been sending so many Tealux teas, I ran out of most of them, but some are just stunning. But now with WP and Mandala madness, I don’t think I will restock them all. If ever you girls want to place an order, let me know first, I have tried almost all of them, lol. I can give you good recommendations. Their assam #8 is stunning, and so is Da Yu Ling oolong…

TheTeaFairy

Awww, sars, vaniila pot is going to knock your socks off!!

SarsyPie

This one is not my sample. The sample is Feury Doux Champagne. Tried that one?

MzPriss

Does that translate to “Fairy Dew?”

MzPriss

I’m in bed ignoring my dogs and drinking Fujian Black. Sars you will LOVE CA in the vanilla pot. I’m going to do my purple pot for oolong this evening.

SarsyPie

It’s actually Fleury Doux Chanpagne, but I like your translation better

MzPriss

I think my translation is best! Fairy Dew Champagne!

SarsyPie

I had to get up b/c my kitty overlord wanted breakfast. But now I’m back in bed.

MzPriss

My dogs want to get in the bed which usually I let them, but yesterday morning they made me spill my tea and I had to change my sheets and get them in the wash before it stained and it was a LOT of trouble for a Monday morning. So they are looking at me with the BSEs cause I won’t let them up right now.

TheTeaFairy

Haha! You crack me up you two…Fairy Dew? So cute, I want that!!!

Fleury Doux means soft floral…and it’s not even on their website, so it must be something new…sounds really good though.

TheTeaFairy

Oh no! Not bed change again???

And BSEs??? No human can resist canine BSEs…

SarsyPie

Mine get in bed whether I let them or not. Me, Brian, 3 dogs, and Chairman Meow. It’s only a queen sized bed!!!!

It’s a white tea, TTF. I’ll try and report back!!!!

MzPriss

Yes, wicked doggies. Good thing they are adorable. I know, I feel like I;’m giving into the BSEs

MzPriss

3 dogs???? Awesome!

TheTeaFairy

Happy 4 legged family you have there sars :-)

SarsyPie

Try saying that when they have you sardined into your own bed, and you can’t turn over, AND the little monsters have stolen all the covers!!!!!

And the Chairman sits on my head and meows for breakfast!!!!

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Love that you have a chaiman to control the madness…

MzPriss

Oh mine lay on the covers really HARD so you can’t pull the covers out from under them and cover yourself up. They make themselves HEAVIER somehow

SarsyPie

The chairman incites the madness!

And yeah, that’s what I mean! They lay on the covers and weigh them down then you are left with none!!!

MzPriss

But then they snuggles up all around me and I melt into a pile of puppy-love

TheTeaFairy

EXACTLY!! I have only one dog (and cats) but he makes himself so heavy (well he is over 100 pounds) that I can’t move a god damn thing from underneath him. Oh, and he snores…not doggy snore…big fat beer belly lumberjack snore!

MzPriss

One of mine snores hard

SarsyPie

LOL!!!! Abby snores, too. Neither of the other dogs do, though.

MzPriss

nother cup of tea. I think it might be CA time

TheTeaFairy

I.cannot.wait.to.get.CA.over.here. In the mean time, I’m getting some snaily. Have I told you gals that WP and Mandala are making almost all my other teas taste bland? It’s a curse.

SarsyPie

Yes. Brewing mine now… Join me.

MzPriss

I have mine. Holy shit it’s good in the vanilla pot LTF!!!! I want yours to get there!

MzPriss

I’m taking my new wee tray to work today and I’m gonna do some WMG. Work sheng!

TheTeaFairy

Enjoy some CA for me ladies…Snaily Yums isn’t a bad replacement though…and I just smelled my little VD pot and it’s full of Port smell and that made me happy.

MzPriss

MMMMMM nose tea is sometimes almost as good as mouth tea

MzPriss

LTF – when I’m done with this cup of GO – I’m going to RE-STEEP! Vanilla Dreams in a yixing is turning us into re-steepers

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Nose tea :-)

And yes…re-steeping is a must in the little pot. I had Port gongfu yesterday and it rendered so many steeps I was amazed!

MzPriss

Oh I should try gongfuing my Port

MzPriss

Nose tea is totally a thing. It doesn;t even have to be brewed – sticking your nose in the bag of GO or Golden Fleece or CA is nose tea!

TheTeaFairy

So true!!

MzPriss

OK lovlies – I need to get in the shower and get to work. I will check in with y’all later.

TheTeaFairy

Have a great day missy :-)

SarsyPie

And my work day begins… I’d rather drink tea with you two all day!

MzPriss

Me too Sars. I’m out the door. Toodles!

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94

Auggy already commented on how to drive Jackee Muntz into Caramel City, so I’m going to take this opportunity to get a little goofy on y’all. [Like I really need an excuse.] I can’t take credit for this idea. While I’m sure it’s been done elsewhere, I’m sapping inspiration from both an episode of Hey Ash Whatcha Playin’ and a rather brilliant Yelp review a friend of mine wrote. If any of you have never stumbled across text-based games, you might not get this. So here’s something ridiculous that may or may not help: http://bit.ly/DgJqE [Homestar Runner, Dungeonman 3].

Me: Jackee, what the hell? Why don’t you taste like caramel anymore?

Jackee: I do not understand “caramel.”

Me: Cut it out. What I am doing wrong?

Jackee: What’s a “wrong”?

Me: …What?

Jackee: You are holding a glass MUG. Inside of it sit eight ounces of dark copper liquid. Steam rises from the top, swirling into nothingness. Exits are to the NORTH, SOUTH, and WEST.

Me: …
SIP TEA.

Jackee: You take a sip of the TEA and burn your TONGUE. Cursing like a sailor whose ship has chanced upon a Kraken, you bang your HEAD against the COUNTER in frustration at your stupidity. Exits are to the NORTH, SOUTH, and WEST.

Me: HEY!

Jackee: What’s a “HEY”?

Me: Grumble. LET TEA COOL.

Jackee: You sit aimlessly, watching your TEA while you wait for it to drop an appropriate amount in TEMPERATURE. Occasionally, you blow on it, though you are unsure of its effectiveness on the actual cooling process. Exits are to the NORTH, SOUTH, and WEST.

Me: SIP TEA.

Jackee: You take a sip of TEA. The mouthfeel is thin, but not quite watery. The TEA is flavorful – strong, with notes of smoke and pine and a light sweetness. Exits are to the NORTH, SOUTH, and WEST.

Me: POUR TEA OUT.

Jackee: Well, that was wasteful of you. Exits are to the NORTH, SOUTH, and WEST.

Me: It’s not my fault you don’t taste good to me anymore! It’s your fault you don’t taste like caramel!

Jackee: I do not understand that command.

Me: Sigh. READ STEEPSTER.

Jackee: You log into your Steepster account. New reviews have been posted. Please click here: http://steepster.com/aug3zimm/posts/23176. Exits are to the NORTH, SOUTH, and WEST.

Just to walk you through my thought process at this point, now I’m really thinking. When I had Jackee the first few times, I was drinking out of a different mug and I didn’t know that my utiliTEA was messing me up temperature wise. Even when it turned, I don’t want to say bad, but “not as good” on me, I didn’t know about my utiliTEA’s little issue for the majority of my experimentation. I’d get a cup of caramel maybe one time out of five, but the parameters wouldn’t match up so I was starting to think it was all in my head.

By the time I figured out the temperature problem, I barely had any Jackee Muntz left, so I tried a few cups on the stovetop and they rendered much of the same. I also tried it in a travel mug, and the smell thing didn’t seem to fix it either. I did discover that steep time didn’t appear to have too much of an effect, though, so long as I kept it somewhere around 3:30 to 4:30, it was pretty consistent.

Part of me must have still thought I could get it back to caramel. I think that I was partially re-invigorated after the discovery of my utiliTEA temperature issue, so I re-ordered Series 2, but the first cup of the first tin was not successful either. After reading Auggy’s review, something clicked though. A lot of it had to do with the fact that she had actually found the caramel and that gave me hope [and also reassurance that I hadn’t completely lost it]. But also I was looking at the temperature [205°] and thinking about maybe it was the shape of her travel mug. But my mug hadn’t been shaped all that differently from the one I like to use now. Except…it had been a bit larger. So maybe the tea to water ratios were a bit different… No, I DON’T KNOW WHY I DIDN’T THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE.

Me: CHANGE MUG.

Jackee: Which mug would you like to change to? To see your current mugs, type INV.

Me: INV.

Jackee: BODUM MUG, CAFÉ MUG, BIG TEAL MUG NOT SUITABLE FOR DRINKING TEA, BORING STARBUCKS MUG.

This is the mug I was originally drinking tea out of, by the way – http://bit.ly/4Am3Xb – the bottom top one. Oops.

Me: CAFÉ MUG.

Jackee: You switched your BODUM MUG for your CAFÉ MUG.

Me: MAKE MORE TEA.

Jackee: You turn on your KETTLE and wait for the water to heat, measuring out a heaping teaspoon of TEA before dropping it into your INFUSER. In a few minutes, the WATER is boiling. Exits are to the NORTH, SOUTH, and WEST.

Me: LET WATER COOL 195°F.

Jackee: You wait impatiently while the water cools to the appropriate temperature. You really should learn to be a little more tolerant.

Me: SCREW YOU.

Jackee: I do not understand “SCREW.”

Me: MEASURE WATER 11 OZ.

Jackee: You measure out 11 ounces of WATER into a MEASURING CUP.

Me: POUR WATER.

Jackee: POUR WATER where?

Me: Into the mug, you idiot.

Jackee: I do not understand “idiot.”

Me: POUR WATER INTO MUG.

Jackee: You pour the WATER into your MUG.

Me: STEEP 3:15.

Jackee: Doesn’t that seem a bit short?

Me: Now you’re helpful?

Jackee: I do not understand the question.

Me: STEEP 3:45.

Jackee: You let the TEA steep for 3 MINUTES and 45 SECONDS, watching a couple of stupid VIDEOS in the the meantime before removing the INFUSER.

Me: SIP TEA.

Jackee: You burn your TONGUE and your IQ drops another few points. You take out a FLYSWATTER and slap yourself across the face. Exits are to the NORTH, SOUTH, and WEST.

Me: LET TEA COOL.

Jackee: You sit aimlessly, watching your TEA while you wait for it to drop an appropriate amount in TEMPERATURE. Occasionally, you blow on it, though you are unsure of its effectiveness on the actual cooling process. Exits are to the NORTH, SOUTH, and WEST.

Me: SIP TEA.

Jackee: The TEA feels heavy in your mouth. A soft note of pine hits your TONGUE, but then gently fades away. You are greeted with the taste of burnt sugar.

Me: SIP TEA.

Jackee: The TEA feels heavy in your mouth. A soft note of pine hits your TONGUE, but then gently fades away. You are greeted with the taste of burnt sugar.

Me: SIP TEA.

Jackee: The TEA feels heavy in your mouth. A soft note of pine hits your TONGUE, but then gently fades away. You are greeted with the taste of burnt sugar.

Me: SIP TEA.

Jackee: The taste of burnt sugar slowly melts into the background and a salty note enters the flavors sliding around on your TONGUE. Anxious, you hold the TEA a bit longer in your mouth and are greeted with the overwhelming taste of caramel.

Me: OH SWEET POSEIDON, THANK YOU!!!

Jackee: What is a “Poseidon”?

Me: I hate you.

Jackee: I do not understand that command.

Me: …
INV TEA.

Jackee: A FATAL ERROR HAS OCCURRED. NUMBER OF TEAS HAS EXCEEDED CAPACITY. PROGRAM WILL TERMINATE.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I won Thursday.

Just a few more notes on the tea, because really that’s what all that mess up there was about, I did try steeping this at around 185 and didn’t quite get there in terms of the caramel, so I think that your temperature needs to be at least around 190°F, and could probably go up to 200°F but 205°F might be pushing it. [Auggy mentioned to me that her mug was cold and so it probably temperature dropped when it was in there somewhat significantly from the 205°F.] All this being said, all I can say definitively regarding the temperature is that it should be just below boiling if you hope to achieve this. It’s possible that we’re both just mad.

In regards to the tea:water ratio, I use one of these – http://bit.ly/5SpSvE – and when I measured it against a teaspoon last night it was like…1 1/4 tsp. Give or take a bit. I fill that up that spoon with just a teensy bit over, so somewhere thereabouts. The amount of water I put in the cup is somewhere between 11 and 12 oz, closer to 11.

All of this is assuming you a) have some Jackee Muntz on hand and b) want to try to replicate the caramel taste. I usually don’t get this specific in my logs, I know, but this has been bothering me for quite some time and I’m afraid that you’re seeing the aftermath of my GEEK OUT session here.

And thus endeth the really long tea log. I’m giving Jackee the ratings bump back to where he deserves to be, now that he has realized his potential for me again.

Squee!

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 45 sec
teaplz

OMG LOVE THIS.

Seriously. I’m in love with interactive fiction and text adventures, and this is a totally WIN parody of that sort of stuff.

And yay for CARAMEL!

Angrboda

♥. Just… Srsly. ♥

TeaEqualsBliss

You crack me up! :P

silvermage2000

Nice review that was so funny. And yum caramel.

LENA

niiiice. i can’t say anymore. homestarrunner is a fave of mine anyway.

Jack

What @angrboda said. I’m going to go make some caramel Jackee Muntz right now.

takgoti

@teaplz Hahaha, not gonna lie, they get kinda tedious for me. And usually there are too many players that have been doing it for yeeeeears and they just go FOOM FOOM FOOM everywhere and I’m just sitting there, all, “Nooooow, north is…”

@Everyone Aw thanks, Steepsterites! [Steeps? Denizens of Steepster?] I’m glad you enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun writing it.

@Jack I’m curious to hear how it turns out. I made it again this morning just because I wanted to be SURE it wasn’t going anywhere, and it worked [PHEW!]. I think I’m gonna try to dial it up to 200°F next time; might make it a bit stronger.

teaplz

Oh takgoti, I meant more of interactive fiction/text adventure than a MUD. There aren’t any players except for yourself. You use an interpreter to play them on your desktop, and they’re usually free. Zork’s the most famous one. They’re sort of like interactive stories, and you emulated one exactly in your post. They’re often filled with puzzles and narrative elements. Their hey-day was in the 80s, although people are still making them today. www.ifcomp.org is the website for the annual competition. This is what Strongbad was parodying, not the MUDs (text-based RPGs where everyone runs around killing things).

takgoti

@chrine Thank you!

@teaplz Sorry, that wasn’t clear. I was speaking generally of text-based games. The entire schema tends to bore me after a while. I’m too used to my graphics. My brain is lazy. The FOOM FOOM crazy player thing is just an added get-me-outta-here bonus for some text-based games. Though I guess that’s true for a lot of games. [Oh, WoW…]

Ricky

Haha, amazing =D. It took me a while to catch on. I’m slow :(

My bodum cups have cracks in it! It’s so sad. I have a 12oz and two 8oz ones. Every time I wash them out, I hit them on the faucet.

teaplz

Sorry for the stupidly long, long-winded explanation right there. I just geeked out cause I never get to talk about this stuff with ANYONE.

Kitch3ntools

lol i used to play a MUD with my fiancee but he was a FOOM FOOM player where i was like “ok i go west right?”

takgoti

@Ricky Eep, that blows.

@teaplz No worries.

@Kitch3ntools HAH, I know, right? I finish reading the description and I’ve finally decided which direction I want to go into and the computer’s like, “Uh…you’re dead.” I’m not much better at single player text adventures either – I die far too easily. I think that they are largely responsible for why I was terrified of dying at any given turn when MYST came out [even though I was told on several occasions that you couldn’t die – you COULD get trapped forever at one point though].

teaplz

Myst was just terrifying in general! The eerie music, those talking books… the fact that you were ALONE all the time. And those puzzles were damned hard!

TeaCast

Haha that was somewhat entertaining =]

takgoti

@teaplz Truth: I used to make one of my parents sit in the room with me when I played MYST. My dad was better because he’d actually try to help me when I played it. I also used to do the same thing with Prince of Persia when that first came out. In my defense, I was nine, but I’m still a wimp. I can’t play stuff like Bioshock or Dead Space when I’m alone. Or at night.

@TeaCast Thanks?

sophistre

Someone needs to get this girl a copy of Inform7. (Maybe it’s a higher version than 7 now, actually, that’s just the last I was aware of/obtained, admittedly).

All that was missing in this review was a grue. Grues are compulsory.

The temptation to totally overshare in this comment section is overpowering. In my Other Blog Life, I cover/review video games. Obviously, steepster needs its own fem gaming clan, or something.

teaplz

sophistre, there’s Gargoyle for Windows that’s an all-in-one interpreter. Pretty awesome. And I’d love to know your Other Blog Life! And I’ve been dying to post this somewhere, to someone that would understand, ANYONEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nigRT2KmCE

takgoti, I can’t play ANY of those games, period. I end up screaming and throwing the controller. Everyone makes fun of me. I tried to play Silent Hill once. I had to run away from the TV, and beg someone else to turn it off within 20 minutes of starting. So we are comrades in wimp-ness!

takgoti

@sophistre I had to look up what that was. Wow. [It looks like 7 is the highest version, too.] From what I skimmed it looked like a text adventure constructor program of sorts? I totally see myself becoming fascinated with the idea, losing myself halfway through, and then shoving it in the corner where half of my unfinished craft projects are.

Oh, also, I definitely typed out and deleted, “You are likely to be eaten by a grue,” about three times before deciding I might be exposing just a little too much geek on the internets. Clearly, I was wrong.

@teaplz WORD. I also refuse to watch scary movies. A couple of friends called me once and told me to come over and hang out. So I drove over there and they were watching a movie, and I asked them what it was and it was some creepy Japanese film so I definitely left. Hadn’t even gotten my shoes off. I can’t sleep when I see that stuff, and the fact that I even am thinking about it so much now is probably going to result in the need to put on something like Anchorman so I can actually go to bed. Yes, I’m that bad.

sophistre

That video was a fine way to end a very sleepless late-night-early-AM. ^^

That’s precisely what it is. It’s very intuitive about how it handles object creation (which is really all the code for text-based games is, afaik). Fun, interesting. After I discovered it, I did precisely what you’ve described above. I think I have a copy lying around on a disk somewhere, but I never did anything with it.

And alas, we three diverge on the matter of survival horror games and horror films — I am a sucker for both, despite having hated scary stuff as a kid…I suppose ‘Alien’ was probably responsible for converting me. I play them and watch them now even though playing them alone is sometimes out of the question and sleeping afterwards is usually nearly impossible. I don’t know if this makes me a masochist or what. Maybe I’m addicted to the adrenaline rush!

takgoti

@sophistre Haha, thanks! Also, so far as the horror thing goes, for me it’s mainly the creepy feeling like someone’s watching me feeling that gets me. That and the suspense thing. I totally psych myself out. The act of being scared if I’m not expecting it is something I can usually handle. It’s the expectation of being scared that is when I get freaked out. [I don’t think I actually realized this until I typed this all out.]

Funny, somewhat related story, a friend of mine used to hear the voice of Robert Stack from Unsolved Mysteries in her head whenever she’d go out to put the trash on the curb or something similar. “It was a normal Wednesday evening on this quiet street in Baltimore, Maryland. Jennifer Johnson was walking her trash out to the curb…”

sophistre

@teaplz – I stopped writing them for ages, but as of recently I’m sort of trying to reassemble anything that wasn’t official onto a tumblr page, which is now listed in my profile, if you’re curious. ;) I’m lazy and update the video-game specific stuff rarely though, alas. I’m pretty behind.

@takgoti – I totally psych myself out. I am able to think of infinitely more frightening things once I’m jumpy than the movie or game can throw at me, for sure. I’m not ashamed to say that there are nights when the bathroom light stays on! Thinking about it, I wonder why I do this to myself…ahh, well. That’s pretty funny about your friend. I guess for me it’d probably be Bill Curtis!

Tyler

Great post. I love the detail. I think you should do more of this. But man, that was long! :)

AJ

This’ making me feel bad that I haven’t logged onto any of my usual MUDs in a while. All of my characters have probably expired. Ahwell.

But I’m interested in the tea now. Hmmm. Very interesting read.

takgoti

@Tyler Hahaha, thanks! [Though I don’t think I’ll be writing another review like that anytime soon.] And yes, I tend to be very long winded. Oops?

@AJ Sounds like me and my relationship with WoW. Though I think/hope that my characters haven’t expired. Anyway, you should check Andrews & Dunham out! I can’t make any guarantees as to how you’ll get along with them, but I like them quite a bit.

AJ

I poked through the website a few times! It just takes me forever to purchase items online. I am a very apprehensive online shopper, despite glowing reviews. Actually, it extends offline as well. It takes me a few days of staring to decide.

sophistre

@tak: Not that I play WoW, or if I did that I would even acknowledge that sort of thing in a public forum, because I totally would not, but if that were true, I’m sure you could find me on Malorne.

__Morgana__

LOL. Reading this, I felt like I had been sucked into the Lost Treasures of Infocom. Oh, and as for where north is: you need a pencil and some graph paper. You haven’t met tedious until you’ve mapped a text adventure. Its even more tedious than mapping a pre-auto map function CRPG. ;)

Tea-Guy

I <3 You! :-D

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I don’t have time for a long review here, where I wax poetic about the glories of this tea.
Let’s just jump to the chase & say that everything you’ve heard about this tea is spot on. The initial aroma reminds me of a really high quality vanilla pipe tobacco (although I don’t know for sure if I’ve ever actually smelled one), & then you start drinking it, & it’s awesomely wonderful, vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate sauce drizzled over the top, the kind that hardens into a shell. What I love about it most is that the black tea underneath isn’t some woosie generic, it’s bold & thick chinese blacks. And yeah, it resteeps like a dream, & I’m taking all those resteeps for once. And the sweet aftertaste lingers…sigh…
I’ve said enough!

TheTeaFairy

Yay!! That’s EXACTLY what it is!!!

Welcome to the GO Cult :-)

Lariel of Lórien

There’s a tea cult? I’ve already exchanged some of my possessions for tea.

SarsyPie

This one is so yum!!!!

Cameron B.

I’m so sad that my Whispering Pines order didn’t come today. D:

bizbee1

I want to try mine but I can’t drink a black tea this late in the day.. tomorrow for sure!
You can make the chocolate sauce you describe by melting and combining coconut oil and chocolate chips (I do that from time to time)

TheTeaFairy

Well…I kind of just decided that there was a GO Cult….cause ya know, it’s getting more and more followers. The Guru is Tea Whiz Of The Woods (Brenden). It’s VERY hard to resist all his charismatic teas…

Cameron B.

Golden Orchid is the Kool-Aid of the Whispering Pines cult…

Terri HarpLady

Tea Cults Are Us…just sayin’

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Is wit a requirement to be a Steepster member? Cause I don’t know where else you can get as much for free!!!

TheTeaFairy

And in this case cameron… DO DRINK THE KOOL-AID!!

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Drink all the kool-aid! :D

SarsyPie

The Illustrious Cult of the Golden Orchid
Guru: Tea Whiz of the Woods
Official Organizer & Cheerleader: TheTeaFairy
Meetings: Monthly, in the Steepster basement
Please bring a snack to share.

TheTeaFairy

I’ll bring CHERRIES!!

Whispering Pines Tea Company

I’ll bring mushrooms! ;)

Lariel of Lórien

I’ll bring tea flavoured bread.

TheTeaFairy

Haha! And we can ask mj to bring her communal fridge!

Lol, Sarsonator, “The Illustrious Cult of the Golden Orchid” makes an awesome cult name!!!

Cameron B.

I’ll make petit fours! With little pine trees on them!

Terri HarpLady

I’ll bring almond flour scones! :)

SarsyPie

I’ll sit in the back and drink all your tea! :p

And thanks, TTF! Glad you like the name!

Frolic

I want to join the cult! But no more tea for me till black friday. I tried telling myself that buying samples didn’t count and I may cave there because the WP cult is ever so persuasive.

GO just sounds so decadent.

SarsyPie

You’re not buying any tea until NOVEMBER?!?!?! Wow. I really envy your willpower.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

There will be no black friday sale at WP. I am strongly against black friday. There will be a cyber monday sale though :)

MzPriss

I want to be the Court Jester for the cult. I’m trying to decide if I need to give in to my sudden GO craving or actualy sleep again tonight

SarsyPie

I also dislike Black Friday. I refuse to leave my house. This year, though, maybe I will host an online Steepster Sipdown Fest!

HoneyBelle a.k.a MzPriss: You are now the official Cult Jester :p

MzPriss

Woo! I’m so like that HoneyBelle name as well I reeeeeeeeeely want some GO now

TheTeaFairy

Hmmm…Sudden GO cravings are hard to resist….Court Jester, that’s exactly what we were missing :-)

(Oh, may I reserve my Fest tickets now Sarsonator?)

MzPriss

liking not like

MzPriss

You know – Steepster needs a chat

SarsyPie

I am going to have to veto the idea of a Steepster Chat. If there was a Steepster Chat, I would never get anything done!!!! :p

MzPriss

I haven’t ever done one, but a friend of mine does some gaming chat and she loves it. But yeah, time sucker I bet

Frolic

Well the tea buying may start on black friday but that doesn’t mean it’ll stop then…

boychik

It’s chat already ;)

TheTeaFairy

Lol, boychik,I was just going to say that ;-)

Terri HarpLady

I was also gonna say what boychik said. It’s kind of like a slow moving chat.

MzPriss

So we’re doing it? Cool.

Lariel of Lórien

I think people who go out shopping on Black Friday should get their heads examined. Pro Cyber Monday though.

Terri HarpLady

I don’t go anywhere near any stores on Black Friday, but I definitely participate in the cyber monday tea sales!

Nattie

This is going to sound super ignorant, but… What is Black Friday??

MzPriss

@Nattie – Black Friday is an unfortunate USA custom where all the retailers have these giant sales (allegedly) the day after Thanksgiving. It has gotten earlier and earlier to where now it starts on Thanksgiving. People trample each other and have fights over cheap TVs. It is an ugly custom in the stores. Cyber Monday, while sort-of the same thing – is online and much more civilized and NOT on a holiday you should be spending with your people instead of being in line for 12 hours to fight over stuff you can usually get just as good a deal on later.

Nattie

Ahh okay, thanks! We have a similar thing over here with the Boxing Day sales, but at least it doesn’t start until after Christmas! Cyber Monday sounds much better (:

SarsyPie

MzPriss, you slay me: “Black Friday is an unfortunate USA custom”

Could not agree more!

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86

Today was a grey day with no rain…I much prefer rain.

I went in the woods to get bad vibes out of my system. I saw all kinds of beauty, and it filled my head with positive energy.

Never underestimate the power of nature.

I promised myself I would try some of my new high end dark oolong from Toa Tea Leaf.

Tonight, I chose this “almond” Phoenix Dancong. Another miracle of nature.

How does a tea get so naturally floral and nutty is beyond comprehension.

I would say this has pretty much the same profile as honey orchid oolong, except it is not as sweet, and more nutty. Roasted nuts, with an orchid opening and a light astringent finish.

This type of oolong has to be brewed with very short steeps, otherwise, it turns bitter.

The wet leaf smells like a luxuriant garden of lilac and orchids. That fragrance is just intoxicating.

Needless to say, I love it. Is it for every one? Maybe not. First, it is quite expensive and I’m not sure this flavour profile would suit you if you’ve never really experiment with oolongs. I would try with something more “friendly” like Tie Guan Yin first.

All in all, a very good tea that I’m enjoying a lot tonight.

Pic for those who are interested:

http://instagram.com/p/rn-mXdQh5J/

boychik

I got 5g sample of this to try. dont really like flowery oolongs but who knows. maybe I will. love the setup as usual ;)

TheTeaFairy

Well, I can’t wait to see what you think! I feel I have a flower bomb in my mouth, wonder if it’s my tastebuds playing tricks on me! I was expecting a lot more toasted notes. The leaves are really beautiful.

Tomorrow, I’m trying their award winning Big Red Robe! Can’t wait.

boychik

whats the temp?195F?

TheTeaFairy

Well I followed instructions at 212, but will go lower next time.

boychik

all his instructions @212. its not right.

boychik

did you buy 25g?

boychik

did you get Bei Dou Oolong? Amazing. pure pot, i swear(never tried in my life, but smell is unmistakable)

TheTeaFairy

Of that one yes, cause I wasn’t sure. More of the others. 100g BRR, 50g Honey Orchid.

Did you try some of their other oolongs?

boychik

so far only Bei Dou Oolong and rice tuo

TheTeaFairy

Lol, I did read your note, but no, didn’t get that one.

boychik

I got TTL and Jing Tea Shop(JTS) same day. I like JTS a lot.

boychik

if they are going to do similar sale by New Year i will get some more for sure. Quality teas

TheTeaFairy

JTS? Don’t know that one….were they having a sale too?

boychik

http://www.jingteashop.com/
No sale, but not too expensive to try, ship only $5 and pretty fast. apt recommended me. Im impressed

boychik

sorry, ship is $5.9

TheTeaFairy

Lol, NOT that I need MORE tea, but will bookmark them…just in case, ya know.

pyarkaaloo

this sounds wonderful! since it’s on the greenish side, would you say it’s anything like a Pouchong?

boychik

Remember i told you i was secretly hoping to hate those teas. i really didnt want to brunch into new types. i like 25g option. you cannot really decided if its good or bad with 5g. what if you mess up(like i did today with Arbor Mist)

TheTeaFairy

Pyarkaaloo, It’s hard to answer cause this is NOT supposed to taste green! I’d say it’s a lot bolder than pouchong. It’s missing the buttery taste and it’s astringent, and pouchong is clearly not. But to me, it does taste almost as floral as baozhong pouchong. Lol, don’t know if what I just said helps, but that’s the best I could come up with :-)

TheTeaFairy

Yes boychik, that’s why I never order under 25g!! I want a second chance :-)

Lol, yes, who needs more tea addiction, right?

boychik

I feel like all flavored teas are dead for me.

TheTeaFairy

Oh my, me too!!! But I still bought some from butiki…the ONLY one.

apt

teafairy: you should definitely try JTS sometime in the future!

pyarkaaloo

thanku, TeaFairy! what you said makes perfect sense to me :) i’m familiar with the various oolongs & their characteristics but you are by far the expert!

The Pouchong i had was indeed light, buttery, gently floral & had a wonderful rice pudding note. could have been the coconut flavoring!

apt

I like Baozhong(Pouchong) for casual, western brews.

TheTeaFairy

Apt, I’m sure JTS is in my future :-) (sooner than later, sigh…)

Pyarkaaloo, FYI, this is the best baozhong pouchong I have ever had and the only one I keep in permanent stash:
http://www.tealux.ca/wenshan_baozhong_reserve?search_string=Wenshan

Marzipan

LTF that picture is magical.

Cameron B.

Aw man, this is floral? Sad face. XD

TheTeaFairy

Thank you Marzi, I think tea is one of the best subject for photography…

Cameron, this was not supposed to be such a floral though….will have to try it afain, I was very surprised myself.

boychik

Now I’m thinking should I try this sample or try Bai mu dan JTS. Oh decisions!

TheTeaFairy

Oh, please try this one!! Want to see if you get similar profil!!!

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100

Mz HoneyBelle Priss and I were sent this sample for review. She received hers a while ago, but waited that I get mine here in Canada so we could have our tasting together last night. Ain’t she the sweetest thing? Must have been a torture for her to wait that long…

This tea is so darn sexy… parlarmi amore!!

With Elderwood, I was expecting Golden Orchid on steroids, but it turned out to be quite the opposite.

Well, Cocoa Amore is definitely my Golden Orchid on steroids. If GO had a lover, it would be this bad boy.

I’d say our Tea Whiz Of The Woods Brenden is building a trademark for himself with his Vanilla Dreams collection. This new vanilla he uses is insane. And must I insist on vanilla beans here as opposed to vanilla flavouring? HUGE distinction.

Ok…so you know how much I love dark chocolate.

And you know how much I love cherries.

A lot. I mean these are possibly my two favourite things to eat ever.

Combined together with this sophisticated exotic vanilla, they create the perfect storm of nominess. Imagine that for a second. A STORM of nominess.

Just to be clear, the cherries and the chocolate are notes, not flavouring, and this blend is a lot more satisfying than any flavoured tea out there.

The sweet black cherry and rich dark chocolate notes are rounded by the creamy and decadent vanilla, rendering a silky and velvety mouthfeel.

Also, there’s just a glimmer of spice in the background.

It’s so smooth, it never gets bitter or astringent.

Now…When I’m having a mug brew, I generally don’t re-steep. I know, I know, some of you will say, what a waste. This however, with its high end list of ingredients deserves a second infusion…and a third…and dare I say it…a fourth. Yes, excellent re-steeping value. It’s barely diluted. And I’m cold brewing the leaves just in case there’s something left in there for me.

I really don’t need a new favourite tea. No I don’t. But, but…I love my Vanilla Dreams Tea Family. There’s Papa Port, (tommy says Port is masculine) Mamma GO, lovechild Elderwood and new kid on the block Cocoa Amore. Hell yeah, I need them all!!!

Thanks again HoneyBelle (aka MzPriss) for waiting for me so we could drink together from a distance, and thanks Brenden for allowing me to try this scrumptious new blend.

MzPriss

I love this review!!! I love all these Vanilla Dreams teas as well. I really love this one a lot. And I will be waiting impatiently until I can have more.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Hehehe, yes, love it! How about Pappa Port, Momma GO…Elderwood is the son and Cocoa Amore is the daughter…and of course El Dorado is the dog :D

MzPriss

LOL I’m trying that El Dorado puppy today

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Don’t worry, the spices don’t bite ;)

MzPriss

I’ve been looking forward to wee snaily chai

TheTeaFairy

Hahah! Yes, one big happy family! Can’t wait to try the doggy as well….now will there be a kitty in that collection?

Whispering Pines Tea Company

There might just be ;)

MzPriss

I am not at all surprised by that

Cheri

This sounds amazing. I love your reviews.

TheTeaFairy

(I loove kitties)

Cheri, thank you. This tea is amazing…I have just enough for another cup and I think it won’t be long before I have it!

Terri HarpLady

Sounds wonderful!

Tommy Toadman

I sooooo can’t wait to try this one, payday just don’t come soon enough tho, i may have to let Lance buy me some before i get paid hehehe :)

Tommy Toadman

I’ve always thought of my teas as masculine or feminine i dunno why it just always made sense to me

TheTeaFairy

I hope you can get your hands on that one soon enough Tommy!

Tea always has a gender to me, and sometimes, it is androgynous!

Nightshifter

Sounds so good!

TheTeaFairy

Terri, can’t find the post anymore, but I got my tea, I can totally do the Manistee moonrise tasting with you guys tonight!!

Tommy, do you own that tea? We’re paying the full moon a tribute tonight by having this tea all at the same time :-)

MzPriss

I was just going to ask about that – what time Terri?

Terri HarpLady

Oh….whenever the moon is rising in each of our respective cities? LOL
OR….we can select an actual time…hmmm
Whatever you guys want to do

TheTeaFairy

What time is it for you now Terri?

MzPriss

Terri are you Central Time?

Tommy Toadman

I’ve got the Manistee moonrise too, Full Moon tribute sounds cool to me :)

MzPriss

Excellent

TheTeaFairy

Anyone else reading this thread is welcome to join us tonight :-)

Tommy Toadman

Hellz Yeah!! Who all is doing this tonight??

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Cocoa Amore is now available for anyone interested! :)

MzPriss

Seriously?

Terri HarpLady

So I’m in Central time zone, with a moonrise of 8:30pm…
Tonight is also suppose to be a super moon, or something like that
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-supermoon-2014-high-tides-20140711-story.html
Of course, it’s a little over cast in st. louis, so I may not even be able to see the moon rise…sigh…

Terri HarpLady

cocoa amore…well, I sold a few more CDs this week on iTunes/CDbaby…

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Terri’s got some Playpal moonies!!!!

Whispering Pines Tea Company

:) has Terri become a WPTealiever?

Terri HarpLady

maybe… :)

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90

This is my “Hot Cowboy” sheng.

Heart Of The Old Tree…How did such a zen and peaceful name ever became “Hot Cowboy” is absolutely preposterous. And would be too long to explain. All I will say is this: gather a few silly minds together and that’s what you get… MzPriss and Sarsonator, I will not say your names

(If you are crazy curious and feel you must know, you’ll find the answer somewhere in there):

http://steepster.com/TheTeaFairy/posts/254006#comments

This is a sheng, and therefore, I drank it all afternoon long a few days ago, and took some notes.

It’s fresh and clean. The early steeps gave me peaches.

I found citrusy notes, flirting with a light astringency. It’s almost effervescent, like a sparkling wine. I got the tingling tongue.

I did not get that the first time I drank it a few months ago, but there seemed to be a very faint campfire smoke taste this time around, barely noticeable.

Later steeps brought buttery, vegetal and mineral notes…a little oolong-esque I’d say.

I did not count the steeps, but my session lasted all afternoon…this is a delicate and delightful sheng. It’s wonderful.

I’ve had this tea twice, and can I say that my cat Wizz is going berserk over the smell of it? He does all kinds of weird things, as if this was kitty grass.

I guess even the cat got all “shenged up” :-)

Clint

Sounds so tasty! This tea has been #1 on my wish list! I’ve been wanting to try it out for a while, but I already exceeded my tea funds for the month. sigh

TheTeaFairy

I have yet to find a mandala tea I don’t like, to tell you the truth…and yeah…maxed out tea funds suck!!

MzPriss

Hot Cowboy!!! Mine came yesterday and I will be breaking into this on Saturday. And I just re-read that thread from the other day. My only excuse is that I was all shenged up – I don’t know what you and Sars’ excuse is. We need to hide Garret’s eyes though. He makes all these gorgeous and majestic names for his beautiful teas and we turn it into Hot Cowboy.

TheTeaFairy

Lol! Oh, those names are so beautiful. Did you know I actually bought this one only because of the name? I figured to earn such a meaningful title, it HAD to be good…and it was :-)

MzPriss

I can’t wait to try it. I got a pu-pick from Garret when I got this too so I have a proper tool! Oh and right this minute, I’m using my mug warmer. The Tea Hobbit is right – it rocks!

TheTeaFairy

I’m still using my silly nut pick! I’m getting a knife and a pick today.

Also, I’m going crazy over this tiny thing:

http://www.chawangshop.com/index.php/tea-hardware/tea-cups/sky-and-earth-qing-ci-cup-40ml.html

MzPriss

Good morning my Fairy Princess Schoompie. If you’re looking to me to discourage you, I think you know you’re barking up the wrong tea tree. That is freaking gorgeous and it doesn’t cost hardly anything. I would have already bought it. * Dusts off hands * My enabling for the day is done. Nice to have gotten it out of the way early.

TheTeaFairy

Haha! And good morning to you :-)
(Shipping is $17 BTW!!)
How was your night with all that sheng you had to drink “for the cause” last evening?

MzPriss

Holy shit! Really? OK I take my enabling back. That is a pretty cup though. You know, I don’t know how it happened – but I slept like 5 and a half hours. WTH? Maybe I should sheng at night more often. The mug warmer is bril!

TheTeaFairy

Yeah, too expensive for one tiny mini cup. Lol, yes, we definitely should have sheng more often.
(I just sent you a pm)

MzPriss

I am trying Yu Lu Yan Cha from Verdant for the first time, having already sucked down my Dark Beauty and some Zhu Rong. I LIKE this new one. I’m going to have a hard time writing a note on and describing it. It’s like woody-insense. mmmm likey!

yyz

Ummm, Teafairy, I spent some time at the site again and learned 2 things……1. You can order 25g of any tea even if it is not sold as such on the site. 2. They have recently started epacket service out of Kunming, so if you are really interested the shop owner said to email him about your interest in said product and you can probably get a cheaper shipping rate….

The owner is out of town until July 28 so don’t expect an immediate response, but maybe that tea cup can be yours.
[email protected]

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Yyz you are so sweet!! I can’t seem to get that cup out of my mind :-)

MzPriss

I really love that cup. So pretty! Love the contrast of it.

TheTeaFairy

Looks like minty frosting :-)

MzPriss

Yes, all cool and minty and then the more rustic clay. It’s sweet.

MzPriss

DAMMIT! I just looked at all of the “Tea Hardware” which is an odd thing to call it. I now need about 10 things from there. How did this go from me enabling you to me trying to justify $17 shipping to myself? How???

TheTeaFairy

Read yyz’s comment above…she’s the sweetheart who pointed me in their direction :-)

yyz

It is really pretty. He has some pretty nice teaware. Epacket is for up to 2 kg. If the shipping is a lot cheaper a tea tray for 15.00 is looking reasonable right now too.

MzPriss

GAH! I just keep finding things – there are lotus cups and cute gaiwans and teapets. I even want to get a present for Awkward Soul because there is the MOST adorable little owl cup.

TheTeaFairy

Yes, I guess the low cost of items absorbs the shipping costs…

TheTeaFairy

Hehe…did you see the blue lotus cup? And the little piggy pet?

MzPriss

YES AND YES!!!!!!! The laughing piggie on its back? And the lions playing with the ball? And yes! They are so reasonably priced that the shipping might be starting to make sense. Epacket would be better though?

MzPriss

OH and a wee small CHEAP tea tray for my work tray that I was just saying yesterday I needed?

TheTeaFairy

No, did not see that one…that would be great!

yyz

Its true, once you start thinking about a few things the price isn’t so bad.

MzPriss

Except – when I added all the items and I wanted and estimated shipping to Texas – I had TWO choices $40 or $60 in shipping. Um, what?

yyz

It goes up with weight. That’s why I started thinking about epacket. The prices for China post go up after 150g. Given epacket ends at 2 kg you may need to break up the order.

yyz

Actually its 50g for small packet, and then increases again significantly over 1 kg

yyz

Epacket rates look to be under 11 dollars for 2kg Max to the US but I’m not sure of what handling fees the seller would add on.

MzPriss

I need to figure it out. Because I WANT those things

Garret

This post just made me want to get a cowboy hat! So wonderful. Great to see you all on here. Life is such a gift – smiles and laughter make it all the sweeter!

TheTeaFairy Garret, I have a tendency of “naming” my favourite teas and love this mao cha and its original name, and again, sorry for that :-o

(But get the hat!!!)

SarsyPie

I don’t know exactly how HOTOT became hot cowboy, but whatever!

TTF: that cup is gorgeous!!!! Love it. Am I supposed to be enabling you or not enabling you currently?

HoneyBelle: those lotus cups are gorgeous. Not sure which one you liked, but they are all pretty.

I see several things I could use. If you guys find a better shipping option, let me know. I am taking a break for awhile, but I still have a wishlist!

yyz

I’m waiting until the 28th when he comes back. Hopefully then I’ll find out the cost of 25g of their dark teas and have an idea of shipping rates. I’m tempted by too many things there. The good thing about time is it gives me time to edit.

SarsyPie

The prices are just amazing, and there’s a great variety. Let us know what you find out, yyz :)

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88

Good morning Steepster!

When I woke up earlier, I had a lychee craving. I happen to have some in the fridge. And I happen to have these delicious lychee pearls, so why not create a lychee feast?

This tea is very unusual. I personally don’t know any other lychee Dragon Pearls.

They are big and fragrant, but not soapy. The taste is so juicy, just like plump lychee. I get this lovely chocolaty smooth and malty Yunnan taste which makes this lychee tea so different than all others out there. I get none of that heavy perfumed lychee after taste you get in most black lychee flavoured teas.

It’s like drinking chocolate lychees. Not that I ever had any, but I’m sure there must exist some chocolate lychees somewhere. After having this tea, I can totally see their sweet floral taste work perfectly well with dark slightly bitter chocolate.

(And I just realized I wrote the word lychee way to many times in this review)

I other news, today I’m seasoning another one of my Yixing clay pots. Fun times!

MzPriss

I LOVE lychees. I wish I had some in my fridge right now. I haven’t had any lychee tea yet, but I did recently acquire some Lychee Oolong from Butiki I need to try. I’m going to season a Special Dark pot and I think maybe do my other pot for shous that are not SD today and when my purple pot comes, have it for my straight blacks. The SD pot will be that new Mandala one with the bamboo design.

CK

Chocolate lychee sounds really good!

TheTeaFairy

MzPriss, Butuki is my favourite lychee tea ever! That oolong she’s using is spectacular on its own…and yay! You seem to have a good plan fir your pots :-)

Ck, I guess having this tea is the closest I can get to chocolate lychees for now!

MzPriss

I don’t think you wrote “lychee” too much – it’s a word I love to SAY leeeeeecheeee

TheTeaFairy

Lol, it’s one of those words that will have me make funny noises too ;-)

SarsyPie

Lycheeeeeeeeeeeee! Yum!

Which pot are you seasoning, TTF?

Also, good morning, my lovelies!!!!! I am making Alia for breakfast in my new black tea pot wheeeeeeee!!!!

MzPriss

I just finished some Snaily. I think I’m going to give the Dragon Balls another chance and try them the Stephanie way to see if I like them better

TheTeaFairy

Mmmmm, will most certainly catch a cup of Aila soon as well! Let me how it turns out in your newly seasoned pot!!

I will season my green oolong pot. It’s much larger than my other pots, that’s why I chose it for oolongs.

TheTeaFairy

Which ones MzPriss?

MzPriss

The Teavivre ones

Marzipan

We call those dragon poop.

SarsyPie

It’s deeeeeeelish in the new pot, but was there a doubt that Alia would be good? :p

MzPriss

I’m trying to learn to love this dragon poop – but I’m not there yet. And of course there was no doubt the Alia would be good :D

MzPriss

OK the dragon poop is tasting a little fruity to me at the moment – I’m getting zero chocolate and zero malt. Maybe zero chocolate because I’m eating toast with chocolate almond butter?

MzPriss

Sars – does it taste different to you in the pot? And if so, how?

SarsyPie

Well HoneyBelle, I’m not sure. I got enough for two cups from Cam, and I tried the first round in the new pot, yesterday. I liked them! I am really starting to think that there’s something to this whole thing about the clay influence. It was very smooth. I definitely found malt and cocoa.

Mmmmmmmmm choco almond butter!

MzPriss

The choco almond butter is new obsession. I was in my little hippie co-op grocery and you know those machines they have that are full of peanuts or almonds and you grind your own nut butter? They had one with chunks of roasted almonds and dark chocolate chunks. OMG – blissful. I’m having it on my Canadian Squirrely Bread – it’s full of nuts and seeds and is so good toasted. It’s in the frozen section at the co-op.

SarsyPie

Squirrelly bread??? OMG. I want a hippie co-op.

Speaking of squirrels and Canada… Have you ever been and seen those huge black squirrels they have? The first time I was there, I saw one near the water out if the corner of my eye and couldn’t tell if it was a squirrel or a beaver. So I decided it must be a hybrid: The elusive Canadian Squeaver.

TTF: do they have these in your area?

MzPriss

I have never been to Canada. Yet.

SarsyPie

Well when you go… Beware the Squeaver!!!!!

MzPriss

LOL I will be on the lookout

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Sorry I was off the computer for a bit…dragon poop. And Squeavers!!!

Lol, yes, we have huge squirrels! And I have a thing for them. I even name them. This is the most special one. Mr. White. Very rare. Been around for the last four years.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/laafeevertee/11969474573/lightbox/

SarsyPie

WHITE SQUEAVER!!!!!

this is especially awesome, Foxy, b/c the unofficial mascot of my mom’s town (Palmyra, PA) is an albino squirrel. They call him whitey and it’s quite the honor to see him frolicking in your yard. I see you’ve met his cousin. :p

TheTeaFairy

Haha! So awesome :-)

hippiechick 42

What does lychee taste like?

TheTeaFairy

Very hard to describe hippiechick. It’s very sweet and juicy, a bit like grapes can be, but a lot more perfumed.

Terri HarpLady

Dragon Lychee Pearls…this sounds amazing!
I have to agree, Butiki’s lychee oolong is the best lychee tea I’ve had so far.

mj

SQUEAVERS!! ROFL

Marzipan

It makes me think of the Anthony Bourdain episode in the bayou where they ate “sqweazel”.

Dexter

(just for the record – considering some of you think I eat eat weird – or least unheard of things – squeever and sqweazel are not on the menu in my house)

hippiechick 42

Thanks teafairy, for the description. :)

Marzipan

Dex you can cover anything in yumyum sauce and make it good. :)

SarsyPie

Squeavers are no laughing matter! They’re bloodthirsty beasts! They’ll bite your ankles off!!!! :p

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95

I had a nice oolong afternoon with this baby. All gone now, I had just a enough left to make a Gaiwan session.

This baby is a decadent one.

Floral notes of lilacs, creamy and buttery, with a minty fresh finish.

Love that thick texture, a total PUDDING MOUTH!!

It’s from the highest plantations in the world, maybe that’s why it tastes like the sky…

I’ve reviewed it a few times before, this resteeps for a while, and though it looses its floral notes, it remains creamy and buttery all “oolong”…

Just yum.

MzPriss

I don’t think I got that oolong. I got a couple of their others which I need to try. I hear rumors of a sale though.

SarsyPie

Oh lovely! I haven’t tried Butiki’s DYL, but I have Yezi’s and this style is definitely yumz. :)

MzPriss

I got the Da Ye Aged and the Reserve Four Season – LTF made them sound good – I’m gonna break into them and the blue tea tomorrow :D

TheTeaFairy

I love butiki’s oolongs!! Are you planning to try the aged ones this week end Honeybelle?

Sars, I haven’t had Yezi so I can’t compare…but this one is more than lovely!

SarsyPie

LTF makes everything sound good! Luckily she always seems to be right! :p

Yes, blue tea!!! Drink it and report back!!! It’s such a party tea. It’s kinda hard not to smile when you drink it. I recommend white tea ware. :)

TTF… You should let me send you some. Seems like the perfect thing for a tea fairy.

MzPriss

Yes I’m gonna try the aged ones and a little TGY and the blue tea. OH and my taster is back and I’m enjoying the SB

TheTeaFairy

Oh, missed the comment where you said “I’m gonna try them tomorrow” lol.

Loke Sars said, can’t wait to find out what you think of them!

Cameron B.

TeaFairy, which of the oxidized oolongs would you recommend? I’ve been looking at them and trying to decide! Between the two aged ones, the four season, Doke rolling thunder, and the Gui Fei. I know I’m getting Oriental Beauty! But any suggestions would be awesome. :P

TheTeaFairy

(“Like”, damn typos)

MzPriss

Oh, I got the OB too – I got the leafhopper thingie and got a cute bug magnet.
Dang. Now I want OB

SarsyPie

OMG. I got the magnet too, but I swear I’m not tea gear stalking you. It was weeks ago. Isn’t it the cutest thing ever!?!?!

TheTeaFairy

I was not crazy about doke rolling…but Gui Fei is bug bitten, just like OB and they are both fantastic and super honey like!

MzPriss

It is very cute!!! I like bug-bited teas!

MzPriss

I ordered a wee bamboo tea tray for my office today.

TheTeaFairy

With the crazy shipping?

TheTeaFairy

Did you see the cute little cups I got today Missy?

MzPriss

No, with Amamzon even though I’m wanting to quit doing anything with them. I got my assistant to try sheng the other day and it was messy- water and tea on my desk – so I just ordered it. The are a shitload of things I want on that site though

SarsyPie

Pics or it never happened. :p

And OMG I totally forgot to show you two!!! I finally found the tea tray of my dreams after weeks of searching.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350896243321

MzPriss

I did! they were adorable!!! I have that Buddha Hand holding a lotus one coming and the purple one and the crackly one from the other day. I LOVE that earth and stars one you’re getting! All of them are cute

MzPriss

OH that’s PRETTY Sars!!!!!

TheTeaFairy

Wow, very nice sars, and it’s darker like you want!

SarsyPie

I’m pretty excited. It was so hard to find a larger tray with the dark finish for a reasonable price. Every time I would find one in my price range, they were sold out. I’m really happy with this one.

TheTeaFairy

That is just the cutest thing ever!!!

mj

Cameron, I just tried a bunch of oolongs in the Education TTB 2; four seasons and oriental beauty were my favorites!

SarsyPie

I love that set! Which tray did you end up with, MzP?

MzPriss

I’m excited to try them.

@LTF – RIGHT????

Cameron B.

Thanks mj, I did read your notes! :) I’m so jealous, I want to do a Butiki educational box! I’m thinking I’ll definitely get Oriental Beauty and Gui Fei, I may choose another depending on how many things I end up getting… ;)

TheTeaFairy

I,m pretty sure you’ll like them cameron!

TheTeaFairy

Ok…wasn’t going to say anything but….i just got the last cherries of the season. 6 pounds. All to myself…and now, I feel like drinking you know what.

MzPriss

I’m glad you found a beautiful one that makes you happy!

MzPriss

Of course you do – I will drink some with you

TheTeaFairy

Love the tiny tray, just perfect for the office :-)

And thanks for drinking with meeeee!

MzPriss

Kettle just beeped

SarsyPie

That little tray is so cute!!!!

MzPriss

I really like that little set with the bamboo cut-out in the top and all the stuff to with it and easily packable though. What is this “Best offer available” thing and how do I do it?

TheTeaFairy

I’m pm-ing you missy!

MzPriss

Because I can return the amazon thing

SarsyPie

Make an offer! Woo! Haggling is kinda fun, IMO. :)

MzPriss

It’s not fun so far

SarsyPie

Oh. Well poo. :(

yyz

MzPrizz that’s a pretty good price for that one. The store where I first saw that type wanted 4-6 dollars more. If you do buy from Shanghai story, I’ve heard that their jinjunmei is pretty good.:)

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100

On a good or a bad day, I have tea. Yes, it’s part of my life everyday. It’s something that brings me pleasure no matter how shitty my day is. I’ll take pleasure over happiness. Happiness isn’t reliable, you can’t expect to be happy everyday even if you want to. But you can experience the pleasure of having tea everyday :-)

Tea pleasure is reliable and measurable. This one is proof to my theory. It’s not a concept, but a moment in time that exists and is seizable, a simple pleasure in its purest form.

It is with such a pride that I broke a piece of my first sheng cake today. I know I have already reviewed this tea not long ago. This is just a quick addition.

It is stunning… a mossy-earthy-smoky feel and fresh minty grassy notes that make it so enjoyable… if that’s even possible, it tastes better than the first time I had it!

Dexter3657, I must thank you again for sending a sample in the first place.

(See previous note)

sherapop

Very philosophical! ;-)

Sil

i love this tea.

TheTeaFairy

Sherapop, I guess this tea is making a philosopher out of me :-)

Sil, how much exactly do you love this tea????

Stephanie

I love it too :)

Sil

I love it! probably more than i love what starts at 32:01
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQD9EBCwlQc

Kamyria

Very beautiful philosophical note. I love it!

TheTeaFairy

Thanks Kamyria :-)

Sil: hahaha!!! Of course only YOU could come up with an answer like that…you made me work there, little missy, had to find the exact spot! Good thing I looove me some Parrell <3

TheTeaFairy

(Oops, I meant “Pharrell”)

Sil

those stupid things dancing kills me… i’ve been laughing for days…

TheTeaFairy

Yes, and lucky me, now they will be in my head just like the swedish chef has been for I don’t know how many days now, thanks to you!!!
(Are you messing with me? What just happened to Heffalump???)

Sil

wall-e wanted to play…

keychange

I love this note. You describe the importance of pleasure so perfectly. Thank you!!

Terri HarpLady

Beautiful review, fun video. I love you guys, you make me smile :)

Rosehips

Fab review. So very, vry true.

mrmopar

Are we not a crazy bunch? I think so and may lead the pack!

TheTeaFairy

Aww, you guys are so awesome, thank you :-)

Haha! Mrmopar, yes we are…where else can you find at the same spot references to philosophy, sheng, Heffalump, Wall-e and weird tall yellow dancing mascots????

Terri HarpLady

and don’t forget profanity! LOL

TheTeaFairy

Oh Terri, how could I forget about the most enjoyable part???

K S

Nothing to add but a smile. Good way to start my morning.

Charles Thomas Draper

I’m ordering it right now based on your review and my love of Sheng

TheTeaFairy

Charles, I don’t have your knowledge with Sheng, but I don’t think you are taking much of a risk by ordering this one, let us know how you enjoy it later :-)

Charles Thomas Draper

I will. Thank you. :)

@ligongsf

hi Fairy, you are a good writer…very poetique:)

TheTeaFairy

Thanks ligongsf, drinking this tea is very inspirational :-)

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This week has been pretty busy for us. We just got back from vacation mid week which was really a work vacation and will start prepping for another office closure as we will probably be taking off for another 2 weeks in about two weeks but this time for a real vacation. Also, we received in a ton of tea, including many new teas. We are also changing up a few teas. Here is a sneak peek of just a few of the many changes:

Adding: Hattialli Golden Paw (very similar to our Hattialli Golden Lion)

Changing: Irish Cream Cheesecake. Based on the reviews, we are thinking the base is just wrong for the flavoring. We used our everyday Sourenee, which is very good but also very fickle. It can be pretty challenging to get that tea to its sweet spot and it can turn astringent if the water cools too much.

Changing: Sourenee. We are exchanging the current everyday Sourenee for a very high quality limited edition Sourenee.

Adding: Hello Sweetie. It’s coming soon but first we will be doing a promotion with it.

Changing: Da Yu Ling. We moved too slowly on the Da Yu Ling for the winter harvest but the Fu Shou Shan is a fantastic replacement!

Adding: A baked Ali Shan.

Mi Xian: Just a little warning. We are low on Mi Xian right now and will not be able to get more when we run out as it is scarce at the moment.

These are just a few additions and changes. There are many more to come and many more flavors in the works, including the Custom Blend Contest tea which is getting close to finishing the recipe. We will also be removing a few flavors and teas that just aren’t up to the standards of the rest of the teas. I would love to hear any suggestions from anyone who believes there is a tea that should be removed from our collection.

On to the tea! This harvest has a slightly deeper dark chocolate note. There really isn’t much difference from this harvest and the last harvest but the chocolate is stronger and the malt is slightly stronger. There are less stems, which is fantastic! The upgrade version on the other hand has some cherry notes that were not detectable in the previous version.

Courtney

YES Hello Sweetie! And Hattialli Golden Paw. :)

Butiki Teas

Courtney-Glad to hear you are excited about those 2! :)

Roswell Strange

Very excited to be able to try Hello Sweetie!

Courtney

Also the others haha, but especially those two.

Stephanie

Excited about Hello Sweetie too, but also a little sad that the Irish cream cheesecake is changing. It was one of my favorites from my last order! Hope you have a great vacation in a couple of weeks :)

TeaLady441

Hello Sweetie!!!
I have a lot of Butiki teas from the BF sale, and from what I grabbed off other people, but I WILL be buying 2oz+ of that one… And to make the shipping worth it, I guess I’ll have to get some more Caramel Vanilla Assam etc.

TeaLady441

Will you give us all warning on the blends which are being removed? Just in case some of them are near and dear to our hearts?

moraiwe

Oh my! Hello Sweetie and a baked Ali Shan. Be still my heart. :D

TheTeaFairy

Wow, lots of changes, everything sounds really good!

As for the teas that should be removed, the one that comes to mind is apricot Guayusa, never did anything for me, but doesn’t mean it no good, just my own personal taste.

I had stock up on Taiwanese Assam, but now I’m running low…hmmm, for the upgrade, did you really mention cherry notes??? OMG!!! I might be in trouble…

P.S. I won’t wish you a good vacation in february cause I just know it will be awesome :-)

BrewTEAlly Sweet

Hello sweetie!!! Been dying to try that and the hattialli golden paw and Ali Shan!!! I have soooooooooookko much tea from you from BF though!!! So much!!!

JustJames

i need more caramel vanilla….. and i think i have to have a hoard stash of black lotus. i drink it and it makes me poetical— i think that’s a sign, don’t you? and btw, the fact that steepster’s auto correct is not freaking over the word ‘poetical’ is HYSTERICAL! it must be a fan of firefly…..

Butiki Teas

Roswell Strange-Excellent! Glad to hear that you guys are looking forward to that one. It turned out so good!

Stephanie-Well, I hope you like the new version! I’m glad you enjoyed the old version. Thanks for the vacation wishes! :)

Cavocorax-The Hello Sweetie won’t be coming out completely until March, so you have some time. :) We will be giving some warnings when we decide which blends are getting chopped. I’m not quite sure which ones will go. All of the popular, highly rated teas will definitely be staying.

Moraiwe-Glad to hear you are interested in those two :)

TheTeaFairy-And those are just some of the changes. I can think of at least 10 new additions that I didn’t mention, including maybe one of Stephanie’s tea entries. I think you might be right about the Apricot Guayusa. It really has only stayed around as long as it has because a friend of mine requests it. I always make her a pot of it with a cinnamon stick and rock sugar. Oh yeah, I am definitely tasting cherry notes. Well, my February vacation is changing a bit but not sure how yet. Unfortunately, I tore a tendon in my foot pretty badly from ignoring my plantar fascistis and continuing to stay on my feet despite doctor warnings. Not sure how the vacation will change but will definitely be traveling less. Thanks for the vacation wishes, I will definitely have a good time!

Butiki Teas

BrewTEAlly Sweet-Glad to hear you are interested in the Hello Sweetie! A big thanks to James on that one, for letting the tea go wherever it goes.

JustJames-Hahaha, poetical. Love that word. Glad you are a fan of The Black Lotus. I love that one so much! :)

TheTeaFairy

Oh nooo! That’s pretty tragic about your foot, so sorry about that…Hmmm, I understand why it might change your plans a little, that would suck though. I’m sure you will figure figure out something no matter what :-)

It will be hard to resist ordering soon…( keep it quiet, but I’m suppose to be on a tea hiatus)

Butiki Teas

TheTeaFairy-Of course it had to happen now. Doh! I can’t complain though, I have certainly had my fill of fun vacations. I know this will be fun too, even if scaled back. No worries, your secret is safe with me…and the rest of the internet. :D

Sil

Tea fairy… The two assams are totally different teas imo. I prefer the non upgraded version, but the upgraded one is tasty, but just a different tea. If youth in k of it as an upgrade to PTA, it falls short….treat it like a new tea:)

Butiki Teas

Sil-This upgrade harvest is a little bit different though. :)

Chizakura

SO excited for Hello Sweetie! :D When I read the description for it, I positively whimpered that it was a custom blend, haha. Especially since PTA is the base!

So glad that PTA and Upgrade are back in stock. :D I haven’t tried out all the teas I got from my last order from you, but I’m already loading up a cart for another. I miss my two PTAs!

… Just promise me that Foxy Roxy Banana Walnut Treat isn’t going. D: If it were to be discontinued, I think I’d go crazy and buy ALL of it and make it last as long as possible. xD

Chizakura

Will Mi Xian be gone forever? Or just until the next harvest?

TheTeaFairy

For obvious reasons, I also hope you’re not removing Foxy Roxy :-)

Butiki Teas

No worries guys, Foxy Roxy is here to stay!

Chizakura-Glad to hear that Hello Sweetie sounds interesting to you. PTA is my morning tea, I’m glad its back too! I was rationing my tea out for that one.

It’s one of my favorites. At the moment its scarce but hopefully not for too long.

Butiki Teas

I meant to say that Mi Xian is one of my favorites and is scarce, not the PTA. Just wanted to clarify in case that is confusing.

ifjuly

Aw, I seem to have a curse where my favorite Butikis relatively few others dig and they get changed or discontinued! I’m not complaining really, I totally understand, but it’s funny being the odd duck out. I mean this as a compliment, not a complaint, but I love the Irish Cream Cheesecake! I’ve been drinking it as a breakfast tea and loving it that way, where it’s brisk like a breakfast blend but with that treaty reward for getting out of bed, ha. Looking forward to seeing what’s new and excited about Hello Sweetie!

lolainred

oooo… I hope Pistachio Ice Cream isn’t going anywhere. I love that tea.

Butiki Teas

lolainred-Pistachio Ice Cream is safe! That was one of the first teas we made!

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90

As you may know by now, I love taking tea and nature photos. I’m just a casual photographer with no special skills, but I like to capture life’s unexpected blissful moments. One morning this week, I checked out my window and this is what I saw:

http://instagram.com/p/rHsiYJQh_C/

The beauty in this world…simple pleasures, big rewards…such as this tea.

It’s delicate and yet so powerful. When you drink it, you are taken by its beauty.

I brewed it Laoshan Style, in a tall glass. This is reminiscent of my beloved Sleeping Bear of course, the jasmine part.

It’s fresh and floral, but not overly perfumed. The name is just right…for being in the rain and by the river quite often in my neck of the woods, I can appreciate that.

It’s so sweet and a little nutty. It’s not very grassy or herbaceous for a green tea, a thing that might appeal to non green tea lovers.

The perfect afternoon companion, while Steepstering and reading a book…

mj

Beautiful picture!

TheTeaFairy

I still can’t beleive I took a pic of Bambi!

TheTeaFairy

Omg…poor thing though, I almost cried. Hope the mother did not abandon it.

Marzipan

Beautiful!

yyz

Gorgeous!

mj

Oh me too! I just thought it was cute how much it liked having its belly rubbed

TeaNecromancer

So Cool! I miss living in an area where animals visited me, living in the suburbs is so not for me. Awesome photo, thank you for sharing!

TheTeaFairy

Thanks guys….

and mj, no worries I’m just over sensitive, you always find cutest things :-)

Amanda, I’ve had my share of living in the big city and the suburbs, until I found my spot. hope you find yours too :-)

Mandy

What a cutie! My mom lives down a dirt road, so I’m used to seeing Bambis and Thumpers, but I swear the Florida heat fries their brains and I’ve almost hit one more than once when they decide that the perfect time to jump across the dirt road is right when I’m driving by. My favorite though are the bears, they’re so. freaking. cute! especially the little cubs. Ugh, I miss the wild life, but I don’t miss the 8 legged freaks.

donkeyteaarrrraugh

Now following you on Instagram.

TheTeaFairy

WP, you must have your share of Bambis in your forest too :-)

mandy, I don’t have that many, that’s why I get so excited when I see one! And I loooove the bears!!! But yes, I do have to deal with the 8 legged beasts :-o

Donkeytiara, following back :-)

Mandy

I swear, I only see the deer on the road, not on my actual property, so I get more excited when I see one while someone else is driving, because I’m the worst driver, and they always make my heart pound of my chest when they dart in front of me.

Especially since I actually hit a deer with a 4wheeler when it did that to me when I was younger. He ran off, and I was going slow enough that I don’t think I hurt him, but I was crying so hard that someone had to drive my 4wheeler back for me. I was devastated.

Mandy

Also, followed you (;

Marzipan

Mandy that makes me think of The Gilmore Girls where Rory was hit by a deer while she was driving.

TheTeaFairy

Oh, that’s so sad mandy…hope you didn’t get hurt, its very dangerous.

Following you back!

Mandy

Marzipan it was very much like that, haha

TTF I was going 5 maybe 10 miles an hour, physically I was fine, just very scared that I hurt him

TheTeaFairy

Yeah, i totally get that…I would have been been too.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

I really need to start instagramming again…

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Yeah, I’m doing it. I still don’t quite have the hang of it yet, but you can follow me here http://instagram.com/whisperingpinestea :-)

TheTeaFairy

Great, I’ll follow brenden…I kind of like it now that I got the hang of it myself :-)

Clint

This tasting note and all of the comments are making me think that I need to start an instagram….

TheTeaFairy

I actually started only last week clint because of this:

http://steepster.com/discuss/3958-steepster-members-on-instagram?page=1

It’s fun!

Clint

I suppose I’ll make one then! Peer pressuuuuure

TheTeaFairy

Lol, Just do it!!!
Don’t forget to link us :-)

Marzipan

I might make one just so I can write smoochy notes to WP.

TheTeaFairy

Yes, I’ll post my smoochy note there too…

Clint

I made one! Time to start following people and taking pictures! Wooo

TheTeaFairy

Clint, are you paperduckins???

SarsyPie

I heart you and your mini bambi!

Clint

Yup, I am paperduckins! I haven’t had a chance to post any pictures or anything yet though :(

TheTeaFairy

No problems clint, following you ;-)

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88

Mini tuocha, please help a fairy in needs of relief! I ate too much. When I do, puerh always comes to rescue. I don’t know how it can be so soothing, but it just is. I don’t have digestion problems at all. Usually. But…from time to time, things happen.

Oh, I was a bad, bad, fairy tonight, yes I was…

If you’ve been reading my notes for a while, you know I’m some kind of a health freak. Proud Vitamix owner for many years, name any fruit/veggie combination, I have had it. I don’t care much for sugar, eat lots of fish, love quinoa and leafy greens.

Having said that, I do like me some piece of meat every now and then, and I have been known for eating anything dark chocolate in excess…

But I have another flaw…( wine doesn’t count, it’s a fruit portion, Roughage said it, and he’s very smart and knowlegable) It’s a big flaw…to this day, a secret one. I’m willing to share with you Steepster friends, but husssssh, please keep it quiet: I’m a sucker for boxed KD mac & cheese. I know, I know, its no good…but I like it. There. It’s out.

Today being a migraine day (all gone now, thanks to a friend who kept my mind busy in the right way!), I needed something to indulge for dinner. After a lot of consideration, I’ve decided to open THE cupboard, the one locked under a secret code and pulled out an «in case of emergency» KD box.

I crushed some Herbes de Provence and parmesan cheese to make it «gourmet» (yes, there is such a thing as Gourmet KD in my kitchen!) and put the dish under broil for a few minutes. Needless to say, I ate the whole thing. No veggies. Just 100% pure carbs. I’m full. Burp. (Oops!!!)

Thanks mini Tuocha for supporting me.

Steepster fellows, please don’t judge me…

(See previous note)

Nxtdoor

Oh god. This is too funny. I laughed at the Mac & cheese first. Then at the herbs de Provence on it. Not having grown up in North America I don’t get the Mac & cheese. But My common law spouse is born and raised Canadian. I tried making gourmet Mac n cheese from scratch and don’t you know it, it ain’t as good as the boxed shit. I guess unless it’s glowing orange it just don’t cut it.

Fjellrev

Haha way to be making it super gourmet.

TheTeaFairy

Nxdoor, I think KF is engraved in us North Americans, it’s in our DNA, lol!

Fjellrev, it’s still crap, but I’d rather have gourmet crap than just plain crap, don’t you agree?

Fjellrev

You’re right about that! I never thought about sprucing up KD like that.

TheTeaFairy

OMG, just noticed I wrote KF instead of KD, lol! Corrected, must be my dyslexia, KF as in Kraft probably?
I pimp my food all the time, it’s my creative side :-)

cryptickoi

I love my vitamix,it gets used every morning…everyone has a weakness…haha

TheTeaFairy

Aw, thanks cryptickoi, glad to know I’m not the only one enjoying my green morning juice! Isn’t it a life changer? How long have you been using yours?

Kamyria

LOL Oh no! Not boxed KD! I’m not judging, I swear I’m not judging… lol I’m not much better myself lately.. I’m a fellow health freak currently on a massive comfort food binge… I really want to eat more veggies, I really do, it’s just that my hands are doing what they want and not picking them out of the fridge lately!

TheTeaFairy

Kamyria, don’t be too hard on yourself, we all need some comfort binging. Fruits and veggies will still be there when your hands return,haha!

cryptickoi

I’ve only had mine for about 6mos. but I’ve been doing protein/superfood smoothies every morning for 3 years I guess…

ashmanra

LOL! Same dirty secret here, but with Penzey’s Sunny Paris or Ruth Ann’s Muskegon Avenue spices added! The gooier it is, the better it tastes. Al dente, of course!

cryptickoi

I’m sort of a health nut too…I really wish there were a lot more organic choices when it came to teas…

TheTeaFairy

Ashmanra, listen to us, who are we kidding? gourmet al dente KD really? lol, as if it’s some kind of delicatessen. Oh well, I guess it is to us! Thanks for also sharing your secret! (Now gotta look for those spice blends!)

Dexter

Closet KD lover as well. I like garlic sausage, onion, and tomato added. Al dente? sorry nope – over cooked and mushy for me. KD isn’t real pasta. LOL

cryptickoi

now I’m thinking dark chocolate with berries and ripe pu…mmm…

mrs.stenhouse12

Another KD lover here! Only time I got tired of it was when I ate a lot of it as a first year student lol, now I’m back to loving it :) dill, garlic/garlic powder, salt and pepper for me on it, in various combinations of the 4. :)

TheTeaFairy

Cryptickoi, me too for 3 years, but luckily, I started with the Vitamix. Wow, it must have made a huge difference for you, after 2.5 years with a regular blender! It’s a leap of faith financially but it is worth every penny. I don’t always add protein powder (the vegetal kind) cause most of the time I add whole almonds, hemp and chia seeds, and greek yogurt. So delicious!

cryptickoi

yeah,regular blenders suck…haha

TheTeaFairy

OMG, people, I think we all came out at the same time, lol, Dexter, leave the closet open!!!
Had no clue there were so many KD lovers here :-)

Miss Lena, sounds delicious!

TheTeaFairy

Dexter sausages for real??? Not judging, but, you know…

Dexter

LOL garlic sausage isn’t the same as breakfast sausage, but yes I KNOW. It’s ok, ham works well too….

__Morgana__

It’s hard not to love mac and cheese. It’s such a pure comfort food. And the Kraft version is sort of the gold standard. I’m so glad my kids have graduated from mac and cheese every other night or so as it keeps me out of trouble! I like the gussied up versions too, though I can do without the breadcrumbs that seem to be de rigueur for the gourmet types. I have to confess that we like Annie’s shells also, though I try to limit myself to just a taste!

TheTeaFairy

Morgana, yes I can imagine how being exposed to it every other night is a bad, bad thing for mom, lol! Not much of a breadcrumbs fan either…

mrs.stenhouse12

Mmm all this KD talk is making me want to make some..too bad we don’t have any in the house at the moment! Popcorn it is :)

TheTeaFairy

You get my seal of approval, MissLena!

OMGsrsly

I love browning some butter in a pan and adding the cheese sauce mixed with a bit of milk to cook and melt it before adding the noodles back. That’s how I ‘gourmet it up’!

TheTeaFairy

OMGsrsly, welcome to our KD outing then, sounds great :-)

K S

We saw an episode of Diners Driveins and Dives where they made a fancy smancy mac & cheese with a ton of different cheeses. We went to the trouble of finding them all and trying it. Ehh. We are back to the good stuff made with Velveeta instead of water is in that pouch and throw in some hot dogs. I can almost hear my arteries snapping shut.

TheTeaFairy

Yes bad for the arteries, but so good for the soul :-) KS, doesn’t it feel good to embrace this decadent habit of ours?

OMGsrsly

I got a case of Annie’s gluten free. So tempting to go home and make it, but I’m off grains until the end of the month! This is the first time I’ve actually been tempted. KD is miracle comfort food for sure. :)

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100

Am I allowed to say once more that I have just drank the best black tea ever? Cause people, I think I just did!

I know, some of you will say «Oh, that fairy, she’s a little over enthusiastic» but I promise you, this tea is unbelievable.

Do you like sea salted caramel? Do you like dark chocolate? Do you like dried fruits like naturally sugar loaded figs and dates?

If you answered yes, then I don’t see why you should deprave yourself from this tea any longer. Just do it, order. Or don’t and there will be more for me, haha!

Yeah, ok, one ounce was clearly not enough. I can see more WP orders in a very near future.

I just drank the life out of my first cup, now I’m going to calm my senses and go sip another one outside in the rain, with my dog, my birds and my trees…

Happy long week end to those who are lucky to get one :-)

Flavors: Caramel, Chocolate, Dates

Preparation
5 g 8 OZ / 236 ML
boychik

i think i should order a sample. i have one from Yunnan Sourcing, so to compare

TheTeaFairy

Did you like the one from YS? Was your experience similar?

boychik

its been a while. im off to fix a cup. the review is coming up soon;)

TheTeaFairy

Ok, can’t wait to read it :-)

Stephanie

Well that sounds fantastic!

Dexter

Awesome – so happy you are enjoying your WP order. LOL I don’t know about the best black though – I’m drinking the Jin Jun Mei you sent and it is crazy good – lol just saying….

DeliriumsFrogs

oh, yummy!!!

Terri HarpLady

I love all those things…dates, figs, chocolate, Jin Jun Mei…hell yeah!

TheTeaFairy

Yeah, ok Dexter, i admit you have a good point there Dexter…

DeliriumsFrogs and Stephanie, yes it is both yummy and fantastic!

Oh, and you shall receive them my dear Terri :-)

yyz

Sounds gorgeous!

tea-sipper

oh I wish Whispering Pines had sample sizes to order. :D

looseTman

Check it out: http://whisperingpinestea.com/samples.html
However, if you really enjoy the sample and want to keep a stash on hand … it’s $128/lb.

TheTeaFairy

Tea Sipper, if you place an order with them, you could request it as a sample :-)

LooseTman, unfortunately, I don,t think Ailoashan is being offered as part of the sample order, there’s only a few teas available.

looseTman

Your correct. “My bad!” It helps to check the drop-down menu – currently 10 choices.

Tea Sipper, from this thread, http://steepster.com/discuss/7499-20-percent-off-your-first-order-with-whispering-pines-tea-company, Brenden seems very accommodating.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

I sadly can’t offer samples of this tea due to VERY limited supply. :(

Terri HarpLady

“Yay!”
Little Terri jumps for joy, & then plays some fancy pantsy stuff on her harp.
“I’m so excited,”

TheTeaFairy

Haha! I totally envision the scene little Terri!

MzPriss

It is REALLY REALLY good

TheTeaFairy

Thanks for sharing my enthusiasm MzPriss, now I know Im not delusional, lol! Did you just try it also?

boychik

Terri, you are cracking me up. I just had this picture of you in my head doing that moves ;-)

ohfancythat

So glad I ordered this one! Didn’t get it this week yet though, d’oh

TheTeaFairy

Whatshesaid, if Brenden sells out before I place another order, I might have to hunt you down, you shoud have kept quiet, lol!

ohfancythat

Wahahahaha

Veronica

I only ordered an ounce of it, and I’m already kicking myself. This is a gooood tea.

MzPriss

I tried it a week or so ago. It’s awesome. I need ro write a note on it but Ive been out of town and way busy. but Ive been drinking it. It’s yummy

TheTeaFairy

Veronica, one ounce is just a tease, isn’t it?

MzPriss, I can’t wait to read your note!

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100

Not feeling so good tonight, I’ve had a really hard time sleeping this week end, worse than usual…running on just a few hours of sleep, I thought of drinking this tea. Cause it’s my lullaby tea, puts me in a gentle state of relaxation :-)

There’s something enchanting about this blend… From what I understand, Brenden the owner of Whispering Pines, goes in the forest every month to harvest a new batch of pine needles, just the right amount to keep it sustainable. The fact that he harvests his own product makes it that much more special. And every time I buy this tea, I can be sure it’s at its freshest.

When I opened my pouch of this month’s blend and inhaled its beautiful fragrance, I noticed something different. It seemed more piney and a little more earthy, also less jasmine scented than usual.

I asked about it and was told that the pine needles were now lightly roasted. I’m thinking this process might concentrate the flavours and make the needles a bit more fragrant. A new jasmine green is also in the mix. I like that I can smell more pine, but that the scent remains so soft.

The taste is as delicate and fluffy as I want it to be. The difference from before is very hard to describe though. It’s like rain in the forest. Have you ever opened your mouth while it’s pouring in the woods, and try to catch the droplets? You know it doesn’t taste like regular water, but how do you describe it?

This tea has an undulating texture, it just coats the entire mouth with something floral, buttery sweet and evergreen. It’s not exactly jasmine, it’s not exactly pine, it’s just the perfect fusion of the two…symbiosis, I’m drinking “jaspine”.

It’s sweeter than the previous blend. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted something so fresh and clean. It truly is wonderful.

Being already in love with it, I was skeptical about the change, cause I thought it was just perfect the way it was. Well I must say, it is better.

And yes, another WP blend I don’t see myself living without.

Terri HarpLady

I hope you get some rest & wake up refreshed, my dear TF.
This is another one I’ll have to sample sometime.
Sweet dreams!

boychik

I agree 100%. This blend is perfect for me. I wasn’t sure if I should order it since I don’t really like jasmine. But it so subtle and it’s still there. And this combo with pine makes it kinda cooling sensation. I’m wishing you good night sleep. :-)

TheTeaFairy

Aww, you gals are sweet….I’m chilling now, I should be ok <3

TheTeaFairy

Terri, I can send you some whenever you want :-)

Boychik, the fact that you don’t like jasmine but appreciate this blend says it all!

inranger

I just need time to sort through all of my untasted WP, Mandala, and Verdant teas to try my SB. Sounds like I need to make time for this one. But…..so many choices, so many teas! :)

TheTeaFairy

Haha! I hear you inranger!

Ysaurella

ah you make me want to taste some Whispering Pines teas…I love the name of their teas and your reviews really exhort me to try them !

Roughage

This sounds bear-rilliant. That’s another one to add to the wish list then.

TheTeaFairy

Ysaurella, WP teas are full of magic :-)

Dr. Roughage, with bear-serker and now bear-rilliant, i officially declare you my favourite bear pun maker… Keep them coming please, bear puns make me beary happy :-)

mrs.stenhouse12

Gahh I now want to order this iteration of sleeping bear! I’ve tried 2 in the past and loved them both, and if this one is even better…. :D I see yet another tea order in my near future lol

TheTeaFairy

Truly addictive MissLena, but there can never be too many WP orders :-)

Roughage

Don’t worry, Tea Fairy, I have bearly begun. ;)

Whispering Pines Tea Company

The amount of awesomeness happening here right now is almost unbearable ;)

Roughage

Sounds like I am not the only one with bear puns bruin! ;)

TheTeaFairy

Awww, These bear puns make bears sound like the sweet things they are and much less barbearian.

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Haha that one’s good…You got me laughing on the floor doing bear-a-rolls!

Whispering Pines Tea Company

We should stop before I go into kodiak arrest!

TheTeaFairy

Ok, that one is hilarious….but no worries, if you keep eating elder-bear-ries, no risk for Kodiac arrest…

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Whew…bearly made it out of that alive!

TheTeaFairy

Oh lord! Gotta love those bears.. Did you see the strawberry???

Terri HarpLady

You guys are unbearably cute, I can barely bear to be-hear, big bear hug to all!

Roughage

Those are awesome bear puns, Whispering Pines. I shall make sure to use them all as soon as I possibly can. My friends will hate you for this! ;)

TheTeaFairy

This all started with Goldilocks Dr. Roughage, remember?

Roughage

I do indeed remembear, Tea Fairy. I still need to write the best-selling children’s book ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bearserkers’. Maybe I should make it a horror story instead …

Mandy

Meme bear puns = all kinds of awesome! Super cute and funny and fuzzy. I can bearly stand it

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Glad you enjoyed mandy :-)

Mandy

I ended up just googling bears and annoying my boyfriend with my constant “OMG baby look he’s soo cute I could just die! Wait no, look at this one! Babe, get me one! Babe, I want. Babe, babe, babe”. I’m pretty sure he hates me now, lol

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92

Never underestimate the power of kindness…I know it doesn’t show much here, but I’ve been struggling with lots of serious issues for over a year now. I had an appointment I wasn’t looking forward to this morning, but I still went cause well, I don’t have much of a choice.

I showed discouragement in front of the person I was seeing…He told me not to worry, and this:

«Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars».

Just a few words, but one of the nicest thing anyone has ever told me…it gave me hope and made me feel special.

Just sharing as a reminder of how important it is to show kindness whenever we can…it’s easy and makes someone’s day look brighter in no time :-)

When I got home, I opened Steepster and had this tea cause someone else was having it and I really love it.

It’s my “cream of mushroom” pu’erh. Yes, big notes of cream and mushrooms.

It provides such a sweet and silky mouthfeel.

Just as I wrote in previous review, it has very distinct taste of turnips. The person who made me think of having this tea said they found ginger. I admit I never would have found ginger on my own, but by being aware of it, I searched for it and found it at the fourth steep. It is a little spicy in that way. Could be the power of suggestion, but I thought it was amusing to experiment.

It’s so very smooth, it’s like velvet for the mouth.

Thank you Mandala for another excellent shou…

I have noticed that lots of pu’erh lovers have a preference between the two. As I’ve been diving into the world of pu’erh, I ask this question: Is it possible to be both a shou and a sheng girl?

Cause as far as I’m concern, I just love them equally!

Pic of the day, Temple Stairs session:

http://instagram.com/p/rU3NQPwh0y/

Cameron B.

I just ordered their new $5 sampler, but I don’t think this one is included. Although there is one called Year of the Dragon that sounds right up my alley and I’ve never seen anyone review in on Steepster. Interesting!

And you’re one of the kindest people around, so I hope you get kindness in return on a regular basis! <3

mj

Oh, TTF. Hugs! You shine so brightly, there’s no chance of you being drowned out by any moon!

boychik

Have I told you I love your pot? It matches to the shou. Perfect combo;)

TheTeaFairy

I love y’all <3

Lol, can’ remember if I have year of the dragon cameron, will have to check. But sounds food to me! I can’t wait to read what you have to say about Mandala’s eas :-)

And boychick, I just adore the pot, thank you!!!

Cameron B.

Don’t be silly mj, TeaFairy is totally the moon! :P

TheTeaFairy

Lol, something wrong with that comment “s eas”? What the hell did I mean? All I wanted to say is thanks and I love y’all!

TheTeaFairy

Awww, you guys…. <3

mj

I see where you’re coming from, but I have to disagree Cameron B. TeaFairy shines with her own light rather than just reflecting the light of another :-P
(Yes, I took it there. I couldn’t help myself. This is why people don’t like hanging out with scientists.)

boychik

Nah, moon is cold and lifeless, she is hot and explosive

Cameron B.

AWWW YEAH? WELLTHEN SHE’S THE SUN! SO THERE! ;)

TheTeaFairy

(Hiding in a corner, watching the battle)

TheTeaFairy

Cameron, forgot to mention, i love your new pic, and your as cute as a button.

boychik

Not fighting. Me fighting? North Star. You can always find your way out with it when you lost.
Cameron is very cute. I told her already. For some reason I had a different image of you. I like the original

TheTeaFairy

And I do live up north :-)

mj

If she’s the sun, she’s still a star :-P. We’re both right?

yyz

Hugs and thanks for people who seem to know exactly what we need and when we need it. I’m sorry for you struggles but I’m glad you have a supportive person helping you through it.

mrmopar

Your light will never be dim as long as you allow it to shine.

TheTeaFairy

Yyz, mrmopar…all of you, thank you, I just adore this place <3

caile

Hugs! And just so you know, reading your words brightens my day as well! :)

TheTeaFairy

Thank you so much Caile :-)

Stephanie

How sweet <3 And this tea is wonderful. Also I always enjoy your photos :)

looseTman

25 Likes + 26 Comments = a whole lot of <3!

TheTeaFairy

Stephanie, what great compliment coming from the wonderful artist that you are :-)

LooseTman, I’m overwhelmed with <3

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92

I don’t think I’ve ever had such a fruity oolong before. This is amazing.

I thought I would be able to identify cinnamon notes, but quite frankly, my taste buds don’t seem to pick up cinnamon much at all.

What I do get is lots of apple and peach. Oh, this is oven baked apple and peach cobbler with honey drizzle!

It’s lightly roasted and nutty, smooth, sweet and creamy, no astringency present at all.

I also get a faint earthiness mixed with some minerals…not strong minerals like from a giant rock or something, very gentle…like pebble minerals :-)

I really like this…pure oolong awesomeness.

Thank you so much Garret for this generous sample…

I love that your samples are always large enough to brew gongfu style.

SarsyPie

Oh my… this sounds just yummy! Love the review!

TheTeaFairy

Thanks Sars…I think I may need some of this in the cupboard…sigh.

Dexter

Awesome!!! Really happy that you enjoyed it, and really happy that it’s more apple, peach than cinnamon. This was the sample that I asked for with the order I received today!!!

mj

This does sound amazing! You always sell me on the teas you review though :), except the greens…but that’s not your fault!

TheTeaFairy

Dex, how funny that we both requested the same sample! I can’t wait to have your impressions. I’m surprised I did not get cinnamon…but I don’t care, that apple taste is so good and juicy.

Mj, lol, I know you haven’t crossed to the green side yet :-)

Dexter

Fairy – how did you steep this? Did you gongfu it or did you western brew it? Parameters?

Dexter

Is ok mj – stay with us over here on the dark side – that green stuff is scary. ;))

TheTeaFairy

Gongfu gaiwan. 4 oz water and it was perfect. Now I don’t remember how long, but I think I did 20s, 30, 60, 90, and then lost track. I’m terrible with that, sorry. Did about 6 steeps. Are you trying tonight?

SarsyPie

Dark siiiiiide. We don’t drink grass here! :p

TheTeaFairy

Lol, if you don’t drink it, what do you do with it? (Innocent face)

SarsyPie

Mow it? :p

mj

You don’t know the power of the Dark Side. I must obey my master.

TheTeaFairy

I’m an imposter…I play both sides, and I,m loving every minute of it….cause I want ALL THE TEA!!!!

Dexter

I’m going to go the other way and western steep it in my yixing mug. I’m going to use about half the sample and do about 3-4 minutes – see if that gives a different flavor profile. Will be back….. (if I drink this tonight I don’t need to enter it into my spreadsheet)

TheTeaFairy

Lol you know you’re addicted to tea when….?

Dexter

LOL You know you are overwhelmed with tea when….
(How am I suppose to enter "from my personal stash 2006 ripe from Yong De area?)

TheTeaFairy

The joy of spreadsheets :-o

Dexter

OHHHH I found cinnamon…. this is odd – good but strange….

TheTeaFairy

Yay, you found it!

Sil

i love that dexter really does have to “find” her teas…

Cheri

I’m with you, TTF. I like both the dark and the light side. The dark is new for me, though.

Krystal

This sounds really good

TheTeaFairy

Krystal, it is hard to find a Mandala tea that isn’t!

SarsyPie

I found one once!

No wait. That was something else. Nevermind. :p

TheTeaFairy

See??? Lol.

Krystal

Yes I am just finding this out now Tea Fairy! But bettet late than never

Krystal

Better*

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79
drank Turkish Tea by Unknown
1353 tasting notes

Gather round, Steepsterites, because I am going to have probably one of the most interesting teas of a long time now.

I have a colleague, a turkish girl, and she asked me, “Have you ever had Turkish tea?”
I told her I had once. I’ve never been to Turkey, but I’ve studied with a turkish girl and once when we were writing a paper to do with some questionnaires she had asked her uncle to take a stack with him to the mosque next time he went. He invited us for tea, so she could explain to him what the questionnaires were about. Her aunt made traditional turkish tea for us.
Then we talked about about how to brew it and my colleague told me that while they do drink a lot of that apple tea, they also drink a lot of plain black tea, taken with sugar. They brew it so strong that it’s nearly undrinkable without sugar, and my colleague gave me this that she had and never drank at home and explained to me how to brew it like a turkish person would. Of course I didn’t write it down at the time, thinking it was easy enough to remember, but when I came home I still had to google it. I found this site (http://turkish-food.suite101.com/article.cfm/turkish_tea) which has guidelines for brewing. It rang a bell, so I feel pretty confident that this is also how my colleague told me to do.

_QUOTE
1. Prepare a small teapot by adding about one heaping teaspoon of good, black tea (Keemun, Assam, Russian Caravan, English Breakfast all work well) per cup.
2. Boil about 1 cup of water per cup of tea (either in a samovar – or on a stove top).
3. Pour HALF of the steaming water into the teapot and let it steep for at least 15 minutes, keeping both the teapot and the remaining water piping hot. (Without a samovar, you can accomplish this with a good tea cozy for the pot and a very low flame for the water. (I almost hate to admit it, but a microwave works pretty well, too, for keeping the water very hot…. but I “didn’t say that…”).
4. Pour the tea into a small glass cup, about halfway up, and add the water to fill the remainder. Add sugar to taste – BUT NEVER MILK OR HONEY.

Read more at Suite101: Turkish Tea: Brewing and Drinking Tea in Turkey http://turkish-food.suite101.com/article.cfm/turkish_tea#ixzz0chWxExdO
END QUOTE_

So now I’m wondering what sort of leaves she has actually given me. They don’t have a very strong aroma. Ever so slightly smoky-ish is about the only characteristic I can pick up. It’s a quite large leaf size for a black though. Since my colleague actually travels to visit her husband’s family in Turkey at least once a year, I wonder if I could be so lucky that it was actually a tea produced in Turkey. Think about it, it’s not that unlikely. It would be cool if it was. I may have to interrogate her some on this matter. She gave me a relatively small amount. Big for a sample, but small for an amount to have lying around when one never takes tea. I’m not sure if that was what she meant but it did sound like, if I liked it, she had more that I could have. Anyway, the leaves look a bit faded in colour, so they’re probably getting a bit on in age. With this method of brewing, though, I can’t imagine it would spell disaster.

Five minutes still to go of this extremely long steep!

Okay, ready for the next step! Obviously, I don’t own the proper tulip-shaped tea glasses, so my cup with the farm animals on it will have to do. I tried a sip of the tea before adding more water to the cup. It had a nice reddish amberish colour and while it did have a strong flavour, it wasn’t undrinkably strong. Not at the one small sip, anyway. Quite astringent, but it didn’t taste bitter or oversteeped.

After adding water the taste was a little less astringent, but still not undrinkably strong. I was expecting something almost tar-like here and I’m actually wondering if I didn’t add enough leaf. I think I was supposed to have made it with another spoonful.

I feel pretty certain that I could easily have taken it without a grain of sugar and enjoyed it, but I’m trying to be authentic here. I did wonder about whether the type of sugar used was important since the instructions said to not use milk or honey. I’ve decided they probably would have said if it was, so I used cane sugar.

The aroma is very similar to the dry leaf. Not as smokey, though, which I think must be because of the sugar in it.

It’s definitely sweet to the taste. If you want a dessert tea, forget about any odd additives and flavouring, because this is a dessert in a cup. I can’t really pick up anything underneath the sweetness though. It’s a flavour where you’re aware that there is tea there, but apart from a light astringency, I can’t really tell you anything about it. I know it’s odd to my colleague that I can drink tea at all without sugar in it, so it’s supposed to be very sweet, but the unobtrusiveness and the lack of strongness of the black tea, only strengthens my belief that I should have used a spoonful more leaves.

Still, I used a third more leaf than usual (should probably have been double) and I steeped it for a quarter of an hour. I’m shocked that it didn’t turn out stronger! I’ll have to try again though, but for now… I don’t know if I’m really a big fan of tea turkish style, but I think I might rather like it as a rare treat rather than a regular occurence.

eta: why is it the quoted bit refuses to be in italics? What am I doing wrong? squints at it

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more
Heyes

Thanks for taking one for the team.

Angrboda

Hey, it was fun. :)

Cofftea

There was a lot of good stuff in this review! I’ll have to come back to it later and read it a 2nd time to let it all sink in. I wonder what she’d think of UTI’s turkish apple?

Angrboda

She doesn’t really drink tea much at all, so she probably wouldn’t be particularly interested. I gather it’s mostly something she drinks when they’re visiting or when they have guests in a more formal sort of way.

teaplz

Super-interesting! I love how it’s so super-concentrated that you need sugar!

Angrboda

It worked a lot better on the second cup, but then that one had had a half hour steep. :p

Cofftea

This is where the making 2 teas at once would come in handy. I can’t wait that long between infusions lol.

Angrboda

The second one had steeped longer because of the way I brew. I always have the leaves loose in the pot, so when I don’t drain it completely, there will be some stewing while I’m drinking the first cup.

Cofftea

Gotcha. I do that too, but I have a reverse french press so there isn’t any left. I do have a problem getting my pot from Dr. Tea’s Tea Garden to drain completely though.

takgoti

Huh. This sounds incredibly interesting. I’ll try this sometime when I’m feeling brave.

Also, I’m unsure on the italics, but perhaps try removing the colon? Or maybe the URL is throwing it off. Just thoughts.

Angrboda

You should, it would be fun to see what you think. :) I’ll have to find out what sort of tea this is, since it would be so cool if it was turkish grown, but since you can use any good black, there’s lots of room for experimentation. :)

Cofftea

Yes! Suggest a good Turkish tea for us:)

Angrboda

According to the website I quoted above, Turkey grow tea in the Black Sea regions, but the production is all for the home market. So you would probably have to go there to get some.

Ricky

We’ve been gathered! =], I LOLed at the end. I stupidly put my face close to the screen and started staring or maybe squinting at the words squints at it OH, I think I was thinking it was a command. Sort of like, come closer so I can finish the story. =P

Angrboda

Ricky, LOL! No, I put it in *s because that’s how I’ve always been used to denoting an action. It disturbs me a bit that that’s also how I make it bold here. I suppose I should try to get used to using ::s at Steepster, but it just looks wrong to me. I like the *s better. (And it’s probably going to make a large portion of this comment bold now too)

And yes, you have indeed been gathered. :D I don’t recall any of my posts ever having been this popular before. O.o

takgoti

Speaking of which, I meant to click the heart. Today is not a good brain day for me.

Angrboda

Bad brain days suck. I hadn’t even noticed you hadn’t clicked it the first time you were here. :)

Jillian

That sounds really neat. My friend’s boyfriend is from Iran and that’s how they drink their tea there aswell.

Angrboda

It’s probably a general middle eastern thing, then. I had a colleague from Iran, who said that the next time she went to Iran, she would get me some Iranian grown tea. Unfortunately she was in a temporary position and left before she had the opportunity to do so. But then again I’ve since read somewhere or other that the iranian grown tea has a little trouble measuring up to the quality we’re used to from India, Sri Lanka and China.

sophistre

Interesting! Why did my updates not clue me in about this? It sounds fun. This is going on the To-Do list!

Angrboda

It was definitely fun to try. I’m not done experimenting with this method of brewing by far, but I’ve decided that it would be awesome to have a real samovar in my living room. :D The brewing method after all is pretty similar so far as I can tell. A real old-fashioned russian one, that would be so cool. But I’ll have to keep dreaming. :)

sophistre

They’re very pretty. I was in NYC recently to visit friends and went to the Russian Tea Room, and the ones they had displayed were gorgeous…I was sort of disappointed that they didn’t actually have any samovars in use, as I’ve only ever seen them from afar.

Angrboda

I only googled briefly and apparently you can get some electric ones that have that oldfashioned look, but you would have to shell out some 2-400 dollars for it. I tell myself they probably use a dreadful amount of energy anyway. ;)

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97

I’m having this tea because…the long tentacles always reminded me of black spider legs.

Disclaimer: there will be some spider content in this note.

When I woke up this morning, I saw something staring at me above on the ceiling. It was black and the size of a dollar coin. In my world, this is what I call a big fat one.

So as much as spiders scare me, I can’t hate them cause they are useful and I admire them for their complexity. I think they are beautifully terrifying . And since my inner Buddha refuses to kill stuff, here I am standing on the mattress, Mason jar in one hand, trying to maintain my balance while stretching and reaching as high as I can… It’s not going to work…I mean, I’m 5"6, I’m no basketball player.

So I go quickly in the basement to get the stepladder. When I get back…it’s gone. It’s freakin’ gone people. Where did it go? How will I ever be able to sleep in that room again I ask? It’s going to crawl on me at night, it thinks I tried to kill it. Oh, Karma!

So anyways, that’s why I thought of having my spider tea this morning. That, and because it’s gorgeous and scrumptious.

It smells like waffles, tastes like baked bread, honey, raisins and sweet potato.

It’s also a little boozy and fruity, with a tang of cinnamon in the background.

You can’t mess up this tea…it takes the abuse very well. I oversteep it just like I do with Premium Taiwanese Assam.

So good, no wonder it’s in my pantheon of best black teas ever.

Now back to spider hunt!

mj

Oh god… shudder. I once woke up and there was a spider looking at me from the other pillow. I don’t think I’ve ever flown out of bed so fast! I couldn’t sleep again until I’d washed all my bedding

Sami Kelsh

Oh I HATE when that happens. My place has loads of windows I like to keep open for loads of fresh air, but the side effect is the constant terror of finding a giant spider on the ceiling! :(

MzPriss

I’m laughing into my tea, but I’m laughing WITH you – not at you. I don’t mind spiders. I mind snakes. And scorpions, I really really really mind scorpions. A scorpion bit me in my bed one time. I don’t kill things either but I really wanted that scorpion OUT of my house.

Ubacat

I’d move all the furniture out of that room and vacuum everything! lol

TeaTiff

They say you swallow 8 per year. Okay I couldn’t resist. I have a healthy respect for spiders. They do a good job at what they are here for, but man could they be anymore creepy looking? Spiders don’t bother me nearly as much as other bugs. For the most part it seems like they really just want to leave you alone. On the tea front, this is one of my favorites. I need to enjoy another cup of this in my near future and try not to think of spiders while drinking it.

TheTeaFairy

Mj: that is scary!!!

Sami, don’t you have nets in your windows?

Ok, MzPriss, that is no fun…scorpions and snakes? And how did you ever deal with a scorpion bite? Shivers here. I guess there are perks to be living in Winterland!!

TheTeaFairy

Lol, Ubacat, I don’t think that spider “fits” in my vacuum!!!! (Ok, maybe I exaggerate a little…)

TeaTiff….not funny. Did.not.need.to.know.that.
And yes, the tea is spectacular!

K S

My inner Buddha has found the perfect solution – I scream like a little girl until my warrior wife slays the evil beast. Seriously, I don’t do spider. They can be all useful outdoors. Once they are in the house their only purpose is to return to the dust.

MzPriss

I just snorted some of my tea into my nose @KS that is funny!

The scorpion bite bite HURT. Really hurt. And the way I dealt with the snakes and scorpions is that I moved out of the country and into the city where I haven’t ever seen either one. Although I hear a snake occasionally visits the garden. I haven’t seen it so I don;t have to move again. Yet.

ashmanra

Love it, KS! Superanna, my daughter, isn’t allowed to kill spiders because she and her husband are equally freaked by them so he insists on doing the killing because he is afraid she will miss and it will get away and come back for revenge.

I have always kept a “kitchen spider” as long as it stays in its place. We get moths otherwise. And when we find a spider elsewhere, youngest insists it must be captured and carried outside. We once had to relocate a baby copperhead to keep her happy….

MzPriss

OMGrelocate a baby COPPERHEAD???

Christina / BooksandTea

My standard response to spiders is to scream like a girl and get either my mom or husband to kill it for me. This sometimes is difficult, as it seems in my house that the shower is the preferred lurking spot for our spiders. Once, last month, when I was sick, I was just so tired and pissed off that I left the spider on the shower curtain while I was washing up – better than tracking a frenetic trail of suds throughout the house!

Frolic

Thank you for the spider warning. As curious as I am to your response to this tea I’ve avoided reading your review and all comments to avoid being traumatized this early in the morning ;)

KiwiDelight

I’m arachnophobic. I have so many stories that I wrote an essay about my phobia. I think what I currently hate about spiders the most is that there are species that eat birds and/or bats. Number one: I love birds and bats. Number two: those spiders are monstrously biiiiiig ;^;

mj

@ Christina, I actually let a spider live in my shower for a while as long as he kept a respectful distance. I live at “garden level” which is a nice way to say halfway underground, so bugs are a problem for sure. My spider shower seems to have moved on though. As long as they’re not in my bedroom, I’m ok with them.
@KiwiDelight: I love bats too! I tried to convince my parents to build a bat house in their backyard to help the brown bats, which are being decimated by this fungal infection. They live in Florida, so I told them that the bats would help with the mosquitos, but they wouldn’t go for it :-(

ohfancythat

Well, that’s terrifying. shudder

KiwiDelight

@mj Oh no those poor bats! I didn’t know Florida had the fungal problem also. Maybe if you told them bats don’t harm humans, even animals :(

K S

I love bats. Awesome creatures. Snakes, I respect, but I’m not afraid of them. Spiders, I know its irrational and I don’t care. One day my wife came flying up out of the basement to grab a ball bat and the bug spray. As she ran by she yelled, “Don’t go down there!” Apparently there was a big hairy one nearly the size of a tarantula on the wall. She knew had I gone down there we would be moving – immediately.

mj

@KiwiDelight, yes because my parents live in the panhandle of Florida. I don’t think they have the fungus problem in Southern Florida. I did tell them that the bats won’t hurt anything but bugs, but they still declined. It’s ok, I’ve already had a discussion with my boyfriend and he’s agreed that when we A. move in together and B. have a yard, that I can keep a beehive and have a bat house :-)

Mandy

I have severe arachnophobia. Like one time this little ant sizes one was web stringing it’s way down towards me and I was so paralyzed by fear and I was yelling at my boyfriend to get and he couldn’t see it and I started crying. He finally found it and I just couldn’t stop crying.

I’ve also made him pull over on the side of the road while I had a panic attack in the street in the middle of the night because I saw one crawl across the window and he couldn’t find it. I sat in the backseat knees up rocking and crying until we got where we were going.

I used to tape my mouth shut every night when I was a little girl because my mom thought it was a good idea to tell me that you eat an average of 8 a year.
I skipped school one day when I was in middle school because I saw one by the front door and it ran away before I could spray it to death so ran into the bathroom, shoved a towel along the bottom of the door and sat on the counter until my little sister found it and killed it.
Even the idea if a spider can set me off. One time I was sitting on the couch with my now ex, and thought it would be funny to stop and stare sort of freaked out at my neck like there was somethig there. So of course I freaked out, jumped up ad clawed at my neck. As of course started crying. I couldn’t stop even when he said nothing was there. It took almost an hour for the adrenaline to wear off so I could stop crying.

I’m not the type of person to cry, in fact the only times in the last year that my boyfriend has seen me cry have been spider related. I would love nothing more than to get over my fear but even thinking about going through the therapy makes my heart race.

Also I will never be able to drink this tea since you made that comparison.

KiwiDelight

KS The great thing about having a family or living with someone is that you can make them take the spider away.

mj Sounds like a great plan, having both a bat house and a bee hive! Wonderful. Bee keeping sounds difficult, but if I could ever get around to it I might just do it. Save the bees!

Mandy My arachnophobia is not so intense is yours, but I also cringe at the thought of therapy. Not ready for that immerision stuff. Have you ever considered exploring how you came be phobic? I blame TV. (no, really, Jumanji and James and the Giant Peach partially have something to do with it). This kind of understanding helps me cope, in such a way the phobia isn’t as so mysterious anymore.

Man we really hijacked this thread….darn spiders.

Mandy

Kiwi it started out because my mom. My uncle had but a dead black widow in her bed when they were kids and when she freaked out he was like oh they die after the bite you. So she was always afraid of them which rubbed off on me. She’s gotten more immune to them and I’ve gotten more afraid of them when I started into my teenage years. Before I used be afraid but would kill it and be fine. Now if I can stay calm enough to kill it it’s a miracle. Speaking of I really need to get some hair spray. That’s my weapon of choice for them demons. Completely drench them until they curl up and die. It’s quite effective actually. The hairspray is sticky so once you start spraying it gets stuck and cant go running off in a corner. Not that I’ve been brave enough for that in a while, usually it’s my boyfriend I make do it now. Haha

TheTeaFairy

Oh my!! Had no idea that my spider ordeal of this morning would stir so much emotion!!!!

I’m so sorry for those who are arachnophobic…I guess my disclaimer didn’t work…oops.

KS your comment was so hilarious, I now have a mental image of Strong and fearless Wife Warrior and scared little KS screaming like a little girl behind her. Thank you that was priceless!

KiwiDelight

Mandy That’s……..a really cruel prank. It’s gotten worse for me too. Occasionally, I vacuum the cellar spiders that reside in my bedroom. I’ve been seeing them all my life, so I’m very used to them unless they come too close (they keep their distance in the corners. Sometimes I’m merciful and leave them be, but if they persist living here once I vacuumed their webs away, bye bye…That’s as far as I get with dealing with spiders and I still feel bad >_<

Yeah, I guess we all felt like sharing. Solidarity.

mj

Save the bees indeed! We depend on them for a lot of our food production

Mandy

TheTeaFairy Sorry for taking over your note, haha. Your disclaimer did work, but I want to get over my fears, and words are much safer than pictures or the real thing. When I was looking up treatment options, they said that for patients whose fears are too strong, or are impossible to treat with immersion, that allowing themselves to think about the fear is the first step. So reading through is my way of treating it in a way.

Kiwi Yep, she was a little girl and he was a young boy so he thought it was funny, and she got a fear of spiders. My old house had them in the bathroom all the time, and if they were in there, so long as I wasnt showering when I saw it, it wasn’t so bad, because I knew I had my trusty weapons near by. Even when my phobia got worse, the safest place to experience one was the bathroom.

Then we moved to a new house in the middle of the woods, and with the sharp increase of the bigger ones, my phobia reached the crying uncontrollably level. Moving off to college was such a relief because I some how lucked out and didn’t see any for almost a year.

Then moving off campus and to a less pest controlled area, the sudden shock of spiders again shocked my system. So even when I see the littlest of spiders,and even when I tell myself its teeny tiny, it can’t hurt me, I’m being irrational, I still panic.

KiwiDelight

Middle of the woods….nope. Unless the house is well insulated. I take it when you move out you’ll be living in the suburbs or a city? I bet you had a lot daddy longs legs, which love the woods for some reason. I hate those too, even they aren’t spiders. Tiny spiders are fine for me (I actually think they’re kind of cute…), mostly because, I think, I have never seen anyone freak out about them, as opposed to the larger spiders. Anything bigger than nickel triggers me (unless it’s cellar spiders).

Mandy

I don’t know if Florida woods are different but I actually haven’t seen a daddy long legs in years. I know that I wasn’t afraid of them before but idk if that’s changed. And middle of the woods might be a little of an overstatement. They’re “woods” within a town. ~5-6 minute drive down a dirt road, into woods. But still completely surrounded by trees. I’ve lived in Orlando the past 2 years though so yes city haha.
I don’t know what a cellar spider is and I feel like I don’t want to know haha. I used to be fine with wittle baby spiders before but I swear in the last 5 years or so it’s like my body disobeys me when 8 leggeds are around. I say calmly kill it and my body interprets it as curl up in a ball and cry. There must be some kind of miscommunication or something haha.

Butiki Teas

Hahaaha. I do the same thing with spiders. I catch them in a cup and slide some cardboard under them. Once I get outside though, I tilt the cup and run. I would like to think that the spider knew you were trying to help him outside and left on his own.

TheTeaFairy

Lol, stacy let’s hope you’re right, but so far so good, it hasn’t visited my bed…yet!!

Happy to see I’M not the only one trying to save them…(I totally run also once I release them outside, haha!)

Butiki Teas

See, he did leave. The last spider I caught was a jumping spider. Super aggressive little guy. I ran so fast back inside and left the cup out until the morning.

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85
drank Puerh Tuo Cha by Butiki Teas
359 tasting notes

Sooo….Haven’t had much of an appetite lately…been skipping meals and what ends up happening sometimes is I get certain weird cravings late in the night. Like my smoked salmon at 1am the other night.

Another thing that you may or may not know about me is that I don’t eat junk food. I am a bit of a health freak. But….I have my weaknesses… And one of them hit hard last night. My last encounter with it was about six months ago and I did report it in a pu’erh review. I even found out then that there were fellow steepsterites suffering from the same addiction. Somehow, I feel like I need to confess whenever I succumb to it.

Forgive me Steepster for I have sinned…

Last night, 12:30am, I was just sitting pretty on the couch, doing a little bit of reading, a little bit of Steepstering. The tv was on in the background. Then it happened.

I saw someone eating mac & cheese!!!

Damn it…

Some of you might remember that I keep a small emergency supply of…KD mac & cheese. Yes. Guilty as charged. Now…I make a mean REAL healthy mac and cheese from scratch with tofu, avocados, red bell peppers, an yes, some cheese. But…KD has a sentimental value…I just need to eat it occasionally. And when I do…I eat the whole god damn thing!

So I got my but off the couch and I made some….I gulped it down as if there was no tomorrow.

And again, I had some pu’erh to avoid major bloating situation.

This was one of the first pu’erh I ever drank…I really like Butiki’s mini tuochas. I ordered a bunch of them a long time ago, love how handy they are and that you can keep them forever.

This mini tuocha is different from others I’ve had. You must steep it a very long time. Like 7-8 minutes after a quick rinse.

It gives a very interesting mouthfeel, it feels «chewy», you know that feeling you get in your mouth when eating raw mushrooms? Hard to explain.

It’s also sweet and smooth, rather on the light side for shou.

It’s very forest-like, damp soil, wet autumn leaves. It has a wintergreen fresh finish, just lovely.

And…it most certainly took care of my bloated tummy!

Thank you pupu for the rescue!

Kirkoneill1988

i know what the chewy feels like :P

Marzipan

Oh you know what is funny, the “KD” thing isn’t used in the US, I remember seeing on a show that it is marketed that way other places. Just trivia!

mj

I love the from-the-box mac and cheese too! I haven’t had it in FOREVER

Marzipan

I ate some last night too.

Marzipan

Oh I remember, I first heard it called KD on Top Chef Canada.

SarsyPie

I think I got one of these in the sale, just to try. Glad it made you feel better!

looseTman

+1 for the smoked salmon! Now if they just had a lower-sodium version!
Oh, but is this is supposed to be about smoked salmon, mac & cheese, or a tea tasting … ;-)

+1 “love how handy they are and that you can keep them forever.” Excellent point!
“…interesting mouthfeel, it feels «chewy»” “…also sweet and smooth”
Sounding very good!
However, “…rather on the light side for shou.” You almost had me …

apt

rich ppl dont eat fancy mac n cheese they just eat twice as much kraft

TheTeaFairy

(I went to buy some real food people…no more boxed mac & cheese…and yes…I got some cherries!!)

Kirkoneill, glad you understand what I mean by chewy ;-)

Thanks for the fun fact marzi, did not know that!

mj, it’s time to have some!!

Sars, I really like it, but let it steep a loooog time!

LooseTman….so sorry I lost you there :-(
But I know I’ll get you back with some other stuff :-)

TheTeaFairy

There’s probably some truth in that apt!

Sami Kelsh

OH MAN I miss KD. It’s so dirty and so wrong and a massive rip-off here when you can find it (upwards of £4.50 a box? Forget it!) but sometimes it’s the only thing that does it, man.

SarsyPie

I actually have no idea what KD is, but I don’t eat cheese, so I’m just playing along. :)

TheTeaFairy

Sami, that’s expensive, wow! They are only $2 here…

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Sars, it’s Kraft Dinner boxed mac & cheese!!!! You play along just fine :-)

No cheese???? Preposterous!!!

SarsyPie

Oh kraft. That’s a classic here. Grew up on it.

Nope, no cheese. It’s one thing I miss in my vegan life. And also bacon.

Skulleigh

I eat Kraft Mac & Cheese everyone in awhile, but it never ever has the same taste I remember from childhood – that tart cheesyness. I don’t know if they changed it or if my tastebuds changed from childhood.

TheTeaFairy

Oh, did not even know you were vegan! I’ve got nothing but respect for you…

Skulleigh, I think you’re right, maybe that’s why I like to add a little lemon juice in mine :-)

Dexter

Lemon Juice to KD?

TheTeaFairy

Yep. So good. And so much pu’erh, lol, I ended up drinking 3 cups from the other one i told you yesterday, and 3 cups of butiki. I was so pu’erh’d up! But no tummy ache :-)

SarsyPie

You are Foxy Roxy, Queen of the Midnight Pu’erh. You henceforth shall be known as: FRQOTMP

christeana1

I feel like there are quite a few vegan/vegetarians on here..lol:)

Butiki Teas

Christeana1-mwahaha, we are everywhere. : D

Marzipan

I can’t hear you guys from behind my big juicy burger.

Mandy

I was a vegetarian for the second 8 years if my life (from when I was 8 till I was 16, being a kid vegetarian was hard 10 years ago man), and then only ate chicken and sea food until I was 18, when I discovered that beef can actually taste good if it’s not massively over done (love my mom but she can’t cook meat to save her life and so I always thought all meat was gross). Still don’t like pork, hate bacon with a burning passion, but give me a good bloody steak and I’m yours.

christeana1

This is all so interesting to me…

Cwyn

Was vegan until expecting my son and I started craving hamburgers, he was over 11 lbs when born. He took a look at a bean as a baby and wouldn’t eat it. He’s 23 now and still won’t eat a bean. He needs meat. My vegan days were pretty much over though I don’t eat much red meat myself, it is very rich to digest for me.

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100

Ok, you know by now I’m a notorious insomniac.

Been drinking this tea every night this week and it has helped a lot sending me into Morphée’s arms. (Morpheus in English?)

I’m not saying I sleep all night, but it induces a certain sense of euphoria, calmness.

This tea was meant for me… I am the restless type, always doing something. I exercised today and did too much. Overachiever, I do pretty much everything “too much”.

This whispers “STOP” to me. Forces me to pay attention and let it invade me with its soothing effect.

It’s a a tea that says “relax, everything is going to be ok”, and I just let go…

It’s jasmine but with such a twist…who knew pine tasted so good. Now I want to go outside and hug all my pine trees to say thank you! Have you ever hugged a tree? If not, I strongly suggest you do.

I lost count of how much I ordered recently…did I get enough? Hope I did, cause I now NEED this, powerful stuff, really…

If you read my profil, you’ll see that music is one of the most important thing in my life with tea and art. Listening tonight to the beautiful music of Black Dub…that voice, instant shivers. (MzPriss, hope you enjoy ;-))

http://youtu.be/F13vy1fT870

mj

So notorious ;-)

TheTeaFairy

Lol….that’s how we meet at night :-)

Mandy

Can’t wait for mine to get here!

TheTeaFairy

Mandy, you’re lucky, you’re in the States, it’ll get there in no time!! I have to patiently wait for Canada post to move their butts :-)

mj

Good thing I’m a night owl then :-). Totally love to stay up late, but we can’t all be fairies so I also need my beauty sleep

TheTeaFairy

Lol, I need it too, believe me, not such a glorious fairy after all!!

mj

That sounds exactly like what a glorious fairy would say….your “hiding in plain sight” strategy does not fool me at all!

TheTeaFairy

Hahaha! you are just adorable mj :-)

boychik

I got me an oz of Sleeping Bear yesterday. Lets see if it will work on me. Good night ladies;)

TheTeaFairy

Hope it does boychik :-)

Kaylee

Go to bed!

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Kaylee, doesn’t work like that!! How bout yourself?

Kaylee

Well, it’s 3:25am and I’m checking my dashboard every 5 minutes, so it’s possible that I have a bit of a sleeping problem myself.

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Well, I feel less lonely already…although the tea did relax me a lot, it did not send me to bed tonight :-\

Kaylee

Aww, sorry to hear that. But hey, relaxed and not-so-lonely is good too! We should start a Steepster Insomnia Support Group. It will probably have some overlap with the Late Eating and Impulse Purchasing support groups.

Marzipan

Reddit is good when you have insomnia, it goes all night.

MzPriss

(I LOVE that song!!) I did actually go to sleep for a change. I’m hoping all y’all are still sleeping

TheTeaFairy

Good to know Marzipan, thanks..but I usually devour books during the night… And wander around Steepster a little :-)

MzPriss, So happy you got your beauty rest for a change!

MzPriss,

TheTeaFairy

(Now it typed your name twice? What’s wrong with my posts lately? Steepster keeps playing trick on me!!)

MzPriss

my dogs are rioting all over the bed. I’m not all the way awake- only had two sips of tea and they’re play-growling and barking

MzPriss

Oh wow, Black Dub is Daniel Lanois and has Brian Blade in it too. This is good!

TheTeaFairy

Black dub was kind of Daniel Lanois’s music project…The signer is Chris Whitley’s daughter. Im glad you know Lanois, not everybody does.

Lol, it must be quite a riot indeed with two dogs in the morning!

MzPriss

Oh yeah, I love Daniel Lanois’ Acadie record – his song The Maker is so beautiful. I love Emmylou Harris’ version and Willie Nelson’s but I love Daniel Lanois’ the very most. I really did like Chris Whitley as well.

Wild dogs.

Sil

thanks for sharing music teafairy. really enjoying this, this morning

TheTeaFairy

Happy to give you some of my music vibes with Sil :-) nothing like dancing with a cup of tea in hand early in the morning!!

mj

TheTeaFairy, thanks for the compliment of eight hours ago :-). I went to sleep and just saw it lol

TheTeaFairy

That’s because you ARE adorable mj :-)

Ubacat

Oh wow, sounds like an amazing tea. I wonder if the pine needles open up the lungs. I have asthma and been looking around for alternative supplements and teas.

boychik

Ubacat, I don’t have asthma but I have severe year round allergies. I will let you know when I get it if it helps open up your air passages. You know also when I tried some sheng with camphor menthol notes, I felt so much better. White2tea White Whale was unbelievable. I need to write a note for it

Sil

boychik – really… hmmmm

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97

A few weeks ago, I was invited to a friends birthday party…I brought this tea among others for her to try.

I bought a cute little tea pot for her cause she just started drinking tea. Everyone had to try to come up with the most creative idea to wrap her gifts. My wrapping won, here’s a fun pic of what it looked like:

http://instagram.com/p/rXbVauQh-r/

When she saw this tea, she said the same thing as I always do (Mandy, close your eyes): Spider legs.

http://instagram.com/p/rXvsgEQhw7/

Beautiful long strands of yummy goodness.

She’s not used to this type of straight tea, but she was blown away by it. She said it tasted like baked goods and honey! I praised her for that :-)

It also tastes very fruity to me, like raisins with some kind of boozy notes. (And yes Stacy if you read this, I will submit that!)

Having this tea in the Gaiwan is the best way possible IMHO. I like to brew it “Fairy Style”. But since I have quite a few yixing pots coming my way, I am thinking of dedicating one just for my beloved PTA and TWMB! Cause why shouln’t they have their own brewing vessels?

They certainly deserve it!

Cameron B.

WOW that vegetable wrapping is amazing! I love the radish and grape rosette. And I can’t wait to try this tea, I’m supposed to get my order tomorrow! :D

Cameron B.

And I love the “spider leg” teas… They remind me of the branches of some dark and ancient gnarled tree. :3

TheTeaFairy

Cameron, this tea is REALLY special! So fragrant… And the veggie wrapping was a lot of fun to do :-)

TheTeaFairy

You’re so right about the ancient gnarled tree :-)

Stephanie

veggie wrap? WOW!

mj

How are you so good at EVERYTHING? lol Nice pics, as usual!

MzPriss

“quite a few yixing pots”…

SarsyPie

Just when I think you can’t get any cuter, you wrap a gift. :p

TheTeaFairy

Missy…dunno what hou mean.

Sarsy, eating the grapes was part of the unwrapping :-)

TheTeaFairy

Mj, you should try that some day, the person’s face who you give it to is just priceless :-)

TheTeaFairy

Stephanie, all I needed was fresh produces some toothpicks and a glue gun!

Dexter

“quite a few yixing pots”… I have failed miserably at my duties. :((

TheTeaFairy

OMG! Don’t beat yourself over this…dex, if it weren’t from you, things would be so much more out of control!!!
(I may have done “things” since yesterday though)

MzPriss

She didn’t do it alone * blushes *

Dexter

(shaking my head and heading back to my corner to play with my spread sheet – I’m going to be good and not buy more stuff…)

TheTeaFairy

Dexter, i got help from an outsider too, a yixing guru. Oops. i think I may have forgotten to tell you about him.

Dexter

Yixing guru? Can he/she tell me if my mystery pot is safe to drink out of? I see a whole collection of them in your future ;)

TheTeaFairy

Lol, send me a picture again. Will ask him. Dunno if he can tell from a picture though :-/

boychik

Dexter, I’m not guru, but I want to see a pic. I’m quite obsessed with yixing lately

boychik

The veggie/fruit wrap is priceless. You are so creative.

Dexter

Fairy – I’ll take some better photos and the stamp on the bottom and send them to you some day soon. I agree not sure how you tell from a photo…

TheTeaFairy

I was must gonna say that, thanks.

TheTeaFairy

And thanks boychik…my imagination runs wild sometimes :-o

boychik

Dexter, I think it’s safe, it’s looks like purple clay, no weird color. Again I dunno. it looks big. What about smell, sound?

Dexter

My Camellia one is HUGE – but I seasoned it with Special Dark so that’s ok.
The one in question is about 200 ml. It looks ok, and smells ok to me. The clerk at the store wouldn’t commit to anything other than “clay” – but there was a language barrier. I know it’s not that well made – the lid doesn’t fit completely tight – can’t stop the pour buy blocking the hole in the lid.
It was cute, I was having a bad day – needed some shopping therapy, and I was just excited to have found one locally – so I bought it…

Terri HarpLady

I have 2 new yixing en route…
I love my tiny teapots!

boychik

Dexter, I’m more concern with quality of clay than craftsmanship. It’s ok if lid is not tight, doesn’t effect

Dexter

I understand that it’s the quality of clay that’s a concern – but I’m thinking crap craftsmanship = crap clay… maybe…? I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it yet – it’s cute – it sits on a book case… maybe one day I’ll season it and see if it tastes funny…

TheTeaFairy

Dexter, don’t forget to send me the pics. Try to also take a pics of the inside, it can tell a lot. Also, don’t wait too long, i might not be in contact with yixing guru eternally :-) he was so nice with me, I’m sure he might be able to tell us something if the pictures are clear enough.

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