New Tasting Notes
Phew, I have finally worked through sipping down a lot of the teas I’ve been working on over the last few days, so now I’ve moved a new set of alphabet letters over into my focus area. I pulled this one for my Ode to Tea V entry! I reviewed it before, two years ago (here: https://steepster.com/mastressalita/posts/383379 ) but figured it had been long enough to give it a proper revisit.
I absolutely love the smell of this stuff. If you separate the herbaceous quality of the mate base beneath, the scent does remind me of a warm Macademia Nut sugar cookie. Has a very sweet vanilla aroma, with a somewhat nutty quality. On the sip… I can tell age has not done this tea any favors. I remember the flavor being a lot richer than I’m getting now. The mate is coming forth a bit more strongly, with that herbaceous hot hay note, and a hint of smokiness; not nearly as smoky as I have had yerba mate get in the past. The tea is still quite sweet, with some vanilla and nuts. I noted before it tasted like coffee to me, but I’m not really getting that now; perhaps one of those sweet and nutty coffee creamers, but not actual coffee beans.
I’m not going to slide my rating down though, as I remember this tea being an absolute standout in an area that isn’t well represented (flavored yerba mate) and think my neglect hasn’t done the flavorings any favors. All the more reason why it’s good I grabbed this one to sip down! Would do far more good to get rid of this less-than-steller tea and replace it with a fresh, tastier batch.
Flavors: Herbaceous, Hot Hay, Nutty, Smoke, Sweet, Vanilla, Vegetal
Preparation
Beautiful tea as long as I don’t over steep. The mint and chocolate balances better than I’ve ever tasted in a tea. Definitely didn’t order enough of this and now I’m out in April with no similar tea.
Flavors: Chocolate, Mint
Preparation
I had this tea bag from their “A moment to…” series. I asusme it is still same.
Oh well, where to start? Let’s start with a note that two minutes steeping was more than enough. Although their teas are Rainforest Aliance Certified, it doesn’t mean it’s a good cuppa.
It’s indeed quite strong and bitter, but as well somehow plain in tates. I couldn’t notice anything but bitterness. Two minutes steep caused it wasn’t ovewhelming though. There was some other note, which I could call malty, but not really sure about that. And that typical Lipton’s cardboard…
Flavors: Bitter, Cardboard, Malt
Preparation
Honestly, I can’t tell much difference between this and regular Sleepytime. It feels a little cooler in the mouth from that sweet and strong Pacific northwest peppermint. Mint forward but balanced by florals and citrusy lemongrass.
Flavors: Citrusy, Floral, Hay, Herbaceous, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Salty, Spearmint, Sweet
I drank my sample today and I found it very much in line with Nate’s experience, unsurprisingly. The tea is really very smooth across the board and has no mustiness at all. Ultimately, however, I also found it to be lacking that special something. I’m not sure, it may be a case of a tea that requires multiple sessions to be appreciated and to unravel its subtleties in full.
As for specific notes from my tasting, the first infusion was sweet with a vegetal finish and hints of cream, coriander seeds, and some char-like bitterness. The liquor had a buttery mouthfeel, at times a bit effervescent. The protracted aftertaste was somewhat spicy, but not overly distinctive.
I oversteeped the third infusion, which brought out some metallic sensation akin to a dark chocolate and tree bark flavour. Rest of the session didn’t present too many surprises, the tea got quite mineral at times with hints of dry earth and walnut shells.
Flavors: Bark, Bitter, Char, Coriander Seed, Cream, Dark Chocolate, Drying, Earth, Metallic, Mineral, Spicy, Sweet, Walnut
Preparation
Sipdown! (23 | 227)
Just now getting around to drinking this pot of tea that I steeped this morning… I got sidetracked by looking at tea trays and then went to the store and have been cooking all evening. Now I’m so tired and drinking this cold.
It’s delicious though! Very sweet, thick, and fruity. It has some wonderful honey and molasses notes along with soft, malty bread and grains. A tart yet jammy fruitiness that reminds me of dried cherries. The honey aftertaste is amazing, just like licking the leftover honey from a spoon. It’s a richer and creamier honey note, without much floral presence.
Thankful to be sipping on this on the couch, and thankful that I’m not sensitive to caffeine ha ha…
Flavors: Baked Bread, Cherry, Dried Fruit, Grain, Hay, Honey, Jam, Malt, Oats, Smooth, Sweet, Thick
Preparation
Tastes like chopped Chinese sencha. It’s actually ok! It has that toasty-biscuity flavor of generic Chinese oolong with buttery dry grass and minerals, some astringency. It makes me feel warm. Not a green I’d want to have to cool off.
Flavors: Astringent, Butter, Dry Grass, Toasty
Stove Top Latte Sipdown (255)
K is for…Kashmiri Kahwa
Made this on the stovetop and while it was alright, it was nothing special. The green base made it lighter overall but it was just slightly spiced milk. I drank it while playing Pandemic and don’t remember much so pretty unremarkable.
I is for… Irish Cream Cheesecake!
My favourite of the three “Irish” teas I’ve had today, this is a light, mildly sweet and creamy tea, with the noticeable flavour of irish cream. It tastes a bit more muted than I remember, but is still good, and I particularly like the oolong base.
Funnily enough, I didn’t have a single “Irish” tea for I in my collection (my options were “It’s Snowing!” from 52Teas which is the one I ultimately went with, and “Issaku”, a Japanese sencha. …As a St. Patty’s day baby, I should probably get some “Irish” teas at some point…
