New Tasting Notes

Still craving mint, and feeling like pizza later (Hey, when you just found out you missed 7 weeks of 50% off pizza due to the football team winning, you better believe you’d take advantage for 8 in a row. And that is the extent of care I have for the undefeated local team LOL), I figured I’d open my big fluffy bag of spearmint.

I have no idea how long I steeped this because it suggests 7-12 on the bag but I can’t possibly handle that right now. I’d guess somewhere in the 3-5 range is where mine ended up.

And…it tastes like mint. There’s not much to say, I guess I’m glad they have a good spearmint tea. I actually don’t even want to know how a company could mess up mint.

It has just the right amount of mintiness to it, so it’s not like drinking toothpaste, but it still has that nice tingling feel on my gums. It still has that green herb taste to it just slightly.

I feel like 2 oz of this stuff is going to last foooooooorever.

This was sent to me as a free random sample from Teaves Tea Company. Thanks!

I tried this once awhile ago, and didn’t like it, so I put it away for a time when I’d be able to give it my full attention.

The leaves are pretty. Strands of what look like calendula run through the black leaves, and there are big hunks of ginger. I smell a strong scent of ginger.

Unfortunately, when I brew it, that’s about all I taste. It tastes like a black ginger tea, not like a ginger peach tea. There’s something sharp about it, and I wonder if the black tea is a bit of a cheaper quality. It reminds me a bit of an Adagio style blend.

It’s okay. I’ll definitely drink it, and I feel bad leaving a “meh” review as the first review on a tea, but what can you do.

Song of the night: I and Love and You – The Avett Brothers

Edit: Much less harsh on resteep. A bit peachier, but mainly just less astringent.

Another amazing tea from Della Terra! I’ve tried a bunch of them now… there was only one I wouldn’t buy. The steep color here is slightly deeper than the golden raisin’s color that fell into my infuser. I thought that was a bit odd.. the black tea should have a deeper color. But it’s the perfect black tea to showcase these flavors. It definitely tastes like a cookie! If there was more oatmeal included in the blend, I think it may have tasted more like an OATMEAL cookie. But wow is this one delicious. Vanilla, cinnamon, raisins and a bit of oatmeal are the perfect combination in this blend to make it great!

Well, Today I decided to be adventurous and try out a Matcha latte from Second Cup. Not going to lie, I was a bit nervous ordering it, but good thing I did, it is yummy and I know it will give me a much needed energy boost in a little while. I started tasting the foam at the top and the earthy taste was really strong, but once you mix it, it is a delightful taste. The earthiness is still there, but it is subtle and subdued. I am so happy second cup does lactose-free lattes. Yumm.

So this is the best of the TAZO collection that I have tasted thus far. I really don’t know why I have so lack of a love for this company, but I swear it’s because the teas are just so overpowering and lacking in an actual taste. I tried this tea as per a reccomendation of a fellow steepster and it’s not completely bad, like I said, def one of the best TAZO tea I have tried. This tea was somewhat relaxing and soothing when I drank it. If I go to starbucks again, that is what I will order.

Had a cup at lunchin the cafeteria. Tried to pour in the half & half first to suppress the sawdusty taste – I think it got worse.

After seeing DaisyChubb’s review of the latte, I made a mental note to check that out. And it was good! Sooo good. On a cold afternoon, I got this while my friends got Starbucks drinks. Usually I’d be ridiculously jealous, drinking the slightly lower cal option while trying to sniff the yummy Starbucks eggnog latte, but I was as happy as a clam. This tastes mostly like marshmallow to me.. just a big cup of milky marshmallow. Yummmmm. Not sure if it’d be as good, non-latte, but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt!

This might be my most favourite tea, ever. First, it is foolproof. You can steep it for ever, with hot hot water, and it only ever gets more delicious. You don’t need milk or sugar, but if you add them, equally delicious.
Secondly, it is so cinnamonny and sweet, it is just heaven. Its like DT’s Glitter and Gold with a little more “umph” (sp?!). It also has many resteeps to it. Ooh I love it. It’s really worth it.. Yum..

Received this tea from Teavivre. Thanks so much! My first time trying Teavivre tea and first time drinking a Jasmine Dragon Pearls Green Tea. Brewed this tea for 2 minutes. The leaves were not completely open. After 2 more minutes they were. I used a teaspoon in 8 oz of water. When you open the bag a strong beautiful smell comes to your nose. Steeped two times, and was as good the second time. This is becoming a favorite of mine. Teavivre delivers. Drinking this at the end of a stressful day and this tea is soothing and relaxing.

I just had a very very specific craving for an iced fruit tea latte.
Then I found this at the back of my tea cupboard! Threw the whole bag in the steeper, about 3 tbsp probably.
Sadly forgot that almond milk curdles with hot bevs, but then I made a second cup with regular milk!

Trial over: my beverage? A delicious creamy and sweet strawberry milkshake flavour! YUM!

I had a cup of this and it was a nice straight-up Iron Goddess. Slightly floral – slightly vegetal. Very forgiving. Clean. A dandy one!

the only tea I’ve ever returned to the store. YUCK it stinks like a wet tiger.

You know, years ago, before the interwebs, when tea in this tiny dirtweed town was limited to the grocery store, I tried a box of something from CS that was good, it had a built-in sweetness, and I liked it, went back for a second box, and they’d discontinued it. I even called the company, but it was gone forever. Wish I knew what herb they used to make it sweet like that.

So I picked up a box of this junk and it was sincerely dreadful. Took it back to Safeway and never bought their stuff ever again. That was about 10 years ago, and I can’t believe this ‘tiger wee’ is still available, but my mystery blend isn’t. But then again, I might turn my nose up at it now… and I certainly would have to hide it if I had any, as I wouldn’t be caught dead with Celestial Seasoning in my kitchen

Wow, for the first time my basement room is warmer than the rest of the house and I don’t have the heat on that high. I went upstairs to make a cup of tea and ended up shivering. So this tea came out and I decided to brew it a little differently.

Since I like this best with milk in it, I put an extra teaspoon of tea in my french press and brewed it for an extra minute. Then I added a splash of vanilla almond milk. The chocolate is a little more prominent while the spices are downplayed. I think this would be best brewed double strong with milk and I’m going to use the rest of the remaining leaf for my next cup when I have it.

Not a bad chocolate chai once you figure out how you like to drink it.

Recovering from minor surgery and what showed up at my door?! My latest package from Stacy at Butiki. I placed my order 10/30 and am so impressed with how quickly it came, considering the hurricane and all. This is a very intriguing tea-it tastes nothing like any tea or pu-erh I have ever had. It certainly reminds me of coffee in some ways, but I can’t stand black coffee, yet this is not bad straight, and that’s from someone who always sweetens my tea to bring out the flavor. I wish I had the poetic and tasting skills that some of our reviewers have on Steepster, so that I could do it justice. I can’t wait to hear what some of them have to say. My guess is that some folks will love it and others, not so much. It is in your face bold for a tea, that’s for sure. Try it straight first. Then, if you’re not sold, add some milk and/or sweetener. I made lattes with the 2nd and 3rd steeps using an oz of frothed 1/2 and 1/2 and that was my favorite way to drink it. It is strong enough to stand up very well to milk or cream. Would I order it again? Yes, I would, to see how the coffee drinkers in the family like it, and to make lattes for myself. Thanks Stacy!

Take 2 on this tasting note…my other one was biffed-off somehow!
Special Thanks to Liberteas whom I totally agree with on this one! It’s VERY gentle and mellow – almost TOO mellow – then – as I continued to sip noticed the lovely ‘thin broth’ texture and flavors come thru more – in my case – moreso the artichoke and non-puckery lemon hint.

This is delicate yet delightful!

Everthing about this tea just makes me think warm and soothing embrace. I really love this black tea from kumsmi. The caramel infused in the tea is the embracing feature and honestly, on a cold day when I like to walk outside or just do my homework, St. Petersburg is one of my go-to’s. I don’t like brewing a full pot of this tea, just the mug. But it is good for more than one steep ( abt. 2-3). So save the bag if you feel like having more later.

I’m melting at my desk in school so the only solution is a good cold tea. I decided this would be perfect!

Yeah Baby!
I love this tea! This is what I wanted all along. I will enjoy this & get back to writing!

Thanks Ze_Teamaker! The leaves are so pretty! The aroma of this tea kind of reminds me of Dragon Pearls with it’s sweet notes. The flavor is just as delicious. It has the boldness of a strong black tea but has sweet, dark chocolate and caramel notes of a warm, fresh baked caramel brownie. Mmmmm I’m so happy I got to try this! Thanks again!

I ended up unexpectedly out in the cold today (free outdoor Aerosmith concert less than a mile from my apartment, on a day I took off from work? Ok!) so needed a real warm-up tea by the time I got back. Fortunately my Verdant winter order has been patiently waiting for me to have time for it.

This is delicious. Quite fruity, from the goji and bergamot, but also very creamy in taste and texture, and the Tieguanyin really ties it all together. I wouldn’t present it to anyone as an earl grey; the bergamot is there, but it’s one note among many. I don’t know exactly what frankincense tastes like, but this blend definitely achieves it’s goal:a bright tea with bergamot that it also uplifting, comforting, and warming.

I wanted something gingery, but probably what I really need is something a little more grounding, like a Puerh. In fact, what I REALLY wanted was a cup of Sichuan Caravan, which would satisfy both my desire for ginger & my need for grounding. I just got a new shipment from Verdant, which includes a new supply of the Caravan, still, I figured I’d have a cup of this first.

As far as the aesthetics of creating a beautiful blend, David has done it again, with a confetti of shades of beige, brown, red, hot pink, & green. The smell is earthy & enticing & bright, tickling my nose with the promise of ginger root. There are lots of excellent herbs in here, & my immune sys can always use support.

It looks lovely steeping, especially in glass. I drank most of the cup plain, adding a few drops of honey to the last couple of sips, and I enjoyed it both ways. It’s probably not a tea I will crave, but it does have a soothing quality to it, and is pleasant.

Today is finally my day off so I decided to have a minor sipdown and get some tea out of my way to make room for new ones :] I LOVE this rooibos. It’s absolutely perfect and a great start to my busy(but relaxing) day!