cultureflip

Ah! Aha!
Alright folks, this is it. They did it. . . this tea gets me, I mean it really understands me deep down. (Drink this.)

Its spicy, like chili spicy. And friggin cocoa! It’s obvious to me now that TeaGschwendner knows how to blend. As has been said, maybe not for the purist. However if you are in any way adventurous you must try this tea.

Second flush, the description provided by TeaGschwendner is perfectly accurate.

Brisk yet kind and matronly, we are treated to that aire of elegance and depth fine Darjeeling is prized for.

Dark, headdy, with a menthol high note and black licorice undertone this tea is perfectly capable of kicking your grandma’s ass into the great beyond. Mine, not so much. It’s definitely more of a medicinal blend for those Newport Light smoking caffeine fiending yoga moms (and dads). You know the type.

Edit: well guess what . . . this concoction is delicious iced!

Jasmine loveliness has once again captivated me with her precious floral complexities, this time with a sweet autumnal hue.

Go away, I’m drinking tea. White tea.

Ok, it’s Jasmine tea. Shut up.

This Assam is more refined and easy going than its grizzly brethren while retaining a prototypical potency that comes through in a quite intelligent way.

While I do enjoy a healthy dose of barbarism in an Assam, sometimes a good game of chess is a better workout than splitting wood or powerlifting. I would know.

Aw man, last years harvest was soooooo much better. . . though this is still pretty good. What was once a galaxy of rich and complex flavors has been reduced to a veritable white dwarf, a shadow of its former glory.

The nebulous bouquet that was once prevalent throughout the entire cup is retained in merely the aftertaste of this new batch.

If you desire a fine Wuyi oolong look no further than this deep and subtle nectar. The initial cinnamon mocha boldness is merely a ruse to entice the drinker into a humble and understated world of roses and stone fruits.

See my review for Adagio Oolong #8. This is pretty much the same deal but a tad cleaner.

Delivering mild elements of unripe stone fruit and honey, Teas Etc has taken what may have been a shallow and relatively uninspiring oolong and deftly rounded out its flavor profile with just the right amount of ginseng (and apparently licorice root powder)

I don’t often drink flavored teas but when I do I drink Ginseng Oolong.
Stay thirsty, my friends.

PS: Bust up the pebbles after they’ve steeped for a while for a MUCH headdier cup.

Bolder than most and not for those who want dainty cup, this Ceylon seems to have spent time in the octagon with an Assam as a young and brilliant trainee. Strong enough to grapple with the best of them yet not overwhelming if steeped correctly, you will be dazzled by this graceful powerhouse.

If you know ANY person who takes their crappy supermarket tea black, do kindly direct them to this as their mind and poor, poor palette will be blown.

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Second steep is nice and mellow, sweeter.

The dark color and cigar-ash nose lead the drinker into believing he or she in for a more intense flavor experience as the impression left on the tongue is quite easy, albeit rather interesting.

What we taste is akin to light black tea with a very subtle pepperiness, muscatel sweetness and, yes, a cigar-ash smokiness threaded through the flavor profile in a not at all imposing or unpleasant way though, unlike most oolongs, I’ve found this to be good for only one steep.

I, for one, enjoy a good cigar in my tea.

Bright and sweet with a little bit of moss, this tea bears a very delicious springtime quality. Steeped five times with increasing toastiness.

Very, very easy to drink (while frolicking in the forest with my cats).

So fresh and so clean (clean).

Completely deserving of accolade, this tea has substantial depth . . . really just a delicious, perfectly constructed green tea that is brothy, full bodied and generously graced with pieces of yuzu.

What we have is a concoction that must be tasted to be believed.

The scent is sweetly vegetal with notes of cooked carrots and roasted nuts and is thoroughly pleasant.

However, the tea’s flavor is much sharper and brighter than the aroma would purport creating an interesting though slightly off-putting contrast.

. . . not very complex, yet fresh and deceptively delicious in its duplicity. Tricky, indeed . . .
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I have recently found that using less leaf cuts the sharpness and allows a honeysuckle flavor to come through.

The aroma is of fresh black tea and soft malt and the initial taste is subtly floral, bright and not terribly imposing. The back end carries the same light malt and cocoa as the aroma and lingers perfectly.

Very easy, elegant Chinese black with just enough body so as not to bore the drinker but rather retain in him a refined and relaxed interest for the duration of at least a pot.

I bear an unfounded aversion to flowered teas that is completely unfair to both me and any innocent and upright flowered tea.

These pearls smell beautiful, taste nice, look nice. Everything is just too . . . pretty. And there can’t be anything wrong with that.

There. I feel like Natalie Wood.

My first Assam . . . I am pleased to report that this one has lived up to all the hype surrounding teas from this region.

Reminiscent of a good chocolate stout, it begins with a honeyed nose that translates into a bold, malty flavor and finishes with not a little astringency.

This tea has the personality of a wizened and worldly hard-ass.
I’d call it a burly cup.

Sweet scents of apricot and honeysuckle are surprisingly pronounced considering this is a completely unflavoured tea. It defies logic.

The taste is delicate and feminine without being overtly flowery; perfectly delightful much like the nectar of honeysuckle with the added depth of premium white tea.

Sublime. (seriously).

This tea is very smooth and full of earth (black). It is easy to be put off by the fishy, oily aroma but there is a sweetness at the end that rounds out the flavor. The finish has a heavy mouth-feel and the aftertaste is malty.

All in all, I’d rather have a cup of good coffee. I’ve been mixing it with SpecialTeas Almond Cookie with a nice result.

Green, earthy aroma reminiscent of steamed edamame.

Its initial flavor is light and vegetal, mostly activating the back of the tongue but the aftertaste is where this tea shines, coming through with notes of fresh, green melon.

Slightly woody and surprisingly sweet on its own. Steep it a looong time. Honey is a compliment if you would like more sweetness.

Very nice as a down-home, nighttime experience and when feeling a little under the weather.

Its beauty lies in its simplicity.

Nothing too subtle and nothing glaringly crude, this is a very enjoyable everyday white which will please with its slight woody notes and typical sweet finish.

I drink this as a go-to when there is some bustle about me . . . not for the most quiet of moments.

Very strong, bold tea best served with a small splash of cream and sugar. Really, one of the only teas with an astringency that I enjoy (probably from the Assam SpecialTeas uses for this blend) as it comes through whatever is added to it.

Not for the faint of heart, it will wake your ass up and make you feel good about life for a while. Great substitute for morning coffee and highly recommended as the big gun of your arsenal.