286 Tasting Notes

94
drank Sencha Yabukita by DAVIDsTEA
286 tasting notes

I am sipping the last of this one, and I am sorry that it’s almost gone. When I first purchased this in David’s the sales person said that the longer you brew this one the sweeter it gets. I actually didn’t find that to be the case.

What I did find was that with proper brewing temperature and time this tea was oh so buttery. When I read other people’s reviews on green tea’s being buttery, I never really understood; because I never really got a strong butter flavour. Vegetables, yes, but not butter. Until this tea. This is the first green tea that had a pronounced butter flavour, and I am going to miss that.

Now I have to search for a replacement buttery green tea.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

87

This is a sample I got from Dexter3657 from our first swap – thank you for sending this to me!

This is not my first time trying this tea, but I didn’t log it. I was not very fond of this one the first time around. I don’t know what changed from the last time to this time, but I am enjoying it a lot more. Changing tastes, perhaps.

This is not quite like other oolongs I have tried so far. This one has a light roasted, woody taste to it. I’ve only done 2 steeping so far. The second steeping had more of that wood taste than the first one.

I’m enjoying it, but my preference is for more of a roasted flavour.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

90
drank Pink Passionfruit by DAVIDsTEA
286 tasting notes

I got a sample of this from my first swap with JustJames – thank you for sending this my!

This is pretty darn tasty cold brewed. I don’t have very much experience with passion fruit – I have no idea what it actually tastes like, but this tisane is delicious. I am going to have get some more.

The dry leaf scent is very sweet, but when cold brewed there is a slight sweetness – enough that I don’t feel the need to add sugar. There is also a light tartness to this blend, but not over powering. Just a hint of tartness.

I’ll have to try this one as a cocktail sometime.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

97

This is another long overdue review, and WOW!! I am so sorry that I left this one for soooo long!! This is AWESOME!! and I have Dexter3657 to thank for this one!!

I like pu’erhs, but so far they have all tasted pretty much the same…until this one. This is FREAKING FANTASTIC!! and now I can’t wait to put in an order with Mandala! THANK YOU SO MUCH DEXTER!!!!

Complex, tasty, spicy, smooth. DAMN THIS IS GOOD!! Pu’erh now takes on a whole new meaning and it’s various notes. If I hadn’t tried this, I would have no idea that pu’erh takes on so many different flavour profiles.

I need to sit back and be blown away by this one….YUM!!!

I am now on my second steeping and it still FABULOUS!! Spicy and smooth. Oh pu’erh, I love it!! and can’t wait to try more!

Garret

I am happy that this tea is aging so very nicely! The first couple of years that we had this tea, it was nice, but now it is really opening up and gaining complexity. It has become extremely popular in the tea and coffeehouses that we sell tea to, as well. I am very happy that you are enjoying it. Have you tried the Noble Mark blend that I made yet? It is quite young but it is definitely going places. It has been my first tea of the day for over 3 months now. Thank you for giving us your impressions of the Bulang gong ting, my friend!!

Dexter

So glad that you are enjoying it. There is something special about Mandala Pu’erh. I’m sure I sent you some of the Noble Mark too. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on that one………

scribbles

Sorry for delay in response…on mini vay-cay, I plan to look through my samples for Noble mark, but even if I don’t have it here, I am planning on purchasing that one…can’t wait to put in a Mandala order…that is 1st order, once off hiatus…is so exciting to try pu’erhs that have different tastings than what I have been accustomed to, and looking forward to trying more!!!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

86
drank Wild Black Yunnan by DAVIDsTEA
286 tasting notes

It is about time I finally do a review on this one…it is long overdue. I wanted to get a tasting note in before I leave for a mini vay-cay but since I am on here sporadically, I don’t think it would have been noticed even if I didn’t mention the vacation.

This came my way from my first swap with the wonderful JustJames. I’ve actually had drunk it a few times, but didn’t review it, because I was surprised at the sourness that I was getting from it, and thought I should hold off reviewing it until I steeped and tasted it properly, rather than feeling stressed about getting it logged.

So even though I am stressed about trying to pack everything up, I decided to take a break and steep and taste this as it was meant. Now that I have done that the sourness has disappeared.

The dry leaf smells reminds me of tobacco and earth.

The brewed taste is a little reminiscent of tobacco, but smooth, and no sourness or bitterness. This is actually quite enjoyable when brewed properly. Note to self…do not rush this tea – it doesn’t like that.

My appreciation to JustJames for sending this to me!

Dexter

Have a great time on your vacation. Enjoy your time away, relax and have some fun!!! :))

scribbles

Thank you!! Is only a couple of days, but desperately needed!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

91

This came my from a generous swap with AureliaFish – thank for this awesome tea! There is something about the Yunnan black’s that I really like, and this one is no exception.

It has a rich, full-body quality, with a hint of cocoa and pepper. I forgot to keep an eye on the timing, and may have steeped too long, but I didn’t detect any bitterness. This is really good.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

I got this from Dexter3657 – thank you!!

This has much more flavour than the purple oolong that I have. Mine has no flavour. This, on the other hand, has quite a smoky/charcoal taste to it, that got to me after a while, and became a little too much charcoal. I am only on the first steeping, so maybe the second or third won’t be as smoky.

I won’t give a rating right now…waiting for second infusion to see if I will enjoy it better.

Second steep…still pretty charcoal tasting…I think I will have to take Dexter3657’s advise: rinse and shorter infusions. Still not going to rate it.

Dexter

Agreed, the first steep was crazy smokey. I liked the second steep better. Next time I may rinse it for 20 sec or so to try and rid the first steep of some of the charcoal taste. Hope you do better with the second steep.

scribbles

Second steep wasn’t as smoky…I’m going to try shorter infusions next time.

JustJames

it sounds pretty, and i have this amazing visual…. but i can’t do smoke. i’ll just read your descriptions!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

89

Dexter3657 sent this my way in an extremely generous swap box…thank you so much!

This is a pleasure to sip. It is a lighter tasting pu’erh than what I have been drinking lately, but definitely delicious. It has a light nutty taste, with just the slightest hint of earthiness. Definitely comforting after a difficult day.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

88
drank Prickly Pear by Cornelia Bean
286 tasting notes

I get to add first note??! I feel stressed just thinking about that!!

Ok, I’ll do it. First, I must thank the ridiculously generous Dexter3657 for sending me this…thank you!!!

The dry leaf is pretty – all chunky fruits and petals and it smells sweet.

It brews up to a light golden colour, and once brewed it is reminiscent of tart flowers. But neither is overbearing. I don’t like tart tea’s usually, but this one is pretty good. The tartness is so light, that it adds to the flavour in a positive way. If the tartness wasn’t present it would be too sweet.I am also getting a hint of pear, which works really well with the tartness.

Dexter3657 was generous with this sample, my next sampling of this will be as cold brew which I think will be fantastic for this particular tea.

TheTeaFairy

Great «first» on this tea :-)

scribbles

Thank you…the pressure! :) and welcome back!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

96

The first time I tried this I had it to go as a hot soy latte, just to see what this matcha was about. I recall my first sip and thinking, I am drinking grass clippings, and oddly enough it doesn’t taste terrible! Now every time I go to David’s I have one to go.

On one of my visits I finally purchased some, and am so glad I did. I just wish I knew that a little goes a long way, because I purchased too much. But after reading some notes, I put some of it in the freezer to keep fresh.

I now drink this every morning. I put 1 or 2 teaspoons in my David’s iced tea to go cup with almond milk and ice. Give it a shake and good to go. I wish I had tried matcha a long time ago, and can’t wait to try other matcha’s.

TheTeaFairy

Glad you like it…Oh, I’ve had baaad sessions with it!! I came to the conclusion that Matcha isn’t for me. (Not a fan of lattes, but I ended up using it in my morning smoothies)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

My tea journey started in 2012, when a friend gifted me some loose leaf. I guess she thought I was drinking too much coffee. Blown away by the amazing flavours I immediately embraced the loose leaf tea. I still drink coffee, but my main choice of beverage is now tea.

My tea preferences are blacks, pu’erhs, oolongs and greens.

Location

TO

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer