Shmiracles

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goddamn it i can’t believe i just steeped this for 9 min :(

am i right that it would be kinda respectable to dump some out and add water until it’s not bitter? that’s a thing that people do?

…. WAIT WAIT wait. how is it possible that this tea isn’t horribly bitter?!?!?!
i didn’t add water or anything and sure it may not be the best steep of this tea but i swear i am amazed that i can drink it and it’s only slightly more potent than i would like. after 9 minutes!!! how is that even possible?!

this accidental power steep has kinda given me a whole new level of appreciation for this tea. grace under pressure. i’m gonna drink much more of you caramel! cuz now that i’ve seen your inner beauty, i understand you much more.

2013-03-18 09:20:07 -0400

I Like This

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whatshesaid 2013-03-18 11:04:15 -0400

I want to like that one more

Shmiracles 2013-03-18 12:36:57 -0400

i know what you mean whatshesaid. i bought a big tin of it and was like ‘meh’ and gave most of the tin away slowly. but today something clicked! and i’m glad it finally did. now i will appreciate it with a new perspective.
interesting how illusive tea can be sometimes! such a tease.

Angrboda 2013-03-19 02:34:32 -0400

It didn’t turn horridly bitter because the base is Chinese, and the rule of thumb for the majority of Chinese blacks is that you have to really go out of your way to ruin them. They have very little bitterness and astringency in them.

whatshesaid 2013-03-19 08:44:44 -0400

Good to know!! How can a person tell if the base is Chinese?

Shmiracles 2013-03-19 09:48:20 -0400

it says in the description of all their teas really basically “Chinese black tea flavored with caramel”. i just don’t know the differences between teas, but now i’m sure i will remember chinese blacks. and how they like to be abused. ;)
i plan to read some books on tea eventually. so i can learn more. just haven’t quite gotten there yet.
thanks Angrboda

Angrboda 2013-03-19 12:57:45 -0400

Whatshesaid, you can’t. Not unless they tell you. But if you get an experience like this one where something extremely oversteeped stands up to it and remains drinkable you can make an educated guess that it might be Chinese. :) It seems that most often your average flavoured black has a Ceylon base or some sort of blended base.

Shmiracles, this is one of the major reasons that I prefer Chinese over Indian blacks. Indian teas in particular are often terribly finicky and demanding, whereas I find I can get away with most things when brewing Chinese. Chinese blacks just suit me better. :)
As for really being able to tell the different characteristics between regions, I’m afraid that’s largely a question of experience. Books will help, certainly, because they can give you an idea of what to keep an eye out for, but most of it is paying attention while drinking. (Non-flavoured, obviously, because flavouring can hide the base quite effectively)

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Bio

THAT’S NUMBERWANG!

i have a cat named House Party 3.

i drink my tea straight.

i spend most of my free time running long distances.

vegan. fine arts major. bass player. yoga do-er. childfree. scifi fan.

i’m always aspiring to read more books.

i don’t care what you say, chamomile is barfaroony.
evil hibiscus is evil.

instagram tags i love searching and using:
#tea #steepster #steepstagram #davidstea #52teas #adagioteas #dellaterrateas #carytownteas #verdanttea

i only log each tea i taste once.

!!! SWAPPING !!!

ALWAYS interested in reducing my tea stash, so please ask if you want to swap or sample something! even if it’s just one tea.

every tea in my cupboard is swapable! (at least i TRY to keep it up to date)
every tea i have tried is listed in my rated teas.

samples i have: 57
Ajiri Kenyan Black – Ajiri
La Dame du Lac – Betjeman & Barton
Pistachio Ice Cream – Butiki
Grandpa’s Anytime Tea – Butiki
Creamy Eggnog – Butiki
Grapefruit Dragon – Butiki
Gui Fei Oolong – Butiki
Kamba Berry – Butiki
Good Morning Sunshine – Butiki
Ruby Pie – Butiki Custom
Cochin Masala Chai Tea – Culinary
Paul & Virginie – Damman Freres
Jardin Blue – Damman Freres
Gout Russe Douchka – Damman Freres
Evergreen – David’s Tea
Banana Oolong – David’s Tea
Maple Syrup Matcha – Delicate
Rabbit’s Garden – Della Terra
Jelly Bean Dream – Della Terra
Key Lime Pie – Della Terra
Lime Chiffon – Della Terra
Premium Sencha Shin-royoku – Den’s Tea
Orange Oolong – Georgia Tea Co
Florence – Harney & Sons
Tangerine Spice – Kally Tea
Peach Oolong – London Tea Room
Breakfast Earl Grey – Lupicia
Yunnan Imperial – Mariage Freres
Marco Polo – Mariage Freres
Numalighur – Mariage Freres
Mandarin Cream – Persimmon Tree
Coconut Cream – Persimmon Tree
Caramel Cream – Pure Aroma Tea
Sky Between The Branches – Republic of Teas
Wuyi Oolong – Republic of Tea
Smokey Mountain – sTEAp Shoppe
Strawberry Kiwi – Tea Guys
Gunpowder Green – Tea Spot
Milk Oolong Tea – Teavivre
Golden Yunnan – ThepuriTea
Ancient Forest Green Pu-erh ZH90 – Upton
Sakhira Estate SFTGFOP1 Tippy TM59 – Upton
Season’s Pick Pu-erh Fannings Organic ZH06S – Upton
Ancient Pu-Erh Mini Tuo Cha ZH52 – Upton
Arya Est. SFTGFOP1 Musc. Second Flush (DJ-45) Organic TD10 – Upton
Decaf Earl Grey Cream – Utopia Tea
Flowering Green Jasmine Tea – Verdant Tea
Mi Lan Xiang Phoenix Mountaing Dancong – Verdant
Chocolate Chamomile Curiosity Brew – Verdant
Master Han’s Wild Picked Yunnan Black – Verdant
Mt. Banzhang Farmer’s Cooperative ‘03 Sheng – Verdant
Tea Trail 2004: Willow Grove Workshop – Verdant
Autumn Harvest Laoshan Green – Verdant
Xingyang 2007 Shu Pu’er – Verdant
Earl of Anxi – Verdant
Anxi Fo Shou Black Tea – Verdant
Fuhai 2007 Sheng Pu’er – Verdant