teabird

teabird drank Kukicha Twig Tea by Eden

First impressions? This smells like (roasted) yerba maté. Tastes a little like it too, but also like real tea, which is good. This looks to be a whole different brew from Adagio/Rishi’s Kukicha – both the leaves (what I can see of them in the bag) and the liqueur are a dark brown. This tastes a little like coffee, a little like chocolate, and a little like some imitation-coffee tea blends I’ve had (chicory is probably the flavor I’m getting there, or some sort of barley malt). It’s hard to pin down the flavor, but definitely interesting, and I will probably keep it on hand as a strong but low caffeine bedtime drink.

2010-04-03 14:44:58 -0400

205 °F / 96 °C

4 min 15 sec

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Some notes on ratings:

I’d have separate rating scales for tea types if that were possible (probably Black, Flavored Black, Darjeeling/Dark Oolong, White/Green/Light Oolong, and Herbal) because the flavors and quality markers are just too different. A flavored black rated 100 isn’t better than every oolong I’ve ever drunk, just delicious for a flavored black.

Ratings are a combination of my enjoyment and the perceived quality – I do often demote teas a few points for artificial flavorings, small quantity of steeps supported, or weakness of flavor (requiring extra leaf).

I pay less attention to the number than the order of my ratings; I don’t necessarily keep a stock of everything rated 80+, but if two breakfast blends are rated 82 and 84 I consistently enjoy the 84 more.

And in case it’s not obvious? I am not an expert. I don’t even know what I like until I taste it sometimes, but I’m ok with that :) I like learning to like new teas, as well as enjoying the comfort of familiar ones.