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I lost track of the time, so I let this steep too long. The taste is fine, though the tea is more astringent and drying, though not bitter.

You know what? I really like this tea. It’s sweet, it’s yummy, it’s tea. Goes a little bitter sometimes, but I find it really sweet otherwise. Nothing leaps out at me though…

I’ve been thinking very seriously about my changing tea tastes recently and realized that I am ready to enjoy plain black teas. I have none, so now I need to buy tea (oh, what a chore!) to test them out. I think I don’t have the energy to go through the hassle of shipping, so I’ll be sticking local on this quest…likely to hurt my chances, but more convenient. David’s Tea has a couple I will try, and I am hoping that Sawadee or The Tea Brewery will have some good ones. I have no idea what I’m looking for, but it should be a good adventure. Maybe I will even become brave enough to try Lapsang!

It’s really interesting to be so aware of one’s tastes changing. As I drink more and more tea I find myself rarely (if ever) turning to any additions. No honey, no milk, nothing. I also find myself turning more to teas I didn’t previously like, largely unvlafoured blacks, or teas with little flavouring. I think it is a counter to all the berry flavoured teas I so regularly consume. Either way, I turned to this tea largely because nothing else in my tea drawer was appealing to me. I really do need to get a nice bagged chai, I think. The PC one is so-so, but I want a richer one. The thinness of it is extremely confusing. Anyway, A nice cuppa this with no additions was the thing I wanted. Satisfying, though still plan. But hey, that’s what it’s for! : )

Continuing on my roll of black teas. I find myself wondering why I rate “plain” or pure teas so low? (Though I suppose my only plain teas tend to be bagged, lol) Only the flavoured teas get in the 90s for me. I think it’s unfair of me to rate additives (in flavouring, content, etc) more generously than pure tea. I know that it’s my general preference for flavoured teas and tisanes, but it still seems harsh. Ah well.

I’ve sourced my new travel mug – seems nearly identical to the old only with a five year warranty. Gonna pick one up for me and one for the beau tonight and we are keeping the receipts for warranty this time!

Anyway, this tea is same as always. I actually find it quite sweet already, so I rarely add anything to it anymore and today is no exception. Nice nice nice.

I don’t know if this happens to other people but I just really wanted a tea with some cream in it. That means a boring standard black, in my world. I’m tempted to put in some sugar too, not because I need it but because my father always drinks his tea with milk and sugar and it reminds me of childhood. Anyway, this is what I wanted, so huzzah!

Slightly oversteeped and very cold – Not so much time for tea in the new position as one might have hoped. A nice stand by, and easing the pain in my throat slightly. Being ill stinks.

Over-steeped. It happens! Might throw a dash of cream or raw sugar in there. Starting to think I should bring my honey from home to work ‘just in case’!

Predictably meh, but so is my day so this is somehow fitting. It should be called “good enough standard black tea”.

My first cup (Tazo’s Awake blend) was so disappointing today that I decided I needed a second cup this afternoon, and this was so much better in comparison. It shouldn’t be so hard to make a decent bagged black tea, but there are a lot of mediocre blends out there, unfortunately.