The DJBooth

Straight up. No sweeteners. No flowers. No chocolate. No frills. Just roasted mate. Plain roasty goodness with all the caffeine to get me through the rest of the work day.

Thank you Dinosara for sharing this tea. The dry leaf smells really good. Mapley. First brewed I though naaaa this one is off a bit. I get the maple and butter but not really the pancakes. However after it cools down that’s when I’m thinking this is like pancakes oddly enough as I’m making pancakes for the kiddo. When it cools down there is a texture of like pancakes. That’s really makes this tea like a jumbo stack from IHop.

I’m going international today trying another sample from Maisonlula This tea is quite yummy. The combination of the spices and the apple and orange are in perfect harmony. Reminds me a little bit like a really good apple pie or cobbler.

Part of my package from a across the pond from Maisonlula I was interested to try this because I’ve never seen the limited editions in the states. “by appointment to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II” I don’t know if I have ever noticed that before…because it’s not on Twinings teabags in the states. Not a bad blend there is a unique flavor but also a familiar one….barbasol. Dude it’s like black tea that tastes like shaving cream smells. However it’s not gross. Who would of thought the smell of shaving cream is citrus and lavender….by jove I solved a mystery

So yet another swap with Brandy3392 I must say that she has been awesome every time that I have swapped with her. This is maybe the third offering that I have tried from DAVIDsTea. I’m thinking I may have to start trying some more. There are many teas that I have seen described as coffee teas to try and emulate the taste of coffee…or coffee type drinks. For those of us love our coffee as much as we love our tea. Or are trying to get us to kick the coffee completely. Most of them I have tried are very good and equally as tasty…but don’t quite have it spot on. Until now! Spot on I am loving this tea! The chocolate is great but doesn’t take over the tea. There is a coffee essence that really makes this tea, and yes the schnozberries taste like schnozberries ;) After seeing what that means in the urban dictionary I don’t know that’s a great comparison but I’ll run with it. With all that being said the Pu-Erh is not masked either like in some other flavored Pu-Erhs. Ahem. Uh(cough) The Pu-Erh is a little more earthy/musty than others I have had but still an amazing tea. So far I been able to get 3 great steeps out this one. The fourth one is where I lost the flavoring, but the base tea was still great. Absolutely a teagasm tea! I think I’m going to be trying some more offerings from DAVIDsTea

Thanks again to Angel for sending me this sample. So out of the packaging I notice a smell of a field. Hay, alfalfa, grass like you are in the country. Not a bad thing considering that I am surrounded by farmland at my house. The leaves look like blades of grass too. Now I must admit that Chinese greens have not been my thing in the past. I tried one before and didn’t think it was too good. So with that I just a bit pensive trying it. I also shared it with a co-worker because I knew if I let it sit in the french press….ho boy welcome to bitterness city. It brewed up a pale liquor. My co-worker said it smelled like chicken broth. MMM I got that too maybe a little nutty, however I thought noodles. Insert Kung Fu Panda!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY12ELBQhQ4&feature=related I do believe I had the noodle dream! Personally I like teas that have more body to them. So drinking a chinese green or a white tea I feel like there is something missing. Very good though.

No notes yet.

Thanks to Brandy3392 for this one. I don’t have a lot of rooibos tasting under my palette by I’m finding this to be extremely tasty. I can’t really taste the almond but the vanilla is awesome. It reminds me a lot of the Tazo rooibos vanilla which is very tasty as well. I get to the comparison to a vanilla tobacco. Very good!

I started off my morning with this today and yesterday. I’ve seen Keemun described in many ways. Woody, smokey, piney, winey, earthy, nutty, and leathery. Every time I have a cup of keemun I find myself at a loss for words on how to compare the flavor. I can pickup the keemun in breakfast blends, to some degree in Lapsangs, and in some Pu-Erh. Really I guess when it all boils down the flavor is Chinese black. Of course another great offering from Teavivre. For me the flavor of keemun is old. Not in a bad way mind you. The taste reminds me of antiquity. If that sounds crazy I’m sorry. There is a hint of cedar wood sipping keemun, a little leathery as well. Oddly enough there’s a slight hint of perfume in it. Similar to a very high hopped India Pale Ale. So maybe it’s a little hoppy as well. Overall though a very good tea!

One word. Outstanding! This is another sample from Angel brewed in my Yixing clay cup. This is very smooth, dark, and lovely. This is very comparable to my favorite Imperial Pu-Erh from Dr. Tea just in the Tuocha format. You know when you have a good pu-erh when it does not taste fishy. Some lower quality pu-erhs that I have had are good…but you get a little fishyness to the taste. I’m starting off my day with this one going on my third steep. The first two have been great. I’m anxious to see how well this tea holds up to extra steepage. I am finding that with most pu-erh tea it’s helping after a few drinks last night while DJing. I’m not the connoisseur that I used to be of fine beer. Two Great Lakes Christmas ales…and I was feeling it. I’m such a lightweight. Truly though a great tea. I am continually being impressed by the quality of tea from Teavivre.

Finishing up this sample before I dive into the next set. When I poured the water in I thought I was making a baked potato from the aroma wafting up. Today this is very smooth almost a comforting flavor. Which is a bit of a contrast from my first review. I don’t know what it is but there is something that reminds me of going to my grandparents when they lived near Erie, Pa. My grandfather was a master craftsman in woodworking so there were a lot of things that he made in the places. I can’t really tell you why drinking this tea is taking me on a trip in nostalgia, but I’m kinda liking it. Not to mention a good tea break before I start afternoon traffic reports.

Hmmmm crazy day on the radio farm today. When we do a quarterly radiothon for a charitable organization…..that equals me running between studios like a headless turkey….oye! Pause. Brew. Share. Ok all is right with the world. As I am looking holy cow my bicentennial tasting note…woo hoo cue bells and whistles.

Sigh it’s like saying farewell to a fond friend. Finishing up this one. It’s been such a clutch tea and the Asian market no longer carries it. Much like the matcha that I loved. A good quality Ti Kuan Yin nicely priced.

Started off my day with this one today. There’s nothing like the smell of Lapsang in the morning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jts9suWIDlU&feature=related I definitely like the combo of Lapsang and Assam. It make for a nice smokey breakfast tea. However, the marshmallows and the chocolate don’t seem to come through. Maybe if the tea was coated in cocoa and you threw in some graham crackers you would have it spot on. I would drink this though on a regular basis with no quarrels.

Mmmm so I’m thinking that bringing a french press to work was one of the best ideas I’ve had in a while. I’ve been able to make large quantities and share with my co-workers. Yesterday I made coffee tea and today The Earl. It was quite a hit not only with my co-workers but myself. They all said it was so good…slowly the whole office will come to the darkside ;)

So finally after long over due of sitting in a box dormant and unloved. I have unleashed my Yixing clay cup. What better choice for the inaugural steep than the good Dr’s Imperial Pu-Erh. I am very excited to start steeping in this vessel. Yes this mug will only have Pu-Erh steeped in it. A very noble choice for certain.

Hmmm I was kinda surprised to see this at work…so why not. Yeah it’s not bad. It exceeds what I expected. Reminds me of the oolong that Dynasty puts out. A decent dark oolong at a nice price. Can’t beat that in a pinch.

I received a sample of this from Dinosara. My first offering from Teaforte. I was expecting it to be in the pyramid bags that I’ve seen online but to my suprise a loose leaf sample. I noticed that this has a very strong aroma to it almost peppery. Subtle flavor need not apply here. Which is not a bad thing but if you are not ready for it might knock you over. Put a little milk in it that seems to subdue this monster a little bit. Not bad but a strong earl grey.

Another one that I decided to pick up with the gift card that my dear gave me as a wedding gift so I guess you would say this tea is a gift. This is the base for the Dr’s Obama’s Oolong. This is good one. I like that it is less floral and has more of a nutty characteristic to it. The ginseng adds a little sweetness. Overall a good one.

Ah yes a familiar taste to me. I’ve grown up drinking this tea and picked it up before the quarterly meeting at work. You know it’s not the most astoundingly awesome tea there is but still a good one. I think would add this to my “comfort tea list”. Too much to do before Thanksgiving break and I’m stressing a bit. Like Pizzagirl and I discussed. If stress is a little high a good cuppa and a good poop will make it all right!

I received this one from aisling of tea I was excited to try another 52 offering. The dry leaf smells awesome almost like as Ashley said a wintergreen lifesaver. When I saw that it was made with the CTC Assam as the base I knew the tea was going to be hard to overpower flavor wise. I have the Man Tea’s RadioactiviTEA and it’s a strong, robust black tea. I dumped the whole package into my gallon container that I have for ice tea. Heated up water because I don’t normally cold brew ice tea. Poured in hot water let it steep for 4 minutes strained into another container and filled the rest with cold water. I liked it but I could definitely tell the root beer flavor wasn’t going overpower the Assam. I saved the leaves though and made another batch. The second batch was awesome! It seemed to be the right ratio. Like them both but second batch seemed a bit better because the flavor came out more. I’m thinking I might have to get vanilla ice cream and make a root beer ice tea float!

Another one that I grabbed on my recent venture. I agree with Teaequalsbliss that there is a slight coffee aroma with this one. Coconut is very apparent when you smell the dry leaf. Not so much the ginger, and I have not noticed rose in here. When it all comes together in the cup…it does taste a bit like chocolate cake…Hawaiian? I don’t know. I’ve never had Hawaiian chocolate cake. I like the cocoa flavor that comes through. Looking at the wet leaves in my strainer it looks like a combo of green and more oxidized oolong tea leaves. The tea base came through on this one and reminded me of the Shui-Hsien that I have tried overall a decent cup.

This was one sent to me by Batrachoid Not bad It tastes just like the chais at non Starbucks coffee shops…but instead of black tea it’s mate. I could drink it regularly.

Oh sugar…at least that’s what I’ve used today to make this one more palatable. I also made sure to get some big cherry pieces in there. You know I forgot that strait up cherry juice with no sugar can knock you over like strait cranberry juice if you don’t half it. I’m really milking this one this afternoon. First steep with sugar wasn’t too bad. I think if they remove the bamboo it might not be too bad. The hibiscus kinda makes this one taste a bit like Passion tea. However mango and pineapple is not existent on this one. Second steep strait up not bad either. Third more like pink water but not bad. I might be warming up to this one.