wombatgirl

I just realized that I’ve been on Steepster over a year now (376 days). Happy 1 year to me! I’m celebrating with a cuppa of milk oolong.

Creamy and smooth.

NOM.

First of my recent batch of Angrboda teas.

This is an unusual milk oolong for me. I’m used to these types of teas being oolongs with heavy, silky, mouth feel, low astringency, and mellow flavors. This has a lighter mouthfeel, a fair amount of astringency, and a much greener yet malter flavor. The milky aroma (and I can totally get the yoghurt thing) is very nice. It also has a nice after-taste (the milky aroma bounces around in my mouth after swallowing.)

This is a nice tea, but I’m always a fan of the very silky mouthfeels, especially in my milky oolongs, so while good, it’s not my favorite.

It’s a 3-tea-pot day, so I decided to make the 3rd pot something awesome. I love this tea. It’s very sweet, cinnamony and just all-together YUM.

Silly silly me. I read and believed the description! If you get this, try not to read the label too much. I found it a fairly nice basic green-ish oolong. Similar to a Ti Kwan Yi style. A slightly creamy mouthfeel, and a basic nice green flavor. Not a bad oolong, but I didn’t find the raisins or warmed figs.

I’ll play with the parameters, maybe I can get it to change.

My first thought on opening the package was “Where’s the TEA?” – there are so many jasmine blossoms and other random plant-y bits that you can hardly see the little oolong nuggets in the blend. But then the scent hit me, and I didn’t care anymore. SO ORANGEY… Yum.

Brewed, it’s got an orange oil aroma and a golden yellow brew.

My first steep was very orange, but with the oolong underneath, and just a hint of a silky mouthfeel. The second brew almost tastes more lemony than orange, but the flavors are more mellow and blended.

Very posh, very nice. I like this LOTS.

Got a sample of this from Jillian and decided I needed to try it this morning.

Unsweetened – this is very toasty-coconut, not so much cocoa.

Sweetened – the creamy, almost oily flavor came out much more, and a little more cocoa flavor.

Overall, this is a nice tisane, but not one I’d actively seek out. I’d want either more cocoa or another flavor (spices or something similar) in order for this to be a drink I’d want again. I do apprecaite the opportunity to try it however. (Thanks Jillian)

I needed something special to help me get my head wrapped around coming into work this morning, so I picked one of my favorites. (Especially since Angrboda is sending me more, so I don’t feel the urge to hoarde it. Have I recently mentioned how awesome Angrboda is??)

This tea just feels so clean. It’s like the 7-up of teas, light and clean and crisp, and almost feels bubbly. A few more cups of this, and I may make it through the day.

I’ve been drinking a lot of this lately (and not positing, I know, sorry… ) and liking it. I fight with myself to not sweeten my black teas, and this one I have no problems not sweetening. It’s flavorful and lovely and does very well on it’s own.

Got a sample of this from LiberTeas and I’ve enjoyed it today, but nothing’s stood out. It’s a nice oolong. Not very creamy, but it does taste a little thicker than plain water. No stand-out flavor notes. Just a nice, basic oolong.

Took 3 tbsp of this and simmered it for something like 15 minutes in 2 cups of 2% milk. Added a little simple syrup at the end for a little sweetness.

Wow. It’s amazing.

It’s like a pumpkin pie without the pumpkin, but it has the creamy, spicy flavor. I could even see mixing this blend with canned pumpkin to make a dessert. Lovely, sweet, smooth, and won’t keep me up all night.

Oh, awesome. I’m bumping my score and will make more soon!

Backlogging

Made this up – stovetop method – for a frustrating Friday morning working at home. This made what could have been one of the more annoying days at work livable. And it was really truly yummy. Bumping my rating.

Aye Captain! This smells NOM! The leaf is pretty – little tan tips cresting throughout the dark brown sea of leaf. It’s got a dark, rich scent. Not quite cocoa, but teetering on that edge of decadence.

Once brewed up, it’s a beautiful chestnut color. It’s got an aroma that to me is the essence of tea – that brisk tang of quintessential tea.

Flavor-wise? The captain’s got a softer side! It’s a smooth, mellow initial sip followed by a drying tannic zing. He’s not a wuss, this definitely is a wake-me-up morning tea – I just expected more of a kick in the pants from the seafaring swashbuckler.

Overall assessment? Good tea. Yum.

Ok, more thoughts on this, although I have a feeling my rating and thoughts may change a little more tomorrow as well. I am not getting the silky mouthfeel you can get from some oolongs, nor any of the creamy or buttery flavor. (And yes, I totally feel like a poser saying mouthfeel) What I am getting is a lot of light floral tones and a hint of fruit. Sweet but dry. This is yummy, but isn’t my favorite oolong ever. What I want to try tomorrow is to resteep with more leaf/less water and a shorter time (the package recommends 5 minutes, which just feels long. Who knows. If I change the parameters, I may like it more. :)

First comment – un-tea-related: WOW that was fast shipping. I only ordered on what? Thursday? Sweet!

Now, the tea. As always, lovely, pretty packaging. The tea leaf smells wonderful. Not creamy, but almost fruity. I keep thinking of pear flowers. While brewing, it’s a similar type of aroma, only milder.

I can’t comment to the color of the brew, as I’m breaking my rule of no tea after 6pm to try this, and I’m brewing a cup directly in my favorite cup – which is blue. It looks very light however.

Ooo.. floral, but not quite perfume-y. I am getting a dry-fruit-ish aftertaste, or maybe just a hint of sweet. I’m also burning my tongue a little, since I can’t wait to drink it. I’ll post this now, and come back with a rating a little later tonight.

Ooo.. floral, but not quite perfume-y. I am getting a dry-fruit-ish aftertaste, or maybe just a hint of sweet. I’m also burning my tongue a little, since I can’t wait to drink it. I’ll post this now, and come back with a rating a little later tonight.I am liking this however!!!

Finishing this off – my tin is empty. I doubt I’ll order any more, but it was pleasant when it was here. It’s not as creamy and sweet this morning. I think it’s not happy with the idea that it’s gone now.

You know how everyone keeps saying that “this puerh tastes like fish tank, but in a good way” or “this tastes like dirt, but in a good way”.

Well, this tastes like salty, slightly off butter, but in a good way. Vegetially sweet smelling, but not sweet tasting at all.

I’m not thrilled with this tea, but I could see where green tea lovers would really love it.

Thanks for the tea Angrboda, this was good to try.

I’ve started experimenting with matcha. When it comes right down to it, I don’t like matcha. At least the typical method of preparation.

But I’ve been experimenting with making matcha lattes, with whole milk and simple syrup with a tsp of matcha. And they’re not bad.

Celebrating my ordering of the new Series 5 (with an OOLONG! YAY) from Andrews & Dunham with a cup of their Earl Grey. Bumping the rating slightly because it’s such a good, solid Earl Grey. Yum.

There’s definitely chocolate and a light cream flavor here. I’m going to leave off the score today because I had this at work where I didn’t have cream and sugar. It wanted cream and sugar, at least to my tastebuds. So I don’t want to do it wrong by not scoring it that way. But I have a feeling it will be lovely with the two of them.

So, I got a notice that someone contacted my old agents to have a showing for my house (we’re trying to sell our home so we can get a larger one), and so to celebrate, I’m drinking some Four Seasons. It’s really creamy, and a little extra floral today. Very aromatic and yummy.

Cross your fingers for me and hope it goes well tomorrow. If I get a new place – I’ll have more room for tea! And I can get all my yixing teapots out of storage.

Finished up my last of this tea, and it went out with a bit of a whimper rather than the hoped for bang. Ah well, a day with oolong is better than one without.

I love the smell of jasmine, and a good jasmine tea can be an absolutely wonderful thing. The aromatic quality of a good jasmine takes the normal scent profile of tea and ramps it up to an amazing place. Additionally, I really like pearl-style teas. Watching them slowly unfold as they brew is always a relaxing activity (which is why I tend to keep them at work, I need all the relaxation assistance I can get).

So being both jasmine and a pearl tea, I was really looking forward getting to try this sample. And it does not disappoint. It is definitely on the delicate end of the spectrum (the brew is almost colorless), but the aromatic qualities of the jasmine come through without tasting like you’re drinking perfume – a definite possibility for some of the not-as-good jasmine teas. The green buds forming the base of this tea are very subdued, but do provide the backdrop for the rest of the tea. Overall, it’s a great light flowery tea. Yum.

From http://www.itsallabouttheleaf.com/1173/tea-review-mark-t-wendell-downy-pearl-jasmine/

Nice sized bag, mostly whole leaf, light flavor. It’s a little perfumy, but not too bad. Nice tea.

Not a bad tea – I’ve been drinking this all day. Lightly creamy, mild flavored. Light yellow color, light white tea scent – like oolong and hay blended together.