894 Tasting Notes

80

I picked up a box of this on one of my trips – with frequent travelling I’ve found one of the best things for me to do is just buy some tea and a mug when I get there, to make hotel stays a bit more homey.

As with my previous experience with these Lipton sachets, I was pleasantly surprised. This is a nice, solid Earl Grey with a good amount of bergamot and some other citrusy notes.

Over time I’ve reduced my steep time for almost all black teas to 3 minutes, and I find that that amount of time does well by this. This is a go to morning tea, at least till the box is gone, as it’s tasty and convenient.

Flavors: Bergamot, Citrus

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
Fjellrev

It’s great to see you back!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

82
drank Super Fruit by Teapigs
894 tasting notes

I grabbed this tonight for my sweetie’s place, as we’re running low on non-caf teas. I was a little worried that it would be all tart hibiscus and generic berry flavour but it’s actually really good. The tart isn’t overpowering , and the berry flavour is complex – I pick up primarily blueberry.

A nice, soothing tea for a rough day.

Flavors: Blueberry, Hibiscus, Sweet, Tart

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 8 min or more 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

40
drank Fireside Chat by Cornelia Bean
894 tasting notes

Trying this again since it’s been ages. This time around it’s not terrible but I’m not really into it either. It mostly tastes like a cinnamon rooibos with a touch of the iron flavour I noticed last time, and an odd slippery/watery texture to it.

I think this will go into a pile to pass on to someone else who might appreciate it more than me.

Flavors: Cinnamon, Mineral, Rooibos

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

76
drank Peanut Butter Cup by DAVIDsTEA
894 tasting notes

This one is so interesting. Peanut butter is such an unusual flavour profile for tea that I had to grab a sample when it came out. It smells incredible – very authentically peanutty, impressively so for a tea that contains no peanuts. But I was kind of expecting this to be terrible. My partner tried a cup and wasn’t into it, and it just seemed so likely that this would be a miss. I was anticipating watery and weak.

My first sip I got a lot of tart apple and was kind of meh about it. But I’m actually very impressed with how full-mouth and creamy the peanut flavour is. It lingers strongly on the palate after the sip is over and tastes like actual peanuts.

I’m not getting more than the faintest impression of chocolate here, so I’d say that “peanut butter cup” is a bit of a misnomer – more like apple slices with peanut butter, but I like it.

I used up my whole sample to make this cup, but I’d drink it again if it landed in my cupboard, though I probably won’t go out of my way to find any.

Flavors: Apple, Creamy, Peanut, Tart

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 8 min or more 3 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML
Kristal

This is great as a latte!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

85

It’s been ages since I just dropped off the face of Steepster, but I’m hoping to be back with some consistency moving forward. I got really overwhelmed with an intense job application process, and then I got the job, which has been one of the most amazing and stressful experiences of my life. I’ve been working ridiculous hours and travelling the world which hasn’t left me with a lot of time and energy to think about tea. End of the year projects are wrapping up now though, and I finally decided to sort my tea cupboard again. I’ve been drinking tea but mostly a few reliable teas that I love, or whatever is conveniently near the top of the pile. So hello again Steepster. I missed you!

Today I’m revisiting and finishing up one of my old favourites. It’s still delicious, with raspberry and honey flavours, and a mildly astringent black base. However, I find that my tastes have shifted pretty firmly toward unflavoured blacks, so me and this tea aren’t the perfect fit we used to be.

I will pick up some more again in the future, just not right away.

Flavors: Honey, Raspberry

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML
ashmanra

Traveling the world? Tell us more! That sounds exciting!

Anlina

I’m doing policy work around human rights and HIV prevention for sex workers, so as part of my work I’ve been to Nairobi, Kenya; Siem Reap, Cambodia, and Edinburgh, UK this year. It’s been really amazing getting to visit places that I might never have gone otherwise, and I have met some of the most incredible people.

I’ve been trying to make a point of getting in at least one touristy thing per trip, so in Kenya I went on a mini-safari, which was incredible. In Cambodia I toured the temples (there are so many of them and the detail and construction are mind blowing) and went ziplining in the jungle. And in Edinburgh I went and did falconry at a castle, visited the historical sites and climbed Arthur’s Seat.

I feel so incredibly fortunate to have had these opportunities.

OMGsrsly

Hello! Congratulations on the awesome (so awesome!) sounding job! Here’s hoping you get a little balance back, so you can include more tea drinking. ;)

Dexter

Wow fantastic. So jealous – but extremely happy for you – of your opportunity to travel to those amazing places. I’m currently looking at doing a Kenya/Tanzania safari next year – happy that you were able to include some fun time while working. Welcome back!!!!!

Lindsay

Welcome back. :)

Sil

welcome back! Also, totally jealous of your work adventures. Sounds like a great opportunity.

boychik

Welcome back!

Nicole

Sounds like a great job!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

73

This is a nice lemony tisane. Nothing spectacular but an enjoyable cup, and convenient.

Kristal

I didn’t mind this one iced. As you mentioned though, quick and easy.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

74
drank Shooting Star Fruit by DAVIDsTEA
894 tasting notes

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

92

I ordered a big bag of this and drank through it really fast. It was wonderful and it’s on my list to reorder as soon as my cupboard is a bit smaller.

Nicole

Ooo. This will have to go on the list for the taste testing I’m doing on JJMs.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

I grew up drinking jasmine green tea with meals, but really fell in love with tea on a trip to Britain in elementary school. My first great love was Earl Grey, and I still adore it and all its variants.

I discovered the beauty of loose leaf tea much later, when, on impulse, I picked up a few teas that were on clearance at a home store. My introduction to loose leaf teas were Masala Chai and Provence Rooibos by the Metropolitan Tea Co and an unknown brand of kukicha and gyokuro (little did I know what a precious treasure I’d stumbled onto with that.)

At the time I was lucky to live in a place with multiple tea shops and several places to have afternoon tea, which is a delight I still miss.

Tea is part of my daily ritual and a nice, affordable way to appease the collector in me.

I enjoy distinctive whites, greens and oolongs, flavoured blacks, and herbals that are heavy on the citrus, lavender or mint.

Rating rubric, to give myself some consistency:
0-15 Yuck, not even drinkable.
16-30 Disappointing, not really inclined to give it a second try.
31-45 Disappointing, but maybe there’s potential? Worth one more try, prepped differently.
46-60 Mediocre, not terrible but not memorable.
61-75 Not bad. I’ll definitely finish what I have and might buy again.
76-90 Very enjoyable. Tasty, complex, it’ll keep me coming back.
91-100 BEST! I love everything about it and I will drink it forever.

Beyond tea, I’m a sex educator, polyamory activist, and radical queer. I love backwoods camping, abstract painting, baking & cooking, nail polish, cats, ceramic sculpture, and home nesting.

Location

Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer