1443 Tasting Notes
A wonderful surprise from Cameron — I’m so excited to try these new-to-me oolongs!
I have an exam at 6a tomorrow, so green oolong is where it’s at this evening. Something about a green oolong and it’s soothing qualities just lends itself to better concentration.
I really enjoyed the Ali Shan from CS, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try this one too. I love the mellow flavour here, with the most subtle hints of bitterness intermingled with floral-ness.
1st steep: 1 minute
2nd steep: 2 minutes 30 seconds
Thanks Cameron :)
Preparation
Exam at 6 am would make me cry. Maybe it means you have the rest of the day to enjoy, though. I hope so!
So glad you’re enjoying them, and best of luck on your exam! ❤
Thanks! Sadly, I have a full day of work after my exam haha (and then a paper to start working on)! But I’ll soon have a holiday break from both school and work – yay. :)
Don’t talk about exams… pretty please.
Can’t wait for break from work, but then my studies start again.
B&B Advent 2021 Day 9
This one wasn’t as delicious as I recall from last year. I’m starting to think perhaps these teabags in wee cardboard boxes are becoming contaminated from the nearby teas.
Preparation
Aww that’s a shame, I love this one.
I loved it last year! I don’t know what happened, but (in November when I drank this) I was starting to think the teas weren’t enclosed enough and may be interacting.
oh no! It’s just unwrapped teabags sitting in cardboard boxes?
Yes, this year that’s how they were packaged (Cameron has a wee photo on her Instagram story most days so you can see). Last year, the teabag was sealed (like how their teabag samples come with orders). I may be overreacting, but It just seemed bizarre the difference between how much I loved this last year and how it fell flat this year.
No, I think you’re on to something if the teas are just in the cardboard next to other teas… I have seen other tasting notes for other teas saying they just aren’t the same flavors as they once were.
If you sniff the outside of the calendar can you smell the individual teas? If you can and there’s no seals inside then contamination is a safe bet.
A.C. Perch Advent 2021 Day 9
A 5-minute steep on green tea?! My word, these steeps times shock me every day haha. I did enjoy the wee excerpt on the background of this tea being imported to Europe in the wee booklet that comes with the calendar.
However, I’m happy to say there’s no bitterness here and this seems like a fairly standard green tea? It’s not overly vegetal, or seaweed-y, like some of the Japanese green teas I’ve tried. If anything there is a hint of perhaps butter — very subtle. The cup is overall quite smooth (this is turning out to be the word for the entire A.C. Perch calendar).
I’m wouldn’t say I’m a green tea fan, nor do I have much in the way of knowledge, but I’m enjoying this cup, yay (maybe I can explore some Chinese green teas in the future).
Preparation
B&B Advent 2021 Day 8
Well, this smells like raw cinnamon and smoke both dry and steeped. Sigh. The scent of smoke is just repulsive to me – anything smoky I dump without hesitation. I will try at least one sip of this tea for advent’s sake… Nope. Nope. Dumped. If anything, this has deterred me from wanting to snuggle by the fireside.
Preparation
A.C. Perch Advent 2021 Day 7
I made a mess of this one sadly. I had yet another hectic work day (cleaning up the mess of others) and steeped this one up, only to have to run out the door. When I finally arrived home hours later, it was ice cold. I drank it anyway and noticed a hint of bitterness with some sweetness overlaying it. Nothing too special, but most certainly my own fault.
Today I threw the rest of the leaves in my cup to steep a fresh cup, but I think I overleaped because it was quite bitter — very radicchio! Sigh, definitely chalk this up to user error on my part!
Preparation
A.C. Perch Advent 2021 Day 8
This one smells very fruity, I’d say a mix of mostly strawberry with papaya and a hint of creaminess.
The steeped scent is nearly exactly the same. The taste is much more subtle, which is lovely. I enjoy that many of the European companies aren’t over the top — I enjoy a more delicately flavoured tea. Yet again, this is so smooth (even with a 5-minute steep), the base tase has no astringency and the flavouring adds hints of creaminess and fresh strawberries and perhaps raspberry— almost like my Nann’s homemade strawberry shortcake. There is also meant to have papaya and kiwi, but I don’t get much flavour coming through for either of those.
Preparation
A wee surprise was waiting for me in the post, courtesy of the wonderful Cameron!
Naturally, I chose a black tea I thought would be the similar to Yuchi Wild Mountain XD. The dry scent is very similar to Teavivre’s Bailin, and the steeped scent reminds me of prunes!
There is a light, yet syrup-like sweetness. A prune sweetness, which I’m enjoying. The tea is light overall, and smooth.
I will try to resteep this to see how it goes!
What a lovely introduction to this company! Thanks Cameron!
Preparation
B&B Advent 2021 Day 6
This one is quite unique with a distinct roasted yet buttery popcorn flavour. Like the scent when you just start to overcook popcorn kernels. There’s a slight bitterness that lends itself to toffee as well. As it cools the buttery flavour comes forward.
Undrinkable from the stevia?
Bleh, I’m sorry I can’t recall. My notes from B&B in November were so short and not overly helpful for others haha!
Ha ha that’s totally fine! I’ll find out tonight! ;)