1443 Tasting Notes
I ordered a few samples of green (unroasted?) oolongs from CS and they are just delightful. While the roasted ones I always think I want, they almost always end up tasting mineral-y or cardboard-like. The green ones are creamy and smooth and I must just be in the perfect state for them because I just want more!
My course this term is really heavy and I’m trying to catch up on my ‘course journal’ today (a new concept that I’ve never been assessed with in previous courses) and this tea is beside me. I’m on my first steep and it has that distinct almost musty, but in a good way, oolong scent and that comes through slightly in the taste, but it’s just got a lovely creamy aspect that mellows out everything. There’s some floral flavours, maybe hints of jasmine, that are lovely as well.
Onto the second steep now!
Preparation
My newest Camellia Sinensis order arrived yesterday! I think 2021 is the year of CS for me XD.
We’re having a heat wave here and its been hovering around 36° C with no wind and no temperature drop in the night. I know others are much worse off (I feel for you BC and PNW), but I’m so over living in the dark and having no tea in an attempt to try to keep the house cool (we’re failing miserably anyway — the house thermostat is reading between 30-31° daily). I normally love the heat and the summer, but without any water bodies to cool down, I’m just not loving this.
Today I broke and made one of my new teas. I waited for an hour for it to cool and it’s still pretty warm haha! It’s actually quite lovely! The strong scent worried me a bit in the bag, but it’s steeped up in a lovely way. This comes across as peachy and ginger, with a subtle hint of apple, though it’s hard to tease apart all the flavours, they all meld together a bit. I’m happy the peach comes through, though subtle, because I am loving peach teas that aren’t artificial.
Preparation
I’ve had nearly all of this sample, but just happened to be far too busy to take notes each time. I tried really hard to pay attention this time, despite another busy day, so without further ado.
I am not a fan of amaretto, for one. However, the amaretto does come through here, but not in an overwhelming way. It’s definitely there, but the base tea and coconut are also there, which is nice. This will never be a favourite because of the amaretto, but a decent tea nonetheless.
Preparation
2021 sipdown no. 90
This was a great substitute for when I ran out of Camellia Sinensis’ EGC, but side-by-side this was just slightly less complex. However, still a great EGC and I wouldn’t be upset to have this in my cupboard!
Preparation
2021 sipdown no. 89
It’s quite possible that either age or two cross-country moves to vastly different climates has affected the taste of this once-delightful tea. I am sadly missing the creamy hay notes here. There’s nothing wrong with this cup, but the special-ness of it was difficult to find.
Forever looking for the perfect replacement for this one.
Preparation
I have teas like that as well, where you are always looking to replicate the experience you first had with the tea! It’s such a sad feeling of longing! :(
You noted you moved since your first experience with it. I wonder if it could also be a difference in the water that is causing your disappointment with the tea these days…?
Oh, most definitely! I miss the soft water from home, but I actually originally had this tea with hard water!
oh no! You sipped down White Rhino!! Travesty! I think Whispering Pines sometimes has a replacement in stock? I don’t see it now.
I finally had to :( — the taste just wasn’t the same, and I couldn’t figure out any reason beyond nostalgia for having it in my cupboard. I may keep the empty bag as a happy reminder though. :)
I’ll have to keep an eye on Whispering Pines, thanks!
Ah, derk has it. I was probably thinking What-cha rather than Whispering Pines.
Woohoo! Thanks derk and tea-sipper!
2021 sipdown no. 88
I’m feeling lethargic today and there’s no immediate reason as to why except that perhaps so many things are just catching up to me. I have about 40 pages of notes to get through for my new course and the rest of my work day ahead. Here’s to hoping that this tea will be the jolt that I need.
Of the English and Irish breakfast teas from Steam, I really prefer the Irish. It comes off as ‘cleaner’ to me and freshly bold.
Preparation
2021 sipdown no. 87
This tea is quite nice. It’s similar to a green tea, but with a very subtle maltiness and as it cools, the subtlest hints of bitterness as well.
I don’t need to order any more than the 30g sample, but this was nice to mix it up amidst all the black teas.
Preparation
I cold brewed this one for 8-9 hours this other day and it turned out delicious! It tasted so grapefruit-y, but with none of the pulp or ‘milkiness’ of actual grapefruit juice (though I do love actual grapefruit juice as well). Almost like the essence of all the best parts of grapefruit.
I’ll definitely need to order a full-size of this tea.
i prefer this one as a latte to regularly brewed.
Thanks for the tip!