1429 Tasting Notes
I think I let this sample from OMGsrsly sit too long to get a strong sense of white grapefruit, but that doesn’t change the fact that it still makes up pleasant cup of white tea.
It’s sweet, floral, suggestively tangy, with an almost peppery note. There’s also a sweet, vaguely textural element that reminds me of crystal/rock candies but it’s very light.
Flavors: Bamboo, Citrus, Cucumber, Floral
Preparation
After cleaning out my tea cupboard I realized one of the reasons for my tea hiatus this last year; I have 80 some specimens and only three of them are green oolong. It’s full of puerh, black tea, and flavoured greens. That’s just not right, but at least there’s now true motivation to drink down all the teas.
This is a nice Earl Grey that would be run-of-the-mill if not for the Vanilla. It’s an “ice cream with waffle cone” level of vanilla indulgence.
Flavors: Bergamot, Vanilla
Preparation
Here’s another interesting tea originally from MissB. I can’t believe that swap meet was almost a year ago, yet I still have so much of the tea! Argh..
I taste something here that I really like. I suspect it’s the the pellet-like black tea variety used in this blend. It looks like Kenyan Tinderet from David’s Tea. The overall taste reminds me of Stacy’s Grapefruit Creme Brulee, which also utilized an identical looking Kenyan base.
The flavours are kind of tangy in a sour stone-fruit way, which sweeps into a particularly smooth and floral honey, and is then grounded by some earthy chocolate notes. The aroma is perfume-like, capturing the full range of the tea’s fruity and floral elements.
Flavors: Earth, Floral, Honey, Red Fruits, Rose, Stonefruit
Preparation
This nurtures a strong craving for POG Juice. Oddly enough, spiced carrot cake may be in the cards as well. It’s strange but very tasty.
Thanks, MissB!
Flavors: Cake, Carrot, Cocoa, Guava, Lime, Nutty, Orange, Passion Fruit
Preparation
Smells like a sour lavender banana and tastes more like citrus-ginger fruit tree; it’s definitely a puzzler to the senses. I think I’d like this if there was more banana, the tea base was more noteworthy, the ginger was fresh and sharp, or something. There’s potential here.
Thanks for sending this one out, MissB. I never would’ve thought of such an ingredient pairing if not for this tea! Now I want a eclectic fruit smoothie.
Flavors: Banana, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Tree Fruit
Preparation
Once upon a time I bought a quince with OMGsrsly. I never actually got to eat it because I left on a long trip the next day, but the smell and all of the possibilities still stick with me. Also, without that little event I would never have known what a quince is and would have had absolutely no reference for this tea. It’s not a good reference, mind you— I’ll have to buy another quince for that!
I’m not swooning over the base here, although fragrant fruit coupled with seaweed note creates a heady, almost apple-like feel. There’s also a dry, prickly vibe here that I’m having a hard time describing. It works for me though!
Thanks, MissB for sharing and passing this along to OMGsrsly!
Flavors: Apple, Citrus, Fruity, Seaweed
Preparation
Wait, what? I shared this tea? Oh my goodness, that tells you just how memorable it was. Purchased, I think, in a cool dollar-store-meets-IKEA kinda place in Brussels, Belgium. Glad you liked it!
New 52teas rendition.
Yep, It may not be on the label anymore but a fabric softener soft, fluffy kitten is still the perfect metaphor for this tea: smooth and creamy until the tiny lemongrass claws come out, but hey, it’s not a big deal because they’re tiny, little kitten claws! So cute. I’ll miss this one.
Flavors: Lemon, Lemongrass, Marshmallow, Vegetal
Preparation
I love mango fruits and desserts but I have yet to encounter a a mango tea that I’ve fallen in love with. While this isn’t a bad fruity rooibos it didn’t do it for me either.
There is a good dose of mango and papaya present. Pineapple is a listed ingredient but I didn’t pick up on that as much. Not bad, but moving on.
Flavors: Mango
Preparation
I currently have a big tea problem. Picture uncharted tea rapids whose vast force hasn’t found release in over a year. It’s all wild, untended terrain here. Poor tea.
Anyways, I’m going to try and use Steepster to work my way through this while also attempting to salvage tea appreciation.
This tea, which was poking out of an overflowing cupboard screaming from torture and neglect, seemed like as good a place as any to start. Also, “snowball” effect. Let’s channel that.
While coconut and chocolate teas are usually far from my favourites, this cloudy looking concoction was very easy to drink. Adding milk gave it some textural depth, which the chocolate, marshmallow, and coconut mentally tease me with, but there’s enough going on that it’s decent without milk too.
The last cup I had cooled quite a bit before being found in the house again, and it was still decent. The coconut flavour here was particularly strong.
Flavors: Cocoa, Coconut, Marshmallow
Oh too bad. This one was very grapefruit when I got it.
It was extremely disappointing but not surprising given how I stored it. I’ll just have to pick some up myself when I’m up to buying tea again! :)
Sounds lovely though, even if less grapefruit than expected.