LaFleurBleue Send Message

LaFleurBleue drank Anastasia by Kusmi Tea

111 tasting notes

I’m preparing to move again. When the first mover suggested that I throw away some of my stuff because all might not fit in the truck, I was glad my hubby was otherwise engaged and could not suggest a selection in my “shoes or teas” – the 2 things he regularly complains about the volume. I decided then that I would have to do some of the packing myself to get the maximum of the volume.
Why I am telling that? Because it also enticed me to try to finish some tea samples, even though I know it’s not enough.
This morning is again really hot, 32° before 9am, which makes it a good moment for a light and refreshing Earl Grey type tea. I picked up the Anastasia again to check whether my not so enthusiastic first review required adjustment.
For the sake of comparison, I also brewed a cup of Douchka Goût Russe by DF, which had striked me as being quite similar during my first tasting. Both teas being rather light-bodied with citrusy flavoring.
Anastasia tea-base is light and a bit too light in comparison with the flavoring. But the flavoring is nice, really nice and stronger than what I recalled. Very tangy and citrusy, though mellow enough as a result from a blend of different citrus and orange blossom – this latest being just enough to add smoothness but not too much as to become overwhelming.
It’s indeed a very pleasant moment and I really may consider buying myself a full tin of it someday (clearly the move…)
I upped the rating on this one.

Preparation

205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 30 sec

I Like This

1 likes

2 comments

TheTeaFairy
Delete

OMG! 32 before 9am? Try like the opposite here in Quebec-Canada, minus 30 just a couple of weeks ago! You still drink hot tea in this kind of heat wave?

LaFleurBleue
Delete

It was a bit hotter than usual for this time of the day but not that much. I drink most of my teapot more lukewarm than real hot, sometimes even leaving it without the cap to make it cool. And I realized that it was indeed easier to drink something a bit warm than really cold in this kind of weather. Surprising, especially for a former cold-weather tea drinker.
I’ve never been in a colder environment than -15C and cannot imagine going out or doing anything else than sip very hot tea below a super thick comforter, when it’s -30…

People who liked this

Comments

TheTeaFairy
Delete

OMG! 32 before 9am? Try like the opposite here in Quebec-Canada, minus 30 just a couple of weeks ago! You still drink hot tea in this kind of heat wave?

LaFleurBleue
Delete

Profile

Bio

I’ve started drinking much more tea quite recently, almost completely quitting espresso for it!
I’ve been introduced to high quality tea by one of my best friend, MF Marco Polo addict since more than 20 years. I’ve only rarely bought tea-bags since then, preferring the quality-price ratio of loose leaves.
I drink my tea natural, without any milk, sugar or sweetener. I only add honey when a sore-throat is coming along.
I usually either brew a large pot at home or resteep my leaves at the office. I cannot seem to learn to master the use of a gaiwan in an elegant and not clumsy way…
My tea preferences :
- I really like flavored black teas, with a preference for fruity flavors, from a tangy Earl Grey to a real fruit smoothie-like tea. I’m trying some single origin unflavored blacks from time to time but always end up having trouble to finish them. I usually do not really enjoy the strong breakfast teas.
- I do not like chai or teas with strong spice flavors. Strange considering I really like spicy food, but not what I drink.
- I am quite afraid of pu-erh and lapsang souchong, though I probably have never drunk any real good ones and I’m quite sure it can make a huge difference… A few years ago, I had been introduced to scotch whisky and can definitely attest that you cannot say you don’t like whisky, if you’ve only drunk blended stuff and not tasted yet single malts. I hope to get the same happy discovery for those teas.
- I discovered very good oolong, without going through the step of drinking bad-one first, and really enjoy it, especially with a meal. I’ll definitely try some flavored oolongs in a near future.
- I’ve just started discovering white teas, which feels very delicate. The only problem is that those can be awfully expensive…
- I also really like rooibos which I discovered a few years ago while searching for low-theine/caffeine teas that I could drink at night without suffering from insomnia.
- As with green tea, we’ve had a long-standing difficult relationship. I’ve occasionally had some that were real smooth, refreshing and so very many that turned bitter very quickly. And I cannot stand a bitter tea.
- As for jasmine tea, I used to like it but have indeed drunk too much of some bad quality bitter brew, and now I even have problem finishing the high-quality pearls I bought in Beijing.
- Yerba Mate: I’ve had some in one blend and am quite convinced that I would never like that as bitterness is one of its main characteristics. I’ll try to avoid it like the plague.
- Herbal tea: I used to drink more or those before discovering rooibos; finding good ones is unfortunately really difficult – even in organic shops, the herbs sold are far from great.
I loathe artificial flavoring of any kind in any beverage or food.

I’m quite opiniated and try to leave room for further improvement and better discoveries, which explain why I haven’t rated any tea in the 95 and above range.
Teas above 80 are among my favorites
Between 60-80, I could or could not give them a second chance or recognize that they are made with high-quality ingredients though their taste does not please my buds.
Around 50, it starts to be rather bad and a not so pleasant experience to drink.
25 to 40+ cover low quality products that I manage to drink when nothing else is available.
Below that, it’s really vile and basically almost undrinkable IMHO.

Location

Singapore

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer