4843 Tasting Notes

88

Backlog:

Mondays tend to be my craziest day of the week, my husband is usually off on Mondays (sometimes he gets called in), and we seem to always be running, running, running. I don’t have the kind of time I’d like to have to enjoy a pot (several pots!) of tea, so, I usually grab a bagged tea and gulp it down before we start our running. Instead, today, I brewed some of this and poured it in a travel mug and drank it while running around. It was certainly a welcome part of the errands run. Rich and bergamot-y. I like this Earl Grey quite a bit.

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67
drank Schizandrae Rooibos by TeaSpree
4843 tasting notes

This is an unusual blend. The first couple of sips, I assumed that it had pretty much lost its flavor (it is an old tisane) because I tasted nothing but rooibos, but, now I taste pepper. It’s like pepper and rooibos, with a lovely hint of magnolia. I actually quite like this… the flavor of the rooibos goes nicely with the peppery note. Different, but, enjoyable.

TeaEqualsBliss

I had a rough time with this one LOL

gmathis

(I can’t resist the urge to say gesundheit when I read “schizandra.”)

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96

Having this tea again today. It’s kind of a busy day for me, it’s our thanksgiving in my household (Hubby works every Thanksgiving, so, we postpone ours until a more convenient time), so I’ve been busy preparing the bird and trimmings.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2012/12/09/no-25-morning-light-from-steven-smith-teamaker/

ashmanra

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

LiberTEAS

Thank you very much. The meal was nice … although, I just realized … that it took less than a half an hour for this group to devour the meal that took me all day to cook. Ugh… was it worth all that work?

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84

Hmm… this is really quite tasty. I was skeptical because it is a white tea base, and I usually prefer chocolate-y teas to be with black tea bases, but, this all works together pretty well.

The white tea base has a slight vegetative taste to it, with a creaminess that accents the chocolate and vanilla notes quite well. As a result, the chocolate and vanilla comes through nicely, but I do think that the orange is a little weaker than I would like it to be. The cinnamon is a nice touch.

Overall, a very nice chocolate orange blend. Yummy!

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93
drank Caramel Apple Oolong by 52teas
4843 tasting notes

After eight infusions with my gaiwan … curiosity got the better of me, and I just had to brew this in my Breville. Now, I don’t usually brew any Oolong in my Breville because I don’t feel that the Oolong leaves get enough of a chance to really do their thing in the breville. But, after trying this in the gaiwan (infusion four and on are awesome in the gaiwan … the first three are not as great, but, once you get past them, the flavor is really good), I was very curious about how the tea would fair in the Breville, and to be honest, I wanted apple flavor, and I didn’t get a lot of it from the gaiwan (I got some by the fourth infusion, but still not as much as I wanted from a tea called Caramel Apple) so, I thought I’d see how the Breville would do with the tea.

And I have to say – with an huge amount of shock on my part – that the flavor is BETTER with the breville than it is with the gaiwan. Now, this does NOT happen with pure Oolong teas, but with this flavored Oolong, it did happen … and no body is more surprised by it than me.

I taste apple and caramel and slightly smoky, roasty-toasty Oolong. This is fantastic! Seriously! The flavor of the apple is a bit lighter still but, it all works together well. Sweet and tart, it tastes like jonagold apples (rather than the green apple that is in the photo) that have been dipped in a sweet, creamy caramel. If anything, that is the note that I’d like enhanced a bit, maybe, the creaminess. I taste more of the burnt sugar caramel note, but not so much of a buttery, creamy caramel. It’s still incredibly good though.

And the Oolong is PERFECT for this… it is toasty and warm and this is the perfect taste for this cold, wet day. (And I increased the rating because I like it so much better in the Breville)

Drinking this tea while listening to this: http://youtu.be/My0HQ0QkGLQ

Indigobloom

Now I wish I’d bought me a pouch! if it’s ever reblended I’ll be sure to pick some up :)

TeaBrat

this sounds yummy!

Sil

That’s how I feel indigo! So many great reviews on it

Indigobloom

Sil, I know right?! It’s awesome that Frank has a new one every week, but the trouble is limited stock! Fingers crossed for a reblend

LiberTEAS

The answer to limited stock = subscription. Never miss a tea you want to try (except for possibly the VIT blends) I have been subscribing for well over a year now, and I have not regretted it. Sure, there are the occasional teas that I could have done without, but for the most part, I’ve enjoyed each and every one.

Sil

Liberteas – I’ve thought about it…but part of what I dislike is not being able to get another pouch of a tea I grow to love lol

Indigobloom

I’ve thought about it to. Trouble is, I’m 50/50 on 52teas. and with my allergies, I can’t even have about 25% of them so I prefer ordering selectively even though I end up missing out on some really good ones!

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93
drank Caramel Apple Oolong by 52teas
4843 tasting notes

I’m trying this two different ways today – this first way is using my gaiwan as the brewing vessel and using short steeps. The first two infusions were a little disappointing, because they tasted vaguely chemical and artificial. These were not terrible infusions, but, they weren’t as good as the ones to follow … so after getting past those first two infusions, I am now getting a pleasing caramel taste, a slightly toasty-smoky note in the background that melds magnificently with the caramel notes, but I don’t get a lot of apple-y taste until toward the tail of the sip. The apple sort of lingers in the aftertaste with that roasty-toasty taste and a faint hint of caramel.

Overall, it’s quite yummy brewed in the gaiwan … it’s funny, but I decided to brew it in my Breville after those first two infusions … but now I’m really liking it gongfu style… but, I am still going to try it in my Breville too … if for no other reason than curiosities sake.

gmathis

This sounds wonderful!

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78

Thank you so much Azzrian for sending me a sampling of this Matcha.

I’m enjoying this as a latte … I used mostly water to prepare it, withheld a couple of tablespoons of hot water, and added a splash of warmed milk in place of the withheld water. This produces a very satisfying latte.

This is a tasty flavored Matcha, but I can’t say that it’s my favorite that I’ve tried thus far. I’m really glad that I got to try it though! (Thanks again Azzrian!)

This has a strong Macadamia Nut flavor, but not as much of a caramel-y praline flavor that I had hoped for. I can taste hints of it, but, it’s just not exactly what I envisioned when I thought “Macadamia Praline”. I also taste the Matcha which adds a lovely creamy element that melds so well with the sweet, tasty, macadamia nut flavor. Definitely good, and like I said, really happy I tried it, but, I’m glad that I tried it as a sampling rather than buying the pouch, because there are others that I think I’d rather have in stock.

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96

Enjoying another cup of this today … I was about to say “this morning” because I did just wake up an hour or so ago, but, yeah, it’s not morning anymore. ha!

Anyway, this is just as delicious the first time I enjoyed it. I love the combination of teas in this blend as well as the touch of Douglas Fir. It’s so lovely!

Sil

May have to do a swap with you sometime to try these out ;)

TeaBrat

I slept in late today too :)

LiberTEAS

@Amy oh – sleeping in late is kind of my way of doing things. I am a night owl, so I stay up late, and then sleep through the morning. This is my way of avoiding this horrid thing called a morning. I don’t like this invention, and whomever thought of morning should be shot.

Donna A

LiberTEAS, I’m not a morning person either. I think you’re born one way or the other, except the rare person who needs almost no sleep! Wish I was one of those. I would go through a lot of tea though, because it seems like I spend all my waking hours sipping on one kind of tea or another, at least when I’m at home.

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99
drank Creamy Eggnog by Butiki Teas
4843 tasting notes

I received a sample of this tea with my last order from Butiki Teas, and based on what everyone else has been saying about this tea, I’m really excited to try it.

Oh my gawd … I wish I had tried this about two months ago, so that I could use this in my 12 Days of Christmas tea swap. It is so yummy. Maybe not french … but the creamy, custard-y, eggnog is kind of hen-ish… right? Yummy yummy yummy! I’m loving this.

I’ve tried a few eggnog flavored teas, but this one is the best that I’ve tried so far. It is SPOT ON eggnog flavor. All that it needs it a touch of nutmeg … which can be remedied with a little bit of freshly ground nutmeg added right to the teapot before brewing.

Totally and completely, utterly YUM!

Butiki Teas

Yay, glad you are enjoying the tea! Your review made me smile. Just had received the meanest customer email I’ve ever received and it was bumming me out. It probably wasn’t that bad but that was my first negative customer email ever.

Kittenna

Whaaaaaat??? I have no idea what someone could possibly have been grumpy at you about :(

LiberTEAS – I have been dreaming about this tea all day…. it was SOOOOOO good last night. I don’t think my tiny 0.5 ounce package is going to last very long!

Butiki Teas

Kittenna-It was from the Black Friday sale. I guess it wasn’t that bad. A customer was $3 away from qualifying for the bonus $20 in tea. I emailed her and she said she was interested in doing the sale. I’ve been occasionally reminding her that I was still holding her teas (since I didn’t know what bonus teas she wanted or the regular priced tea) and she would occasionally get back to me with additional questions. Then today I got an email saying how frustrated she was and on the verge of canceling the order and that ordering shouldn’t be this difficult and listen up, here’s the deal kind of thing. I guess I got more upset since I thought I was being extra nice.

Glad you guys are enjoying the Creamy Eggnog. I really love that tea! I think I will be bringing this one over to my families for X-Mas.

Kittenna

Sounds like she just has some of her own issues… the sale was quite easy to figure out. I’m sure it stings even if it’s not all that bad, especially if it’s your first irritated customer! People are silly!

mrmopar

butki i think you just set a very high mark for excellent customer service. i wish she had understood. i think personal attention like this will result in great merit for you.

Butiki Teas

Kittenna-Yeah, it was bumming me out. I like to keep my customers happy. I’m trying to turn this one around. I’ve had 4 other orders with issues in the last 4 years but in those cases the customers were nice about it and I fixed the issue and added a little bonus.

mrmopar-That is very kind of you to say.

LiberTEAS

@Butiki Teas: I agree. Your customer service has always been exceptional, and I think that this must just be a case of a misunderstanding on the part of that customer … and I hope that it gets resolved for you.

And yes, this tea rocks. I would rather drink this over real eggnog any day.

mrmopar

butiki you are quite welcome i think personal customer service is lacking in many aspects of todays society. it is often overlooked, but i am old fashioned and the idea of personal service will always take precedent in most of my dealings in any matter. the thought of you keeping the old hand shake tradition alive is lost in much of todays world.

Terri HarpLady

I’ll add my 2 cents worth, Stacy. You are awesome, & even though my order was a little complex, I thought you were super easy to work with and we got it all figured out. And your teas are awesome!

Sil

Stacy, I have to say of all of the tea ordering i do, yours is pretty much tops and the service to which i compare all others. I’m sure someday as i branch out i may find other companies who are as awesome as you but you set a pretty high bar. You always have your customers in mind and often do things for them that make me go “see this…this is how all companies should behave, because it’ll keep me coming back” which of course then devolves into thinking about attractors, and detractors and other such nonsense since that’s part of my day job lol

Butiki Teas

Thanks LiberTEAS, TerriHarpLady & Sil! I’m glad you guys are happy with our service. Its one of our top 2 priorities (the other being quality of tea).

mrmopar-I agree. It is so hard to find any type of store with good customer service. My father goes to this Italian food store where the owner knows all of his customers and what they like to buy and has conversations with everyone. The owner even created a vegan soup especially for me, although later he developed a line of vegan soups because this one soup was doing so well. That’s the type of business I aspire to run. I like to know everyone and do a little extra for my regular customers, whether its adding in bonus samples, offering special deals or adding some samples of blends that aren’t available yet.

Sil

Stacy – liiiike a blend with caramel? grin

Butiki Teas

Sil-Hahhaha. Is this going to be like the grapefruit incident? :D Well, I am working with toffee but I suspect that won’t be good enough. I think you are going to have to supply me with some good caramel ideas to win me over. Caramel almonds? Caramel & Brandy? Caramel cheesecake? Caramel drizzled vanilla ice cream? Caramel cream candies? Caramel poached pears? Caramel Raspberries?

Butiki Teas

Hmmm, maybe a spiced caramel puerh.

Sil

caramel poached pears just sounds like something i need to eat. and ice cream…man i haven’t had ice cream in forever…. caramel cheesecake would be neat to see your take on it compared to say 52 teas heh.

Kittenna

^^ Agreed!

Sil

Oh and if making it like the grapefruit means we get a caramel tea…I can do that Stacy lol

Butiki Teas

Hmm, if the caramel cheesecake has been done before than I would rather not do that. I’ll think about it. I do like the idea of caramel poached pears.

Butiki Teas

Sil-Hahahaha.

LiberTEAS-Sorry for hijacking your review.

LiberTEAS

LOL no need to apologize. It’s been a fun read. :)

Sil

I think hijacking reviews is part of what makes steepster fun! You never know where the conversation may lead!

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Profile

Bio

I am obsessed with tea!

I am a co-founder of the SororiTEA Sisters:
http://sororiteasisters.com

I no longer write for the SororiTea Sisters but I am still the admin for the blog.

*

The reason I’m no longer writing for SororiTea Sisters is because I am now the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas:

http://52teas.com

I’ll still be posting occasional reviews on teas here on Steepster, mostly backlogged reviews because I’m way behind on getting reviews posted. That’s why I’m keeping two accounts active at the current time – so that I can get those backlogged reviews posted.

*

My favorite teas are Yellow Teas with most Oolong teas at a close second. As far as “flavored” teas go, I love Earl Grey, Chocolate and Jasmine teas.

I also am intrigued by flavored teas with an unusual or unique flavor combination, which is why I was very excited to be the Mad Tea Artist of 52Teas!

Location

Vancouver, WA

Website

http://SororiTeaSisters.com

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