MadHatterTeaReview Send Message

Sipdown

I haven’t been sleeping as well as I’d like to. Been getting Charlie horses in my leg for a few nights (I’m not going to assume it’s cramping from working out, so I’ll have the doctor look into it). The joys of aging, as they say. Anyway, I wanted to brew some sleepy time tea toward the end of the shift, and this was right on top of the sipdown pile.

I could stay all day in the dry leaf section of this tea. The lemongrass, apple, and florals all blend beautifully together. I brewed this for a while (until the water became room temp) and tossed it back after adding to ice. There was a blast of fruity flavors, and the lemongrass added a slight citrusy bite that was perfect. I slept like a baby until 06:00.

Backlog

This was another tea acquired at the tea exchange. I dumped a lot of loose leaf for some of the tea bags/brands I’ve never had the opportunity to try. While I find a love of loose leaf, there’s an odd appreciation for bags. Proceeds to take backlash from tea heads haha

The tea bag smelled bland. Not really a smell. It brewed a deep red and had an artificial cranberry aroma. I noted that it was similar to canned cranberries and mildly tart.

Backlog

I drank this earlier in the week after laying down mulch. I wanted a hot tea and I didn’t want it to be anything complex. I turned the kettle on, tossed in some Maofeng, and grandpa styled this sample. The tea didn’t have an abundance of flavor, however, there was a great deal of viscosity and energy about it.

I sipped down the remaining few teas from the tea exchange awhile ago. I started the day with a mug of the Pukka Licorice and Cinnamon. I was hopeful that this was going to be a good cup of tea, but slightly disappointed that it was a little bitter. There wasn’t a great deal of cinnamon and the licorice fell short, too.

Sipdown & Backlog April 20, 2024

We brewed this iced after spending the time gathering loose sticks from the yard after a windy storm. I added a touch (tsp) of honey to the brew and threw it over ice, which is the best way to elevate this blend. Gnat and Bee use homegrown ingredients for their blends, so I’ve learned that the best way to enjoy them thoroughly is by drinking without sweetener or with little honey. The lady love tried to make this as a “southern sweet” tea, but the notes were muted by too much sugar. The honey really allows the dried raspberries to pop and reduce the sourness of the hibiscus (which without sweetener carries the blend nicely).

Backlog April 17, 2024

This was a relaxing cup of tea after an office day. I wanted a red tea for the caffeine, but I didn’t want anything too bold, such as an Assam blend. This is the type of red tea that one may not enjoy because it lacks the complexity and boldness one may hope to get from a tea session. Heck, I may not find myself going out of the way to buy any, but if I were to make the purchase, it’d be set aside for any of my non-tea friends who wouldn’t want a harsh cup.

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Sipdown & Backlog April 28, 2024

Maybe I’m built differently because this blend works due to the lemongrass, coconut, and pineapple. Back in the days of working at Teavana, I’d have plenty of cups of their version of the White Ayurvedic Chai or the Samurai Chai. Thankfully, Adagio Teas has seemed to get the recipe spot on. I’ll probably get a larger amount of this one during the Fall/Winter on the account of that being the peak season for chai in the home. The aromatics alone make me long for wearing a sweater again! However, we are now sitting in the 80s, which is grand. Anything hotter than this, I’ll be staying inside (unless I’m in the woods hiking and carrying an insane amount of water in my pack).

Sipdown & Backlog April 28, 2024

I had dropped a review of this during the Advent season, which I noted that the rooibos was “too light;” however, that was only a small sample and there’s an opportunity for the tea to become imbalanced. After making a cup of this last evening, I noted that there was ‘too much rooibos,’ which is a-okay for me, maybe not for anyone who dislikes rooibos. I noted that this is has a nice balance between the spices and rooibos, but I’d prefer something more spicy and sweet, rather than mildly sweet and nutty.

Backlog, Friday April 26, 2024

I obtained this one during the tea swap a couple of months back. I’m finally starting to make my way through these teas. I figured it’s easier to throw a bag into the water during work, instead of making tea in a gaiwan, forgetting it, and tossing the leaves out due over brewing and bitterness. This cup held some idea of the peppermint bark. I’ll note that this isn’t too terrible for tea bag tea, but it’s nothing comparable to Teavana’s White Chocolate Peppermint (maybe no tea will ever hold that title). I tasted notes of white chocolate and peppermint, but it was light.

Backlog

I was preoccupied when having the session, but I was able to record notes.

Notes: alcohol, gentler than expected based on the ethanol vibes from the aroma. Not punchy or too heavy in the roast. A good tea for a tea newb.