424 Tasting Notes
Yesterday I had a “teapiphany”. Up until this point I have been in the “must try all the teas” phase. Yesterday I went and looked in my “sip down these samples” basket and nothing looked good. I moved most of it to my trade box, because what is the point of drinking tea if you don’t love it? I think I have had enough teas now to have a pretty good idea what I like at this point. That’s not to say that I won’t still try other things because I know taste develops over time, but I’m through drinking down things just because they are there.
I also canceled my Handmade Teas subscription. This month’s tea was a “Hempmaicha” and it just didn’t appeal to me at all. Since last month’s tea was a black and I liked it, I figure that the coming few months are bound to be greens and things I don’t like. I just hate the idea of having a full bag of tea that cost $12.95 that I will never open and don’t care to.
So on to this tea. The first time I had it, I liked it. Now, not so much. So into the swap box it goes. The black base is just too thin for me now.
I’ve had this “teapiphany” also Marzipan, there were days I only drank what seemed to be crappy teas while some little gems slept in the cupboard. And though I still buy an insane amount of tea, since then there isn’t one day I don’t drink at least a couple of my favourite…I hope you get to do the same :-)
Yeah baby!!! Good girl!!! Life is too short to drink a bunch of tea that you don’t like. I have had this philosophy and I felt I was the only one here on Steepster lol.
I have been known to throw teas away when I know for sure I will not want to finish them. I always at least try everything I get in swaps (at least once because you just never know and someone went to the time and trouble to send them to me) and I don’t throw those away, but the stuff I buy on my own that I don’t like? No reason to drink it just because I think I have to in order to get rid of it. :) If I’m going through my stash and can’t find anyone to rehome it to, I’ll pitch it.
I agree! I try to keep a balance between loved teas and new teas.
From the Herbal TTB:
I usually feel like I am being let down when I “have” to drink herbals instead of “real” teas at night. But, I’m really enjoying this one! I don’t get cardamom at all though, so those tasting notes surprised me with the mention of heavy cardamom. It’s just lemony and appley to me – and, it doesn’t taste like mulch! Very nice. I’m drinking it while logging the box into a spreadsheet, and watching an old favorite Andrea Bocelli DVD with my husband. We are such boring old people!
Other than samples pushed at me in my brief visit to their store, this is my first Teavana tea.
You know what else is interesting, is the number of people with tasting notes on this that aren’t on the site anymore :( and appear to have been really super active a few years ago.
From the Herbal TTB! I really have no idea why I went for this first since I’m not big on red rooibos (I like green). It smelled great in the bag, very lemony. I do love lemon teas.
It actually wasn’t bad and I finished the whole cup. I have to admit that with each drink I was reminded that the rooibos was there since it had a woodsy taste, and I wish I could get to the point where I don’t notice it. But overall not a bad drink!
I picked this up in the Tea Gschwendner store on a whim. After I had stuck my nose in everything I thought I wanted to, I asked the sales guy, “Now what do you think I should consider that I haven’t?” This was his suggestion. And, he nailed it.
This morning I was sifting through my “sip down basket” looking for one that appealed to me, but I have finished off everything that seems like a first tea of the day to me. My first and usually second teas of the day are dark, hearty, preferably malty and strong. It’s really only after that that I will move on to cupcakes and sparkle ponies and all that.
Since I couldn’t find anything in the basket, I remembered this and dug it out of the shopping bag where it was still in limbo.
I love this tea! It reminds me a bit of Butiki’s Malty Irish Breakfast. It has that lovely sweet potato flavor, and it just smooth and very YUM. The second steep was as good as the first. I’m considering a third even though I really never steep a black more than twice. I am really surprised that this one hasn’t had more attention on here.
This has been sitting in my “samples, drink me first!” bowl for several weeks. I don’t know why I have been passing it over. It’s really good! Just yummy, sugary, vanilla-y black tea-ness.
Oh that reminds me of a funny. We were having a canned peas versus frozen peas discussion with our daughters. My husband likes frozen but the girls like canned. My husband said that the canned ones don’t taste much like “pea-ness” – hilarity ensued. You might have to say it out loud to get the joke.
Love the cat note. :)
Are you able to see my page at https://www.facebook.com/judith.gill1 ? Look at the video I posted of him on June 11.
I’m so happy to hear the new cat is doing well in your home. That’s a tough transition for him. (I think it’s a boy cat, right?)
It’s a boy. For the first week he was pretty terrified and we hardly saw him. Then he started coming out little by little. Now if I go to my bedroom he charges out of my daughter’s room and leaps onto the bed and headbutts me in the face so I pet him. It’s adorable. I think by now he realizes no one here will hurt him. He acts a little like he might have been abused in the past (like he runs away from anyone walking, like someone kicked him in the past). He is incredibly loving and sweet though.
I love kitty headbutts.
I could not get to the video but I love sweet kitties. :) Mine is currently loving on me since I’ve been gone for a week. :)