Rabs Send Message

Between an amazing Star Wars event at my library and the US premiere of the new Dr. Who tonight I feel wiped out. (I gots me a photo of a Stormtrooper and me holding a cookie! Yes, I’m that sort of nerd). All this is to say that I’m struggling writing this note. It’s a fine oolong. It seemed very very woodsy (like moss, dirt, greenery – all that jazz) in both scent and taste. I looked at the little sample packet to read what on earth I was supposed to be tasting. Maybe “musky cedar?” My wacky taste buds really couldn’t pick up anything else. My mouth did a quasi-half-hearted dance of sweetness. I had to stop at the 4th steep, but it still seemed to be going strong. I keep waffling (mmm…waffles) between thinking that I’d order more of this or not. And since I’m uncertain, then I probably won’t. NE.

Ah Lapsang Souchon, after trying a handful of black teas, you’re the one I return to. ::sigh of contentment:: This is the second LS that I’ve tried – the other being from Adagio. I think that I prefer Adagio’s, but it’s been several weeks since I’ve had it. I think that I must have it tomorrow morning to do a mini-comparison. I don’t even know how to describe the tastes of either one of these. This sample seems to be a gentler smell of smoke. My initial reaction is that whereas the Adagio goes “RAWR!” this one goes “Meow.” Nothing wrong with that, but first thing in the morning I’d prefer the RAWR. NE

This still remains my favorite Jasmine. After my tragic “Tootsie Roll” incident with my GM Jasmine Pearl sample I was sort of avoiding going back to this one for fear that I had forever tainted all Jasmines with that association. Thankfully it did not.

I wanted to add that since I’ve experienced a wider range of oolongs the floral notes here overwhelm the oolong until approximately the 5th steep. That’s when the mouth magic happens. It’s not as intense as a Jade or Wuyi, but it’s there by golly! But until I reach that steep this is the most accurate “spring evening in NOLA” jasmine tea scent that I’ve ever smelled. 6th steep was also full of joy, and I would’ve gone for more steeps, but I need to think about getting some sleep tonight. TG

Yesterday I took a break from trying new teas – I just needed a day of things that I’m guaranteed to like. So this morning I was back to being adventurous and felt full of vim ‘n vigor regarding new teas. I did Ewa’s patented “GM Indecision Buster Grab Basket-o-Fun” for the first time and came up with this. I have nothing against neither mint nor vanilla, but then I saw “gunpowder” and what’s left of my soul grew cold. I had a very bad experience with GM’s Gunpowder (which I’m pretty sure was user error) and I really didn’t want to start my day off with a cup of nasty. But, I had to go with my own made-up rules involving the “GMIBGBoF” and so I steeped this puppy.

The packet itself smelled like an anemic after dinner mint. I was not encouraged. And then it happened. In my not-a-morning-person state of cavewomanness I didn’t notice that I had left my kettle set for tisanes until after it started to go. And I couldn’t bring myself to stop it and start over. So I went with it. I actually think that it worked out well for me!

This tea was an utterly pleasant surprise. I think its description pretty much nails it. I wasn’t so sure with my first few sips, but as the tea cooled I felt myself getting that “nomish” feeling. So with my first few sips I don’t think that I would’ve bought this, but with the cooler tea I couldn’t help but think what an amazing iced tea this could be. So it’s now on the short list of future GM purchases.

Oh, and I was shocked at how many fannings were at the bottom of my cup. At first I thought “Holy Crap! How did three tea leafs get through my ultra-fine infuser?!?!” And then I realized that those “leafs” were actually fannings in a tea mosh pit. Second steeping there were quite a few as well. I’m just not a fanning fan, and so I tossed the very last tiny bit of tea in my cup. NE

I actually dropped my rating by a few points this morning (I know gasp and all that). The reason is because I’ve finally had straight-up oolongs and this really lacks some of the oolong characteristics that I have grown to love. It hardly evolves from steep to steep, but at least multiple steepings are possible. It also gives me the tiniest bit of dryness at the back of my throat. It also doesn’t send my mouth to a super-happy-fun-land. Overall, it’s one of my favorite florals, but it’s not my favorite oolong. TG

So, I was a rather naughty tea girl (somebody get that scarlet T iron-on ready for me). I was 5 steeps into my Iron Goddess oolong from Adagio when it started to get weak. I wanted to finish off my Sugar Caramel sampler that has a little less than half left. So I decided to rinse and add the last of my sampler to my already steeped leaves – sort of “piggybacking” them. For me it seems to have worked. I’m on the 3rd steep of the mutant tea and it’s still goin’ pretty strong. I don’t plan on doing this too often, but it’s good to know I can get by with it and still have yummy tea. :)

I’m just falling further and further in love with oolongs. I wasn’t so sure about this one at first: the dry leaf smell seemed lacking in that “veggie-oolongish” area. First steep was pretty darn mellow in what I’m used to (not the asparaguspalooza experience). Second steep I thought, hmmm…I still dunno. Maybe I had too high of an expectation for this one. Third steep: Hellooo mouth happiness! I wish that I had the perfect phrase for what oolongs do to me. They’re like a snuggie for my soul, and a party for my mouth.

I don’t think that I’ll reorder this one – it’s fine, but I have my eyes set on my next oolong order coming from Life in Teacup – I’ve read stellar reviews of their oolongs and I’m dying to experience them. I just have promised myself that I will have my tea temp issues under control before I place that order. And I want to get a gaiwan too. Tee-hee! NE

I added an extra scoop of chippies. Added an extra minute. Still tons of “dust” in the cup. There was a more prominent smell of apricot, and the first cup was a notch above meh, but just barely. Second steep and we’re back to flat out meh. Not gonna reorder. M