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Another sample from Joshua. Thank you again!

This is a very malty tea, like the Breakfast Assam from this company. I must say that I usually steer clear from Assam tea, but these two have been completely different than most other Assam. This one in particular is sweet, malty, slightly chocolaty, smooth, and not very astringent (as I’ve experienced many times before). I’m really considering getting more of these two when winter comes, as a morning brew.

On a side note: My dad really loves Assam, and I thought that I’d share these two from Joshua with him. He said, “These are very good. Great black, with cream, or sugar.” My dad isn’t picky, but I know he has added these to his wishlist. Perhaps I’ll buy some for his birthday/Christmas this year; considering he only drinks tea with me or in the winter.

Sample from CWarren.
Backlog August 8, 2016

I’ve been bad at writing reviews on here as I drink the tea. I’m always preoccupied lately with work, school, adoption stuff, reading, or socializing as I write these in my notebook, for later updates. And after 11 days, here we are, copying down what I had written nearly two weeks ago.

A very nutty tea from the smell and taste. Some sweet floral notes on the tongue as the tea progresses. Slightly malty, but nothing like an Assam. As the tea progresses (steep 11-13), there are pear and/or other fruity notes around the mouth.

I had received this yesterday, but was too immobile after work to make any. However, I must admit that this has been a fun tea to drink. I’m currently on the third steep; which really comes to life with the French Toast experience. I can taste a lot of the “toasted nutmeg bread smothered in vanilla maple syrup” in this steep; which is an accomplishment for LP, since he’s the food-tea combo inspired artist who made French Toast tea.

I will have to extend this note later on, but I want to point out something that occurred to me only a moment ago….A few weeks back, I had the pleasure to visit with LP, to drink tea, eat, and share many thoughts with him on many subjects. However, during the tea gathering, an idea was brought up about pairing food with tea. I believe that Andrew (LP) mentioned that there’s very little known about food & tea together, as much as there is with either wine or beer paired with food. Yet, here is an artist who has accomplished something so complex, unique, complicated, and undiscovered—and with his blends—has made a whole new kind of tea. He uses quality leaf with quality ingredients. And although I’ve never disliked anything thus far (I haven’t tried the Mediterranean Chicken Tea, as I’ve heard/read it called) while drinking LP’s stuff. And with that said, this is why I’ll always support his projects/teas no matter the cause. He’s a great individual with a unique talent; to which I’m happily able to give my monies over to him with the hopes that he can achieve his tea blends and/or dreams!

This here is a great morning and afternoon tea. Sure it’s called “Assam Breakfast,” however, it’s a nice mellow smooth rich malty tea that’s great as a pick-me-up. I had tried it with and without cream Western style.

Without cream: there is a nice malty flavor that is rich and mellow, that leaves a nice chocolaty flavor in the aftertaste.

With cream: the sweetness of the tea comes forward a little more, bringing that chocolaty sweetness out a little more.

Overall, this was a great tea that could be used as a daily morning/afternoon brew throughout the year. I’d prefer this tea as a Fall and/or Winter morning cuppa.

Thanks again Joshua for the sample!

CWarren gifted/swapped Tea Competitions Spring (High Mountain Shanlinxi) from Huaging Chen. I decided that I needed to start drinking samples which others have given me. I like reviewing those teas, and they’re usually very good!

This was an enjoyable tea that had so many flavors on the tongue. Within the first 4-5 steeps there were chestnut, fig, and plum notes on the palate. I must admit that drinking this in the morning and drinking it before bed was a great idea. I’m currently drinking the last 2g of tea before work now, and it’s a really nice tea to start the day with. I’m going to throw the used leaves into a jar with water, and cold brew the rest for tonight. I’m looking forward to that session already because I know that it’ll be enjoyable cold.

Side note: 2 weeks left of Summer Camp. The children are restless and longing to go back to school—whether they believe it or not—and I’m ready to have my afternoons to drink tea. Yes, I’ll have to wake up at 4:30 for work during the school year, but at least I get my tea after the kids are sent to school!

I’m sure to review this tea multiple times throughout the year. I wanted to begin my first session strong, with an added person to share with. Unfortunately, my wife isn’t much of a tea drinker unless it can be made Southern styled, or if it isn’t pu-erh. So, I invited our friend over to have some Repave; however, she’s new to pu-erh, so the session didn’t last long for her….

I must admit that I went above and beyond on this order from W2T. I have always wanted to try nearly everything on their site due to their creativity via tea and their wrappers. LP also guided me along, directing me to the teas in which I’d thoroughly enjoy. I wanted to try this first, though. Perhaps it was due to the description that “This will get you very, very tea drunk” that made me want to dig in greedily (after allowing it to breathe for a couple of days), and as soon as possible.

Now, to the tea. What can I say? Where shall start? At the beginning, of course!

I started this session with 10.6 g for 150ml. As I previously mentioned, I wanted this session to go on strong—really hit the palate hard—and last for ages. The first few sips were bitter, but thanks to the suggestion from a tea friend (oolongowl? t-ching? matu?) I was brewing it too long (15s intervals) for the leaf. Therefore, I cut back to 5s intervals throughout the night, waiting for the tea to tell me when to increase the steep time. It hadn’t told me to stop. Ever. I kept it at 5s throughout the three hours of drinking. And you know what happened? It never ever changed the color or depth of the tea! Repave kept going on, unchanging (with the exception of flavor) throughout the three hour session. I was baffled by the amount of depth remaining throughout that time.

However, the flavor did change entirely whilst the session went on. The first steep was bitter. The following two steeps remained slightly bitter, but had a honey note to it; which remained on the back of the throat/mouth. It had offered a gift to the tongue, as if breathing out from your mouth, left a sweet nectar on the tip of lips, like a kiss. And then, the tea danced upon the palate, with great satisfaction—musing about on the tip, back, and middle of the tongue—leaving such great flavors wherever it hit. I had vegetal notes, honey, sweet grass, peaches and/or pears, butterscotch (I had written it down, for whatever reason) and deep earth, but from the “lands of Narnia.”

I will note that I’m reading through the series, so my mind is ever on Narnia. Heh.

I want to drink more this morning, but I must move on to samples from friends. By which, I will enjoy those sessions too, because they are gifts of kindness. :) And joining a vast community of tea enthusiasts has really made me feel blessed to know that there are tremendous people out there…..

Anyway, I’ll leave this review here, at a good note.

The weighing of the tea.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIyEsdoB7mE/

The 5th steep
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIyIx09BT0A/

The 10th steep (I went up to 15!)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIyegutBz2D/

The order
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIvqFQyBVcV/?taken-by=s.g_sanders1

I wanted to drink tea before work this morning. I usually make a single cup of something “basic,” but I figured it’d be a treat to have something complex and unique since I was going in later than usual.

The first few steeps (1-4) were smokey and slightly astringent. However, it was pretty satisfying. The best thing about a sheng is the astringency, I think. This one was full of it within the first few cups. However, as the next few came along (6-9), there was no longer any astringency, but the smokiness lingered on, following a sweet (honey?) note in the aftertaste.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIsL21uBRxB/?taken-by=s.g_sanders1

Backlog 29 July 2016

Notes taken while playing video games.

Dry leaf: A nice golden black hue to the leaf. Smells malty and sweet.

Wet leaf: Reminds me of baked bread/dark beer. Has a slight dark chocolate note. Very rich caramel note after the third steep. Slightly bitter after the fifth steep; however, it remains rich and tasty. Dry mouthfeel.

Short note, more later!

Also swapped/gifted by CWarren.

Reminds me of chocolate mousse. Very sweet, chocolaty, light, smooth, malty, and rich. All the nom noms.

I obtained this in a tea swap with CWarren.

I’ll start with the serious side of the review first. The tea was quite mouth kicking. It had nice brown sugar and earthy notes. It is good for those who like the casual ripe pu-erh that keeps you up throughout the day. However, I was up all day and night. In fact, within the hour of drinking the tea, I was scrubbing the floors and washing the house from within. I wanted to run for the first time in ages (I usually would rather hike). I wanted to sing in the streets & on rooftops.

Rather, I cleaned, took a nice brisk walk on a 95 F day, and sung along to the Beatles. I felt such a surge of energy from this tea, that it allowed me to get a whole a lot done throughout the house; which was relaxing.

Very nice. Thanks again for the tea, CWarren.