985 Tasting Notes

82
drank Florence by Harney & Sons
985 tasting notes

My afternoon pick me up, and boy is it working! I had forgotten how wonderful chocolate hazelnut is all blended happily together. It just feels like a warm, rich, relaxing hug. The chocolate is light, and the hazelnut is about the same level of flavor, but maybe slightly stronger. I am sure that took some master blending as chocolate flavor has the potential to be overpowering. I am drinking mine with milk and sweetener. Dessert in a cup.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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80
drank Chocolate Chip by Adagio Teas
985 tasting notes

Trying to come up with something close to my beloved Chocolate Mint Black Tea from the Tea Table. While this tea with a splash of peppermint is close, and will have to do for a while, I still hold a special place in my heart for the one from Tea Table. The chocolate is darker, and the mint lighter. Actually, it is pretty good.

Since it is a blend, I won’t give it an official rating, but the blend is about a 81.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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75

My cuppa for an after-walk reward this morning. It really tastes like I am cheating. I love that you can taste the chocolate and mint with light hints of the coconut. I will miss this one when it is gone.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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drank White Peach by Adagio Teas
985 tasting notes

1 part White Peach to 1 part Wild Strawberry was my pitcher of iced for yesterday and this morning. Yum. Lightly sweet and fruity without needing any sweetener, and definitely refreshing. I don’t officially have this one in my cupboard, because I usually blend it for iced tea. I blended by weight, and needed to break up the hibiscus in the Wild Strawberry a little.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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73

The breakfast cup of the day. This one is a little smokier than I remember, but still great. I need some more English Breakfasts for comparison! Sweetened and I think I am going to add milk…..

Second steep at 5 minutes…..not as smokey, and does not require milk for me!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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80
drank Fujian Baroque by Adagio Teas
985 tasting notes

Still loving this one, and I keep bumping up the rating….it was a great pick me up late in the afternoon, as I was dragging from the weekend.
Second steep at 5 minutes. Just as good as the first.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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75
drank Vanilla Oolong by Adagio Teas
985 tasting notes

My afternoon tea of the day. Smooth and easy to drink. It is pretty strong on the vanilla. If you are a regular drinker of oolong, this will probably seem like a kids tea to you.

Seond steep was as good as the first, but brewed for 5 minutes.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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This was my evening cup last night. This one is always good with a little sweetener. Definitely one of my favorite decaf varieties.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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72
drank Caribe by Harney & Sons
985 tasting notes

This is my first go at this sample. Again, since it is a Harney’s variety, I went a little lighter on the tea than I do with others. This one is really good….I can taste the tropical blend of fruit flavors. I may consider buying more.

Ack…I did not read the fine print about the green in the blend…I do think it will be better brewed at a lower temp for my next cup.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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73

First cuppa today. I went a little lighter on the amount of tea per cup. I do think this works well for Harney’s blends to avoid bitterness. Also, a 3 minute steep seems to do the trick. This blend has the perfect amount of ginger and peach.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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Profile

Bio

My motto: Drink the good tea!

Tea enthusiast, trying to keep up my cardio for the zombie apocalypse. I have come to accept that I am a western brewing black tea drinker as that is where my ‘tea heart’ lies. I started on loose leaf as a way to have my dessert and not suffer the caloric issues. Once I tried it, I was hooked.

I drink what I like, which is mostly China blacks, a few traditionally scented blacks and Earl Greys, plus a flavored tea here and there. I don’t mind spending a bit on premium varieties on occasion, but an expensive tea has to deliver. My favorite places to order are Harney & Sons and Upton Tea Imports. TeaVivre is great for Chinese tea.

My ratings are pretty subjective. If it falls under 70, I may not take the time to post about it unless I had something specific to say. If it is 70-80 I like it, but I will probably not rebuy. Favorites are over 80 and up, but sometimes the less expensive or more easily obtainable version of a similar taste will win out for my cupboard space.

Usual teapot steeping method: 24 oz teapot, 3 perfect scoops of tea (4 1/2 actual tsp), freshly boiled water, 4 minutes. Lightly sweetened.

Usual mug steeping method: 15 oz mug, 1.5 perfect scoops of tea (just over 2 actual tsp), freshly boiled water, 4 minutes. Lightly sweetened.

Usual pan method: 1 1/2 cups water, 2 perfect tsp chai (3 actual tsp). Simmer for 3 minutes. Add 2/3 cup skim milk. Simmer for 2 more minutes. Strain and sweeten.

Usual pitcher method:
5 or 6 Perfect Spoons of tea (this means about 7-9 actual tsp), freshly boiled water, brewed essentially double-strong in my 24 oz teapot for 4 minutes. Fill my Fiestaware Disc pitcher (about 60 oz.) halfway with ice. Add brewed double-strong tea to the pitcher. Stir it a little and enjoy. No additions.

(*SRP is my Sample/Stash Reduction Plan starting on April 12, 2012. I got so far, but just decided it was too fussy to keep track.)

Location

Ohio

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