191 Tasting Notes
It is tea, and right now in my afternoon slump, that is a wonderful thing. But, I’m glad I only have a few bags left so I can replenish my work tea stash with something more exciting. The cinnamon flavor isn’t very strong or spicy – it’s just sort of..there. Maybe it’s a bit stale? It has caffeine and is not unpleasant to drink.
Ok, I’m moving this one up a little. I steeped it more concentrated – maybe 6-7 oz. water, then added a generous spoonful of sugar and probably 2 oz. of soymilk. It is pretty good! I’m definitely tasting the vanilla more, and the tea flavor is nice and smooth. Maybe it was a bit oversteeped last time? This time I made a point not to go over 5 minutes. Even shorter might be sufficient. I recommend it, with some reservation that it might not be very good without milk and sugar.
Preparation
I was so thrilled to find this at my grocery store – loose, for 99 cents/oz. I really like rooibos, and I wanted to get plain old rooibos for blending with other teas/herbs/flavorings. This is great on its own, or with a splash of soymilk. Nice earthy flavor and a subtle sweetness, like I would expect from a rooibos.
I wanted a little pick me up this morning, but I also wanted that smooth rooibos flavor (plus, I was excited to try the rooibos I found in the bulk tea section of my grocery store!). This was a pleasant surprise. I tried a 50:50 blend (1 tsp each in 10oz boiling water) — I thought the Assam would overpower, but it was the opposite. Next time I might try a little less rooibos. With a splash of soymilk, this blend made a nice creamy, full bodied cup.
Preparation
A surprise in my lunchbox! I found this hiding in a zippered pocket. I know I haven’t bought this tea for at least a year, so it may be past its prime, but I thought I would give it a try. What a pleasant surprise! I forgot how much I like this tea. It is such a nice blend of green tea and herbal flavors. I might need to pick up some more, or figure out how to blend something similar myself. How hard could it be?
Preparation
I bought this tea because I was in a pinch and really wanted a black decaf tea to have with chocolate cake. It served this purpose well, and was pleasant to drink with milk and sugar. The jury is still out on whether I really enjoy it. The flavor was a little odd – not as vanilla-y as I would have though, and reminded me a little of coffee although it wasn’t exactly bitter. I might prefer tea with a little vanilla extract, if I want a subtle vanilla flavor. I’ll give it another shot tonight, probably.
Just the pick-me-up I needed before running 13.1 miles this morning!
It is interesting to contemplate what the result might be if they supplied tea at the water stations.. ;)
WOW! Do you run half marathons often?
No, this was my first. It was fun, but I’m not too eager to do another one soon! If I do, it’ll be earlier in the spring or fall. It was so hot that they actually canceled the race – luckily after I was done, but many of the full marathoners were still out.
Oh that sucks (for them). Sad day!
I think this is pretty close. There might be another spice in the restaurant version, but then again maybe not? Also, I’m not sure if flowery orange pekoe is “authentic” – I’ll have to do some reading, or maybe the restaurant would tell me if I go when it’s not too busy. This attempt is delicious anyhow. :)
I steeped this attempt in about 12 oz water.
