1118 Tasting Notes

70

Work tea #1

This is nice. The base tea is a bit woody, but it does have substance and body. The blueberry flavor is a bit odd. Some sips it’s right there, a delicious juicy blueberry flavor. Sweet and fruity. Other sips… nothing. I’m not sure why it’s that way, but if this tea were more consistent I’d be tempted to pick some up for myself. As it is, I’m glad I got to try it from the stash of teas they keep for us at my work. I think I’ll leave it at that.

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95
drank Golden Monkey by Harney & Sons
1118 tasting notes

A friend of mine was looking for recipes to help her use up all of the zucchini her garden in currently producing. I guess there’s only so many zoodles a person can eat. :) In the spirit of friendship I gave her my great grandmother’s zucchini bread recipe. She, in turn, gifted me with a small loaf. I had a (very delicious) slice of it for breakfast this morning, and I made a pot of Golden Monkey to enjoy with it. If nothing else, I started my day off making very good decisions.

Golden Monkey is rich and full bodied. There is a deep molasses flavor along side nutty and caramel notes. I enjoy how it’s almost heavy at the start of the sip, but it finishes with a light sweetness. So good. I’m always nervous that steeping it for the full five minutes will add some bitterness to the finish, but there’s not a hint to be found. I’m well into my second cup, and each sip is as lovely as the last.

Between the tea and the bread, I’ve found myself wanting to bake. Maybe some Boston brown bread, or cinnamon raisin scones…. Yeah, I’m going to break out my cookbooks when I get home from work this afternoon. But until then, have a lovely day you lovely people.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
gmathis

I am not sure I still have the recipe, but my favorite zucchini bread ever was chocolate with chocolate chips!

Veronica

Ooh, that sounds good! My grandma’s has pineapple, and a glaze on top that’s pineapple juice, confectioners sugar, and butter. I love quick breads in all their many forms!

gmathis

The pinapple-y one is what I grew up eating most often. Mom would throw black walnuts in there, too.

ashmanra

Harney had the best GM I ever tasted, though for the price I have been sticking with Teavivre’s. Harney had a Flight Of Golden Monkeys that I resisted but I don’t know if I am glad I resisted…

tea-sipper

YES Harney had the best golden monkey, but harvests change and the harvests I tried the last couple of times just weren’t the same as MY Harney Golden Monkey.

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90
drank Phoenix Pearl by Zen Tea
1118 tasting notes

This is delicious. It’s full of dark cocoa and honey flavors. There’s another sweet note, too. Hay maybe? It’s been quite awhile since I had this one. Steeped it twice and found the flavors consistent between the two cups. I might try a third steep later if the siren call of my pillow isn’t too alluring. I’m really glad I dug this one out and showed it some love. It’s a good one.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
gmathis

Sounds delicious!

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80
drank Citron Green by Harney & Sons
1118 tasting notes

Tea of the morning and a sipdown.

I don’t have to go into work today, which is awesome because I have a million little things that need to be done here at home. It also means that I could take my time and enjoy my tea in the quiet of my kitchen rather than rushing through it. It’s the little things, you know?

This tea has a nice orange flavor with just hints of grassiness coming from the green tea. It’s not overwhelming in any way, but sometimes I don’t want to be overwhelmed. Even by my tea. The orange flavor is true orange, no icky artificial notes. I will say that I used the majority of my container for cold brew, and I do prefer it that way. The long steep pulls out more flavor from the green tea, and it melds with the orange notes seamlessly. The overall taste also remains very mellow and pleasant. This isn’t a tea I’ll replace right away, but if it shows up in my stash again I won’t be sad about it.

And now I’m off to pull weeds, wash a small mountain of clothes, and dust all the things. Happy Monday, y’all.

Flavors: Grass, Orange

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 15 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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95

This was in my cup while I watched today’s F1 race with my husband. Sometimes I feel like I should get tired of this given that it’s such a one note wonder (allll cinnamon allll day), but I don’t. It’s deliciously sweet, and the warmth of the cinnamon is just so dang cozy and comforting. Can’t say I tasted the orange or clove, although some days I do, but still enjoyed the cup.

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

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drank Alishan Oolong by unknonwn
1118 tasting notes

Several months ago a friend of mine visited her brother in Taiwan, and she brought me back some teas. This is the one oolong she gifted me, and it’s a gem. The first time I sipped it I did a double take at the leaves to make sure it’s an oolong because the malty flavor was intense. Good intense. There is also a thickness and smoothness to this that I appreciate. I’ve enjoyed shot steeps where the flavor is brighter and a touch floral, but the longer steeps are my favorite.

Not rating this since I don’t have all the information to log it properly.

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98

Still a big fan of this one. Lots of chocolate with some cherry and bread notes. I’ll be a little sad when this one is gone.

Side note: During my 5+ year hiatus from Steepster I’ve diligently worked on using up my tea collection. I struggle to finish teas, especially the ones I love, because I don’t want them to be gone. But I was also overwhelmed by the sheer amount of tea in my tiny kitchen, so I put myself on a no-buy and started working my way through my 300ish samples and many purchases. I do wish I would’ve taken notes, but the overall experience has been fun. Currently I’m on track to finish all of my teas that are over five years old by the end of this year. I did get to a point where I started buying replacements for categories of teas I was completely out of (Moroccan mint, tisanes, etc…), but I’m limiting the quantity until I’ve finished my oldest teas. Heaven help my wallet once I catch up!

gmathis

It’s good to see you back with us!

Veronica

Thanks! It’s nice to be back.

Mastress Alita

I’ve been in a similar sipdown project/no-buy lockdown for the last few years, myself.

Veronica

Sara, good for you! I know for me it’s been both gratifying (so much amazing tea to enjoy!) and frustrating (so many interesting teas passed by, and so many sales missed!). The good definitely outweighs the bad. :)

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91
drank Coconut Warrior by Wise Ape Tea
1118 tasting notes

Um… well, hello everyone. Long time no post. My life took quite a dramatic turn several years ago as I went back to work after being a stay at home parent for fifteen years. Needless to say, it took a lot of adjusting. Thankfully I love my job, and it’s allowed me to continue my education which has always been important to me. That said, raising kids, work, and studying pushed everything else out of the way for awhile. But I missed this lovely place and people! I actually logged in last night to find the name of a tea I couldn’t remember (Moorish Mint by Samovar), and it made me smile. Anything that makes me happy during these crazy times is a keeper!

Ok, tea note… I cold brewed this and am enjoying it. Coconut is the main flavor, but the vanilla and cinnamon enhance the overall flavor and experience. I can smell the turmeric, but I don’t taste it, and I like the hit of black pepper. Not sure if I’ll ever drink this hot since it’s so delicious cold.

Flavors: Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Coconut, Vanilla

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more
ashmanra

Welcome back, Veronica! I am glad you have a job you love. It makes such a difference!

Veronica

It does make a difference. The job I have now is the complete opposite of what I went to school for, so it was overwhelming at first but so, so worth it.

And thanks for the welcome. I feel like I showed up in the middle of a hurricane with the selling of Steepster to Adagio. Hopefully they listen to y’all. This is a special place, and it deserves to remain that way.

tea-sipper

Veronica! Good to see you back! :D

Veronica

Thank you!!!

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90
drank Almond Sugar Cookie by Wegmans
1118 tasting notes

I thought I missed out on this tea since I didn’t see it on the shelves when I was in Wegman’s during the holidays. Luckily, I popped in today to pick up a couple of items and saw the canister on the shelf with the unflavored black teas. I was so excited that I immediately bought a quarter pound. No regrets.

This tea has a wonderful shortbread almond cookie flavor. I really do adore it. I’m about to drink a nice big mug while I take down my Christmas tree and attempt to get my living room back to some semblance of order. Usually I get the blues once the holidays are past, but this year I’m ready to tuck into winter and just enjoy some quiet and stillness for awhile… with a cup of tea, of course.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
Shae

I love this – quiet and stillness. I’m trying to do the same. Good luck with your Christmas tree. Mine was a beast!

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Profile

Bio

Tea obsessed since 2010.

My Rating System:

100-95 = Teas I actively seek out and keep in my pantry. If you are a guest in my home chances are I will offer you one or all of these teas. Also, if/when these teas are discontinued I openly mourn their loss.

94-85 = Teas I truly like, often have in my pantry, and sometimes restock. These are my variety-is-the-spice-of-life teas.

84-75 = They’re good teas and I enjoy drinking them on occasion.

74-65 = These teas are ok, but not really my thing.

64-55 = meh.

54-45 = I will if I have no other option.

44 and below = Coffee, please.

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