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__Morgana__ drank Ginger by American Tea Room

2036 tasting notes

Another never before tried ATR sample. I steeped in accordance with package directions.

The smell in the packet is moderately gingery. Not in a gingerbread sort of way, more like a crystallized ginger sort of way but not overly sweet. I used to chew bits of crystallized ginger when I was pregnant. I didn’t really have morning sickness, thank goodness, but I did have some occasional queasiness and the ginger helped.

The aroma has a gentle ginger note that’s quite lovely. The tea is dark amber, closing in on mahogany.

The tea has an unexpected briskness. The astringency and the ginger leave a fresh feeling in the mouth. The ginger flavor isn’t strong, but it’s there. In fact, I think it’s probably in just the right amount — too much could make this taste artificial or too spicy.

The aftertaste has more tea than ginger, but that freshness in the feel is quite pleasant. It makes me feel like my breath has been freshened, though I wouldn’t want to test that on anyone…

It’s also, as the description says, gentle on the stomach. While I’m not in need of nausea control this morning, I can see how this could have medicinal properties.

I am not sure I’ve had a ginger black tea before, so not really sure how to rate this comparatively speaking. Giving it a strong 85 for now. It’s going on the wish list.

Flavors: Ginger

Preparation

200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 17 OZ / 500 ML

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I got obsessed with tea in 2010 for a while, then other things intruded, then I cycled back to it. I seem to be continuing that in for a while, out for a while cycle. I have a short attention span, but no shortage of tea.

I’m a mom, writer, gamer, lawyer, reader, runner, traveler, and enjoyer of life, literature, art, music, thought and kindness, in no particular order. I write fantasy and science fiction under the name J. J. Roth.

Personal biases: I drink tea without additives. If a tea needs milk or sugar to improve its flavor, its unlikely I’ll rate it high. The exception is chai, which I drink with milk/sugar or substitute. Rooibos and honeybush were my gateway drugs, but as my tastes developed they became less appealing — I still enjoy nicely done blends. I do not mix well with tulsi or yerba mate, and savory teas are more often a miss than a hit with me. I used to hate hibiscus, but I’ve turned that corner. Licorice, not so much.

Since I find others’ rating legends helpful, I added my own. But I don’t really find myself hating most things I try.

I try to rate teas in relation to others of the same type, for example, Earl Greys against other Earl Greys. But if a tea rates very high with me, it’s a stand out against all other teas I’ve tried.

95-100 A once in a lifetime experience; the best there is

90-94 Excellent; first rate; top notch; really terrific; will definitely buy more

80-89 Very good; will likely buy more

70-79 Good; would enjoy again, might buy again

60-69 Okay; wouldn’t pass up if offered, but likely won’t buy again

Below 60 Meh, so-so, iffy, or ick. The lower the number, the closer to ick.

I don’t swap. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that I have way more tea than any one person needs and am not lacking for new things to try. Also, I have way too much going on already in daily life and the additional commitment to get packages to people adds to my already high stress level. (Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does.)

That said, I enjoy reading folks’ notes, talking about what I drink, and getting to “know” people virtually here on Steepster so I can get ideas of other things I might want to try if I can ever again justify buying more tea. I also like keeping track of what I drink and what I thought about it.

My current process for tea note generation is described in my note on this tea: https://steepster.com/teas/mariage-freres/6990-the-des-impressionnistes