ashmanra Send Message

September Sipdown Prompt – a tea from China

This is one of my favorite teas from China right now. It steeps quickly at a low temperature so everything about making it is faster in that respect. I can make three steeps so I only need one teaspoon for breakfast, making it last longer. Even making three steeps, it is ready faster than some other teas I enjoy at breakfast and I don’t have to wait too long for it to cool enough to sip.

Although the color of the tea isn’t very dark, the flavor is rich and full. It is one of the creamiest black teas I have had. It will definitely be a re-order, probably something for Ashman to put under the Christmas tree.

Sipdown

This is a nice black tea with caramel notes. I drank it plain but it could handle milk and sugar if you like it. It is a tiny bit like Cookie by Lupicia in overall vibe, less nutty.

Sipdown

Such a rich mouthfeel! Lots of coconut makes for lots of oil floating on your cup and it is delicious. Everything is really well balanced here and this is rich and flavorful.

September Sipdown Challenge Prompt – a tea Kermit would drink

This year we have the tenth anniversary of the “Kermit drinking tea – but that’s none of my business” meme. Videos are on youtube if you haven’ seen the ads it came from!

I put a lot of thought into fulfilling this prompt. Would Kermit drink green tea, being green himself and hailing from a swamp? (Or was that just his character in The Muppet Movie. Not sure where Kermit was actually raised.)

I had Miss Piggy and Animal’s teas picked right away, but it took weeks of thought and a discussion with daughter to talk through Kermit. Granted she listened more than gave input, but she didn’t deny my reasoning. She may have been too stunned by the topic of conversation.

In the ad, he is drinking Lipton but I don’t believe for a minute that is his usual cuppa. We all have to make a living and he was promoting his new movie.

So what does he drink? He is a down-to-earth frog, very accessible, and truly a classy guy. He is a Renaissance frog, very creative but also practical, and loves his artsy over-the-top friends without losing touch with the common folk. He is compassionate. I mean, come on, did you see him in Muppet Christmas Carol? You can’t fake that.

So I decided Kermit deserves more than one tea for his different moods, and I think he would buy fair trade and “tea for a cause” when possible. Thus my choice of Lost Malawi from Rare Tea Co.

It says 185F. Check. Steep for one to two minutes. Uh oh, I forgot to set a timer because I was chatting with my daughter. Drat! It went over but I don’t know how much. Second steep was timed at two minutes and combined with first steep.

Absolutely delicious. Malty, hearty, lots of bass notes, no bitterness, no astringency. They say it gets rich and chocolatey with the addition of milk and maybe someday I will try it that way but I love it like this – no additions. I love that I can have two steeps ready in less than the time to make one. And I am nearly out!

I was going to put it on my Christmas list, but in spite of all my cupboard buying freezes – I might have to re-order sooner than that. We will see.

Sipdown

First note wouldn’t go. Here’s hoping this one does.

A favorite of some of my students, this finishes off one of my four big tins of floral tea!
Economical and tasty, strong of base and strong of rose.

I added the tea to the database and forgot to add it to my cupboard, so once again my number goes up! This was in the more recent box sent by Youngest – many thanks!

I used to eat a lot of popcorn with the kettle corn seasoning they sell at the grocery store. It was especially good drizzled with melted butter and coconut oil before the seasoning was added. I loved the popcorn but was hesitant about how it might translate to tea.

The main flavors I got were the caramel and toffee type flavors, but the popcorn and salt kept it from being cloying without making it taste like salty tea, which was what I was worried about.

Tldr: delicious! Thank you, again, Youngest!

This was in the big tea box from Youngest – many thanks!

I have had this a number of times now. I like Nepali teas in general and while this one isn’t bad, it is not my favorite. I tried making it different ways. Based on the name I thought it was going to be a really strong breakfast tea but it steeped ip quite pale. I realized it is probably named for a place and not for its characteristics!

I tried overleafing it next time and it came out a bit drying. This time I made two steeps and combined them, with boiling water and four minutes for the first steep then five minutes for the second.

Again, it isn’t a bad tea, it just isn’t doing anything to make me want it more than another tea on shelf. I don’t it is a milk and sugar tea, either, but I may finish it as a sweet iced tea and see how it goes.

Sharedown

We have had this the past two mornings with breakfast and the rest will go to my friend who loved the aroma of the dry leaves when we were choosing tea for her last week.

This one has sweet associations for me, as it was sold out everywhere many years ago when I first wanted to try it and Ashman tracked it down in a gift shop somewhere and gave it to me for our anniversary.

It is delightful – almost a marriage of Paris and Earl Grey but leaning more toward stone fruit than bergamot.

Sharedown

Ashman calls this the tobacconist shop tea for the powerful aroma. I have only a little bit left and I am introducing a new friend to lots of teas, so this last bit is going to her as she can’t do caffeine after 2ish.

This is a very likely repurchase for one day when the cupboard is lower!

September 8 – World Literature Day: drink tea while reading a favorite book or story

I mentioned to my daughter that I needed to pick a tea and a book for the prompt today and I was torn. I am happily re-reading The Thursday Murder Club series but I also have the new Flavia de Luce, which I was planning to save for after surgery. I decided I would use Flavia for the prompt and my daughter asked if I had any literary themed teas. I told her that I do not at present. She asked if I would LIKE to have one, and I said…..”maybeeeeee.” Ha ha! New tea? Of course!

She went to her room and brought back this! She has been buying gifts to give me throughout my cancer treatment journey – so sweet and thoughtful!

This was on my wishlist because I love violet flavor. I wondered if the rose was going to overpower the violet but it doesn’t! The aroma of the dry leaf was pretty solidly balanced between between rose and violet but the violet might be just a tad stronger.

I made one small pot, using three teaspoons for 18 ounces if water at 200F. Steeped for four minutes. One steep only this time. I can’t get the sliders to go precisely to what I used so I am noting it here.

I would say this is violet forward but the rose is definitely there. The black tea base is pretty strong, exactly what I expect for a Congou.

Ashman does not like rose teas, but he wandered in and wanted to know what I was drinking. I told him it was a new tea and he could try a sip and if he liked it I would pour more. He did like it, and drank another small cup. I can’t guarantee that he LOVED it, but the rose was not enough to turn him off.