52teas

Last night, I received a request to try this tea. “I’m eager to know what you think of the new black tea base” said this request. So, I was happy to go a bit out of order and try this one. I confess that way behind in sampling my teas of the week from 52Teas … what can I say? I have so many teas to try and not enough palates or bladder space to drink them all at once.

After allowing it to cool a few moments, I took a sip, sort of casually, almost aimlessly, and my first reaction was “wow, this is a really good black tea.” Without even taking a moment to consider that this was a flavored tea, I started thinking of this as a magnificent black tea that is sweet, almost caramel-y, rich, and full-flavored. I started thinking of other “pure” black teas that are similar to this. Then I sort of shook my head when I realized that this is a flavored black tea, not some high quality, tippy, pure black.

This reaction, in my opinion, is the highest praise a tea lover can bestow upon a flavored tea, because more often than not, flavored teas are about the flavor and not so much about the tea underneath it all. Here, black tea and flavor have united seamlessly, with the flavor of cotton candy (and yes, I definitely DO taste cotton candy) highlighting the black tea in such a way as it essentially becomes a component of the tea and not an addition of flavor, if that makes sense.

And I think that this new base has everything to do with that. And let me examine this newly crafted, 52Teas’ base. It is bold and rich … much more well-rounded than 52Teas previous black tea base. The background flavor is SOLID and invigorating. It is robust and flavorful: sweet, malty and has a rich, bake-y kind of background to it, reminding me quite a bit of a Fujian black tea in many ways. And this is a very good thing, indeed.

When compared to the previous blend that 52Teas has used, this one is less astringent, and without bitterness. I do not need to come up with different parameters to brew it, I can brew this just the way I’d brew other black teas: 2 1/2 minutes in boiling water in my Breville. I don’t have to adjust the temperature or the brew time to assuage the black tea base the way I used to with other 52Teas.

Frank, you’ve crafted an excellent base here. I am very pleased, and so look forward to trying your future blends with this base (particularly my double chocolate decadence)! But for now, I this one deserves high marks!

WOW this was SO sweet today, no sugar added. Ahhhmazing! like berry cotton candy.
Actually, it reminds me of the Cotton Candy tea by 52Teas, only with a white base and a bit creamier
Rating: 92!

ahh! thank you so much Will Work for Tea!! your sample of this is SO generous.
It’s a very light, happy white tea with a vibrant berry accent. I quite enjoyed it. Odd though, the third steep was my fave… when the berry took on a hint of tartness. I love tart non-hibby whites :)
Next time, I’ll add a dash of sweetener.

ummmmm yeah!! I’m packing up the house tonight, so that we can reno. So… I needed some tea! and I’ve been trying to drink down my sample stash. I think it was Jenn who gave this to me? big thank you! though I haven’t seen ya in awhile… hope yer still around :)
Anyhow, I can seriously taste upside-down pineapple cake! this is SO good. Pineapple… yup. Cake… yup yup! oh mann this is great.
Now, I’m not sure I’d repurchase this because I always seem to be in possession of one fruity tea or another and knowing me I’d never finish of the packet. There are times when nothing but a fruity green will do, ya see… like today. I had a serious hankering. So, while I am in love with this, and it is super unique, I can do without. But it’s on my “to be seriously consider” list! Frank, you are a potion master <3

Even though I’m a monthly subscriber to 52Teas, I still tend to stalk the website on Mondays, checking to see what Frank came up with for the tea of the week. If the tea doesn’t get posted on Monday, I find myself clicking on the website even more often on Tuesday, because I am becoming impatient. I want to know! If for some reason, Frank is later (and I suspect he does this just to tease me because he knows I am waiting), I become really impatient and have a hard time leaving the computer until I know what the tea of the week will be.

It has gotten better since I started subscribing though, I think some of the anxiety of worrying that the tea will sell out before I have a chance to buy it is alleviated with the subscription. But it doesn’t alleviate the curiosity.

Most of the time, I’m not only excited about the tea but also quite astonished at what Frank has come up with for the week! Case and point: Pancake Breakfast. Wow! But occasionally, I’m a little disappointed by the tea of the week.

If you go to the 52Teas website right now and look at different teas that appear on the homepage, most of the teas there are ones that excited me. Cotton Candy? Custard-Filled Maple Long John? Chicken and Waffles? (Oh, never mind…) and let us not forget this week’s creation: Double Chocolate Decadence. (for my birthday! yippee!) These flavors are exciting!

And there are a few that are a little less than exciting. I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t interested in trying the Doggy Tea. The Citrus Piledriver I wasn’t too excited about, but, that one turned out to be a big winner after trying it.

But this tea. This tea actually disappointed me when it was announced. I don’t really like grape. I like the fruit. But I don’t usually like grape flavored stuff like soda or candy. I don’t even really care for grape juice.

That being said, I have actually found some grape flavored teas that I’ve enjoyed. But that didn’t stop me from being just kind of “meh” about the announcement of this tea.

All that was before I tried it.

This is good. This tea makes Concord Grape worthwhile.

52teas 12 Days of Christmas Sampler 2012 – Day 8

YAY!!! It’s the morning and I wanted a black tea, and BAM! Frank gave me a black tea!! And not only that, but it’s a chocolate tea!!! EEEEEEEH!!!

I quickly brewed this up while an incredibly annoying kitty meowed incessantly. Seriously, what do you want??! He has food and water and I even tried to pick him up and pet him and give him attention. But no, he just walks off and keeps meowing like he hasn’t eaten in days. Ugh.

I need an especially delicious treat this morning to put up with him, so I added Truvia and unsweetened almond milk to my cup. The result? A really sweet, really chocolaty elixir of +20 to ignore kitty sounds. Aaaah, ignorance is bliss.

This is a seriously yummy dark chocolate tea. I’m getting dark cocoa and a hint of bittersweetness. Yum yum yum! It’s like death by chocolate! Which consequently is a lot more pleasant than death by annoying kitty sounds. ;)

I have had a stressful couple of days, and then came home to find some chocolate tea waiting for me in the mailbox! Boy, did I need this!

I wasted no time boiling water and brewing a cup. The aroma is chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! It reminded me of Milk & Cookies, which brought a smile to my lips for the first time in days. I took one sip without additions, and it tasted like watered down chocolate. I mean literally, like someone had melted chocolate and added water. I couldn’t believe how chocolaty it was! The only thing that was off was the viscosity. It’s too liquidy to be a chocolate bar. I crave the texture of solid chocolate when drinking this.

But, I added some Truvia and skim milk and prayed for the best. Mmmmmm!!!!!!! This is really yummy chocolaty tea! It’s hard to even think of it as tea! It’s pretty much just liquid chocolate. I’m going to wait a little while now to let the flavors meld into the tea leaves. I bet the next I try it, it’ll be even better!

Thanks to LiberTEAS for suggesting and Frank for blending! Now, I’m off to NYC first thing tomorrow morning to go wedding dress shopping!!!!!!!!!!

52teas 12 Teas of Christmas – December 14

Oh. My. God. F-ck December, seriously. (Yes, this is why I haven’t been around…)

Work. My lord. I could go on and on about it – although really, most of it is just “retail at Christmas.” Our AGM went down to our offsite storage and re-organized, so I didn’t know where anything was anymore, and then nobody kept track of what we were using in the tracking forms I’ve made, and then we ran out of small shopping bags for people’s purchases, and then H/O said we could only order supplies on Sundays and we ran out on a Thursday, and supplies take 5 week days to come, so we were out of small shopping bags for 8 days. We get HUGE shipments of merch and tea to unpack on days that we’re really busy, or understaffed, or both. Our sales goals are too high. Etc. Etc.

There’s good things about Christmas, of course. People spend more on gifts than they do on themselves, typically, and while it’s often fun to find a few bags of tea that someone will like, it’s way more fun to put together a smashingly grand, gift-wrapped set of tea, tins, and teapot all wrapped up in pretty paper and a bow. The sense of accomplishment when you wave the customer on their way with a well-put together gift they’re excited about is higher, anyway. And, possibly because it’s Christmas, we’re getting merch we normally never get. OMG BREVILLE MILK FROTHERS!

But I’m so tired. I’m officially pulling 8-hour days, but it’s more like 10 or 11 – once more than 12 – when you add in submitting paperwork, ordering supplies, and staying behind to finish things like unpacking shipments the team members couldn’t get to during the day. (This is by choice, mind you; because one thing you need to understand when you take on a leadership position is that it’s not someone else’s problem anymore.) Our poor GM has it even worse. I watch her now to make sure she eats. Oh, and there’s construction on a new Target going in a few doors down, and the DUST! The dust is unbearable, and my asthma is killing me!

And my cats are sick, so everyone in my house is losing sleep over that – waking up to clean kitty puke, trying to get them to eat small amounts every few hours because they won’t eat more than two bites at a time. They’re off to the vet’s this morning.

But my little box arrived from 52teas a few days ago, and for the past few nights I have been coming home tremendously happy because I have a little packet to look forward to and rip open!

I was pleased the first one was Cotton Candy – my all-time 52teas favourite thus far – as it seemed like a good omen for the rest of the box. I think – though I could be remembering wrong – that this was the first tea with the new base, and I do adore the new base. I always had a problem with the old black base, in that it was astringent enough to nearly ruin some of Frank’s teas for me. The new base is infinitely better in my opinion – incredibly smooth with a real depth of flavour.

This is basically the zenith of flavoured tea, if you ask me. I’m still choked it wasn’t made permanent. It’s a little hard for me to explain why I like this one so much, because it’s not as simple as just saying that “it tastes just like cotton candy.” It doesn’t, in fact; it tastes like tea – a deep, rich tea – with a flavour overlay that is like your sweetest, most nostalgic memory of what cotton candy tastes like. Cotton candy that is sweet, but never so overwhelmingly sweet that you get sick, sweet without being sticky or cloying or sickening. The way the best childhood treat tastes only after all imperfections have been removed through a fuzzy mind filter of simple joy.

But I’ve never had it cold. I’ve heard it’s good cold, but since it was so amazing the first time I had it hot, I’ve never bothered to experiment. This time, I figured I would give it a go. I didn’t have the patience for a cold-steep, so I decided to ice it. I’ve already had a cup out of this packet (actually on the fourteenth), so I dumped the rest into my infuser (overleafing it some), brewed it hot, dumped in a few ice cubes and then put it in the freezer for a bit to chill it quickly.

…Then I feel asleep at the computer desk. Long week, you know?

WHUPS. Cotton Candy black tea slushie, anyone?

Limited edition? WHY.

When I run out of this tea, I seriously think my life will end.**

:(

A real review when I’m not about to be kicked off the computer.

**No, not really.

Sipdown of the last of this one from Alphakitty. It’s certainly not as potent as what we got in the 12 Days of Christmas, but when the water hit the tea, up wafted the most delicious, sweet spun sugar aroma. Worth it just for that, haha.

And actually… I overleafed a little here, and I’m actually really enjoying it. This is definitely a blend much better consumed either lukewarm or cold, for the flavour to come out, and I do think Frank did a pretty good job of it!

Yum! Finishing the last of my share of this from the 12 Teas of Christmas. Delicious. I think the flavour has diminished since early December when my roommate and I first had this though, which is too bad. It definitely doesn’t seem to be a flavour that sticks around too well. Still enough sickly sweet cotton candy goodness to be a good cuppa though!

ETA: Actually got a decent second infusion out of this one today, in half the water. Drank it hotter than usual, so I got less flavour and more aroma, but it was worth it!

12 Days of Tea #1! Also, 1000th tasting note! Wooooooooo!!!!!!

Last time I tried this tea as a sample, it was not great. I couldn’t really taste the cotton candy. This time however? WOAH! Delicious!! So anyone who wants to try this tea – now is a great time to buy a reblend, because it’s fantastic. All pink cotton candy flavouring with a nice black base. I’m so tempted to pick this one up, but I think I’ll hold off due to having too much tea already.

One note: I didn’t even attempt to re-steep this, as all the aroma was gone after the first infusion, and usually once that happens, the second infusion is mediocre at best.

I swear, Canada Post has made some really good changes! The last three packages I’ve received (ok, not the one from Fong Mong Teas) arrived in absolutely record time! Less than a week to receive my most recent swap, from Alphakitty (YAY!!!!) Which actually sucks, in a way, because my package is definitely going to take longer to arrive given that the estimated arrival was 6-12 business days.

Anyway! I cannot say enough good things about everyone I have swapped with. You’re all so ridiculously generous that even when I include a few extras, I am always WAY outdone! I mean, Alphakitty sent me little candies, and Azzrian sent me the cutest mini teacup EVER! To say nothing of the sheer number and size of samples!

Ok, so onto the tea. Steepster is still down, so I’m making a big list with these posts in a Word document. Probably good practice anyhow.

So yes. This came to me from the oh-so-generous Alphakitty, whose package from 52teas arrived just in the nick of time for her to include it! So excited, except I’m going to be mad if I like it because it’s unavailable.

The dry tea smells deliciously like cotton candy. Strangely, I’m not really getting that aroma from the cup – it’s more of a black tea with just a hint of sweetness. I definitely used enough tea, so that shouldn’t be an issue.

Ok, this is a bit of a letdown – I’m not tasting the cotton candy at all, really, except perhaps a bit in the aftertaste. The black tea base tastes ok (could be maltier IMO), but I’m so confused that I’m not really tasting anything else! I’ll have to read everyone’s reviews once Steepster is alive again, and see what I perhaps did wrong :( I should note that there’s just a teensy bit of astringency, so I don’t think a longer infusion would be wise for me.

Just tried with milk and sugar and I am liking the base tea blend, but still not really getting cotton candy. I really think Forest Berry Silver Needle was much more successful in that regard, as I swear it was strawberry cotton candy in a cup with a bit of white tea flavouring mixed in.

Oh well, no loss if this isn’t a tea for me, since I can’t purchase it anyhow! I’m kind of glad to cross another tea off my 52teas sampling list (which is huge. Anyone have a subscription and want to swap small samples of everything to me every couple months or so?!)

ETA: Drinking the second infusion (close to boiling/4.5min) cool and there’s just a hint of cotton candy in the aftertaste. Not a bad tea, but not a winner. I will cold-brew or ice the rest later.

Successful sip down. I ripped through my last pouch in not even a week. Kept cold brewing a 2L jug every day.

I’ll truly miss this refreshing, smooth lime marshmallow cloud. It’s always been one of my favourite 52teas blends, but as mentioned last time, I found this last batch to be a little more bitter than previous ones, so I think I won’t bother ordering it again.

Whoa, I totally forgot I had this. My teas are dispersed throughout my entire place. Some are in my cupboard, more are hanging out on my desk in a David’s Tea organizer, even more are in a fancy box on my shelf, and then there is this Verdant box I filled up with stuff just sitting there too. I opened that one up for the first time since moving here and would you look at that, more cold brew!

Maybe it’s because this pouch has been sitting for a while (got it back in the spring) or maybe it’s this particular reblend, but I find the cold brew to be a little on the bitter side, and it’s not like I let it steep for too long or used too much leaf. Odd. It’s still good but not the ultra smooth, lime marshmallow that previous batches have been.

Mmm, this is quite possibly my favourite cold brew. Like liquid green marshmallows but better. I should try to make actual jello with this. At a tea festival I recently attended, a chef showed us how to make green tea jello with plain gelatin and honey (and he threw raspberries in his too. Heaven). So much healthier for you than the prepackaged stuff.

First off, this really does smell like lime jello. Bang on. Secondly, I’ve prepared this tea in two ways today: hot and cold steeped.

Hot, this is like a soothing cup of citrus tea with a twist. Instead of traditional lemon, I think I’d like this whenever I’d be sick because it’s different. The marshmallow in this should also soothe sore throats. And speaking of the marshmallow, it adds a touch of gooey sweetness to the tart lime. The flavours complement the green tea marvelously.

Iced, this smells awesome. Seriously like lime jello with crushed pineapple. The flavour isn’t as intense as I’d expected, but it’s clearly lime jello. It’s not a pronounced marshmallow here but more like a delicate lime creamsicle. I initially bought this with the intention of drinking it iced, and I’m not disappointed.

Overall, very happy with this one. I’m surprised it hasn’t sold out, actually. It’s like a novelty tea that’s very practical, if that makes any sense.

Alright – I really did NOT want to love this tea. I mean first of all its limited which it should not be. This should go into the permanent stash ASAP!
I need to get more of this. MORE MORE MORE.
Okay so seriously. It is better cooled. I have not had it cold brew yet – its in the fridge now. But I do like it more when I let it cool some. More of the flavors come out.
It is not overly sweet either so if you are thinking it would be TOO Sweet for you – its not.
So I started with my cup hot of course, took a sip and thought, nice black base. Good call Frank. Then another sip and thought, hummm pretty good but not a POW flavor, then another sip and just kept sipping. Somewhere toward sip 7 or 8 the tea was cooler. Then it was like BAM oh yeah! I re-steeped – got to cup 4 before the flavor was gone.
Made another cup.
Yummm a rific!
Then another cup.
Three steeps today each with three re-steeps and now a cold brew in the fridge.
I need MORE of this tea!

I’m having cotton candy for breakfast. Or at least I’m trying to pretend that I am.

My package unexpectedly arrived yesterday and this went straight into my iced tea jug to cold steep overnight. I must say that the lovely black tea base is definitely an appealing Darjeeling. But honestly, dry, this little concoction smells more floral than candy-ish.

The smell of the steeped tea is very faint too. Basically like a sweetened Darjeeling. I’m already on to my second glass of this and so far, and just like its smell, it tastes like a vaguely sweet black tea. But just like how perfumes need a bit of aging and soaps need a bit of curing perhaps I should let this gel for a little while longer and try make another jug of this in a few days? I’m also curious as to how a cotton candy tea would taste hot.

For now I’m going to rate it based on these initial impressions but if/when I come back to this tea next week and reevaluate it, let’s hope the rating will go up!

Steep Information:
Amount: 3tsp
Water: 500ml at 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Peach, orange, sweet, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: peach, orange, pineapple, fruity, sweet, slight vegetal
Flavor: orange pineapple, vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: citrus tang
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

good! I am enjoying this for breakfast

Post-Steep Additives: touch of agave make it fruiter

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/06/52teas-loose-leaf-green-tea-virgin.html