Adagio Teas

I opened the tin last night, and my first thought was "rabbit droppings! I used 5 balls for a small (about 16 oz) teapot. Mmm – smooth, malty, luxurious dark tea. I had this with a luxurious breakfast this morning – scrambled eggs with fines herbes, fresh figs and grapes with wheat toast. This is the life!

Very smooth, with little perceptible acidity. Strong, mellow black tea flavor. The tea balls add a little entertainment to the brewing experience.

But then, maybe I’m too easily entertained.

I’ve been drinking this every morning for about 2 weeks. Great flavor, natural sweetness on the back and sides of your tongue.

Not too sure about the cigarette comments. I don’t get that, but maybe a little tobacco from a cigar? Very lightly? Overall, very good tea.

I’m shocked! It’s 1pm and I haven’t drank any tea yet! I’ve been too busy working on my resume for my DREAM job! At a tea shop! So the not drinking tea this morning is quite ironic. I’m ashamed. :( I’ll make the 3rd infusion for lunch.

OK. It’s official. I think I have too many favorite teas. This is, or at least I though, my favorite unflavored oolong but I haven’t been drinking it because I’ve been drinking white, green, and chai teas which have always been my preference over oolongs (flavored or not).

When I opened the tin, I was also afraid that my daring tea tasting may have gotten me in trouble. The last time I had this I had not yet tried pu erh, but after trying their Pu Erh Dante, I’ve discovered I HATE pu erh. I don’t remember this smelling like pu erh, but it does. Or more accurately a green tea/pu erh blend.

I steeped 2.25g of tea leaves in 6oz of purified water heated to 195 degrees F for 5 min.

As it steeps the liquor turns a golden amber and the leaves floating on top of the water makes it kind of look like insects are trapped in it.

I was right. It does taste like pu erh although not a strong one- possibly a black/pu erh blend which is odd based on how it looked in the tin.

I’m not sure how I feel about this tea. 2nd infusion might tell me more.

Had to Check my my strainer to make sure I didn’t just steep a cup of Fruit Loops. =P

Got this from a sampler pack and definitely not a tea for my taste. I just don’t like flavored teas that much unless it’s very subtle and this has a robust orange/lemon zest smell and taste.

My last cup from this sample tin. Very happy with this white. All the adjectives I’ve used in the past still apply: delicate, sweet, floral. This is a version of white peony (which I love) and is like a white peony with all of its positive traits amplified but still balanced. (If that doesn’t make sense, just think white peony, but better.)

Delicate, sweet, floral. Very nice cup. Be sure to steep at the proper temperature so you don’t burn it, use a bit more leaves than your usual teaspoon per cup, and steep for seven minutes.

3rd infusion. no creamer. no milk.

2nd infusion, 1 TB Spiced Rum creamer, no milk.

1/2 water and 1/2 milk. 1 TB each spiced rum and caramel creamers.

I’m logging this one for my fiance. He steeped 2.25 g of tea leaves in 3oz boiling purified water for 5 min and then added 3oz organic fat free milk. He flavored it w/ 1 TBS caramel ice cream syrup, 1 TBS spiced rum coffee creamer, and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

When I took the cover off the tin I immediately smelled the apple. It kind of smelled like their sour apple (which tastes nothing like apple)… I wonder if they use granny smith apples?

I went against the directions and just used the common measurement of 1 teaspoon per 6oz of purified boiling water and steeped it for 5 min.

The liquour was quite dark, but not as dark as some black teas… probably because the spices took up some of the space that would have otherwise been occupied by tea leaves when I measured it.

The first thing I could smell was the apple, followed by the warm spices, then fainly followed by ceylon tea.

This tea is spot on given the title. The first thing that hits my tongue is the crispness of the apple, then the spice, but the spice doesn’t burn. I can even faintly taste the black tea.

The 2nd infusion (w/ an increase in steeping time of 1 min) is very close to the strength and flavor balance of the 1st infusion, but the 3rd one is mostly consumed by the spices. I personally probably wouldn’t do the 3rd infusion, it just tastes like a basic unflavored chai.

Serving suggestions: Unsweetened. Instead of milk like the traditional chai, I’d steep it in apple juice or apple cider (hard or not). Maybe blend it w/ a caramel black tea?

I still have this in my tea pantry. I was excited when this was introduced into Adagio’s line-up. My first impression, to say nothing of it’s unusual shape, was the tobacco-esque smell. It smelled like rich rollcake cavendish. Brewing it revealed a dark doughy taste and aroma. It was earthy in a pleasing and comfortable way and was yet another black tea that surprised me.

A good black tea. Nothing too amazing but good nonetheless. Lots of earthy tones and a nice soothing nose. Who doesn’t like popping a couple of these finely rolled balls into your pot and watching them unfurl into all their steeping glory? Has enough strength to hold up to the morning grogginess without a harsh bite. Cocoa notes are too subtle for my untrained palate to pick up on. Grab a cup, i’m sure you’ll like it.

Resteeped, 5 minutes. Holds up surprisingly well. Still mango-ey enough to balance the black. A little bitter, but glad to know I can get an extra good cup out of these leaves.

I really enjoy this tea. With its solid mango flavor, it may be the best “fruity” black that I’ve had. Might try a second steep just to see what happens…

Love this one… The sweetness of the mango really takes the edge off the black tea. Do not oversteep, otherwise it gets too bitter. Great mango taste—you can tell it’s mango and not just “some tropical or citrus fruit.”