Steam Tea House

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drank Dorian Grey by Steam Tea House
3986 tasting notes

Sipdown! (95 | 192)

This tea is confusing. It’s called Dorian Grey, and the description compares it to Earl Grey, but there is no bergamot in the ingredients. The dry leaf smells like bergamot, and the tea tastes like it has a touch of bergamot to me, and maybe some vanilla. Yet there is no bergamot, and no flavoring of any kind – just black tea, apple, and flower petals.

Huh?

Thank you Courtney, for this strange tea experience ha ha. ❤

Flavors: Bergamot, Metallic, Smooth, Tannic, Vanilla

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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This one is lovely and light, kind of like drinking a very faint flavour of hay. I really enjoy teas with hay aspects, so I love it!

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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A sample sent in my most recent order!

If blackcurrants are your thing, this is your tea! This tea is like liquified blackcurrant, yet not cloying or overpowering. It’s not my favourite flavour profile, but I appreciate how true to taste it really is. Another win from Steam!

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 30 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML
Martin Bednář

Sounds delish for me… I like blackcurrants teas.

Courtney

It’s pretty tasty! I can hold out the last portion for you (for whenever we do a swap in the future…it may be a while)!

Martin Bednář

Why not… it may be a while, but once it will happen for sure. Luckily I have a bit more of a free time recently!

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drank Sunny Tea by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

I cold brewed this one overnight. This one is almost like a lemon lime tea lemonade without any typical lemonade sweetness, or bitterness for that matter. Very refreshing!

School is insanely busy right now as I come up to the end of this term and my term project has really thrown me. I’ve studied biodiversity and conservation for many years, but this project has really forced me to do a deep dive into Canadian legislation, conservation priorities, and threatened species and I am just beside myself with how awful it is. Thank goodness I have tea to get me through because sometimes it just seems hopeless.

derk

Tea does help make sense of the convoluted absurdity of something so dear to you. You’re doing good work, Courtney.

Martin Bednář

Keep up doing and it will be done one day. And then… hopefully time for a great cup of tea!

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drank After Dark by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

2021 sipdown no. 92

Sadly not for us — too cinnamon heavy and the spices were a touch cloying.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML
Sil

i prefer this one as a latte to regularly brewed.

Courtney

Thanks for the tip!

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drank Amaretto Allure by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

2021 sipdown no. 104

For some reason this one just doesn’t work for me. It’s got some almond flavours and some coconut, but overlaying all of it is the essence of cardboard. I can’t understand why because it’s fairly fresh!

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 30 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Amaretto Allure by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

I’ve had nearly all of this sample, but just happened to be far too busy to take notes each time. I tried really hard to pay attention this time, despite another busy day, so without further ado.

I am not a fan of amaretto, for one. However, the amaretto does come through here, but not in an overwhelming way. It’s definitely there, but the base tea and coconut are also there, which is nice. This will never be a favourite because of the amaretto, but a decent tea nonetheless.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 30 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Kenya Purple by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

2021 sipdown no. 87

This tea is quite nice. It’s similar to a green tea, but with a very subtle maltiness and as it cools, the subtlest hints of bitterness as well.

I don’t need to order any more than the 30g sample, but this was nice to mix it up amidst all the black teas.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Tangelo by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

2021 sipdown no. 84

The dry and steeped scent of this one is way too strong. It turns my stomach sadly. But just a sample, so a-okay to at least try it!

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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2021 sipdown no. 83

Sadly way too much rose for me!

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Taiwan Black by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

2021 sipdown no. 82

I’m not sure what this tea is exactly, but I have a suspicion this isn’t a Taiwanese black? Perhaps it’s mixed with another black tea?

I has an almost cardboard-like taste, but not like that of an oolong. Like an actual liquified cardboard. Hmm.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 30 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML
Courtney

Such a shame, but only a wee sample!

Martin Bednář

At least something positive about bad tea :) Not a big loss.

Cameron B.

I wonder if it’s a lower-grade Taiwanese black tea than we’re used to seeing or something?

Courtney

It could be!

Leafhopper

That’s disappointing. I guess all Taiwanese black teas can’t be winners.

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drank Earl Grey Cream by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

2021 sipdown no. 90

This was a great substitute for when I ran out of Camellia Sinensis’ EGC, but side-by-side this was just slightly less complex. However, still a great EGC and I wouldn’t be upset to have this in my cupboard!

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 30 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Earl Grey Cream by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

I was ever so slightly concerned with the vanilla scent, but it’s turned out quite lovely. There’s the subtle hints of vanilla and sweetness, but only just enough to take the edge off the bergamot. This one has a great balance.

I’ll definitely have to do a side-by-side comparison of this and the ECG from Camellia Sinensis.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 30 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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2021 sipdown no. 101

The scent of this one sadly turned my stomach. I had actually forgotten about it and re-discovered it the other day. When I opened it, I immediately felt nauseous, so it went to the green bin. Eek, but best to have space for teas I will enjoy!

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The tea leaves here are so dark and almost oily. They have a very unique look. This one has a vanilla scent, but it’s more the scent of a rich baked good. Like a vanilla earl grey shortbread or some other extraordinarily rich sweet. This is a fairly mellowed out Earl Grey Cream with hints of red fruits almost? There’s no astringency at all from the Assam base, just a lovely deep base that seems to alter the entire profile of this tea. I almost forget I’m drinking an EGC here. However, the richness and/or vanilla does seem to be upsetting my stomach here, though not with quite the same intensity as a purely vanilla-heavy EGC.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 30 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Pink Grapefruit by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

I cold brewed this one for 8-9 hours this other day and it turned out delicious! It tasted so grapefruit-y, but with none of the pulp or ‘milkiness’ of actual grapefruit juice (though I do love actual grapefruit juice as well). Almost like the essence of all the best parts of grapefruit.

I’ll definitely need to order a full-size of this tea.

Preparation
3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML
teepland

I love grapefruits! Adding this to my wishlist.

Tiffany :)

I love grapefruits, never heard of this company, will also add to wish list thanks Courtney!

Courtney

They’re a cute little company in Canada. I’ve enjoyed their teas for at least 8 years. :)

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drank Pink Grapefruit by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

This one is delicious. It smells strongly of a freshly cut grapefruit and just reminds me of the summer. The taste is clearly grapefruit and it’s just mellowed out ever so slightly with the pineapple. The pineapple doesn’t come through much in flavour. I’m looking forward to trying this one chilled.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 7 min, 0 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Kenya Oolong by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

2021 sipdown no. 86

I did enjoy this one, but I’m not sure if I need it again. It does have a mineral oolong taste that I’m not a fan of, but it’s not as intense as many others I’ve tried. Otherwise, it’s not bad, but not overly memorable either.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Kenya Oolong by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

I was so intrigued to see a Kenyan oolong because I don’t think I’ve ever heard of one?

This one has quite subtle hints of that typical oolong mineral, but it’s giving me vibes like an oolong/Darjeeling mix. There’s a light sweetness and a little bit of drying at the end of the sip as well. I’m actually enjoying it at the moment.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Irish Breakfast by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

2021 sipdown no. 88

I’m feeling lethargic today and there’s no immediate reason as to why except that perhaps so many things are just catching up to me. I have about 40 pages of notes to get through for my new course and the rest of my work day ahead. Here’s to hoping that this tea will be the jolt that I need.

Of the English and Irish breakfast teas from Steam, I really prefer the Irish. It comes off as ‘cleaner’ to me and freshly bold.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 30 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Irish Breakfast by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

This one is lovely and bold with a clean taste as well and little to no astringency. I enjoy that this one is missing the syrup-y flavour of the English Breakfast. I believe that many Irish breakfast teas have a larger Assam component, so perhaps that’s why I gravitate to these ones (and why Assam Banaspaty from CS gives me breakfast tea vibes).

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 30 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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2021 sipdown no. 95

Still syrup-y and not a re-order for me. I’d much prefer the Irish or Kenyan Breakfast tea from Steam instead.

I just placed a small order to pick up more Pink Grapefruit, Peach Apricot, and Dorian Grey though – yay!

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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English Breakfast always seems ’syrup-y’ to me and that is true here. There is maltiness and no astringency, which is lovely.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 30 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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drank Kenya Black by Steam Tea House
1438 tasting notes

2021 sipdown no. 91

I overleafed this slightly to polish off the bag and it’s definitely a bit more of a bold cup, but tasty nonetheless.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 g 14 OZ / 414 ML

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