The House of Tea

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Recent Tasting Notes

GCTTB4

Sipdown!

I took the whole sample from the trading box and cold-brewed it in my iced tea pitcher overnight. It brewed up a lovely magenta colour, and even turned faintly pink as soon as I started pouring water over it in the first place.

I saw very little evidence of black tea or cherries, however. Most of the dry leaf was apple pieces and what looked like rosehip or cranberry. The resulting brew was quite tart, even with sugar added, and had a sort of vanilla/powder texture to it that I don’t like in my iced teas. It was pleasant enough, but my husband enjoyed it far more than I did (he had pretty much 3/4 o the pitcher before I even touched it!)

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80
drank Assam Mokaibari by The House of Tea
871 tasting notes

So the awesome Ms. Scribbles contacted me out of the blue and asked me if she could send me some Assam teas because I made such a big deal about how I love Assam in one of my tasting notes.

This is the first one that I have tried out of the huge package she sent me. It smells nice and bold and malty, just like an Assam should.

The brewed tea is not as bold as I had anticipated based on the smell. But there is a nice malt to it. There is just a hint of sweet astringency at the end of the sip. It works really well with the tea. I feel like I am almost on the verge of getting a tobacco note, but not quite. There is only a tiny bit of sweetness to this tea. I normally like there to be a but more sweetness to my Assams, but overall this one is good. The liquor is thicker than I anticipated.

Thanks Scribs!!

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 2 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
scribbles

Hmmm…maybe it’s the assam’s that I am trying/purchasing…‘cos I used to love assam’s. Ok, more accurately, I remember lovin’ the Tiger Assam…those damn fine tea’s! heh!

Lala

Tiger Assam is super delicious!

scribbles

DAAAaaaaamn! Also out of the Double Knit…sighs…more orders that I shouldn’t be putting in, but probably will… :/

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I’ve never been to House of Tea, although it’s really close to another local tea shop that I frequent. I haven’t been because the website is really outdated, and I had no idea what type of tea’s or blends was sold, and the cost. But I finally decided to check it out. I’m still not sure about all the tea’s, only because I was overwhelmed and very happy with the tea ware selection, and I’ll go back for that reason.

So this is my first time trying one of their and tea’s and…WOW!..this is a strong cuppa. But I am lovin’ it. This is exactly what I needed to get my butt in gear for a busy day. My first couple of sips found some fruity note that disappeared as the cup cooled. It’s got a bitter edge to it, but it works. I may have oversteeped a little, causing the bitterness to be more pronounced, but I still enjoyed it. I think my sample will probably be finished a lot faster than I thought, and will be probably be replenished just as fast.

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First Sipdown of the day!
Tony & I just finished breakfast, & now we’re hanging around in our PJs waiting for the Cardinals game to start. There’s a 1 hour rain delay, so we have the sound turned off & Tony is serenading me on guitar. He is not a professional musician (meaning he doesn’t play gigs), & he will try to tell you that he is not very good, but that would be total BS, because he is an awesome drummer, with an amazing drum set. He used to play with people when he was young, but he doesn’t really like performing much, & really hates hauling his equipment around, so he just turns on music & plays for fun & enjoyment at home. Of course, that’s the most important reason to play anyway! He’s also a very good guitarist, and I enjoy listening to him. He’s also a fair blues pianist (thanks to yours truly, who taught him everything he knows).

This Assam is bold & beautiful, from the box Sil sent me. This was a very generous sample. This is the 4th time I’ve reviewed it, & I’m sad to see it go. Thanks again Sil!

Sil

well who knows..maybe in future we could do a joint purchase with some other black loving tea people and get 100g divided 4 ways of some teas that otherwise would be tooooo much!

TeaLady441

Ohhhhhh, twist my arm, why don’t you. :P

Terri HarpLady

That’s 3! We just need one more taker…
Sil, remember my idea of a few months ago?
:)

Sil

Terri…yes! :) sadly of the girls here (cavo’s not here yet) I’m the only real nearly almost always prefer black tea drinker. Heh

TeaLady441

Just think how much trouble I’ll be when I am there! I’ll just make it THAT MUCH EASIER to order tea.

I’d like to split a Matcha order sometime too btw. In case you’re into that sometime. (Doesn’t have to be soon)

Sil

dude…i could just send you a bunch of matcha lol have you tried any? I can send some in your box because i’m bad and forgot it at home today – it’s not sealed yet so i can toss in samples of the ones that i have open. I try to open them a little at a time….

Terri HarpLady

Well…I still like the idea of a perpetual 4 person TTB, where we just keep taking turns adding a tea. In fact, I’d be willing to start it by ordering 4oz of #49, dividing it up into 4 baggies, sending 3 to you. You can keep one, add something, & send to Cavo. By then we’ll have a 4th person for sure.

TeaLady441

Sil – you sent me about 5 and Crowkettle did the same. I’m thinking I’d like to (eventually) pick up a bag of my own!

And I might be interested in a TTB, depending on what the shipping would be like!

Sil

oh yeah…i did didn’t i lol. well when you see new flavours show up in my log, feel free to pester me for some haha

Terri HarpLady

Postage…theoretically it would always weigh 3-4 oz, so $3.25 – 3.85 to send from US to Canada (as opposed to the $15 I just spent to mail TTB-A)

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I can’t believe I’m still drinking this from my generous trade with Sil!
Tony & I played pool for a couple of hours this afternoon, & I’m pleased to say I kicked his butt several times! Once at 8 ball & 4 times at 9 ball. I’m feeling pleased with myself, & yes, I’m gloating!
This tea, with its bold maltiness, was my reward upon returning home.
Thanks again Sil!

Sil

glad you like it. the only downside to their teas is everything’s like 100g purchase but she’s very generous with samples if you pop by the store.

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Sil, just in case I haven’t thanked you enough lately, I just wanna say Thanks! Our tea trade was really fun, & I’m still having fun!
This Assam is quite robust, with a bit of a bite under the tongue, and a high grapiness in the palate. Is rich, dark, deep, & assam-like!

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Thank you Sil!
Wow, this is a cup of TEA!
The flavor is deep ASSAM, with a bold & bitter edge that is satisfying for me right now. What I like about this tea is it has a strong base note, a substantial middle, & the top is also bright. It also re-steeps nicely! Hazzah!

Sil

Yay!

Terri HarpLady

And it packs a punch too! :)

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Beautiful colors. So fragrant you can smell it through the plastic bag! Surprisingly light, sweet taste considering how potent it smells. I’m in love!!

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drank Blue Lady by The House of Tea
812 tasting notes

so it’s true i went to philly for 5 days. well actually 4 days. we cut the trip a little short. (and now i wish i was back)

i visited a pizza museum that has a mural that is all philadelphia people and i am in it.
http://instagram.com/p/ajkCv5Ic0V/
(that’s me in the Melvins shirt with no bangs cuz my first show with my band was opening for The Melvins and i had no bangs back then)

my sister and i also went to the modern wing of the museum as i ALWAYS do and uncharacteristically of my usual taste, i really liked the new Sean Scully room.
http://instagram.com/p/aoS36ZIc-Y/
i’m such a modernist that color block stuff doesn’t tend to do it for me. but something about this room gave me the super warm fuzzies. i took like 4 panoramas of it.

i cannot tell you how thrilled i was that the coffee shop i used to always go to now has a healthy selection of loose leaf tea. this one was citrusy and flowery and was perfect for sitting outside and reading our kindles in the breeze.

Lala

So awesome that your are immortalized in a mural. I’m jealous!

TeaLady441

That’s awesome! Love the mural. Also I like the fuzzy mural thing too.

Terri HarpLady

That IS cool!

tattooed_tea

Shmiracles yer adorable

Rie

Welcome back!!

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78

This is a delightfully strong blend of Assam and Yunnan teas. There is a slightly smoky kick to it that I thoroughly enjoy, and it lacks bitterness (in comparison to other Assam/Yunnan blends I’ve tried.) A bit too hearty to act as a breakfast tea for me, but I enjoyed sipping on it after a good lunch. :D

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C

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100

I went to the House of Tea looking to pick up a few new things, and out of the corner of my eye I spotted this tin with a somewhat intriguing name. I asked the woman working to pull it down, and decided to buy just an ounce after smelling (and noticing the price tag.) I brewed it at 180 degrees, and the cup was a very clear & light golden green. The flavor was delicate, nutty, and sweet. Extremely light, but delicious. I normally prefer super strong hearty black teas, but this was a green tea that completely charmed me.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C

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100

This tea is glorious, and (to everyone I end up forcing a sample upon) a universal favorite. It combines the better parts of my tea addictions and has led me to neglect all other loose tea blends in my cupboard. Highly recommended. Floral, but not overwhelming. Sweet enough on its own, even for those who have at least two spoonfuls of sugar normally.

Preparation
3 min, 30 sec

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82

Brewed a bit of this in my cast iron. I put this and a floral Tie Guan Yin in there, and I find that the two rarely conflict flavor-wise. It is a light green liquor and the flavor of cherry is sweet enough to merit no additional honey/sugar. It is always refreshing and light.

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82
drank Blue Lady by The House of Tea
1 tasting notes

Floral and citrussy but not bitter.

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100

This is my very favourite black tea, anywhere, ever! A close friend of mine bought some a few years ago and gave me some – we were both hooked. Sadly, however, we cannot find it any longer in our city, at least not the real Arctic Fire, as shown in the picture here. Some tea-shops say they have Arctic Fire, but it’s not the real one… We’re still looking!

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85

Midday cuppa

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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69

The almond is more in the aroma than the taste.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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100

The lavender & grapefruit make this an incredible PMS, or any time you need de-stressing, tea.

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85

After having an allergic reaction to the last tea, I wanted something fruity & black to keep me awake after taking a Benadryl. Better with milk than straight.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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95

I wish I had a photo to go with this tea, because it is unbelievable. My friend Rebecca went to Vancouver, and abashedly admitted to paying $57 for 100 g of this tea. But, in my opinion, it was so worth it. We celebrated last night with tea, ginger snaps, and Apples to Apples!

The bag said 90º C for something like 3 min., but we decided to go a bit lower as to not hurt the leaves, and steep longer. Cleaning them, the leaves smelled smoky, and several steeps later, had enlarged such that they probably took up 1/4 of my teacup. The leaves were so delicate that the water never turned past a light cyan color. It is so light that you really can just leave the leaves in the cup and not over-steep.

I’m no oolong master by any means, but I could absolutely taste how smooth and slightly buttery this was, with absolutely no bitter aftertaste as you have with so many teas. The floral notes, presumably from the Kauai orchid (which I know next to nothing about, I’m afraid), were absurdly delicious and light. I could drink this by the gallon if Rebecca would let me, and am definitely going to try (and probably fail) to get one last steep out of the leaves this morning…!

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 8 min or more
Suzi

This sounds so cool. What does an orchid taste like?

tease

Good question. I’m not really sure what to compare it to? Not as sweet as that rubbish hibiscus everywhere, that’s for sure.

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