drank Random Steepings by Various Artists
1541 tasting notes

After a decade of love/hate with peppermint teas, I finally decided to get my shit together and find a preparation that works for me. No more gross cups of stewed peppermint, ok?

1) Never buy peppermint teabags again. Ever. Buy the freshest, largest, dried leaf I can find at the co-op.
2) Use way less leaf than what’s in the bags – half teaspoon per coffee mug, that’s it.
3) Not every tisane needs boiling water, despite the directions printed on boxes by the faceless herbal tea gurus. I’m not going to die from bacteria and fungi on dried plant matter. 160-175F is good. Bonus: I don’t have to wait for it to cool enough to drink.
4) 10-15 minute steep times? Try 1 minute, 1.5 if I want it stronger. I don’t care about extracting every last molecule of peppermint oil. I’d rather have a good tasting cup.
5) Enjoy a very light, sweet peppermint tea without the stewed flavor, burps or scratchy throat.

Next project: chamomile.

Tabby

I need to heed this advice. I’ve had so many peppermint teas that came out tasting like pickles or spinach.

Mastress Alita

This is pretty much how I am with straight lavender, one of my favorite things. I only need about half a gram (if that!) of nice Farmer’s Market lavender buds and they don’t need to be steeped very long at all or they taste floral-bitter and nasty. But steeped right? Beautiful. And I love a nice lavender tea mixed with a bit of warm coconut milk, too.

Togo

I only drink fresh mint tea. My favourite combination is with some turmeric (ideally fresh as well), lemon/lime skins and sometimes (depending on the mood) a pinch of brown sugar.

derk

Mastress Alita, I remember reading about that in one of your reviews in the past few months. That’s what prompted my quest, so thanks.

derk

Togo, I’ll have to give that a try maybe with some fresh spearmint since that is widely available here.

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Comments

Tabby

I need to heed this advice. I’ve had so many peppermint teas that came out tasting like pickles or spinach.

Mastress Alita

This is pretty much how I am with straight lavender, one of my favorite things. I only need about half a gram (if that!) of nice Farmer’s Market lavender buds and they don’t need to be steeped very long at all or they taste floral-bitter and nasty. But steeped right? Beautiful. And I love a nice lavender tea mixed with a bit of warm coconut milk, too.

Togo

I only drink fresh mint tea. My favourite combination is with some turmeric (ideally fresh as well), lemon/lime skins and sometimes (depending on the mood) a pinch of brown sugar.

derk

Mastress Alita, I remember reading about that in one of your reviews in the past few months. That’s what prompted my quest, so thanks.

derk

Togo, I’ll have to give that a try maybe with some fresh spearmint since that is widely available here.

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. And thus I step away.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile. Terpene fiend.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, Nepal and Darjeeling. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possess off flavors/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s pu’er, I likely think it needs more age.

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California, USA

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