166 Tasting Notes
Simpson & Vail describes Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake as having a lightly toasted flavor with the delicious taste of apples and cinnamon and I can’t really say it any better than that. The flavorings are subtle and should appeal to those who don’t like a lot of spice. I found it to be quite enjoyable, but had to play around with steeping times for this and some of the other flavored blacks that I ordered from Simpson & Vail. At 3 minutes, I find them to be ever so slightly bitter, but at 2 minutes, a bit weak- I think 2 minutes and 50 seconds does it perfectly for me with this one. I think this is a very nice dessert tea, especially for this time of year.
Nice balance of flavors, very subtle on the spice-mildly cinnamony. I used 3 gm/8 oz water and steeped for a little longer than recommended, just under 3 minutes to bring out the flavor more. This produced a smooth, creamy cup without any bitterness. I enjoyed this selection as a delicate dessert type tea. I’m still seeking a pumpkin spice that is a little more bold for when I am in the mood for something more Chai-like. I may get some more of the Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake from 52 Teas and try reducing the temp and steep time-the spicing was perfect, but it got a little bitter for my taste. I think it’s worth another try (oops, just realized it’s sold out. If anyone knows of something else like it, please let me know.)
Preparation
Currently, on Simpson & Vail’s website, this is named Pumpkin Pie Black, but in their catalog, it is called Pumpkin Spice with the same item number T0694. I experimented with brewing times and preferred 2 1/2 minutes to the suggested 3 minutes. At 3 minutes, it was a little bitter. The spice in this is very subtle compared to other pumpkin spice type teas I have tried-a little too subtle for my taste. I’m still looking for my perfect pumpkin spice tea. This one has a nice taste, but it didn’t “wow” me.
Preparation
Recovering from minor surgery and what showed up at my door?! My latest package from Stacy at Butiki. I placed my order 10/30 and am so impressed with how quickly it came, considering the hurricane and all. This is a very intriguing tea-it tastes nothing like any tea or pu-erh I have ever had. It certainly reminds me of coffee in some ways, but I can’t stand black coffee, yet this is not bad straight, and that’s from someone who always sweetens my tea to bring out the flavor. I wish I had the poetic and tasting skills that some of our reviewers have on Steepster, so that I could do it justice. I can’t wait to hear what some of them have to say. My guess is that some folks will love it and others, not so much. It is in your face bold for a tea, that’s for sure. Try it straight first. Then, if you’re not sold, add some milk and/or sweetener. I made lattes with the 2nd and 3rd steeps using an oz of frothed 1/2 and 1/2 and that was my favorite way to drink it. It is strong enough to stand up very well to milk or cream. Would I order it again? Yes, I would, to see how the coffee drinkers in the family like it, and to make lattes for myself. Thanks Stacy!
Preparation
This is my second review on Tropical Mango. I made up 24 oz of this to take to work, drinking it warm to start with and then as it cooled off, I added some ice to enjoy it cold. As with all teas, I think a little sweetener really brings out the fruit, but it is also fine straight both as a hot and a cold tea. I decided that this is worth ordering again-it seems to have a good tea base and the flavor of the black is not overwhelmed by the mango-it is well blended. Teajo has sample sizes for sale, so I look forward to trying more of their teas. I like it that their teas are organically grown and they use all natural flavors.
what you discovered about the Tropical Mango is pretty much the same for the rest of our flavored blacks. Assam tea leaves are much more resistant to flavor, so they don’t get overpowered by it. Some people prefer the lighter bodied black teas, but if you like this one (Tropical Mango), you will certainly enjoy the rest!
Yes. For flavored teas, I think the Assam works well. For unflavored black tea, I like some of the lighter bodied black teas.
Second tasting on Gui Fei Ooling. Really am liking the unique flavor profile with this tea. I’m sure I’ll order it again. I just placed my second order with them today. Hopefully Hurricane Sandy won’t slow things down too much since Butiki is in New Jersey!
I hope Stacy is OK!
LiberTEAs-I’m fine. We got our Internet back last night. Our cellphones are still out though. We were really lucky that nothing of ours was damaged but our area is pretty trashed. Huge trees everywhere, power lines down and nothing is open. There are pretty much just constant sirens.
I forgot to log this for some reason, but just as well, since my opinion has changed. Most reviewers have found it superb, but initially for me, brewed Western style, it was not a favorite, not that it is not a quality tea-I was comparing it to Golden Fleece, which I adore, and decided Laoshan black was a little too strong for my tastes. Today, I am drinking it Gongfu style for the second time with 5gm/4-5 oz boiling water, and very short steeps as instructed on the package. Gongfu style has made all the difference. I have been enjoying cup after cup (Verdant says you can get 15 steepings this way). I have discovered it is really worth trying both styles of brewing. When I don’t have time to linger with multiple steepings, it is nice to be able to brew Western, but when I have time, I’ve had some great experiences with traditional Chinese brewing, that is lots of leaf and short steeps. So yes, I like this tea! Would I re-order? Yes. And by the way, it is very nice brewed double strength with ice added. I’m curious about the Laoshan Village Chai-it is next on my list to order.
Preparation
Very smart. I have learned to give tea the benefit of the doubt and try it many ways. More often than not, there is a platform that is best and I have to find it. You did a great job.
Yes Bonnie, and I’m especially motivated to do that when I see that a tea is receiving so many favorable comments. I also like to read tips from people if they have found a particular way that works best.
I like this enough to have re-purchased it at least three times. I like it plain or blended with other teas and iced or hot, but especially iced and always with sweetener. It is too tart for my tastes without sweetener and I can see why it gets some negative reviews if people are drinking it straight-it is mouth-puckeringly sour. I typically use stevia as my sweetener of choice. So right now, I’m drinking it hot for a lower caffeine evening cup. And it’s sweet, yet tart in a very satisfying way. Yum.
Preparation
When I placed my order with Butiki, I was invited to pick some samples and was intrigued by this one, as I have not previously had rose-flavored tea. I confess I’m at a disadvantage when describing this tea because I have no idea what violet or calendula taste or smell like, but the rose has a strong presence both in flavor and scent(not overpowering though)and the jasmine is in the background. I prepared it as instructed and had my husband try it first before I added my usual sweetener. Once in awhile I am very much in the mood for a floral tea, and today is one of those days. This is delicate but flavorful, and the floral notes held up to three steepings to my surprise. As usual, I prefer it lightly sweetened, no surprise there, but it is nice unsweetened too. My husband prefers unsweetened tea and he enjoyed it too. So this is a win win for both of us.
Preparation
I was feeling generous, so when my husband asked what I was drinking, I told him I was preparing Maple Pecan Oolong from a sample and then ended up splitting it with him. He likes his tea unsweetened and told me I should write that this began with a delightful oolong flavor, followed by a burst of maple pecan, with a clean finish. (Sounds like a wine review, but he’s in that business!)I like to sweeten tea, but Stacy is right, it doesn’t take much with this one. I picked up on mostly a natural fresh maple syrup flavor, which since I like maple alot, made this a very enjoyable evening dessert tea. My husband and I both liked it.
