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Evol Ving Ness drank Pumpkin Spice 364 by Wicked Tea

1403 tasting notes

Based on one of the tea blogs, I think it was Marzipan who reviewed it, I signed up for a month subscription trial of Wicked Tea. Marzipan had given the company a pretty good rating based on her experience with her two months of tea. It is a Canadian company, so the dollar value is good without being killed by conversion and shipping. It is a local company and I like to support small and local. The teas looked like a good and interesting variety. The pouches appeared to be a reasonable size, far more than a sample, and I love the see-through window on one side of the zip pouch so that you can see the leaf. From the looks of things, they looked like they were doing a great job and were giving things their best shot and I like to support that too. And finally, the first month is advertised to be free, but you pay for shipping.

I am a bit confused about this last part because I received my Wicked Tea subscription envelope of teas and aside from the teas, I received an invoice billing for twenty some odd dollars for Free Monthly Trial. I sent them an email inquiring about this a few days ago because, well, confusing, but I have received no response from them yet.

Perhaps it is a free trial IF you then subscribe. If that is the case, then it should be clearly stated. Otherwise, it is misleading. Because I feel somewhat misled.

Anyway, I am still making my way through the teas which are good and good value. That said, I have not yet decided whether I am enchanted enough to commit to another month or three.

Ok, to the tea now.

The dry leaf has long golden shreds of pumpkin in among the Sri Lankan black tea.

I really like this tea. Really. Initially I put off trying it because I thought that it was going to be one of those overloaded with cinnamon spice market strong and ugly black teas that seem to be prevalent this season, but no.

The cinnamon is gentle and nicely settled amongst the other pumpkin pie spice. A mellow addition to the pumpkin flavour.

The pumpkin is present but more along the lines of a dense pumpkin bread, not the cake loaf, but actual bread. The flavour is a bit like pumpkin pie but with none of the sweetness. Best of all, the flavours I am tasting taste not the slightest bit artificial.

I drink my tea straight up, so there is only tea in my cup.

I would like perhaps a bit of caramel in this tea or perhaps a bit of cream. Both would be a improvement, but it is already pretty good. I am pleasantly surprised.

I think this is making its way into being one of my favourite pumpkin teas that I have tried so far this season.

Flavors: Cinnamon, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Spice

Preparation

200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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A monk sips morning tea

A monk sips morning tea,
it’s quiet,
the chrysanthemum’s flowering.

- Basho

(1644-1694)

Note to self—-you do not actually need any more tea.

My real tea obsession began in February 2015.

Not, sadly, when I had been living and working in China, though I very much enjoyed sampling a variety of teas during my travels there as well. No, no, that would have been far too sensible.

I am a reformed coffee drinker. I still enjoy a long double espresso with a good quantity or milk or cream from time to time, but for now, tea is my thing. All day.

*note—this is way out of date, so if we are doing a swap and you are checking to see what I like and dislike, mostly never mind what you find below. One of these days, I will update this. In the meantime, check what I’ve been drinking and use your own judgement. I like all the teas. Well, I am open to trying all the teas.

I tend to drink black, green, or oolong tea in the morning to early afternoon. Rooibos or
Honeybush or herbal in the evening. And perhaps some sort of sleepy-type tea in the wee hours.

This year, I’ve been discovering flavoured teas, so it may look like that is all I drink although that would provide a false impression.

Not a big fan of chocolate or mint in teas, but I will try them and, from time to time, have been pleasantly surprised. Also, usually I dislike a prominent cinnamon flavour, if untempered with other things, in teas. Again, I say usually, because there are exceptions.

Also, please note that haven’t quite gotten into the habit of updating my tea cupboard on Steepster, and it is unlikely that I will do this on any kind of regular basis.

I drink my tea black and unsweetened. If there comes a rare moment that I add something to it, I will mention it.

Finally, while I thank large and successful tea companies for tantalizing and beckoning me to the world of tea, I prefer to support independent ventures with real people, real enthusiasm and commitment, and real dreams.

Currently, I am researching monthly tea subscriptions. Perhaps it will keep me out of tea shops.

And here is Shae’s rating scale— which I am using with permission, of course— which more or less describes the way I have been rating teas. I am going to make more of an effort to stay very close to these parameters now.

Rating Scale

1-20: By far, one of the worst teas I’ve tasted. I most certainly will not finish my cup and will likely “gift” the rest to my sweet husband who almost always enjoys the teas I dislike (and vice versa).

21-40: This tea is not good but if I mix it with another tea or find another steeping method I might be able to finish it.

41-60: This one is just okay. I might drink it again if someone were to give it to me, but I probably won’t be buying more for myself.

61-75: This is a consistently good tea. It’s reliable but not necessarily special.

76-90: This one is a notch above the rest and I would gladly enjoy a cup of it any day of the week. I’ll likely be keeping this in my cupboard, but it isn’t one of my all-time favorites.

91-95: One small change and this tea would be perfect. I’ll definitely have a stash of this in my kitchen if you come over for tea.

96-100: No words can describe this tea. It’s an experience, an aha moment. Closed eyes, wide smile, encompassing warmth. Absolutely incredible. Perfect.

Location

Mostly, but not always, Toronto, Canada.

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