Lovely. Stonefruit, chestnut, leather, and smooth. A bit of muscatel richness and body. And a slight smoky aspect.

I can’t recall whether I ordered this one or whether it was one of the mystery teas Alistair chose for me. Either way, this one is absolutely my cup of tea. Thank you, Alistair, for stocking this. It is absolutely a winner.

To be continued.

Flavors: Chestnut, Leather, Muscatel, Smoke, Stonefruit

Martin Bednář

I assume it is of the mystery teas, as I never saw it in common part of the shop.

Evol Ving Ness

You could be right, Martin.

derk

It was available for a bit, don’t know if it still is. I bought a bag after Martin shared with me. Really good black tea. If I hadn’t made a masala chai already, you would’ve inspired my morning cup, Evol Ving Ness.

Evol Ving Ness

I’m happy to hear that, derk. I am REALLY enjoying this. Having a cup now. This cup is a bit harsher than yesterday’s. I don’t know whether I overleafed or steeped too long. Not to worry, I predict this will be in my cup often enough to correct what has gone amiss this time.

Martin Bednář

I can just remember how good it was.
Getting tea from the UK seems difficult nowadays :(
I need to focus on EU based shops.

Evol Ving Ness

I suppose it will take a while until the UK figures itself out after the separation. Not easy on anyone, especially those In the UK who didn’t want to be separated in the first place.

Evol Ving Ness

And people who are separated from the teas they love, of course.

Martin Bednář

Not only UK figures. But all non-EU stuff. derk knows… about the tea I am about to get from her sent as a gift!

Evol Ving Ness

Martin, Alistair has posted that EU shipping has resumed.

Martin Bednář

Evol, yes, EU shipping has resumed, but customs in my country works slow (mostly because most of customs officers are helping with Covid-callcenters). And overall, it is rather nightmare to get it cleared through. Czech Post isn’t working much faster, it took them a week to pick up it on the customs to their warehouse; and 3 weeks from them to the customs.
So, nah for now.

Evol Ving Ness

Oh boy. That does sound like a nightmare.

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Comments

Martin Bednář

I assume it is of the mystery teas, as I never saw it in common part of the shop.

Evol Ving Ness

You could be right, Martin.

derk

It was available for a bit, don’t know if it still is. I bought a bag after Martin shared with me. Really good black tea. If I hadn’t made a masala chai already, you would’ve inspired my morning cup, Evol Ving Ness.

Evol Ving Ness

I’m happy to hear that, derk. I am REALLY enjoying this. Having a cup now. This cup is a bit harsher than yesterday’s. I don’t know whether I overleafed or steeped too long. Not to worry, I predict this will be in my cup often enough to correct what has gone amiss this time.

Martin Bednář

I can just remember how good it was.
Getting tea from the UK seems difficult nowadays :(
I need to focus on EU based shops.

Evol Ving Ness

I suppose it will take a while until the UK figures itself out after the separation. Not easy on anyone, especially those In the UK who didn’t want to be separated in the first place.

Evol Ving Ness

And people who are separated from the teas they love, of course.

Martin Bednář

Not only UK figures. But all non-EU stuff. derk knows… about the tea I am about to get from her sent as a gift!

Evol Ving Ness

Martin, Alistair has posted that EU shipping has resumed.

Martin Bednář

Evol, yes, EU shipping has resumed, but customs in my country works slow (mostly because most of customs officers are helping with Covid-callcenters). And overall, it is rather nightmare to get it cleared through. Czech Post isn’t working much faster, it took them a week to pick up it on the customs to their warehouse; and 3 weeks from them to the customs.
So, nah for now.

Evol Ving Ness

Oh boy. That does sound like a nightmare.

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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.

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Mostly, but not always, Toronto, Canada.

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