761 Tasting Notes

90
drank Chocolate Orange by DAVIDsTEA
761 tasting notes

Effing awesome. More concise review when I’m not overdue for going to bed. ;P

Indigobloom

It’s so tasty, I’m craving some now!! But that means getting outta bed and out to the mall :P

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78
drank Apres Ski by DAVIDsTEA
761 tasting notes

Ok, so this is my final brew with this…I guess I could be a sipdown. I did indeed add the last bit of the tea to the existing steeped leaves, and I added the last little bit of Cointreau to it. I did use sugar and milk. For all you Après Ski haters out there, booze it up! In the description, they mention that this begs for a splash of brandy. While I don’t have brandy, I do have Cointreau (well, I did until I poured the last of it in this tea, but there wasn’t much left anyway) and I thought that the orange taste of it would match well with the tea, since it has orange peel on it already.

Well, it works, in a way. The fig tones are pretty subdued now under the stronger orange tones, but this definitely makes this a more drinkable brew. Bandy or rum probably would be better, so as not to hide the fig figgy figgieness so much. I bet this would be great on a cold winter day, coming in from the snow, and warming up. The earthy tones of the tea, the warming of the booze, and it could be quite nice for a cozy night in, with or without guests. Still, probably not going to be a priority to repurchase right now. But the booze is a great addition!

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78
drank Apres Ski by DAVIDsTEA
761 tasting notes

Second tasting, and I’m finding this one just meh. I don’t know if it is that I used less tea or that I didn’t use as much sugar, or if I did something wrong brewing…though I think it is probably one of the first two. I might resteep with the last of it, which is barely enough for a cup, and I might spike that batch with some Cointreau and see how that goes later.

There is something enjoyable in this though (probablynthe sweet figs and orange), and I don’t hate this one, like many do, but I think there are far more teas that I love more than this to consider buying more at this time.

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drank Honey Vanilla by Teaopia
761 tasting notes

I smell more honey and vanilla than I taste it, and that’s saying a lot because I actually used a spoonful of local raw honey! I have a very mild but slightly sweet brew. I don’t know if it is still a sour tongue/taste bud issue or not. The tea is not unpleasant, and the smell of it is utterly fantastic. I’m going to hold off on rating til a later date though, as I’m unsure whether I’d be giving it a fair rating at this time.

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86
drank Checkmate by DAVIDsTEA
761 tasting notes

Having a cuppa…it smells great, but this brew is a little lacking in taste. I do think this has more to do with the overall sour taste I’ve had in my mouth the last few days rather than the tea.

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drank Exotic Berries by Teaopia
761 tasting notes

Possibly over-steeped or too much leaf, but not catching the berry flavour at all, but theres is a very fragrant oolong. This preparation was sweetened with a small spoon of local raw honey instead of sugar, and no milk. It’s probably more naked than I usually drink my tea, but as I am low on both sugar and honey, I used less than normal. I am also trying to reduce how much sugar I use, as I am having more tea lately, and going through the sugar far faster than I used to.

I’m not sure how to rate this tea, as it is fine as an oolong, but I catch no berry, so, points knocked off for that? I may need to revise the rating anyway, as it is possible that this less sweet infusion is leading to less berry, or perhaps my headache coming back is affecting my taste and perceptions of foods and smells.

I think for now, I will leave this unrated. Once I make the final batch from the sample pouch, I will be able to give this a proper rating.

Going to take some more meds and go lay down again. Perhaps a bath later.

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100
drank Alpine Punch by DAVIDsTEA
761 tasting notes

Ok, can I say…YUM?

Firstly, it smells awesome and yummy, and that’s hard for me to say, because I usually dislike anything with rooibos. There is that certain unpleasantness…I think rooibos is a love it or hate it tea. I really only like it when it isn’t so bold, and takes a backseat in flavour…or basically if I can’t taste it. There are very few blends that I am ok with.

Anyhow, taste? I figure I should get to that. As Daisy says “Yes. Amaretto in tea form.”

I love amaretto. I LOVE AMARETTO!!

Funnily enough, when I first tasted the tea, I knew I liked it, but I couldn’t peg my finger on the taste or why I liked it until I reread the tastings here and saw the mention of amaretto and then I made the connection. I was like, “Aha! This is it! It’s all the almonds! That’s what I’m tasting!”

I am not sure I get the fruit punch flavour, but perhaps that comes out with a second steep? It doesn’t matter though, because I love the almond flavour, and that’s all I care about.

I think this is a tea I can get more of! It is something I will feel comfortable with drinking later in the evenings when I want something without caffeine.

I really didn’t think I’d like this tea, but I do!

nomadinjeopardy

I think the fruit punch thing may have mostly been my boyfriend and I, and whoever named this tea? Odd! I find it nutty but not as almondy as everyone else does. But, I’m not entirely familiar with Amaretto (I actually thought I didn’t like it) so I wouldn’t be able to draw that comparison.

Plunkybug

At one point I did taste a very apple cider sort of note, but it warmed into the amaretto smoothness and ahhhh.…

Daisy Chubb

Yay I am SO glad you like this one! eee!

Plunkybug

Yes! I’m so pleased to have a rooibos I like! :) I honestly wasn’t expecting to like it because of the rooibos, but I smelled it and I said I’d give it a try. Especially after reading about it here on steepster.

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95

Oh chocolate, how I love you! Last night on my own before the DH comes back from his 12 day trip, and chocolate is nice right now. And well, this chai is very chocolatey. In fact, the most dominant flavour of this tea is the chocolate. It is nowhere as spicy as I was expecting, considering there’s two types of chilis in it, plus the peppercorns. But there is a certain taste on my tongue, after the chocolate. A sort of tingle. I can’t explain it.

I do like this tea so far, and of the 3 winter collection teas I picked up, it is probably my favourite, but I haven’t tried the Alpine Punch yet.

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75

Well, I didn’t gag.

I should mention that I hate rooibos. Ok, well, maybe hate is a bit too strong of a word, but I generally dislike rooibos teas, unless the rooibos takes the backseat and is a bit, shall we say, mellow. I only tried this as it was 1 of the 4 tea samples that came with my goody bag with the Teaopia event this morning. In the bag, there were 2 rooibos and 2 oolong samples. I heart oolong. I think everyone got the same…but I don’t know.

In this tea, the rooibos DOES take the back seat, taste-wise, as the chai spices are dominant here. I have to say, not tasting the chocolate though. DAVIDs Saigon Chai and Chocolate Chili Chai are way better though.

I have enough for probably another cup, and I might have it with milk next time, but I won’t be buying this. I’m just not a rooibos fan, and there are far better chais out there.

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78
drank Apres Ski by DAVIDsTEA
761 tasting notes

Ok, yeah, so…

Don’t smell it once it is in the bag, or at least smell very far in. In a certain range, it does smell a bit like garbage. Good call on that Daisy. I think it has something to do with a reaction to the plastic bag, or perhaps the burdock root, because it certainly didn’t smell like garbage in the store with the tester/tin, and…once I got very far in, I smelled the figs again. But there was a garbage smell range. shudders

On to taste…

I should state, in advance, that I actually do like figs (probably wouldn’t have tried it if I didn’t). I love figs on flatbread pizza with some prosciutto and goat cheese (sorry Jenn) on it. So yummy. Oh, and add caramelized onions too. :P

I do definitely taste the figs, and the flavour marries well with both the black tea base as well as the orange and cinnamon bits in it. I am not clear on what purpose the burdock root is in the mix for, other than potentially making this a very earthy blend. I think the tea is a little rich and hearty, and something that could be used as a dessert tea, perhaps as a latte.

I am undecided if I will repurchase this again, but I find the tea quite nice, and I can see why they have this as a holiday tea. I must try the others and see what I think, but it is conceivable that I’ll get a little more while it is around.

Daisy Chubb

Yay I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I felt so bad being the first to review it, but I knew a proper review would soon come :)

That flatbread pizza sounds ammmaaaazing yum!

Plunkybug

Well, you had some very valid points, and well noted too. I was really nervous about getting some to try, based on your review, but it smelled lovely at the store…so I caved. I’ll see how I feel about Alpine Punch, since I pretty much hate rooibos, unless it takes the backseat (of a stretch limo), in terms of taste. Not gagging from the Spiced Chocolate Chai from Teaopia right now. I am only drinking as it was one of 4 samples in my goody bag from the store even today…2 rooibos and 2 oolong.

Plunkybug

And yes, that pizza is pretty freaking awesome!

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Bio

I generally like a lot of tea. I do find I have a preference for flavored over unflavoured, but I do love a good straight tea as well.

Likes are too hard, since there are a lot. Dislikes are easier, so here they are…

Hibiscus. Blech. I can tolerate a little, depending on the brew, like Berry Good from Davids and Ruby Pie from Butiki…but in general, it’s too tart and too strong for me.

Licorice. Anything that remotely resembles licorice is out too, so that includes fennel and anise. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

Florals. I’m cool with petals in the tea to make them look pretty (except rose), and I’m cool with teas like oolongs having a floral note, but strong florals can give me migraines. Rose and jasmine are the biggest offenders. This is one where it can vary on the blend, as I can handle Teavivre’s Peach Jasmine Dragon Pearl tea because there is very little jasmine actually detectable in it.

Rooibos is hit or miss. I can do some, but not others. I handle green better than red, and honeybush better than rooibos.

My ratings don’t have a particular scale or method, and may on occasion contradict themselves, but I’m honestly not fussed about that. Sometimes I don’t even rate at all.

Um, I have an extensive wishlist. It is both a list of things I want to get again, and things I want to try. If you are sending me something, and you want to know which is which, I’ll tell you via PM.

Yes, I do trades…usually on request though. See something you want to try in my cupboard? Just shoot me a message and I’ll see what I can do!

Uh, guess that’s it.

Location

Victoria, BC

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