612 Tasting Notes
Ugh, been outta commission due to work and then the last couple days when I’ve had free time to finally backlog Steepster’s been wonky. I’ve tried a ton of good teas the past month but logging has passed me by. :/ Will try to make note here and there the ones I remember being restockable.
The pine in here is lighter than I was expecting (I’m a fiend for those evergreen and rosemary-ish notes) but gives a little mysterious oomph that makes this good as a first-thing tea on a winter morning. The tea itself is nicely morning-y TEA flavor sturdy but not bitter or drying; I found the smoothness rather remarkable given the bases. Along with Bon Bon which I got obsessed with over Christmas, this is a definite “would restock” from SST (which is nice—I’ve been underwhelmed by the more notorious Steepster faves I’ve tried like Lord Bergamot and the Assam). Alas, it’s seasonal only. But bonus, like some of my favorite low fuss (read: no finicky temps needed) Harneys it’s bag-only and good for the holiday season when I’m mostly likely to be out of town and in need of decent bagged tea.
You will be so awake! Yes.
Was a little freaked out at first—to me this is a tea that NEEDS milk, which isn’t something I say very often—but as soon as I add some it becomes scrumptious. Really good! I get hints of cocoa, and the milk smooths out some of the tannins but they’re strong enough what’s left is a nice velvety softness, with contours or bumps or something that are welcome, not uncomfortable. I also appreciate the opacity in the cup when milk’s added; like a good dutiful breakfast blend, it doesn’t fade to dishwater but turns that lovely “creamy coffee” hue, with those pearl pink undertones. I could definitely drink this first thing regularly (provided I’ve got milk!). Yum. Thanks so much Dexter3657 for giving me the chance to try it; I’ve been curious a long time about it and am pleased it lives up to my hopes! Makes me feel willing to, at some point when I can get back on the horse with tea orders (ha), give F&M’s classic blends a shot.
Preparation
Even though I don’t like milk, after reading this, I feel like giving it a shot in some breakfast blend! Soy milk, maybe…
Ifjuly – Tannins? Is that the bitter, or the dry mouth part of this? I am really happy you like it. I bought this at Holt Renfrew in November. I like A&D Double Knit Blend better.
This is from Dexter3657’s way over the top box—a million thanks!
Finally reached where Buffy hits its stride and the evenings this week have been such a pleasure—spent last night laughing my tail off at the “Band Candy” episode (grunting aloof teenage boy Giles!!). Tonight, this accompanies me—my first S&V ever! It’s crazy smooth, like headscratchingly so, and smells rich and strong (the scent of the S&V blends Dex sent me reminds me of holiday coffee grounds like Fresh Market’s Panettone…heady, roasty, strong). I think I might’ve underleafed it slightly but it was still tasty, excellent for the drafty cold weather (it won’t make up its mind here…60F one day, 30F the next). Thank you! :D
Preparation
Yay Buffy! I watched it all on Netflix this summer. Problem is when I get into a show, it is hard to get me to stop watching so I think I finished all the seasons in a matter of weeks…while in summer school.
I’m totally the same way, VariaTEA!
I was watching 24 with my hubby. We covered 8 seasons in less than 2 mos. Crazy… Hardly slept we only were able to watch after 11 because of kids
Had for afternoon tea with the husband today. This one was actually quite good! I was a little skeptical/meh about trying it because I was so bowled over by Butiki Lychee Oolong and because these days I almost always prefer fruit flavored teas to have a green or oolong base…but this was delicious, burst-juicy lychee much like the oolong one. Huh. Wonder if lychee’s just one of those magical flavors that goes like gangbusters with tea. Threw it on the list of “if you reorder from ATR, what are some options you’d be happy about stocking up on” teas. Yum.
Preparation
Butiki’s is that good eh? I don’t know why, but I kept passing it up when I’d order. I’ll make sure to get some next time.
I considered getting a sample of this. I guess I did not make the right decision when I decided to forgo it :(
Fjellrev, to me the Butiki one is pretty much a lychee in a cup. I can’t fathom getting closer to the experience of peeling and eating them fresh over the sink without actually doing that, ha.
VariaTEA, it’s hard to know what to try with ATR ‘cause there’s so many and they can be quite hit or miss in a big way (at least for me)! They have some I adore, some I reeeeally don’t care for, and many that are just ok.
Wow, you definitely sold me then! I haven’t had fresh lychees in ever, and now I want some haha.
True to its name, this is an archetypal brisk black with that hint of tannin-y bitterness and lingering dry woody mouthfeel. Yet something about it sets it apart slightly, makes it familiar but better: the bitterness to me for some reason manifests a bit like the bitterness of the 80% cacao bars my husband likes to nibble on, that sort of brick-y, chocolate-y minerality. It may well be because I just finished prepping chicken wraps for afternoon tea and the “glue” binding everything was a lot of honey, mustard, and mascarpone, and I licked the bowl before washing up. Makes me think this would be good with sweet breakfast or dessert treats, things like honey poundcake or iced cinnamon rolls. It can definitely take the place of bold coffee any place where usually that’s what a sweet snack is screaming for. Despite the classic “some bitterness and astringency, feel those tannins” profile, there’s a smoothness, a creamy silkiness that lasts in the mouth too. Quite nice. I’m curious how this would taste mixed with something like Harney’s Rose Scented, might try that soon…
Preparation
Excellent description. Does the creamy silkiness out weigh the “some bitterness and astringency, feel those tannins” profile?
Well, to my mind they’re balanced nicely—you experience both of them distinctly. I like that. I should put the disclaimer that I seem to be more amenable to the tannic astringency in British legacy-style teas than many of the Steepsters I follow, I guess probably because I grew up drinking that style of tea and have grown fond of it (also because I’m a subtaster, so the same amount of bitterness both in drink and food that often turns people off seems just fine by me).
My experience is, the creaminess comes in the longer the tea cools. It’s at the back end of the sip.
Good to know. Thanks!
Was caught offguard at how toasty, almost smoky this tea is in the first steep. It’s not that strange every-tea-type-all-at-once-coming-out-a-wash flavor and odd darker color the Zen Tea Yellow Bud was, more like the delicate nature of a white tea but an assertive top note more akin to smoky Chinese black tea and the sweet fullness of a Chinese green. Huh! Rather nice.
Preparation
Huh, interesting. I think I’ve only had one yellow tea, and IIRC it was sort of a cross between a green and a white. Not really to my taste, but this sounds interesting.
i had one yellow tea ages ago..i think it was from harney that blew my mind. and then it was never restocked and i forgot where i got it from..and since then all yellows have been pretty meh. teafairy sent one to me so i’m hoping that changes my stance on yellows heh
I can’t make heads or tails really of yellow tea because I’ve tried maybe four from different companies and they haven’t been remotely similar. It also seems yellow tea is pretty rarely exported and perhaps some of what I’ve tried hasn’t been actual yellow tea, not sure. But one was really dark and then tasted like a neutralized mix of every tea type, one was as close to the color of plain water as tea could be and very light but DELICIOUS, like being in a summertime vegetable garden, so good, this one was toasty a bit like a Wuyi oolong, and one was pretty much the same as a white tea. I really have no sense of what a yellow tea profile is, ha.
Took along to do errands this morning. It’s relatively light on the bergamot; either that or the warmth of the vanilla is muting that brightness. Whatever it is, this is a nice intro to Earls if you’re afraid of that part. It’s still definitely there, with that wonderful heady Earl fragrance that gets me every time—I opened up my tumbler in the car and my husband went “Mmmm that smells good, fresh and orange-y!”—but the body and flavor are lighter than most I’ve tried. Yet it doesn’t feel wimpy or lacking. A nice “don’t think too much about it” Earl for busy days you need to be soothed, not knocked over the head with strong zesty elements.
Preparation
This is surprisingly smooth and somewhat creamy, with a sweet vanilla thing going on. Has more flavor than most flavored whites I’ve tried so far, but the flavor never clashes or overwhelms the white base, a nice feat. Most (not all—Cantaloupe and Cream is a beautiful exception—but most) flavored whites I’ve tried and seen have a fruity, lemony zing to them; this has that aroma at first but it’s not in the flavor so much; it’s round and rich and decadently sweet, which I like (I’m not nuts for that lemony thing). Does evoke white chocolate and nut but thankfully without the plasticky element of actual white chocolate. Good with a cookie (who thought I’d say that about a white, even a flavored one!).
I missed your notes;)
you are too nice! i’m been so AWOL lately, and after getting awesome swap teas, ugh. and i keep trying to post comments to folks’ notes and that doesn’t work. :( crossing my fingers tomorrow works in my favor and i can catch up some!