600 Tasting Notes
A review of Dieters’ Drink by PC Teas Co.
Date: 10/16/2012
Company: Natural Green Leaf Brand
Tea Name: Dieters’ Drink
Tea Type/Varietal: Herbal
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: reddish brown
Leaf Characteristics:
1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 5 minutes
Note: I am having this tea as my nightly cup of tea. The water was brought to a full boil and I took one tea bag and place this in my cup and pour the water over the tea bag. The tea took to coloring into a reddish brown; more like a chestnut color. I like to drink this tea as hot as possible so I sip it immediately to take in all the tea’s strength.
This tea is sweet with the senna and persimmon mixture giving it a licorice like flavoring.
Preparation
A review of Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea by Zen Tea
Date: 10/16/2012
Company: Zen Tea
Tea Name: Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Oolong
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ loose leaf
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: very light brown
Leaf Characteristics: leaf are dark green and when steeped they are darker still and smells very strongly of greens.
1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
Note: I wanted to try this tea again and again; as I had been drinking it throughout the day prior. I realized with more steeps the complexity in the tea evolves more with multiple infusions. I was able to taste some of the vanilla essence that is to be found in the cup but not with the first infusion. I would say with the 3rd, 4th cup of tea I could discern less of the smoky aroma and find that fruity quality that this oolong has.
I was able to experience this only as the tea cooled down in my cup. As I took sip after sip, it seemed to be lighter with a sweet orchid like taste and finally of vanilla bean like; or the essence that is to be found in vanilla extract.
The tea bag oolong that I had needs to be steep/boiled to be appreciated and yet with the loose leaves, once the boiled water is added to the tea, it is the multiple steeps and the cooling down effect that allows for the tea’s complex layering to come through.
Preparation
A review of Oolong Tea by YamaMotoYama
Date: 10/16/2012
Company: YamaMotoYama
Tea Name: Oolong Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Oolong
Region: Japan
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: dark rustic brown
Leaf Characteristics:
1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 190 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
Note: I have been enjoying several loose leaf oolong teas and I remember that I had this Oolong tea in tea bags and I thought to fix myself a cup.
I use one tea bag and pour boiling water over the tea bag in my cup and leave it to steep for a few minutes.
I remove the tea bag from my cup to find that the tea’s color is a dark rustic brown. Tea smells wonderfully of roasted chestnuts. It smells very strong, I notice as much of the tea bag prior to immersing it in water. Tea tastes smooth and I continue to smell that smoky aroma, making for the darkness in the tea. Once I get past the smoky flavor there is a sweeter, mellower side to this oolong.
2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
Note: I continue to enjoy this oolong tea as previously. It has a strong smoky flavor and scent and after a few sips one can appreciate the smoothness and honey texture of the tea’s liquor when swallowed.
Overall, both cups of tea have that strong aroma of roasted chestnut and the tea itself is smooth and sweet with no astringency.
Preparation
A review of 100% Organic & Pure Tea Green Tea by Organic & Pure Inc.
Date: 10/15/ 2012
Company: Organic & Pure, Inc.
Tea Name: Organic & Pure Green Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Green
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: light green
Leaf Characteristics: tea bag smells strongly of tea leaf
1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 175 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
Note: This tea is very light tea; so for me one tea bag only gives me one good cup. Tea is steeped for 3 minutes with boiled water poured over the tea bag and into the cup. Tea’s color is light green, most faint, with a natural sweetness. Tea has no astringency as does some green teas; it is clean and very mild tea.
2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 180 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
Note: I add another tea bag to the one already in the cup and pour more of the boiled water into the cup and leave it to steep for a few minutes. With two tea bags, the tea is much stronger green tea.
I am reminded that this tea is Estate grown, meaning it is grown and processed right at the plantation for its exquisite freshness
This tea is indeed fresh with a lovely pale green color.
Preparation
A review of Tie Guan Yin (Oolong Tea) sampler by Zen Tea
Date: 10/15/2012
Company: Zen Tea
Tea Name: Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Oolong
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ loose leaf
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: pale green
Leaf Characteristics:
1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 2 minutes
Note: I received this tea sample from the folks at Zen Tea and it is a delight to finally be able to sample such fine tea. I cut open the tea pouch to find small pellets of leaves which smells very grassy. I take one teaspoon and put this in my mug and I add the boiling water into the cup and leave it to steep for only two minutes.
When I remove the saucer, used as a lid from the cup I find that the leaves have unfolded and as I scoop out the leaves, their color is green and the aroma that permeates the air is that of green leafy veggies. Once having scooped the leaves from the tea, I am now able to notice the teas’ color which is a very pale green color and the aroma is of veggies and green.
2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
Note: Using same tea leaves I steep this time for few minutes and the teas color is still a very pale green color. I must say it is one of the lightest tea color that I have come across. I scoop out the tea leaves and sip the tea slowly while trying to discern the taste which is very complex with a layered combination of vanilla, violet and orchid flavour.
I am sorry to say, I am not getting this at all. There is faintness of honey once one is passed the leafy/veggies and to finding the creamy smoothness of this oolong. And yes, one can say there is a slight orchid flavour.
I like this Tie Guan Yin and I realize I must experience it many times more to find the hidden complexity that’s offered.
Preparation
A review of KaiMatcha Premium by KaiMatcha
Date: 10/14/2012
Company: KaiMatcha
Tea Name: KaiMatcha Premium
Tea Type/Varietal: Green tea powder
Region: Japan
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ ½ tsp tea powder
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: bright green
Leaf Characteristics: Tea powder is a brightly green color with a very good “umami”, I imagine once tasted; since color and tea’s aroma goes to making a wonderful cup of tea.
1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 170 Fahrenheit
Time: 30 seconds
Note: I am finally trying this KaiMatcha today. I resisted for so long since this product is so expensive and has a high quality of value. It was sent to me to review from the company and I cannot thank them enough for their trust in me.
I add 1 cup of hot water (170-180 degrees) to ½ tsp of KaiMatcha Premium. Whisk quickly for 30 seconds until frothy; I am sorry to say I did not get this frothiness in my cup. Instead, what I have is a very dark green tea, with that wet grassy smell. And when I take a sip of the matcha it is astringent, not bitter since it also smells very sweet. This is the contrast I am confused about. There is a sweet smelling and very pleasant smell but when I taste it is not sweet at all. It tastes like veggies/and greens, cut greens that becomes sweeter after having a few and reaching the buttery aspect of the greens. That smooth, creamy texture that can only be found in natural green veggies with nothing added.
In all, this KaiMatcha Premium has a lovely bright green color and smells strongly of grass. Freshly cut grass and it is a lovely aroma. Upon tasting this tea, one is met with the astringency to be found in this cup, as well as a clean finishing when swallowed. Taste is clean, and lively with a buttery finish.
I am looking forward to trying the many recipes I have read about to do with using/serving matcha. Thank you again KaiMatcha for allowing me to have this wonderful experience.
Preparation
Since you thought that the Matcha was too bitter. You either used water that was too hot, too much matcha, or the matcha was not whisked efficiently. Matcha needs to be whisked until a thick froth with many tiny bubbles has been achieved. If there are breaks in the froth that reveals the liquid underneath, or big bubbles visible on the surface, the flavor profile of the matcha will be poor compared with one that has been whisked correctly.
A review of Green Tea Ginger Twist by Argo Tea
I purchased this tea while doing grocery shopping at Shaws Market last week and I had placed one bottle in the fridge and forgotten about it until today. I decided to take it with us while out at a fair. Once again, I did not enjoy this fair, I am sorry to say. Anyhow, I shook this tea vigorously before pouring it into my trusty travel drink carrier and sipped it along the way.
Tea color is darkish brown and smells strongly of the spicy ginger and once tasted it is there to meet those tantalizing taste buds. Tea is very sweet and is a strong black tea.
I would have liked/enjoyed it more without the pulp.
A review of Fennel Tea (caffeine free) by Alvita
Date: 10/13/2012
Company: Alvita
Tea Name: Fennel Seed Tea
Tea Type/Varietal: Herbal
Region:
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ tea bag
Plucking Season:
Liquor Color: very light brown
Leaf Characteristics: tea bag smells strongly of fennel and makes me think of anise.
1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
Note: I place one tea bag in a cup and add the boiled water into my cup over the tea bag and left to steep for a few minutes. Tea’s aroma is very noticeable sweet and the tea’s color is a very light brown.
I find this Fennel tea to be fragrant and warmly soothing. I am having this cup of tea after being out today and it was colder than I expected since my spirit is low. So it is a cup of herbal to ail my frail mental state.
2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
Note: I am using this same tea bag for a second steeping and after this cup I will add another tea bag and continue as with first cup of tea. It is herbal tea meant to soothe and comfort.
This tea taste similarly to Dill and Anise, if not familiar with Fennel tea; since I was not.
Preparation
I did not mean to rate this tea so low, It has many uses in that it can be had with other green teas; I tried it with my organic green tea and it added a lovely kick to it. Drinking this tea is like that Dill pickle water in the jar taste. It is nice but not as salty. So give this Fennel Tea a try…if partial to Dill.
A review of Premium Blended Black Tea by Bromley
I had a full box of this tea purchased some time ago from Market Basket and I am finally at end of tea. I mention this since I never thought that I would drink this tea let alone to have gone through the box. I always remember when first I had this tea it was blend/blah in fact.
Since my tea journey I have come to know what to look for in a good cup of tea. Tea color, tea’s aroma and over all taste goes into making for a fine cup of tea or not.
I took this last tea bag and having brought cold water to full boiled, I pour some of the water over the tea bag into my cup and left it to steep for a few minutes. I removed the tea bag after the set time and take in the color of the tea; it is a lovely dark reddish brown, and with the light directly above it, it is even brighter. Tea’s aroma is strong and robust. Tasting the tea while it is mildly hot, brings about the roasted flavoring a bit more. The tea is malt in taste and overall this tea is rich and smooth when swallowed with a strong finish.
