10 Tasting Notes

Sipping this one today before a simple surgery to remove my port in a few hours. I got a sample of this oolong a while back and take it out on occasion. Steeped at 195 degrees for 3 minutes. True to it’s flowery name, it comes through in both aroma and taste. It has a good, slightly thicker mouth feel with a darker green tea color. Tastes best when slowly sipped. Would recommend as an occasional cup.

gmathis

Hope all goes smoothly!

quietcreation

Thank you! It went very well. Home resting and made a cup of Barry’s Gold as soon as I walked in the door!

ashmanra

So glad to hear it went well! I hope this weekend is full of good things that refresh you!

quietcreation

Thank you! Working tomorrow, but Sunday should be nice!

mrmopar

Glad to hear it

mrmopar

that all went well. Hit the wrong button before I finished.

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It’s been a long road since I’ve last reviewed anything on here. My dad passed away from cancer, then I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. Then chemo with radiation, surgery, then more chemo and 9 months with an ostomy bag. I had that reversed about six weeks ago and now readjusting again.

But I had a few constants in that time. I’m a mail carrier, and I kept delivering during it all. And I drink a good amount of tea daily. One of those cups is in a thermos on my route too.

This is one of those dependable teas for any time. Rich, malty, comforting. Along with teas like Yorkshire or Thompson’s, I tend to drink this for comfort. Perfect on a cold day or a big breakfast. Or a few shortbreads. It won’t let you down.

derk

I’m glad you’re hear to tell us about it!

mrmopar

Glad to see ya. I’m in a similar occupationas well. Keep strong on the cancer too. I know it was a fight but you pulled through it.

gmathis

Daughter of a rural mail carrier. Y’all are tough! Thank you for sharing your story. Do you know, much as I love my “barbarian” bagged black teas, I’m not sure I’ve ever tried Barry’s—it’s reasonably easy to find locally. You’ve inspired me.

ashmanra

Good to see you again! So glad you have a recovery story. That sounds rough, but you beat it like a boss! (My dad was a mail carrier briefly in the 1940’s. Quit after being cussed out in German by a woman whose dachshund was chewing his ankle as he hopped around trying to get it to let go!)

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I haven’t done very well of posting on here like I keep wishing to. But I still drink many cups daily and look for interesting teas often. I got this tea to remember my best friend, who passed away two years ago. Somewhere along the line he got interested in teas and branched out in ways I hadn’t. His first love was matcha, which I never made properly or appreciated.
His girlfriend told me near the time of his passing (of diabetes complications), he was enjoying some oolong teas. I would guess he got them from teavana, as he liked physical stores and got a lot from them. In fact, my last text message from him was about teavana closing.
So I ordered this tea. According to the package, it has notes of peach pit and apricot. My first try making it only found bitterness, following the directions of boiling water for five minutes. Since then I’ve attempted a few other temperatures and found that 180 at 4-5 minutes suited me best. That’s when I detected the peach flavor, which is also very evident in the scent of the steeped tea and the dry leaves. They give off an almost perfumed scent.

This cup is one of more unique teas I’ve tried, and seems best supper very slowly. I detect the apricot notes once it starts cooling off. I would gladly drink this tea in the late afternoon or evening to relax with. I wish my friend were still around to see what he would think of it or know which varieties of oolong he enjoyed.

ashmanra

If your friend liked Teavana, he was almost sure to have bought their Monkey Picked Oolong. Perhaps you can choose one or two teas from Harney and Sons and Yunnan Sourcing US. Oolong can be very fresh and green or roasty toasty, even ti guan yin could go either way. I love The Odor’s JE Milky for a green one. Sorry for the loss of your friend. We here on steepster lost KS last year. I raise a cup in his memory now and then.

quietcreation

Maybe so! I’ll have to look into those. Oolong teas are definitely more varied than what I’d had in Chinese restaurants. Haha.

Sorry to hear to the loss of your friend also.

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drank Original Blend by Red Rose
10 tasting notes

I keep meaning to post more on here, but it hasn’t really taken shape. I periodically enjoy reading peoples reviews but rarely contribute. I still drink a lot of tea. But it’s been a busy year. Right off the bat, I had a daughter born. Then I started a new job as a mail carrier in March and usually work over 65 hours a week. My tea before and after work(often late) are my most relaxing parts of the day. I have some interesting teas on the way in the coming days, but in the meantime decided to write this one. I have often had a box of this on hand. I’m always looking for what can be considered the perfect ‘everyday’ cup of tea. Usually in a teabag, not hard to make, and completely satisfying.

Well, this tea isn’t it. (I’d really say right now that honor would likely go to Punjana). But it is a good basic black tea that’s nice to have on hand. I’m having the American version of this, but keep wanting to try the Canadian as I’ve read it’s much better. As it is, it’s a good cup for what it is. Inexpensive, dependable, but doesn’t really hold up to milk in it. I’d either have it straight or with a little honey. Good for sipping on a rainy day or when you’re not feeling great. The Wade Whimsy’s, the porcelain figurines that come in them, are really better than the actual tea. I think they’re moving those to online only though. What a shame. I really need to try that Canadian Red Rose soon…

gmathis

Sounds like you have your hands full, and are in need of good, simple no-fuss tea! I’d like to get my hands on the Canadian version, also.

quietcreation

Quite true! But I luckily have some interesting ones to write of coming this week!

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I’ve been drinking Thompson’s Punjana blend pretty regularly for a while, but have introduced this in a little more recently. I’d say this is basically their “Gold” blend, if comparing to other everyday tea makers. It certainly lives up to that. It’s bright, but also a little more earthy than Punjana. Very smooth. I added just a splash of milk, and have had it with or without some sugar. I’ve been liking it more without recently.

A week or so ago I brewed up a few cups for my nieces, who drink it without milk and use sugar or honey. They enjoyed it a lot too.

I find I appreciate it the most in the late afternoon after work, but it’s great in the morning also. I just seem better able to appreciate its flavors more. I can’t find where, but I had read online that this is a blend of Assam, Kenyan, and Rwandan teas.

A great tea for bringing over for family members while enjoying the holidays, and tasty however taken. The other day I had it with some mince pies I heated up. Shortbreads work great too….

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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drank Chun Mee by Harney & Sons
10 tasting notes

I keep meaning to write more reviews than I do. I have a lot I’d like to write about. But it seems difficult to find time to get on my computer. I tried making a review on my phone once and just couldn’t make it work.

This brings me to a tea I’ve mean to review for a while. Chun mee, sold by Harney and Sons. I find this to have a very ‘classic’ green tea flavor, at least to what I thought green tea tasted like when I first started drinking it many years ago. I still really like that flavor, even though I now know that green tea can really vary by where it’s grown. It brews a very beautiful dark yellow and has a very pleasant ‘leaf’ and slightly smokey smell. The taste would reflect this as well.

Even though it’s not an expensive tea, it’s one I would still recommend drinking slowly, preferably with a friend. It also goes very well with Chinese food(many green teas I think are best alone, but this one doesn’t seem overwhelmed by other flavors as easily).

I started drinking green tea around 15 years ago with a random package of Salada green tea. I would think of this as a logical next step for people that started with that, though I think this is much better. Good to drink every day, but maybe not special occasions.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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I started out drinking only green tea, branching out to many loose teas of all kinds. Oddly I got into black tea years later, and in the last few years have really begun to enjoy British black tea blends. They can be very comforting, tasty, and unpretentious. My every day brew has been Yorkshire or Yorkshire Gold for several years. But I enjoy comparing it to other offerings of all companies, always coming back to them.

I never really expect any of those I try to surpass it, but for my tastes, Punjana does. It’s a blend of Assam and Kenyan leaves, much like many others of its kind. Somehow it tastes fresher though. Punjana is blended by the Thompson Family in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Many reviews of teas say they’re strong, but not bitter. I’m always skeptical when I read that, but to me it applies for this blend. In short, I have a new everyday tea to enjoy(and always lots of other teas to always try too.) I recently tried their Signature Blend and will do a separate review for it some time, but my taste buds like this one a little better.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
gmathis

We see this once in a while at our local Big Lots, which is always potluck…what you get is not necessarily what you’ll get next week But it’s on my short list to grab next time I see it.

quietcreation

I’ve seen the Irish Breakfast in the green bag at mine. But when I went to get one finally, it was gone. Mine suddenly cut back on that selection. My best cost option was ordering straight from them. I recently messaged them on Facebook asking a question and they sent me a free mug all the way from there. Very cool. I’d definitely recommend it and hope it’s to your taste!

quietcreation

I just realized we’re both in Missouri. I’m close to KC though.

gmathis

Southwest corner here.

eastkyteaguy

I have a huge soft spot for both Yorkshire and Yorkshire Gold from Taylors of Harrogate. I would probably like this if it displays any similarity to either of those blends.

quietcreation

I still very much like those and think anyone that appreciates them would like this too.

gmathis

Second that. Very similar to Yorkshire; maybe a little less sharp around the edges.

quietcreation

I’d say that’s accurate. Good to hear you got some.

gmathis

Oh, good grief..dementia is sneaking up on me. I read “Thompsons” and interpreted it as “Barry’s.” (So easy to mix up the similar spelling, eh?) No, I haven’t rousted out any Thompson’s yet. Just call me Miss Daisy and grab my driver’s license before I do some real damage :)

quietcreation

Haha nice. I do also like Barry’s.

quietcreation

I honestly dont know if I like this or Yorkshire Gold more. They’re different but I may like them equally. Which is still saying a lot.

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I started this review on Super Bowl Sunday on my phone, but am glad it was really difficult to type on there. It’s also why I’ve found it difficult to write more reviews on here. I gave up and drank it another time. Which turned out better since I didn’t stick it in a thermos and take it with me.

I started my drinking of teas with greens. Salada to be exact. Then I quickly tried a loose Alvita green tea they don’t make anymore. Later on I started ordering from Adagio. Anyway, Matsuda’s sencha is an occasional green for me. I usually have it on hand but have it only on occasion. I drink black teas more often now, so greens are made on weekend more than anything.

This particular one is grown by a family in Japan and sold by Harney and Sons. The leaves are a bright green, which leads to pale green when brewed. It is easy to overbrew, and notes of spinach develop when done so. This drinking I made one infusion at 165 degrees for three minutes. When I’ve had a good amount of time, I often will brew this three times, starting with one minute and working to three.

When brewed well, there is a pleasing and not bitter vegetable taste to it.The website says nori, and that may be true. It’s one of my favorites, but also one I like to have on occasions I can slowly drink it. If any part of the process or drinking is in haste, I find it quite wasted.

Preparation
165 °F / 73 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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drank Green Tea by Salada
10 tasting notes

A few years back, I did a review on here. But I haven’t posted since and have read a lot of reviews, which has inspired me to start. I really liked a guy named scottteaman, but he hasn’t posted in around four years.

Anyway, this is the tea that got me started on tea a little over fifteen years ago. I bought a box on a whim and it quickly became a nightly ritual.Oddly, I would often watch an episode of Cheers while drinking it and relax a little. It was good to laugh and have this to sip on. I highly doubt many people associate Cheers with tea, but I do. My mom soon started drinking tea as well.

Very quickly I would move on to loose green teas from China and then Japan. It was soon forgotten. But a while back I bought a box on a whim again to see how it compared. It’s noticeably stronger than most green teas. It’s clearly not fancy, but it is good. I try and always keep some on hand when it calls to me. I think it goes is perfect with Chinese food. A few months ago I even brewed a cup and watched an episode of Cheers like I used and it felt the same. It’s enjoyable and I have memories of it. Really, you can’t beat that.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec
gmathis

Drinking tea is 50% present-moment sensory impressions; 50% nostalgia. (Got my mom-in-law a small box of Salada as a stocking stuffer a few seasons back; she loved it so much, you’d think it was that pricey 20-year-old stuff!)

quietcreation

That’s very true! Having great memories with tea is a large part of it for me. Whether with friends or family, or alone after work with a cup and a shortbread, I associate it with relaxing and being happy.

ScottTeaMan

I will be posting again after almost 4.5 years, maybe in about a week or so. Great review QC. :)

quietcreation

That’s really cool! Welcome back. I need to start posting more. I have a lot of teas(and nicer than this one even! haha) I just need to post more.

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This has become my favorite day to day tea. It smells almost florals, and brews up very clean and strong. I also like it with or without additives, without a bad cup however I make it. I’ve been letting friends try it and each get nearly as hooked, including my coffee loving brother!

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 15 OZ / 443 ML

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