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drank Strawberry Marshmallow Treat Genmaicha by 52teas
6444 tasting notes

Iced this and it tastes like perfume and grass. Nope. Just nope.
5 comments
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Super Starling!
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Is it bad that I rather love negative reviews? Sometimes I feel like most on this site are so positive that I’m not getting a well-rounded feeling for what might make a tea bad.

VariaTEA
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tbh, I usually feel bad writing negative reviews, especially when I know the tea-maker is on the site. With that said, I have written positive reviews of this one before so when I had it iced and it was no where near as good as the hot brew, I didn’t feel too bad about being a bit negative about it.

Roswell Strange
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@Starling I have no issues writing bad reviews, even with the tea makers on site. Personally, I think there’s a huge difference between tactfully writing a bad review/offering criticism and writing something scathing/“this tea is garbage!”. Ultimately, Steepster functions as a platform for consumers, so it’s important seeing the good AND the bad. Personally, if I was a tea maker I’d appreciate some criticism; it’s your consumer directly telling you how you can improve.

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Super Starling!
Delete

Is it bad that I rather love negative reviews? Sometimes I feel like most on this site are so positive that I’m not getting a well-rounded feeling for what might make a tea bad.

VariaTEA
Delete

tbh, I usually feel bad writing negative reviews, especially when I know the tea-maker is on the site. With that said, I have written positive reviews of this one before so when I had it iced and it was no where near as good as the hot brew, I didn’t feel too bad about being a bit negative about it.

Roswell Strange
Delete

@Starling I have no issues writing bad reviews, even with the tea makers on site. Personally, I think there’s a huge difference between tactfully writing a bad review/offering criticism and writing something scathing/“this tea is garbage!”. Ultimately, Steepster functions as a platform for consumers, so it’s important seeing the good AND the bad. Personally, if I was a tea maker I’d appreciate some criticism; it’s your consumer directly telling you how you can improve.

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My cupboard has grown exponentially since joining this site and I have a lot to share. Feel free to snoop through my cupboard and message me if anything interests you – I am always happy to swap!

For me, flavored teas are definitely my sweet spot. I will most often reach for black teas and rooibos or honeybush blends but I do keep some flavored whites and greens around for when the mood strikes. I have a few herbals/tisanes but most of the time I find myself disappointed by them as they often smell deliciously sweet and then end up tasting tart/sour. I have a little bit of an aversion to pu’erh and oolong teas. I am also wary of florals, earl greys, and chai teas. I do not like overpowering citrus flavors nor do I usually like hibiscus, licorice or chamomile. I love dessert teas – caramel, vanilla, toffee, cookie, cream, and other sweet flavors make me smile. Fruits like strawberry, peach, mango, and pineapples will often catch my attention as well.

I have also realized that although I really enjoy adding frothed milk to some of my teas, if I do not like the tea with zero additives (just in plain water without milk or sugar), I probably won’t drink it. The one exception is flavored matchas which I will happily drink in cold milk if I do not like it mixed with hot water. My theory is if the tea can’t stand on its own then it is not for me and I will more than likely try to swap it out for something else.

Tea Ratings Guide (as of December 10, 2017)
90-100 Teas I NEED on hand at all times
80-89 Teas I want to keep around for a cup every now and then
70-79 Teas I am glad I have around and can experiment with but probably don’t need more than what’s in my cupboard
60-69 Teas I would not turn down a cup of from a friend but that would probably be enough
50-59 Teas I can see why someone would enjoy but are not for me
Under 50 Teas I really did not like and most likely got dumped

Location

Waterdown, Ontario

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