6444 Tasting Notes
I’m getting nut and astringency. No banana. No pancakes. In fairness though, I’m guessing that has more to do with where this cup was mad as opposed to the tea itself. Nothing seems to have gone right so far so in glad I have more of this sample that I can take home and try there. Hopefully there’s a difference.
HAPPY NEW YEAR STEEPSTERITES
Sipdown (159)
Thank you Cavocorax for sharing but the last of this sample has fallen victim to the Florida tea weirdness. I tried using Brita water instead of tapwater but this tea still has a dirty taste to it. So weird and quite disappointing as this was a delicious tea.
Sipdown (160)
I am questioning whether it’s me, the tea, or the water down here in Florida that is making almost all the teas I have had taste off/different than I remember. Take this one, for example. I loved this and was incredibly grateful to Roswell Strange when she sent me another little bit except when I brewed it up, it tasted like dirt. A similar thing happened a couple days back with the Damn Fine Holiday Blend. So now I’m wondering what is causing all these bad cups?
Perhaps it’s me? Tastes change and I haven’t really been drinking much tea so maybe my tastes are different now. Though, I had the holiday blend since my hiatus and enjoyed it and then I had it here and didn’t.
Perhaps it’s the equipment? No fancy kettle or frother here. Maybe the water temperature is off given I don’t have a kettle that can brew to perfect tea temps. However, the cold brews are off too and that doesn’t incorporate any equipment:
Perhaps it’s the tea? I decided to bring all my small sample in plastic bags. Some old, some new. They have been stored in a cool, dry, and dark place but still they were all left in the sample bags they arrived in from companies/other steepsterites. However, some samples have been stored for less than a couple of weeks and even they aren’t as strong or flavorful as I would imagine they should be.
Perhaps it’s the water? So now I’m left wondering if it’s something to do with the water here in Florida versus the water in Toronto that is throwing everything off. It tastes different but would it really alter the tea that much?
Perhaps it’s a combination? Whatever it is, it’s not making it easier to fall back in love with tea when half the cups are being dumped because they taste weird. On the other hand, it’s doing wonders for decreasing my cupboard size.
So many factors, but I wouldn’t put it past the water source for making a large enough difference itself.
I’ve read that water makes a huge difference. I use Vancouver water and a Brita, but my parents have a super fancy filter. Tea at their place tastes different.
It’s weird that the water could alter the taste soooo drastically. Teas have gone from ones I love to ones I couldn’t even drink. Maybe that’s why there isn’t really many tea stores in Florida…the water just doesn’t suit it :P
My parents have very hard, chlorinated water, and I swear every tea I brought tasted like pennies until I bought myself a brita squeeze bottle. Even then, it’s still different without my teaware and temperature control…
florida water = sulpher water imo. I hate even brushing my teeth when i’m down there visiting. so yes…i’d say it’s the water
I cold brewed this and the end result is a CARAMEL apple tea, with an emphasis in caramel. At first, you wouldn’t even know this is anything but a caramel tea as the flavor while drinking is 100% chewy caramels. The apple comes in as a bright and tart finish right at the end that remains on your tongue long after you finish drinking.
Sipdown (161)
This has a thick mouthfeel that I am finding rather bothersome. It’s somewhere between a liquid and a gel and I’m not sure how that’s happening but it is making this seem like a salted caramel jello. That’s not a good combination so I guess I am glad this is done.
I treated myself to a belated channukah gift and took advantage of DAVIDs Boxing Day sale to get some new teaware. I bought a mug, a carry mug, an iced tea tumblr, a santa’s secret collectible tin, and a santa’s secret chocolate bar.
Now I am sipping on this tea while I catch up on the latest season of Supernatural. This has lost flavor since I got it with Sil and Cavocorax over a year ago. It’s gone from an orange creamsicle cold brew to a mere honeybush tea with sweet orange undertones. It’s not horrible but definitely not what it once was.
I had this once before and really enjoyed it so I know I must have done something different this time as it’s just not the same. This tastes more like a store-bought brand than the malty deliciousness I remember it being. I have one more teaspoon of this left. Hopefully I can get it right.
Sipdown (165)
This tea may have one of the most accurate depiction of pear flavor I have ever tried, alas, the chocolate, which is more reminiscent of dusty cocoa powder, is also quite prominent. It’s not bad but it is a weird combination of natural pear and fake chocolate. With that said, it is a very smooth tea. I just wish the pear was stronger. Nonetheless, I am forever grateful to MissB for her generosity of sharing this tea and to Sil for being the middle(wo)man and passing it along.
Sipdown (166)
Merry Christmas all!! What better day than today to finish up this Christmas tea sample (courtesy of the wonderful MissB, I believe). Alas, the tea is mostly tasting like perfume and cloves. Not really for me but that could be due to storage of this sample rather than the tea itself. Still, it was nice to try and definitely festive.
Sipdown (167)
So I am genuinely confused but I cold brewed this for quite some time and the end result is black cherry. What? Where is that element even coming from? So very strange but still quite tasty. This tea is truly unique and I am grateful to MissB for the opportunity to try it.
