New Tasting Notes

Standard peppermint. Herbaceous with some mustiness.

DF Advent — Day 24

Complex but not so much that it takes away from the comfort and ease of drinking a pineapple upside-down cake soaked in maraschino cherry juice with a splash of orange. Big undertone of tobacco and brisk yet smooth body marry the flavors perfectly to create a festive and indulgent cup.

DF Advent — Day 23

Still not a fan of Happy Dreams due to strong lemongrass but it was much better tasting than 4 years ago. Rich flavor yet soft and sweet with an exotic spice note lended by the star anise that really made this tea pop while overall remaining comforting like lemon fluff. Recommended :)

DF Advent — Day 22

This reads like a classic afternoon tea to me. Clear taste that’s coppery, woody, floral, fruity. Smooth body with light touch of astringency. A nice mix of Darjeeling and Nilgiri leaves. Appreciated the 2 bags of Tea for Two.

DF Advent — Day 21

Clear and fresh, crisp pear was the dominant taste and did it deliver! mixed with the light flavor of chestnut cream. Hay-like and slightly earthy-floral white tea base carried the flavorings beautifully. I generally shy away from nutty teas but this was divine!

DF Advent — Day 20

The theme of this tea is sakura and strawberry, yet the strongest taste was of an umami that tasted like over-fertilized sencha. Sakura and strawberry tasted fake. I poured this one out!

DF Advent — Day 19

The green tea is fresher than the 100g bag I bought several years ago. A tea that would pair well with a damp spring day while sitting in the warm sun. White wine-like in character.

DF Advent — Day 18

A favorite from Dammann Frères! Their passionfruit flavoring is a gift from the sun. Can get astringent and muddled if steeped too long. The way the flavors interplay evokes vibrant music like Brazilian samba. How this flavor profile relates to Peking/Beijing is beyond me.

DF Advent — Day 17

From the advent 4 years ago, I noted this tasted like dirt. Much improved this year but still not my jam. Too much going on.

DF Advent — Day 16

Beautiful aroma. Orange blossom water and sweet rose water with a bit of ginger spice. I don’t remember the contribution of the base tea. Guess that means it played well with the flavoring. I would love this in the summer!

Sipdown no. 1 of 2025 (no. 693 total).

This sipdown actually occurred quite a while ago, but I didn’t record it. I was cleaning out my home office and found the label indicating I meant to record the sipdown but didn’t.

As a result, I have no idea what I thought of this. My last sipdown was recorded almost a year ago and I haven’t been drinking much tea because I had to pack a lot of stuff away when we did an addition to our house. This included an entirely new HVAC system, which meant that the ceiling in the kitchen and connected family room got ripped out so new insulation could be put in. I’m ready to start up with my tea adventure again, as soon as I can get it together to do so.

I do remember that my last sipdowns were all cold brews and I assume that I drank this that way and enjoyed it. The David’s fruit blends do make for very nice cold brews.

I… don’t like this. I’m considering composting or gifting because I don’t want to sip it down. It’s very chemically and I’m just… not interested.

DF Advent — Day 15

Catching up, short notes.

Don’t remember much about this, probably because I’m not a fan of lemongrass. Mild tea, which has a place and time. I probably would’ve drank this while sick this past week had I any appetite for tea.

I got a 4oz bag of this when I was in Albany in the spring. Most of their teas were only sold in 4oz bags in-store so I ended up with a ton of this. It’s not my favorite, I’m still stuck with about 3 oz of this so… it’s definitely a sip down for me. I’m working through what I have from TWK before I make an order because I love a few of their teas just.. not this one. The combination of coconut and almond tastes soapy? And not in a good way like rosy teas do if that makes sense?

I’ll shout it from the rooftops- 52Teas banana flavoring is the GOAT of banana teas. It’s just so tasty, and I love it combined with the green oolong.

This holds up. Delicious creamsicle flavor. Love that it’s on a black base.

Already finished off the pouch. It was so lovely- bright, fresh raspberry and lemon. Both flavors are really distinct and work well together. A touch of a dessert/pastry quality that ties both fruit flavors together. Such a great blend.

Advent Day 14

Not a fan. Really buttery, with a very mild generic berry flavor.

This tastes so much better than I expected. I generally don’t like turmeric in teas because it takes over, but here it’s just a nice, supportive flavor that adds extra depth. I also taste some fruitiness that’s appley and pleasant. This has some natural sweetness. I drank it cold, and I liked it so much I’d actually consider getting a box if I came across it at the store!

Advent Day 19

Still catching up on advent notes. I enjoyed the scent of this more than the flavor- marshmallowy mint. Flavor was a bit lackluster.

The first time I brewed this tea I thought it was a bit muddled, this steeping session, I lengthened the steep time and it came out a bit better. I think I prefer each of these on its own (the coconut does go well with vanilla rooibos) than together. There is an apple note up front and a coconut finish, but they just don’t mesh well together. I’ll have no problem finishing this little tin, but not something I need to mix up on my own.

After a long time, I’m finally writing a tasting note for another Tielka tea I received last year. I’ve been enjoying it regularly, but as I’m nearing the bottom of the tin, it’s high time to share my thoughts.

This Yueguang white tea is beautifully fuzzy, a mix of buds and leaves, which I find particularly appealing. The aroma is equally delightful, reminiscent of fresh hay, meadow flowers, and a subtle herbaceous note.

I typically steep 5 grams of leaf in 300 ml of water, using around 80°C. The vendor suggests 70°C, which is difficult for me to achieve precisely, as my kettle only has settings for 60°C and 80°C (among others). I opted for a slightly higher temperature, but the result is still excellent.

The flavor is mellow, delicate, and smooth, echoing the fresh hay aroma. Each sip offers a lovely sweetness, complemented by subtle fruity notes that linger in the aftertaste.

In conclusion, I’m conflicted about sourcing this tea from Australia due to its carbon footprint. However, I greatly appreciate it as a palate cleanser for its simplicity and mellow flavor profile.

Note: I received Tielka teas, included in this (and following) tasting notes, free of charge in exchange for a tasting note. I will do my best to remain unbiased, but of course, I am very grateful for this opportunity.