Featured & New Tasting Notes

Beautiful tea and energy. Feels like a silky sun-dappled forest with the scent of mushrooms pushing up from the ground. Is this what hawthorn fruits taste like? Each cup that comes to my lips mixes with the scent of patchouli on my wrist. It’s a grounding combination. Makes me feel very present.

Thank you Leafhopper <3

Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – March 2023 Tea #8 – March 25 – The end of American Chocolate week

I had to take out the sunflower seeds before finishing this.  The sunflower seeds were a super innovative idea in theory, but probably only if you drink the tea within a year.  So luckily I know Anne has changed the sunflower seed idea for us hoarders.  Otherwise, I would never say no to a chocolate black tea (WITH COCOA SHELLS.)
2023 sipdowns: 37

Sipdown 26

Slowly sipped through my 50gram bag at work over the last couple weeks. Such a delicious black tea.

Sipdown! I’m getting strong creamy coconut notes from this today. I planned to wait until it got cool so I could have it as a fruity iced tea, but it smells too enticing, I’m thirsty, and it’s a Friday afternoon so I’ve run out of patience/the ability to self-regulate vigilantly. I wasn’t a huge fan of this the first few times I drank it – I initially found the flavors a bit flat – but it definitely grew on me once I realized that this benefits from cooling off a good deal!

I’m not a huge fan of GABA oolongs; they mostly seem stripped of flavor to me, and that feels sad. I can’t honestly say I get much zen out of them, either. Ah, well. This is the first one I’ve had that I found some berry flavors in, though, which was nice! Everything I’ve had from GTH has been pretty satisfying, I have to say — though I think I’m done GABA-dabbling. Yabba dabba doobaling.

7 grams, gongfu in 125 ml gaiwan.

A tea, prepared as a mood booster and it didn’t work. I feel miserable after this week. It was quite a crazy week with many emails exchanged back and forth; dealing with incompetent people all around the world; totaly wrong documents (MSDS); and I made such a huge mistake today and I won’t be able to fix it before Wednesday, as I am going to two days training outside my workplace. And in the end of the month our fiscal year ends as well and that means that everything must be checked and made correct.

Anyway, this tea is pretty good. Actually, better than I have hoped! When I read Roswell’s note about elderflower note, I knew it is perfect for the starting spring. It is indeed like that and it has got a nice mouthfeel too. One steep was astringent somehow, but well maybe it was too much leaf and long steep, it was one of the firsts…

The second reviewer said it has got grapefruit notes and I can see them there too. It has got citrusy note, but without that bitter notes of grapefruit in first steeps.

And I am adding notes of florals, sweet notes of citrus fruits. Tangerine, orange for me in later steeps.

Although my tea bag wrappers collection is rather on hold and I drink way more loose-leaf tea instead of tea bags; the collector inside me always wakes up when I am going through tea counters in the shops. No exception, and even stronger urge to buy something; when I am abroad. Yes, I have bought 3 boxes of tea while I was in Romania at the turn of the year.

I bought them just because tea bags. They were quite expensive, in comparison to other teas there; like 3 times more, but they were labeled as “NEW” and I told to myself why shouldn’t I?

When I returned back to train, I was checking the flavours. All are herbals or with rooibos.
This one I have opened first and when you know no Romanian, you have to hope that translator services do they work well.

But why to call tea “A Fragance”? What is it with? Basil + Lime? Like what? The box is so aromatic after citrus fruits.

When brewed, well, it is like that. It is quite earthy indeed, but citrus notes are making it light again. Some tea bags were realy juicy and lovely. Some were more earthy. You can steep this tea anywhere between 3-10 minutes.
Sadly, I do not notice any cloves nor rooibos (which can be considered as a pro in pros and cons list). I still have some and I may add some to the TTB if interested.

Ashmanra’s Sipdown Challenge | March 2023 | A shelf staple tea

Call me basic, but I love having candy cane tea in my stash! I think the Wegmans version is a pretty good dupe of the classic Celestial Seasonings original. It’s creamy, fluffy, peppermint-y goodness. Easy to drink and light on the stomach — kind of like an after-dinner mint. I’m sure I’ll restock at some point!

2023 sipdown count: 28/75

Morning birthday cuppa yesterday. I was so happy to open the cupboard and see this still unopened, it felt like a gift. The tiny dry leaves were so beautiful, brown and yellow and places in between… and dense! I stopped at 5g in my 5oz pot, where 7g is my go-to for most things. The very first steep poured a crisp chestnut color, noticeably reddish. Later steeps lost the red and were more brown.

This little love needed no warm-up before the magic happened — the first steep was a symphony. And it seemed every flavor was detectable on the nose and in the mouth… remarkable. Reminded me of golden snails with extra tucked-away gems to discover. Toast, roast, umami, saltines, nuts, brown bread, seaweed, cocoa, malt, molasses… ripe strawberry and caramel at the bottom of the cup. Incredibly smooth. Some tannins finally popped in the third or so, and they were as delightful as everything else.

Because they were closed yesterday, we are heading over to Callisto Tea House in Pasadena today, for a gong fu session (and probably some plant-based goodies, who am I kidding). I’m pretty excited to share some tea outside my home and see what I learn today.

March Sipdown Prompt – a single origin tea

I discovered this pouch in my “finer teas” box – a box of teas I will only drink when I have time to pay attention to them. I am sure this must be a gift from derk, and I am sorry it didn’t get sampled much sooner, because it deserved better treatment than this.

I think I have enjoyed every tea from What-Cha I have tried, and the teas from Nepal have pretty predictably been winners. No exception here.

First impression was that this tea has that taste I find hard to describe, but that was prominent in Wild Forest Oolong. It is giving me the same vibe on the swallow – a lovely, rising sweetness and then a mineral aftertaste.

Although this is a fairly light tea, it packs a lot of complexity and flavor. The medium gold color of the liquor doesn’t foretell what you will taste.

I could have kicked myself for taking a bite of food before sipping, but this is where the tea surprised me. It was just brisk enough to say, “Look at me!” despite the heavy breakfast fare. I made sure to leave enough to get a thorough taste after the meal.

I agree with derk entirely on the notes for this one. When my cupboard gets lower I would definitely be in the market for some Nepalese oolongs.

Thank you, derk! I am sorry it took so long to get to this one!

2023 An Ode to Tea – V

I will post some notes, since some of you have been thinking the dashboard is stuck!  This is odd, as I don’t actually have this tea in my steepster cupboard, so I’m not sure how I thought to drink it for the letter ‘V’.  hmm.  It also looks like I never wrote a note for it?  I can’t find a double tea in the database for this one…  Not many teas for ‘V’ in the category of low hanging fruit, close to a sipdown.  So this one has a ton of coconut and it’s old, so it will have to do.  It’s an odd blend!  I bet it was really delicious back in the day.  I don’t have that memory anymore… and sadly, neither did Steepster keep that memory for me.  It reminds me most of Maya’s Coconut Rush, if it was less dessert and more authentically coconut.  Plus, add some cocoa shells. Otherwise, it has that puerh/ green yerba mate base that Maya’s Coconut Rush had. But it definitely isn’t the same blend.

eta: nope, my non steepster tea records show that I previously rated this and it was called Samovar Tea Lounge – Velvet Cacao Pu-erh — which means a tea has definitely been deleted from Steepster, along with my tasting note. huh

If you know me, you know I am a sucker for a hojicha. ESPECIALLY when it’s a flavored one. cannot remember when I got this one, so I was ready for it to be bland. To my pleasant surprise, the watermelon still slaps! I’m sure it was much louder when I purchased this tea, but it’s still very agreeable. The hojicha base is bright and nutty too, with a wisp of smoke that gives way to the juicy watermelon. I think it’s a wonderful combo, reminds me of some fruit flavored mugicha I savored from Lupicia in the past. Yet another winner from 52Teas, shocker!

Finally getting around to trying the teas that skysamurai kindly picked up during a visit to Fairhope!

I love seeing the little twiggy stems along with the leaves; it makes me smile. I followed the directions and steeped this cup for a whopping six minutes, yet it’s still pretty mild! I’m mostly getting wet metal in the scent and taste, followed by minerally fallen leaves. It’s quite light overall! Just a teensy bit drying toward the end, but overall very smooth. A pretty easy drinker and very fun to try. Thanks, skysamurai!

That was herbal? It fooled me! (Doesn’t take much.)

I enjoyed a couple of cups this weekend, courtesy of derk, thinking it was a mild black tea. It could pass for one. But my favorite element was the gentle whiff of blueberry—not artificially sweet, not so tart it makes your eyebrows sweat. About the same strength as the non-berry part of your blueberry muffin.

Another from gmathis! Many thanks!

Having read other reviews, I kept my first steep at 3 1/2 minutes. I am having this with lunch, which is a huge bowl of broccoli with hollandaise sauce – one of my guilty pleasures. Plain broccoli also shared with Sam, the King of Dogs.

The aroma reminds me of Cookie by Lupicia. This is similar to the Toast and Jam brew but obviously not jammy. I added milk and sugar before even tasting it because I wanted a treat and I knew by the smell I would love it that way. It is very much like a British tea cookie, not like American sweet cookies. There is a dark, rich, baked aroma. Yummy!

Although I resteeped the bag, I did not combine steeps this time but drank them separately. The second cup is really good, very similar to the first. I did steep it a lot longer, partly by plan and partly because I told the all-knowing cylinder timing it for me to stop and then I got distracted and didn’t pour it up. It didn’t hurt the tea at all, though I expect it would have on the first steep.

NEXT PART ABOUT DOGS, NOT TEA

My beloved Sam, our eleven year old rescue who we raised from one day old, had a bit of a rough year last year. First a limp early in 2022. Vet found nothing, said it was probably a play injury that should resolve. It did.

Then our usually so healthy Sam got a digestive problem. Things got pretty bad and he had to get fluids, which helped tremendously, and was given antibiotics. All through this time he gained a pound or two, which we assumed to be because the limp and then sickness made him less active.

Other little symptoms made us think it was age catching up with him, but so suddenly? Then another two pound weight gain, up to 64. I was so sad that maybe my sweet Sam wouldn’t be with us much longer. Then – sudden BIG weight gain.

Another trip to vet – no thyroid hormones detected in blood work. Meds started. Less than two days later – Sam had bright eyes and a spring in his step again. He has now lost over nine pounds in five weeks, has more energy, coat is shining, and has only about six pounds to go.

I am sharing this for the dog lovers. Aging is normal, sudden “aging” might have another explanation. His meds are sooooo cheap.

Take good care of all your little fur friends, and persist when things are not right. They deserve the best we can do for them!

Another sample courtesy of derk.

My session was kind of rushed so I didn’t take the best notes. The enormous green leaves had a faint floral aroma which turned cucumber-like and fruity after a rinse. Took quite a few steeps for the flavor to develop. Mellow with gentle florals, a pear like fruitiness, and a candied sweetness once it cools. Being a year old, some of its oomph is understandably lost but it still gives a nice glimpse of its past glory.

Cold brewing brings out a much livelier flavor. Clean, fruity, and refreshing with a green grape crispness and lingering floral aftertaste.

Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – March 2023 Tea #6 – A shelf staple tea

I thought this would be a sipdown for all intents and purposes, but there is a little bit remaining in this pouch to go with my fresher pouch.  It’s one of my favorites when it’s fresh!   I did say in my last note (four years ago), that this sort of tea is probably more complex when fresh.  I was going to use this for the “single origin” prompt, but then switched to this prompt.  Sadly, looking at S&V’s site and asking about it, they have discontinued this.

Courtney very kindly shared some of this tea with me, and I’ve been waiting to try it till the time felt right. Now it’s a Friday morning, I have the day off, and I’ve retreated back to my bed with some homemade muffins and some schoolwork. Enter this tea!

(As a side note, I was actually a little hesitant after smelling the dry leaf, because something about it was a smidge off-putting. I think it’s the barley malt.)

…well, I was so caught up in my reading that I oversteeped my tea by about 10 minutes. I was kicking myself for not doing this sample justice until I tasted it. Because… it still tastes delicious. That odd scent note I caught in the dry leaf is not present in the taste. It’s rich and deep and chocolatey, almost unctuous, but in a good way. I’m definitely tasting the ginger and black pepper, probably more than I would have with a normal-length steep, but they add a pleasant spiciness to the dark chocolate flavor. The base is remarkably muted for such a long steep.

I won’t rate this one yet because I didn’t do it justice and I still have at least one more serving’s worth of leaf. I’ll be savoring that cup and paying better attention!

2023 An Ode to Tea – S

Frank’s blend!  Never loved this one (it was prob old during the clearance sale) but this last bit was overleafed and had a chunk of strawberry so the flavor was good enough for the sendoff.
2023 sipdowns: 33

Sad to see this go, it’s such a cozy tea! The nuttiness and cinnamon work very well together

Sipdown! (28 | 108)

From their herbal trio.

This is just a mix of peppermint and lemongrass, both things I love. It’s nice enough, the peppermint has a cooling and refreshing taste but there is a little bit of that musty “wet rag” note in the finish. Also, I feel like the peppermint overpowers the lemongrass here. I can taste a bit of its characteristic lemon drop flavor at the very beginning of the sip, but from then on it’s basically all mint.

Still, enjoyable cuppa for the evening! Not one I would reorder, just because I would prefer to buy the herbs separately and mix it myself if I wanted this combination.

Gongfu, 6 grams. 125 ml gaiwan. Preheated.
Previous attempt was western with 4 grams, but too hot water used — bitter, due to human error.
Preheated gaiwan aroma was fruity. But I haven’t been expecting white grapes. This one was present in first two steeps too. Along with tropical fruits, papaya, lychee maybe, quite sweet and delicious. Smooth mouthfeel with long aftertate, where it takes more of “tea” notes as a little tannin there.

Third steep, was again to human error, a little bit more bitter. It seems that I devoted all the focus in the work today (preparing a shipment of highly flammable liquid) and can’t focus on the tea. The tropics are gone as well, but it is still pretty flavourful; somewhere between green and white teas in terms of flavours, meadow, herbaceous.

Following steeps were similar, until it was just gone. Worth 6-7 steeps. Be careful of water temperature, 75°C is absolute limit.

I was craving some fruit tea but I found out that my box of fruit teas is almost empty. The teas which are in, aren’t what I have been looking for. I would like some citrusy, light tea, not filled with hibiscus. So, I went to my herbal box and found there this tea bag. It sounded quite refreshing, contains a spearmint, peppermint but also lemongrass, so it will be refreshing right?

Ehh. No. Actually I don’t even know how to describe the flavour after recommended 5 minutes steep. It’s quite heavy floral and yes, I would guess the chamomile. But then, some stingy note appears on my tongue which is probably mint. Lemongrass? Where? Cardboard aftertaste.

And so many other ingredients there. Sarsaparilla, I just remember it is favourite by some, but again I forgot, how it should be like?!

Ehm, I am glad to finishing the mug. I believe I have received it last summer from Amy, from postcrossing; so thank you! but it’s not my jam. Afterall, as most of chamomile and its blends.

I’m opting for a caffeine-free tea this afternoon rather than my usual green (or black, if I’m feeling wild) because I’m already over-caffeinated! It’s my birthday, so I took advantage of the free birthday beverage offered by That One Big Coffee Chain. I’d already had a black tea in the morning and I’m buzzing!

Anyway, I think maybe I don’t like honeybush all that much. :( This tea smells really lovely, like maple and clove, but the taste is a bit thin and overly mineral to me. I get a smidge of maple toward the back of the sip, but otherwise it’s mostly wet rocks and cloves. Alas.