New Tasting Notes

on first try this doesn’t taste go to me at all…
it seems to have a weird aftertaste that is almost medicinal…
I’ll put down a number after I try it again.

Got this at the local ‘Lotte Plaza’ asiain/international supermarket for pretty cheap. 10oz for about $6.

Steeps into a nice amber color. Has nice large leaves. 1.5 tsps expand to take up almost all the volume of a mug. Pleasant aroma with a hint of sweetness but not floral. Taste is the same.

This is the last of my sample. I really enjoyed this one. Will likely order again next time I’m buying from Adagio.

I am not usually a fan of anything peach, but this tea doesn’t reek of the heavy peach flavor one sometimes gets. The aroma of the dry leaves reminded me of Harney and Sons Cherry Blossom, in fact. Though it is a white tea, it brewed up slightly darker than many of the greens I drink – a lovely color in the cup. I drank this with a student who loves greens and is only just now trying whites, and we both liked it very much. I still love black the most, but having greens and whites on Wednesdays is really expanding my palate! I would definitely recommend this tea to green and white tea lovers.

Le sigh…

I realized that I haven’t had this tea in about 2 months due to my overflowing tea cupboard (and bookcases). I actually picked up some decorative picture album boxes this weekend to use for sample storage. I also broke down Doulton’s Shakespeare box and took it to the recycling bin at work yesterday. I actually don’t want to think about that right now cuz it’s makin’ me a bit sad.

I really wondered what I’d think of this tea due to the fact that it’s been so long since last I had it. I became quite excited to have more of this as I pulled out my sample tin. After all, last time I had this I was winging the temp and this time it’d be accurate. Oh yes, it’s still yummy — if not yummier. It still seems to have captured the essence of a cozy campfire. Still a TG for me. Off I go for steep #2!

This was a “Shirley Temple Special” from Doulton that I was specifically saving for hot weather. Further research necessary—I didn’t care for my first sip hot; tasted awfully hibiscus-y; but on ice, the tartness took a backseat to the darjeeling. Wondering how it’ll behave with a little sweetener.

Aroma: earthy, green
Flavor: mollasses, autumnal,
Texture: silky, clean
Finish: slightly sweet

I have been playing around with this one and have found that it really is tempermental. I have gotten cups with tones of spice and no tea flavor, and other times I only get the tea. But then again I guess that is what is great about tea, you really never know what you are going to get in a blend.

It seems I’m the first to review this one… how nerve-wracking.

Another from my Kusmi sampler. I love these little tins!

It’s a gunpowder tea! Since I’m easily amused, these are my favorite. Even in my small sampler the leaves smell quite strong, though I can’t place the scent—a little musky, a little cirtusy. Though not unpleasant.

The cirtus really comes out in the tea itself, and while it cools a little it tastes more fruity. The description says it’s better as an “afternoon” tea, which I obviously ignored (9:30 a.m. at the moment), but it would be a rather good choice for the midday break, when I’m mentally prepared to shut down. Though next time, I’ll consider shortening the steep time. The more I drink, the sweeter it tastes, and I don’t love fruity tea that much.

wanted something lemony to go with my rosemary olive oil bagel with smoked salmon cream cheese. Made a double mug (2 bags in 12 oz)

Had this hot today!

Months later, am still congratulating myself on my incredible foresight, giving tea pots and tea cups as gifts to my closest friends. heh-heh. pats back To be honest, the tea itself is alright but not spectacular. A good everyday green. But I had the best session of this tea today with a friend, after lunch at his house. Most probably because I didn’t brew it myself. :)

So when the weather changes here, and it finally gets hot, the air conditioning units go on pumping cool air along with dust, pollen, dirt, etc etc into the air. Needless to say, I have had a cough/sore throat for over a week. They are not a cold – I have no other signs, they are from the AC and then outside into the hot NJ air.

Not complaining, just trying to remedy it with some of this tea. This tea, though licorice flavored, is good, especially for the throat, it definitely does help to coat and soothe. I think that the warm slightly sweet liquid also has some coating and soothing aspects, but I am glad I had this this morning. Now onto my caffeine…

Good morning steepsterites.

This is breakfast. That is all.

(Also, I don’t think I’m using quite the same leaf to water ratio as A C Perch’s do. They recommend steeping for six minutes. I usually do around three. My tongue just shrivelled up and died at the thought of six!)

Smooth, full-bodied flavor: which I like. Other than that, not much stood out.

I am determined to get something out of this tea besides barely-there-wood flavored water. This tea is supposed to be “Extra Fancy”… am I missing something? Will I have another fataliTEA on my hands or will I be able to salvage what is left of my sample bag?

Okay, it is official. I know this is an unflavored oolong, but would it be too much to ask for just a bit of some sort of flavor? Some body? Something? I gave up and mixed about half a packet of white hot cocoa in the tea which makes the cocoa just a tiny bit more interesting due to the tiny wood-like taste of the tea. I will either use the remaining tea in cocoa or may just throw it out. I don’t know, but I’m docking some major points.

I haven’t been terribly impressed with Teavana teas,
the ones I’ve tried have been just okay or too over the top. I very much like this tea! Yummy! It’s very smooth, sweet and has a pleasant flavor. I’m glad I gave Teavana another chance. Delicious!