New Tasting Notes

You know, I really wanted to like Casablanca Twist, I really did. It’s like that kid in high school that you pity and want to be friends with, but you just can’t. He would never mesh with your other friends, and then it leads to awkwardness. That’s what this is, an awkward tea. I’m not exactly sure WHAT CbT is supposed to be (I’m clever with acronyms, right?), but unless Adagio wanted to make an over-the-top mint tea, they’ve done their job, ten times over.

Like I said, I really wanted to like this tea, but I just cannot find myself getting into it. I expected to taste green tea, but all I got was HEY HERE’S SOME MINT, TRY IT. And it wasn’t even like “oh it’s minty, but it’s pretty good,” more like this came from my grandpa’s candy dish from the Post-WWII era. In essence, this tastes like a STRONG mint leaf with a mix of random other small flavors, like it’s been sitting in the dish w/ other minty stuff (remember those little white chalky mints?) and red hot fireballs. Bad combo.

Just doesn’t CUT IT for me.

http://teacast.net

In bed with a big cuppa this. See previous tasting note for full review.

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Not too spicy — kept the steep time shorter than I normally would per everyone else’s experience (thanks, everyone!). The result was rather smooth with a smell and taste that lives up to the name.

Infusion 1, 5 min, for my mom and the 2nd, 6 min, for me. The 2nd infusion seems much lighter than I remember and the peachiness is all but completely gone.

I don’t mind cleaning the slots in the glass infuser with a toothbrush IF I have enjoyed the rooibus-infused liquor which passed through them. After these cups, I minded. If you must know more about my encounter with this cursed abomination, read my earlier tasting note. A blend is not necessarily better than, or even equal to, its ingredients, this being a case in point.
P.S. It’s the green rooibus. It just tastes nasty to me. Tastes so different than regular, red, fermented rooibus! After that 2nd bad experience, I put the ToLife tea in a screen colander and sifted out the rooibus. What was left was better stuff, in my book.

It’s not as good as I remember it being. It’s sort of bland and weak tasting. Maybe the sample just is a little old? IDK.

Never steep for recommended 8 min.

Too spearmint-y for my tastes.

I was looking for something full of flavor and without caffeine when I pulled this out of my cupboard today. This is definitely on the mark for “full of flavor”, though the flavor is more lemon-raspberry than just raspberry. Am wishing I drank this while it was hotter than it is now, even though I was really enjoying the fragrance while letting it cool. It reminds me of making fresh raspberry pie in the summer.

So I figured out a really good use for this! It isn’t the traditional way you use tea, but… I brewed a cup, left the bag in a bit too long to make sure the flavour was a bit stronger. Then… I used the tea as the liquid base to make oatmeal!
I used just plain oats, and it was a nice taste. I always make my own oat flavours by adding spices and fruits. This was quite wonderful and I am going to try making other teas into oatmeal bases to see how it goes.

Pretty earthy in my opinion; didn’t taste much of the nutty/sweet flavor the description has. I’ve heard great things about Hojicha and I was eager to try it, but this hasn’t convinced me yet. I’ll have to try another.

I drink this tea at work quite a bit. I need a caffeine free substitute for my usual habit, since I work at night and wouldn’t be able to sleep if I was still drinking caffeine at 9 at night.
I cannot say I drink this for the taste. It is very tart. I usually just use the same tea bag, leaving it in my cup and adding hot water as I go. I know, I know.. bit of a no-no for good tea. But I actually find the second or third time I pour water over the bag nicer to taste. I mostly look for rosehip as it is good for your skin. If you are into this sort of thing, it isn’t terrible. I just wouldn’t call it great either.

Oh this smells good. Seriously seriously good. Thick and sweet and rich and nectar-y and a tiny tiny hint of green and floral but mostly rich, dark yum. The smell reminds me a lot of Samovar’s Downy Sprout. So yeah, I’m excited.

Oh this tastes good. Seriously good. No. Awesome. Sweet and rich with a hint of solid-ness underneath. Sort of… bake-y but not as strong as Thomas Sampson’s bake-y. Where as TS is biscotti and mistake brownies, this is soft, warmed dinner rolls. Slathered in a honey butter – but not really honey (which is good because I’m not a fan) but more of nectar. Nectar butter. Is there such a thing? Because yeah, that would be awesome. There’s also a hint of greenness to this – just a hint – which makes me think of Silver Needles. Except I haven’t had a SN that I liked – it just tasted like boiled soybean water. This however, is like smelling freshly steamed edamame. So similar taste but this one? Done the right way.

Yeah, really good. Love it. Sweet, rich, thick, delicious. Love.

2nd steep: 3 minutes – Sweet and lovely.
3rd steep: 4 minutes – A little light. Must try 5 minutes next time.
3.5g/6oz

Tried 2 teabags (same everything as prior) and it did bring out the tea flavor more and make the spice more of a compliment than the dominant flavor. Next added 1 packet of white sugar. I could only tell it affecting the aftertaste by adding a sweet tang, nothing else changed. This did not change my opinion of the tea. There are many better ways to enjoy tea without caffeine and this seems a waste unless it is free.

First steep was very subtle lemon flavor; scent was definitely there. At first it tasted like lemon flavored water, but perhaps if I try at a lower temp it will yield different results. I’ll try this on second steep. Regardless, nice and smooth.

Great hot or iced. A sweet and pleasant flavor. Love this stuff.

It doesn’t smell or taste like pears at all and was awful hot. I made some iced though and it was pleasant and refreshing, though still not pear-y.

Teaplz’s lovely log from earlier reminded me what a delicious beast this tea is, so I had to have some. Sadly, I only had enough for half a cup so I am now out of this tea. ::sob::

But it was a really good half cup. The second steep (@5s) still remains my favorite, being super rich, buttery and grassy. Love it.

2.3g/3oz

An okay, but not spectacular green. The grassy favor is very delicate but tasty. I just wish it was about 50% stronger. I tried steeping it up to about 7 mins and really didn’t extract too much more flavor, only bitterness. At the recommended 180 degrees for 3-4 mins it is a mild green that is very drinkable, but forgettable.

My last cup of the Lavender Basics Russian Caravan and I’ll forever be kicking myself for not having bought more while I had the chance. * mourns *

This tea has just the right amount of smoke and its tannin level is low enough that it can be drunk with or without milk, but at the same time it makes its presence felt. Farewell good tea, I’ll miss you.

Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: flavia hot spigot in flavia cup
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Notes: This was a gift, and I appreciate having a decaf tea when I work late as I am apparently old and can’t handle my caffeine anymore. Perhaps I need 2 bags for a flavia sized cup? I do enjoy the golden foil stay fresh individual wrapped teabags for their convenience.

Smell: peach and cinnamon, for some reason it brings to mind a peach dessert. I am not detecting the clove but there is a spiciness to the smell in addition to the cinnamon.
Flavor: unremarkable, water with hints of clove and cinnamon. The tea may be hiding in there but it’s too weak for me to taste.
Body: medium, only because I can feel the spice
Aftertaste: warm spice, cinnamon
Liquor: medium opacity brown

This tea is very easy to over steep. I drink this tea on the lighter side.

I’m doing some manly stuff – installing an espresso machine. So I need a manly tea, and the manliest of all is lapsang souchong.
Now I know everyone believes that the Chinese make this stuff, but I reckon it’s actually 6foot4, check-shirted, beer-drinkin’ Canadians along the Yukon (or is that in Alaska?)
Anyway, it’s lumberjack tea all the way, without the Monty Python-style aspersions cast upon these manly lumberjack men, and so as not to be sexist, manly lumberjack women.
So, I get out a dainty little teapot, and pop some in. And pour some hot water. 5 minutes along, and the kitchen smells like a manly campfire. I pour the tea, and it comes halfway up the sides of the very butch oversize cup I’m using. So I resteep it in Panda (that’s my smallest teapot, named after the Fiat Panda, the smallest car I’ve ever been in).
Ah, bliss! As I’ve noted before, the second steep is always less smoky, and the mixed 1st/2nd steep cup hits a lovely midrange note.
It’s refined and elegant.
I’m instantly transported to visions of the tea room at the Ritz in London, with elegant platters laden with sweet, sweet tea cakes and cucumber sandwiches.
A liveried waiter point me in the direction of the eclairs. But sadly, in my vision, there’s a bunch of lumberjacks wolfing them down.
A good cup of tea is a journey, indeed.