New Tasting Notes

From yesterday – whoops.

The first cup from my second order from SpecialTeas. This smells AMAZING, just like freeze-dried strawberries. The cream flavor comes out when steeped, but it’s not too rich or overwhelming. I like the base of this better than whatever is used for Adagio’s flavored blacks, too. A keeper.

I tried this ready-to-drink (RTD) tea yesterday. I paid $1.99 for it at one of the local markets. I was prepared not to like it, but was surprised. It was fresh tasting and pleasant. I had a subtle experience that the beverage was salty, but that’s unlikely because it has no added sodium. Probably my body chemistry. I’m conflicted in my opinions on bottled and canned teas, but I think this unsweetened option would be a much healthier alternative to soda when you crave something other than water.

2nd steep YAY

finishing off my sample bag, definitely going to steep this a few times

This was the first loose leaf tea I ever loved, and it’s still a favorite today. Had this morning without sugar.

Better than I remember, nice solid coco base flavor, like a smooth dark chocolate with a smooth minty highlight. Not unlike Girl Scout Thin Mints :)

Two cups of silk tie guan yin after dinner (pasta with walnut garlic sauce) while watching Wong Kar Wai’s magisterial Ashes of Time Redux.

Four or five steepings of this was all that saved me from going over the deep edge yesterday while attempting — and failing — to get any work done while working at home.

I’m on my last of this…I was dreading the day…sigh…I really LOVE this tea. I am going to see how many steeps I can get out of it. There is a tad more loose leaf steeping and for longer. I however, didn’t get the water hot enough this time around…still a great cup tho!

A delicate tea with a slightly malty taste. The second steeping has more body and I like it better.

Logging this one for last night really. This time I used water at 68 Degrees C and it was just about perfect! Beautiful sweetness with just a hint of bitterness. Seems to be a lot fussier about temperature than the Kiri-no-Mori

2nd steep. Much less of an astringent taste, but I think I enjoy the robust flavor of the first steep more. This was a little bit too soft in flavor for my liking.

Two steeps with a little dash of sugar. Smells delicious, but the flavour is still very mild. I let it steep too long, so this cup was a little bitter and not as pleasant as the first. Well, I was alternating between making tea and playing viola.

I really need to brew this properly someday.

Resteep of the lemon verbena leaves, this time for 4 min with a pinch of mint added. Good color and flavor. Delicious — and my tummy is grateful. Looks like there’s even life in these leaves for a 3rd steep!

Traditionally, without sugar, mostly because it’s so late.

This tea was a gift from my inlaws. Very fun gift, it’s a tea I probably wouldn’t have tried otherwise, but really enjoy!

I prefer to steep it for 7 min.

steeped super long and much more loose leaf than it called for…very strong…still good!

it’s… the average, everyday black tea with peach “flavoring”. sigh.