3 Tasting Notes

90
drank Samovar by Kusmi Tea
3 tasting notes

While I’ve never had tea prepared from a samovar, this is one of my favorite morning or it’s-late-&-I-don’t-have-to-get-up-early teas. Strong enough to stand on its own but also plays well with sweetener &/or milk. The smoke flavor is strong and forward but not overpowering – I think of a cozy fire on a cold day with snow falling outside every time I steep it (even in summer). The smokiness, to me, is more of a friendly fruit or nut wood type – definitely not a mesquite or BBQ note. The tea flavor is more subtle with notes of roasted grain and hints of spice. Steeps well twice if you’re adding sweetener or milk and a third time for enjoying on its own, though it will have significantly reduced smoke and lighter tea flavors.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 14 OZ / 414 ML

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85

This is a very light, mellow black tea with no noticeable astringency. Flavors of toasted grain and a hint of earthiness make it a nice “warm” cup. Steeps well twice, a third steeping unfortunately results in very little flavor. I don’t recommend sweetener as it could easily overpower the tea rather than enhance, and there isn’t anything to mask with sweetness. Every now and again I will add a splash (about 1 Tbs) of milk not cream just for a different flavor.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 14 OZ / 414 ML

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83

I find this a lovely anytime tea. The jasmine is very forward initially, and the tea flavor starts very light but soon mellows into a smooth sipping tea with soft tannin astringency. To me, the second steeping is the best as there is a nice balance in jasmine and tea flavors. Re-steeps well about 3 times before the jasmine fades significantly and a few slight bitter notes start to creep in, but note I use a longer than suggested steep time because I like the heft in tea flavors I get.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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Professional dilettante? I admit to slight snobbery for nearly all of my beverage choices.

I’m a lazy foodie. I love to read. I used to work with nuts in the land of fruits and nuts, but I got crazy and went to grad school (again) – in a different state. Now I work towards making your tasty starchy foods better for you than they were. I hate dusting. I tend to smile a lot. I cheer for the Purdue Boilermakers, Indianapolis Colts, NASCAR’s Ryan Newman, and whoever is playing against the Yankee’s or any team from L.A. There’s a lot of music I’ll listen to, but most of the time I’m not paying attention. I am a cat person, but I like dogs too. I am not a morning person. I have beaten the “World’s Largest Drum”. My sense of humor is a little whacked, but it works for me.

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