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Keep forgetting to mention teas from the TTB. This is one. It doesn’t have the original packaging which could are a big difference in the taste. Plastic bags are not good for storing teas in.
Dry aroma: a bit of mango and woody notes
Liquid aroma: a nice fresh mango note. Quite nice.
Flavor: Soft notes of fresh mango and deep woodsy notes. If this were fresh tea I think it would be even better. It starts nice but as it fades it becomes a bit bitter.
Liquid color: I enjoy the depth of brown. It’s very pretty
Almost opaque but not quite like coffee. Like a deep cherry wood.

Good ginger flavor. But kind of … not a good base. It’s somewhat bland. Kind of perfumy and soapy.
After cleansing my palate and making sure my cup is soap-free, I tried again. Less soapy flavor, but the base just lacks depth. There are woodsy notes that mix well with the ginger notes, but they drop off so quickly. It’s almost like they are shy.

There are some tisanes I reserve for when we are sick, but part of the problem with doing that is that I can never fully taste them. Right now, it’s a bit dreary outside, so it sounds nice.

Dry aroma: Minty, lemony, and kind of old.

Flavor: I gave it five minutes of steeping, but I think it may need more. It’s a decent blend but still too soft on the palate. Though perhaps I’ll let it cool for a bit.
Cooled: Better. But no lemon. Where’s he now? Maybe that’s a good thing. Some lemon can be too much or taste too fake. It’s good but nothing amazing.

First tea from the TTB. I probably could use the caffeine, as I don’t want to fall asleep too early, but I also don’t want to be up till late. So I figured we’d start off with something new to my palate.
Smells like curry. I bet this would make a good curry base.
I’m generally pretty good about reading ingredients due to my allergies, but I completely skipped over the listed salt. Boy, was that awakening in a weird way. I’m sorry but… what in…. the… heck…. This is a cooking tisane… not something I want to drink. Not with that amount of saltiness. This actually would make a really good soup base. Just add some soba and tofu or chicken and bok choy. But on its own… I know it’s good for me, so I’ll finish it, but it’s going to be a struggle. I need some water…

UPDATE: I decided to try some soba noodles from dinner in it. Tasty, but would be better thickened as a curry. I can’t drink the rest. It’s making me too thirsty. I will need to keep drinking a glass of water every sip. This is not enjoyable…

Open the tea bag. This isn’t CTC. It’s dust. The aroma is metallic and slightly woody. Not pleasant. I’m not excited to try this. The color of the liquid is nice at least. Let’s take a taste….. nope…. hard pass. Metallic, resin, slightly woody. Old. But not good old. More like, this tea bag has been sitting here awhile old. Ugh…

Always a new company to explore. I had never heard of this one before. Another one discovered during the Chicago Tea Festival. They are a very nice older couple who do a bit of everything in the tea world.
Dry Appearance: CTC. Twigs and stems, and cut leaves. Mostly dark brown with some reddish brown.
Dry Leaf Aroma: Sweet wood, currant? Or maybe raisin would be better.
Flavor: Smoky with swirling woody notes of mahogany, walnut chest, cedar, and pine forests. Also, a heavy note of overcooked canned spinach. Which, generally, I would be grossed out by, but it plays very well with the rest of the flavors in this.
Liquor: Golden amber.
Liquor aroma: Woody, smoky, Overcooked spinach (canned spinach)

Another tea from the sampler set. Before I talk more about this tea, I have to say this is probably one of my favorite samplers so far. The packaging is great. Don’t have to worry about the tea being squished and it is very nice looking. I also love how transparent they are. The farmer’s name and the place where it was harvested. The only thing it needs is the date.

Dry aroma: Odd… Nothing.
Dry Appearance: Dusty, dark chocolate brown. Tightly twisted. Long, slightly curling leaves.
Inital Aroma: Sweaty, bready, woody. Sweet.
Flavor: Rose. Floral. Honey. Woody.
Mouthfeel: Slight astringency with a nice silkiness
Wet Leaf Aroma: Slightly bready and a bit of resin.
Aftertaste: Woody. Slight petichor.

Part of a sampler set I bought at the Chicago Tea Festival.

Dry Leaf: Some are slightly twisted and open, while others are twisted a bit more tightly. Long leaves. Dark brown with a few silver buds.
Dry aroma: Milk chocolate.
Quick rinse because a friend of mine said all Chinese teas should be rinsed. He’s also Chinese.
Initial aroma: My mouth is watering. Hot chocolate. Chocolate mousse. Plums. Wood.
Flavor: Ooo… DANG! That’s so good! Chocolate notes, some Palo Santo, and other woody notes like oak and cedar. If this were a cedar chest, it would be a really nice one.
Mouth Feel: Incredibly smooth.

While this one can be steeped in a mug, I highly suggest a gaiwan. You’ll get more satisfaction.

Honestly, an iced matcha sounds better with the days suddenly warming, but I want to review this using traditional methods first. That is, sifting, whisking, hot water, etc.

The powder is a muted green. It’s not the worst I’ve seen, but it’s not the best either. For plain drinking matcha, I’d put this on the lowest tier. But the highest tier of culinary
Granted, none of these terms actually mean anything in Japan.

Dry Aroma: The aroma holds umami, fresh cut grass, and grated frozen parmesan cheese.

Whisking: I used a traditional Japanese chasen that I bought last year in Nara for whisking. It foams nicely.

Flavor: At first, when it just hits your palate, you get a sense of green tea ice cream and other creamy notes. Then it turns a bit grassy. Finishes with a hint of bitterness. Also has some vegetal notes. Like green pepper. But I hate green peppers so I tell you that it is light.

The mouthfeel is a bit astringent, but it’s pleasant and not biting.

Impressive job with the packaging. It’s beautiful, inviting, and informative. However, the tea is unprotected. Yes, it comes in a canister, which is in a box, but I feel a foil package… or perhaps that is foil inside the package that I am seeing? I am not getting enough aroma. There is a small amount, but not nearly as strong as I had hoped.

Dry Leaf appearance: Dusty, dark brown, long leaves, fairly tightly twisted. Not super tight like some teas. Which I prefer for oolongs. Doesn’t take so long to open.
Initial steeping aroma: Oh yum. I am excited. Mineralality. Fruity notes.
Flavor: More roast notes come out the longer you steep. Lovely fresh charcoal notes with hints of charred wheat bread. Note: Slightly charred bread that is still good for some jam.
I tried some cardamom just now to see if her tasting notes matched mine. I do think cardamom is a good descriptor.
Mouth feel: Licking a rock. Silky.
Wet Leaf aroma: Fruity. Mineral. Slight clove.