4319 Tasting Notes
A gifted tea! A set of ten green teas from Vahdam – the perfect sized samples for me, as they are each a few servings worth. I started with this one — which… depending on the bergamot used, could have been the most disappointing of the ten teas in the bunch. Not so! To be fair, I did drink this while eating some lemon meringue pie, so the tastebuds might have melded these flavors together. It’s an intriguing green Earl… this bergamot really seems to pair well with this particular green tea which is a nice surprise! I’m generally not a reacher for bergamot on anything other than a solid black tea. But this is a nice one. A unique tasting, balanced bergamot on a tasty green. Second steep was also great – not an overpowering bergamot, which is never good on a green base.
Steep #1 // 1 heaping teaspoon for a full mug // 32 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 31 min after boiling // 2 min
Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – January 2023 Tea #1 – A tea you love for New Year’s Day
It begins! It was a rough start years ago with this tea but I really grew to love it. As I said before, I think the coconut went rancid but then the tea was so old it mellowed again? I was hesitant to finish the last serving, as this is now discontinued. But this prompt gave me the push to finish it today. I will miss it!
2023 sipdowns: 1
additional notes: In a rush of sipdowns, I made it! My goal of 150! Just in time! It was a close one. But I also didn’t want to finish teas to finish them. I made sure to enjoy them. It was time to finish this. This one, the photo don’t lie. Cherries floating in the mug…. It’s like drinking cherries and I am always amazed by that, every time I steep it up. And I have no idea HOW. Is it flavoring? Is it the natural taste of the leaf? The cherry is a nice aspect, as I never get that Tahitian vanilla from this. The second steep more of the roast has arisen… a shame… I’ll be having a third steep tomorrow. I hope everyone has the BEST NEW YEAR!!
2022 sipdowns: 150!!!
I think Tahitian vanilla in particular has notes of cherry?
oh wow, i had no idea.. thanks for mentioning it.
Happy New Year, tea-sipper :)
Happy New Year! Congrats on the impressive sipdowns!
Congrats! Happy New Year!
Thanks very much derk, ashmanra & Kaylee!
Happy new year!
Thanks, Michelle!
Happy new year, even it’s a little late.
Thanks, Martin!
Happy New Year, and congrats on reaching your goal!
A sample from my order a couple months ago. I can already tell there just isn’t as much leaf in the sachet as I would typically use, so I used less water. I do love a good jasmine dragon pearl. This isn’t my favorite version of the type though. I have been spoiled with Teavivre’s jasmine teas. The flavor here seems more candy sweet floral than jasmine. The second steep was more to my liking – more jasmine, more noticeable green tea flavor. But then again, maybe my usual parameters usually overdose and use too much leaf to get my preferred level of flavor? If I had to stock up on this particular pearl, I might, but I’d rather just go with Teavivre as my staple jasmine teas. But thanks to Harney’s sample, now I know.
Steep #1 // 30 minutes after boiling // 1 minute steep
Steep #2 // 30 min after boiling // 2 min
2022 sipdowns: 149
additional notes: A big ol mug of this classic favorite finally finished this tea. Another I will miss. For some reason, this blend is now unavailable as it is marked as “private”. For shame! These flavors still linger and this tea is almost as ancient as Jane Austen’s era… I would certainly buy this again… Only six more sipdowns to make it to my goal at the end of the year!
Holiday Tea 2022 # 47 Davidstea – Juniper Joy
2022 sipdowns: 144
I have never set a sipdown goal before. I need to sit down and have a stern talk with myself and do that this year.
haha, yes, be very stern with yourself about it! I think having an actual goal has been very helpful for me to just finally finish those last servings of teas that just HANG ON forever (like this one.)
Mastress Alita’s sipdown challenge – December Tea #10 – a favorite tea
additional notes: It was time to say goodbye to this old favorite that I would most definitely stock up on again — a favorite from Adagio…. which now that I said “favorite” twice, I guess I will switch the top of this note to count for my final December prompt – a favorite tea! Which also means ALL ten of the December prompts were actual sipdowns. Awesome. I think I may have finished my Sherlock teas. Time for a rewatch?
2022 sipdowns: 140
I’m a massive Sherlock fan, and this is one of the first teas I wanted to try, and will sadly remain on my wishlist for a very long time to come since it’s not available in the UK :/ one day, I will pay the international shipping and import fees, but that day is not today!
Also yes, I think it is time for a rewatch ;)
I hope you get the chance to try this tea at some point!
Baker Street Blend from Upton is nice if you like smoke!
Seeing this has made me want to rewatch Sherlock as well.
Mastress Alita’s sipdown challenge – December Tea #9 – a mint tea
additional notes: Finished this one which qualifies for the mint prompt, though it hardly seemed minty at this point and hardly tasted like candy cane? It’s hard to believe I rated this at 81. It was packaged well, so I don’t think it would deteriorate in flavor THAT quickly… But… I tried it and it’s gone now.
Holiday Tea 2022 # 44 Pudtea – Candy Cane
Holiday Tea 2022 # 45 Bird & Blend – Yule Log
Holiday Tea 2022 # 46 T2 – Frosted Fruitcake
2022 sipdowns: 139
additional notes: I think this tea is becoming a Christmas day habit for me. It’s just a festive, tasty blend for the day! I ALMOST finished my precious Dammann Freres- Noel Prague but I decided not to. I can’t do it quite yet. But I also love THIS tea.
Holiday Tea 2022 # 42: Bird & Blend – Mulled Cider
Holiday Tea 2022 # 43: Bird & Blend – Christmas Cake
I’ve been working on sipping down my bag of this all month, and have maybe 1-2 cups left. It is just the best holiday tea to me, and I’m annoyed B&B doesn’t bring it back yearly.
Yes, it is the best holiday tea! HOPEFULLY B&B does not make it a habit of never bringing it back, as I don’t think it has been available for a couple years. But it might show up in something like their sales (which I already noticed will only have free shipping to the UK this year.)
An odd one to end the advent on! But here we are. A tropical tea for a freezing winter bomb cyclone. I think I will extend the holiday tea drinking until at least January 1st… hope all who celebrate have a happy Christmas.
Holiday Tea 2022 # 41 : Bird & Blend – MojiTEA (advent)
additional notes: As a ripe pu-erh, this is enjoyable, but if it is Octavia’s only ripe pu-erh, it might be the only ripe pu-erh that some tea drinkers will be introduced to. I was iffy about using the remainder of my sample pouch, almost two teaspoons, but don’t regret it now, as it made for a richer sipdown. Nothing offensive to this pu-erh but the first steep was a little thin for my tastes. Though reading my first note now, I did notice that two teaspoons is essential, so maybe this steep session wasn’t QUITE two teaspoons….
2022 sipdowns: 136
Holiday Tea 2022 # 39: Bird & Blend – Moondrop Dreams (advent)
Holiday Tea 2022 # 40: Angry Tea Room – Gingerbread Cookie
