Thanks so much for the tea, Elephant Chateau! I’m so sorry the review is so late but I’ve tried it MANY times. The sample from Elephant Chateau was big enough that I’ve been experimenting with this tea, steeping multiple ways. So this has been the tea I’ve been drinking most frequently. First, if you were to ask me what my least favorite black tea type is, I would say “Ceylon”. It is never the flavor profile I like from a black tea. BUT I shouldn’t say “never” because this is not a typical tasting Ceylon. It is much different than most Ceylon teas I’ve tried— and luckily much tastier. The leaves are bigger, twistier, mahogany colored with a hint of scarlet and sometimes green leaves. It’s odd to see some of the steeped leaves in the basket turn green? The green leaves look like an oolong or green tea. Maybe this is why the flavor is so odd for a black tea? No matter how I steep it, the color of the brew is pumpkin amber. I’ve tried everything from one teaspoon to three teaspoons for a mug, which I don’t think I’ve done with many teas. However, if using three teaspoons, I definitely don’t suggest using boiling water (it was a little bitter on the second steep when I boiled it). Three teaspoons expanded to almost the entire steep basket. But I think I prefer the flavor when I use two teaspoons. This tea is so hard to describe no matter how I steep it, but I would say the main note is squash and sometimes hints of cinnamon. But the only note I seem to get is squash… maybe other palates are better than mine. I apologize I can’t puzzle this tea out. But I wanted to post a tasting note already. So this is very good for a Ceylon but I do wish the tea had more depth.
This is You :-D
Profile
Bio
Hi! I love tea and trying new ones – it adds a bit of variety to my day! Books, music, TV & movies are my thing… and tea, of course.
Some of my favorite tea shops (still operating):
birdandblendtea.com
teavivre.com
52teas.com
svtea.com
whisperingpinestea.com
justea.com
harney.com
Dammann Freres
fusionteas.com
shop.Javateaco.com
Lupicia
Octaviatea.com
Davidstea.com
eco-cha.com
what-cha.com
singleoriginteas.com
teasenz.com
tealyra.com
Mandalatea.com
verdanttea.com
Favorite tea shops (RIP):
butikiteas.com
steapshoppe.com
steepcityteas.com
aquartertotea.com
dellaterrateas.com
zentealife.com
angrytearoom.com
theteamerchant.net
joysteaspoon.com
tealiciousllc.com
Rivertea
Specialteas
My icon photo is Richard Mayhew from the graphic novel ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry.
Most of the teas listed in my cupboard are actually sample sizes. I don’t really have 2,000 ounces of tea around here! Many of my teas have only one teaspoon left… maybe two. But I like keeping them in my cupboard list for reference to what I could be sipping. Usually, I write tasting notes once for each tea. I’m still drinking them, just not writing tasting notes each time!
I’m always in search of: Hattialli, Qu Hao black, Jin Jun Mei, teas using marshmallow root.
My dislikes: hibiscus, ginger (unless in chai), turmeric, bee pollen, charcoal type flavors
My ratings:
95-100 – Super awesome deliciousness favorites – cupboard essential
80-95 – Also pretty delicious
65-80 – Pretty good
50-65 – Okay
1-50 – Probably won’t want to sip it again
I’m planning on being a Steepsterer as long as there IS a Steepster, so if you’re not hearing from me, that means something happened to my health… if you know what I mean. (Or as evidenced by the great computer hiatus of 2019, something happened to my computer… I have a dumb phone so can’t access internet on that. As of 12/20/21 my wifi might start getting unreliable.)
Happy sipping!
Location
USA
