4170 Tasting Notes
Additional notes: Having a different blend of this one (but still one of Frank’s blends) and raising the rating from a 75. If I remember correctly, the other blend used a different coconut, really tiny pieces. I like the bigger, flakier pieces of coconut used here better (like in the Coconut Cream Pie blend.) The coconut definitely takes over in the flavor with mint and chocolate in the background. But I like how it all comes together in this one, making it an enjoyable cup. The flavors also make the black tea taste better, but it’s so light as it is, I don’t think I could notice the black tea anyway.
Thanks so much for this one, MissB! If this is what Jin Jun Mei is usually like, I’m in love. Right away, the scent of the dry leaves is like a baked bready dessert covered in cocoa powder. I think this tea singlehandedly invented that dessert in my mind. The flavor is similar to the scent in this deep amber brew. Cocoa powder! It’s kind of like a keemun with the flavor profile and hints of smoke mixed with a tea like Laoshan Black (which makes sense if they’re both Fujian). Caramel, chocolate, and something special to this tea, some unique flavor I can’t figure out. I love it though. Both steeps were the same. I have a few more teaspoons to enjoy!
Steep #1 // 2 tsps. // 12 minutes after boiling // 2- 2 1/2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // ?? min
Only if you really want to and also can find other things you want me to throw in the swap package. :D
I’ve had this three times since I received Nicole’s package (thank you!) Am I just a sucker for mint/chocolate combinations? It must be the blends I end up drinking the most. This one is fantastic – cocoa shells!! Plenty of mint. A great black tea base. And some coconut for some reason, though it doesn’t impart too much flavor to the blend. But the mint and chocolate is well balanced. The black tea is slightly robust. Two teaspoons for this one works best. Love it!
Edited to add: the description mentions white chocolate and not coconut so maybe what I think is coconut is actually white chocolate? It also mentions vanilla! Yum!
For some reason, I assumed this one would have chili pepper in it. I’m not really sure how this one is “spicier”. It looks like a lot of black tea to just a few spices – or the usual amount of spices. BUT it is a tasty chai, as 52Teas usually are for me. I can always rely on the chai! Whoa was it a string of really hot days, but this chai was still delicious. The black tea used as a base is tasty enough – and it has the usual spicy flavor, maybe slightly more peppery. In a few weeks there will be an avalanche of chai sipped (one of the highlights to winter weather I suppose.)
The batch I had was really peppery, kind of overwhelmingly so even for a spiced tea since it blocked out the other spices. Unfortunately, I finished it months ago…
This is a solid oolong from a teabox a whiillleee ago. Sadly, nothing too distinct about it. I think the scent of the dry leaves was more distinct than the flavor. The leaves unraveled quickly. The three steeps were pretty consistent. The color of the mug was a deep yellow so I expected more flavor than there was. A good one but nothing to make it stand out from the oolong pack. Nothing much to say about this one, but it was from a tea box so I thought I should post a tasting note.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons // 8 min after boiling // rinse // 1 minute steep
Steep #2 // couple min a.b. // 1 min
Steep #3 // just boiled // 1-2 min
Additional notes: I tried this one with two teaspoons as opposed to one and WHOA the flavor is amazing! Of course, this one in particular is a little costly with two teaspoons, but it’s a green tea and I have a big pouch of it from one of the mystery grab bags. The cinnamon is the perfect strength — two types and also like those cinnamon candy hearts. Hints of smoke as well. Not enough cayenne to notice, but it might not have been mixed in well enough. I really like this one with two teaspoons so I might as well do that every time. Raising the rating from an 80! It’s just a really well thought out blend.
Steep #1 // 2 tsps. // 30 min a.b. // 1 minute steep
Steep #2 // ?? min a.b. // 2 min
Thanks for a sample of this one, MissB! There was about a teaspoon left of these gorgeous Yunnan leaves, so I steeped 3/4 of a mug each time. The leaves are a bit wider than usual, mostly dark gold with hints of black. The brew results in a medium amber color. It’s one of those Yunnan teas that aren’t light or dark, it’s the lovely mid-Yunnan that is like honey with hints of molasses. Not like chocolate but also not a light Yunnan. Hints of pepper and all around sweet, with a very smooth texture because of the sweetness. This one is very special. The three steeps were all fantastic.
Steep #1 // 1 tsp with 3/4 full mug each time // 12 minutes after boiling // 2 min
Steep #2 // couple min a.b. // 2 min
Steep #3 // couple min a.b. // 2 1/2 min
Additional notes: Decided to finish this one (sipdown!) today because a couple days ago it actually hit the top rated tea on Steepster spot! Maybe I’m not finding the sweet steep spot, but this one doesn’t seem like the top tea to me. (Or maybe it’s in the name: ‘gong fu’ and I’ve always steeped it western style.) The flavor is fine though, reminds me of Bailin Gongfu but now it’s gone!
Steep #1 // 1 3/4 tsps. // 12 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // later
Plenty of lemon and ginger with this oolong base that looks a little roasted, but doesn’t really taste like it. I’m not usually a fan of ginger, but the lemon makes up for it. I always love the lemon blends from 52Teas! It reminds me of Lemon Meringue Chai… which I actually just had a piece of lemon meringue pie anyway. There doesn’t seem to be any cookie aspect to this blend. The flavor of the oolong gets a little lost under all this lemon. This tea was great for a hot day like today without any lemonade around. I seemed to steep this one pretty well. The second steep had even more lemon bursting from the cup.
Steep #1 // 1 heaping tsp // 8 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 8 min a.b. // ?? steep
Additional notes: So I haven’t really written a note for the harvest of PTA I received close to Butiki running out of it. To me, is isn’t quite the same as the harvest I tried years ago. The leaves aren’t AS full as what I was always describing as caramel strawberries (or some type of fruit/ berry – I notice fig mentioned in the description.) Also, the leaves tend to get that oaky/oversteeped flavor pretty easily, especially with the second steep, so short time and cooler temp works better. But I can honestly say I’ve never described any tea as caramelized strawberries and I’ve done that with this unique tea every time I’ve sipped it. This harvest is just a little bit less of that. For the parameters below, I should have used cooler water. I want to try waiting much longer than 8 minutes next time as well.
Steep #1 // 2 tsps. // 8 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // couple min a.b. // 2 1/2 min steep
I can’t believe it’s already Labor Day. Winter better not be like last year. It. Better. Not.
Flavors: Caramel, Strawberry
Amen to your comments on Winter. My shoulder still hasn’t recovered from raking the snow off the roof. Don’t know what I’ll do this year.