576 Tasting Notes

95

Backlogging – enjoyed this after dinner/binge eating feast on Turkey Day. I love the simplicity of it – it’s green tea with minty flavors. I just let the bag steep for the length of the cup (which ended up being longer than usual as I kept “topping off” the mug). My mom has a box, but I’m going to have to load up with my own for the rest of the season! Yums!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

100
drank Rainbow Sherbet by 52teas
576 tasting notes

I have no idea how come I haven’t tried this yet… I just noticed the pouch sitting there, looking all alone, in my tea cabinet at home so I grabbed it to take to work today. (Yes, stuck at work today. Boo)

The medley of these flavors – lime, orange, raspberry – is outstanding! Of course we all expect no less from the wonderful Frank @52teas. But I will say this is my second favorite, falling to second place only Pancake Breakfast.

I added some sweetener to it (Sun Crystals) which really brings out the sweetness in the fruit flavors. I think I have have subconsciously worried that the Sherbet flavors wouldn’t taste good hot, but how wrong that perspective is! This is amazing. :)

I bet this would be delicious iced as well… Oh, and a final note, I’m letting it steep for the length of the cup, which is making the flavors stand out extremely well.

Frank, how do you do it?! :)

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 8 min or more
LiberTEAS

OMG… this one is AMAZING iced. One of my favorite iced teas.

KeenTeaThyme

I’ll have to try it tonight when I get home! :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

94

I’m upping the rating on this one. This retains its flavor well over time, and, after sampling other vanilla teas, I have to say this is my favorite (so far).

Bold and hearty. Just what I need to wake me up this foggy Turkey Day Eve in Maryland.

EDIT: This went very well with my In Flames music choice this morning. :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

73
drank Aries by Adagio Teas
576 tasting notes

I’m in major need of a pick-up so I grabbed this (old) sample. I actually really enjoy the spiciness – and it’s totally Aries, if you know what I mean (fellow Aries do!). I just wish there was more of it. Perhaps it was the age of the sample that got to it. I’ll have to try it again…

Mercuryhime

I love the idea of zodiac tea.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Thanks for offering this one to me for free as a sample. :) This is an interesting blend. I wouldn’t think of pairing oolong with dates…

NOTE: I had a several allergic reaction to this tea. I’m allergic to tree nuts; this info was not listed on the tea as an ingredient. Maybe it’s not. Maybe the tea was manufactured in a facility that uses equipment with traces of this. But I removed the rating as well as the review because of the severe allergic reaction. I’m touching base with the company to see if they can list this potential issue in the future, as I know I’m not the only person with allergies.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

100

I’m running low! Madness! I will have to order more! This is a fave, no matter the time of year… Please see other notes. :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

35

First off, I have yet another random tea bag of this that I’m drinking now, although I do prefer it loose (heh) and have some left from last holiday season.

I gotta say as much as I love the loose, this one isn’t as great. It reminds me of the taste of a postage stamp. Or sticker or envelope. Not exactly what I like in a tea. I added my own additional mint and cinnamon, plus some sugar, just to make it drinkable. But honestly I’d avoid the BAGGED of this variety.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

100

I love, love, love this one, possibly more than I have loved it in the past. And I love that my good friend Rachel brought it back in the Rescued from Retirement initiative.

Confession time: I do let this steep pretty long and may eat the blueberries before adding them to the bag. But overall this is easily one of my favorite flavored black teas. I beyond high recommend this one. :)

Ninavampi

Another tea that I missed… I really hope it comes back at some point!

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

You never know it may come back soon @Ninavampi. Thanks KeenTeaThyme for the kind words. I too LOVE this one and as you know I have a few others from 52Teas available on www.iHeartTeas.com :-)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

97
drank S'mores Chai by 52teas
576 tasting notes

OK, first off, you all know me to be kind of a chai snob. But I’m also a huge fan of 52Teas blends. And this is easily one of the best blends he’s created. (Here’s hoping it’s in the 12 Days of Christmas Pack. HINT HINT!) This one is right up there with Pancake Breakfast.

Opening up the bag for the first time – or after a while – and you are greeted with a hearty, warm welcome – marshmallow-y (although I believe not actual marshmallows, I think it’s OK for vegans), cinnamon, ginger, clove and peppercorn.

There’s a sweetness to it, once you take your first sip. All the flavors aforementioned in the aroma are equally identifiable in the flavor. But there is something else. Brilliancy. I taste brilliancy. This is warm and welcoming, festive, flavorful and fun.

I’m going to ration this one, else I’d use it up before the holidays!

Preparation
4 min, 0 sec
KeenTeaThyme

After reading some of the comments, I must note, be very, very, very careful of steeping times. Any longer than four mins and I’m thinking you’ll lose the essence of this one.

Ninavampi

I hope it is in the christmas box!!!!!!! I would love to try this!

KeenTeaThyme

@Ninavampi – I can share some if you’d like, if it’s not in the xmas box. PM me if you want to try it. :)

LiberTEAS

I just bought some marshmallow cream to try with this tea… I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Ninavampi

@KeenTeaThyme Thanks! : ) If it isn’t in the christmas box, I will be asking for some for sure! Thanks sooo much for the offer!

If there is anything you would like to try from my cupboard, feel free to PM me about it and I would be glad to share! : )

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

88
drank Holiday Chai by Stash Tea
576 tasting notes

First off, I have the bagged variety. I think this was left over from last year? Maybe that’s the reason for the lessened taste… anyhoo, this was decent, but not one I’d actively pursue going after again. There is a taste of gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg and other holiday favorites but it just doesn’t Wow me. (I’m thinking of Darrell, from Storage Wars, from my hometown of San Diego, saying, “This is the Wow factor!”) It’s not gross or indecent, just not exactly stellar.

Uniquity

Storage wars! : )

KeenTeaThyme

I love Storage Wars! I always cheer for Darrell, as a San Diego-ite. That Dave guy is a d-bag.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

Hello fellow tea fans!
I’ve been a tea enthusiast for years but just recently started brewing my own. I’ve created some blends, and enjoy researching about new teas. I combined my love of tea and writing to create a tea-devoted blog, Keen Tea Thyme. I have been writing for most of my life and am a former journalist with a degree in Communications and Social Psychology, and a minor in Writing. Journalism is in my blood, so that means I’m inquisitive by nature, will double-check sources and/or get a second opinion as needed, but also fair and balanced in my reviews. If my reviews seem more positive, energetic and have high ratings, it’s because I love tea. :)

If you are a tea company, I’d love to review some your tea! Free samples are always welcome so I can fully enjoy the freshest selections. I’m also open to tea swaps as I always have too many teas on hand to drink & would love to share with other tea enthusiasts! :)

My Simple Rating Scale (as of Feb. 2011)
>50: I’m NOT a fan. I could barely finish the cup, if I even did. I wouldn’t even recommend this to my worst enemy. Not worth my time nor yours.

51-65: Good aroma, good flavor. Just nothing pops to give the tea that special kick. Recommended to try; our tasting palates differ.

66-79: Yes, finally, tea – unique flavor profiles, great aroma & flavor. Recommended to try; our tasting palates differ.

80-99: These are cupboard essentials – delicious, aromatic and perfect everyday teas. Re-steepable (beyond at least one steeping). Highly recommended, fun for all ages.

100: These are my favorites, the ones I would take with me if stranded on a desert island. Beyond Highly Recommended.

Just Launched: Keen Tea Thyme @ Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/shop/KeenTeaThyme

Check out my shop at Tea Trade:
http://keenteathyme.teatra.de/

Be “keen” on tea at Keen Tea Thyme, my blog:
http://keenteathyme.blogspot.com/
Reviews, blogs, tea leaf readings, puzzles, contests and more.

And check out some of my blends from Adagio:
Toasted Marshmallow
http://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/blend.html?blend=15394&sid=0349b21a92100a51134eea7fc2b52f2d&scrollTop=0

Vampire Lemonade
http://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/blend.html?blend=15766&SID=01971e73a2cbaa7c0b09962b355fdeb8

If you have a signature blend you’d like me to try, we can swap teas! PM me for details! :)

Happy Brewing! :)

Location

Frederick, MD

Website

http://keenteathyme.blogspot....

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer