412 Tasting Notes

80
drank Winter Blend by SpecialTeas
412 tasting notes

Got my clearance order from SpecialTeas today – quite happy with it so far. This Winter Blend is distinctive – slightly spicy, slightly fruity, well balanced. I like that I can pick out the flavors of orange, coriander, and pistachio, not just cinnamon. It is similar to Harney and Sons Holiday flavored tea, but I think this is less fruity. An absolute steal at $2.63 for 4oz.

The pistachio came out especially strong on a second steep (~5 minutes).

1tsp/6oz, taken with cream.

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 30 sec

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71

This has become my breakfast tea of choice lately, because 1) It’s a good, flavorful, hearty black 2) I can drink it with or without milk, and 3) I don’t feel bad for not taking the time to resteep it.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 30 sec

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91

Treating myself to a stovetop chai this evening. It’s been hard to find time to log teas lately, but I am still drinking them! I love all the spices in this one (the picture is quite accurate, there are huge chunks of cinnamon and maple sugar).

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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90
drank Love by TeaFrog
412 tasting notes

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64
drank Chill Pill by Compass Teas
412 tasting notes

Remember that job I got, like, two months ago? Well, it finally started. Hence, lack of posting. Also hence: tea for de-stressing!

This is really lovely to look at while it steeps – there are big chamomile buds and a chrysanthemum floating on top, lemongrass on the bottom with some pink curls I think are rosehips (not purple enough to be hibiscus, though that’s apparently in here somewhere) and I definitely see a sprig of tarragon floating near the bottom there too.

The flavor is pretty mild. I wouldn’t have liked this two years ago, but I find it pleasantly soothing now. I’m still not a huge fan of chamomile, but it blends well here with the tangy citrus-esque flavors.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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77
drank Thé au Chocolat by Lupicia
412 tasting notes

Mmm… another lovely one from the SororiTEA Sisters. If I hadn’t already tried Florence this would be my favorite chocolate tea. Strongly chocolatey, like dark chocolate, but still tea. A little bitter for me straight-up, but rich and sweet with milk.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 15 sec

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86
drank Carnival by Sanctuary T
412 tasting notes

Smells very spicy (that would be the peppercorn, cumin, and coriander) and a little nutty/sweet. The taste oddly both watery and full. I can identify black tea on the front, kind of bitter really, but then the aftertaste is sweet and spicy and lovely. I prefer my tea unsweetened, but this could do with a bit of sugar or honey.

A dash of milk improves it enormously: fuller body, less harshness, more caramel flavors.
I steeped 1tsp in 8oz boiling water for 2:15 (recommendation is 2-3 minutes); a longer steep or more leaf would be better. A second steep at 4 minutes was about as good as the first. And, impressively, two subsequent steeps (6 and 8 minutes) were also good.

Points for uniqueness and resteepability.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 2 min, 15 sec
Sarah Ruthven

my goodness, what a creative blend! Sounds interesting.

Stephanie

This sounds lovely—but it looks like SpecialTeas’ 924 Winter Blend. I wonder if they’re the same thing?

teabird

Might be – I have found a couple whose blends overlap with Sanctuary T’s, so thanks for the tip. I’m slowly compiling a database of retailers with shared wholesalers :P

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87
drank Breakfast in Bed by Liber Teas
412 tasting notes

This was probably the most exciting sample out of my SororiTEA Sisters prize package – I hadn’t gotten to try any of LiberTEAS’ creations before! And it’s lovely. Smells like a cinnamon roll, but the light pastry kind, not the heavy buttery side. I wouldn’t have guessed that rose, cinnamon, and vanilla would go so well together but they really do.

This is light, sweet, and delicious without anything added.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 15 sec

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77

Juicy! I’d say the cherry in this is as strong as the rose. It reminds me of Enjoying Tea’s Rooibos Provence (both have rooibos, rose, and red fruit flavors), but that one is more floral where this is more fruity. I’m not a huge cherry fan, but if I were this is one I’d likely keep in stock – the cherry flavor is rich, sincere (G identified it without being told), and not overpowering. Very tasty!

Will update with resteep info.

Another from the SororiTEA Sisters’ prize package!

2g, 8oz

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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Bio

Some notes on ratings:

I’d have separate rating scales for tea types if that were possible (probably Black, Flavored Black, Darjeeling/Dark Oolong, White/Green/Light Oolong, and Herbal) because the flavors and quality markers are just too different. A flavored black rated 100 isn’t better than every oolong I’ve ever drunk, just delicious for a flavored black.

Ratings are a combination of my enjoyment and the perceived quality – I do often demote teas a few points for artificial flavorings, small quantity of steeps supported, or weakness of flavor (requiring extra leaf).

I pay less attention to the number than the order of my ratings; I don’t necessarily keep a stock of everything rated 80+, but if two breakfast blends are rated 82 and 84 I consistently enjoy the 84 more.

And in case it’s not obvious? I am not an expert. I don’t even know what I like until I taste it sometimes, but I’m ok with that :) I like learning to like new teas, as well as enjoying the comfort of familiar ones.

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