This is a backlog. I wrote down some notes on an index card the first time I tried it. I just found the card and thought that it would only be fair to include the notes. I steeped it in a Gaiwan. I didn’t write down quantity, temp or time. It was bitter the whole way throughout. There was a celery/cilantro/burnt flavor that I didn’t find desirable in the first steeps. When the flavor was pretty much dead there was some caramel and smoothness to it. Certainly less one dimensional sounding than my other tasting note. At the time I remember it not being complex, and not liking it, which is weird given what I wrote about it. Go figure.
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I only got from them because there were some rave reviews about their Rooibos. The Rooibos wasn’t bad but Premium Steap’s (my local shop) was better for me. I figured I might as well get a bunch of samples while I was at it… Darjeelings (apparently they’re very strong there), some oddball black and green, and herbal. My experience is the same as yours so far. I haven’t been blown away by anything. I still samples left to try, so who knows, one of them may be great.
Upton has not impressed me with anything so far. I was on a ’builder’s tea’ kick not so long ago and got close to a dozen samples so I could get my fill of the malty brutes. Nothing was really bad, nothing was particularly good and a lot of things tasted very much the same. I think one gets lulled by the low prices of samples which usually range from $1 to $3.50 for an envelope that can afford quite a few steeps, should you have sufficient interest in going back to re-brewing your sample.
@CWarren: I’m very inexperienced with Darjeeling, so you’ll have to take my tasting notes on them with a grain of salt. Since my local shop is extremely consistent with quality, I’ll get a couple from there for comparison.
@Whiteantlers: Exactly what you said about the samples is what lured me in.
Me too, @Tea and Cheese Lover. I am hankering to put in an order with Premuium Steap. I was told the bricks and mortar store is closed but I have drooled over the website.
@Whiteantlers: Their old storefront is closed, but they have office space in Chinatown (13th between Race and Vine) which they have pretty much set up like the shop. WAY more selection available than they have online, especially with the harder to get teas.
“Our office location 211 N. 13th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone 215-568-2920”
They’re generally there from 12-5 M-F. Call ahead, because there’s a good chance that they’re there longer hours on some days. It’s nice to be able to smell them in person and be guided by someone who knows the teas well. The owner is very straight to the point and knows her stuff. Very Philly!
Excellent! Nothing like being up close and personal with the product. I always love an excuse to hop on the #9 bus. I’ve read Yelp reviews saying the owner is not a hand holder or warm and cuddly, but neither am I, so I’m sure she’s a wonderful tea guide.
Looks like a need to take a trip to Philly!
Everyone needs to take a trip to Philly! :-D
I have week off in August, I might make an excuse to explore the city. I’ve been to Philadelphia once when I was younger. I think a historic place such as Philly would be good to write in. :)
That is probably one of the hottest and most humid months of the summer, but you can visit E.A. Poe’s house, Old City, great beer gardens and floating parks-well, I am biased. This is my home and I love nearly everything about it.
Sounds splendid! :)
I only got from them because there were some rave reviews about their Rooibos. The Rooibos wasn’t bad but Premium Steap’s (my local shop) was better for me. I figured I might as well get a bunch of samples while I was at it… Darjeelings (apparently they’re very strong there), some oddball black and green, and herbal. My experience is the same as yours so far. I haven’t been blown away by anything. I still samples left to try, so who knows, one of them may be great.
Upton has not impressed me with anything so far. I was on a ’builder’s tea’ kick not so long ago and got close to a dozen samples so I could get my fill of the malty brutes. Nothing was really bad, nothing was particularly good and a lot of things tasted very much the same. I think one gets lulled by the low prices of samples which usually range from $1 to $3.50 for an envelope that can afford quite a few steeps, should you have sufficient interest in going back to re-brewing your sample.
@CWarren: I’m very inexperienced with Darjeeling, so you’ll have to take my tasting notes on them with a grain of salt. Since my local shop is extremely consistent with quality, I’ll get a couple from there for comparison.
@Whiteantlers: Exactly what you said about the samples is what lured me in.
Me too, @Tea and Cheese Lover. I am hankering to put in an order with Premuium Steap. I was told the bricks and mortar store is closed but I have drooled over the website.
@Whiteantlers: Their old storefront is closed, but they have office space in Chinatown (13th between Race and Vine) which they have pretty much set up like the shop. WAY more selection available than they have online, especially with the harder to get teas.
“Our office location 211 N. 13th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone 215-568-2920”
They’re generally there from 12-5 M-F. Call ahead, because there’s a good chance that they’re there longer hours on some days. It’s nice to be able to smell them in person and be guided by someone who knows the teas well. The owner is very straight to the point and knows her stuff. Very Philly!
Excellent! Nothing like being up close and personal with the product. I always love an excuse to hop on the #9 bus. I’ve read Yelp reviews saying the owner is not a hand holder or warm and cuddly, but neither am I, so I’m sure she’s a wonderful tea guide.
Looks like a need to take a trip to Philly!
Everyone needs to take a trip to Philly! :-D
I have week off in August, I might make an excuse to explore the city. I’ve been to Philadelphia once when I was younger. I think a historic place such as Philly would be good to write in. :)
That is probably one of the hottest and most humid months of the summer, but you can visit E.A. Poe’s house, Old City, great beer gardens and floating parks-well, I am biased. This is my home and I love nearly everything about it.
Sounds splendid! :)