1088 Tasting Notes
2021 sipdown no. 76
Sipdown of this sample sent my way from VariaTEA. This is just a lovely genmaicha blend. I enjoy the creamy aspect from the marshmallow and the hints of banana, since I generally enjoy banana in tea. So happy to have been able to try this one!
Preparation
2021 sipdown no. 75
I cold brewed this and somehow it’s even less enjoyable than hot brewed. The cold brew has allowed the full fledged cloying-ness to come forward and I just can’t understand why there has to be so many flavours in this tea. Less would definitely be more here.
Preparation
Matcha Tuesday? I saw many a matcha Monday post yesterday but couldn’t bring myself to make one. Today I took off work to power through some reports that are due Thursday and I knew matcha would help.
I haven’t tried many matches, but I love that this one comes out lovely and creamy with little to no bitterness. It’s always an enjoyable cuppa.
2021 sipdown no. 73
Sad sipdown of this one from VariaTEA. I really enjoyed this one because for whatever reason the blend of ingredients created a great balance with the bergamot and it just tasted wonderful to me.
I’ve contacted the company a couple times and have yet to find a way to order from them sadly, but still working on it, so hopefully I can one day order this one.
Preparation
Enjoying this tea shared from VariaTEA this morning. After two cats decided it was a carnival last night and not a Sunday before a work week, I got up (not woke up, you’ll notice) and knew exactly what tea I needed haha.
This tea is delightful when done correctly. I brewed it just under boiling today and it’s got a nice syrup-y quality with a slight maltiness.
Preparation
One time I was in Portland, Oregon, and saw an ad in the local paper for a kitty carnival. My time in the city was too short to marvel at that wonder.
Ha, three years later, my dad still complains that the cat act was cut from America’s Got Talent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxFx1k8Z9ns
Act starts around 1:15
This is like a wee cup of soapy sweetness with slight edges of bitterness. It almost reminds me of Thrills gum, but not as enjoyable.
This one has to go to the swap pile.
Preparation
I love when people use the word wee to describe something small. It’s so cute, and I never hear it in the US.
I’d say it’s rare in most of Canada as well — I could be wrong, but I’d say it’s more an east coast thing :)
I’ve been intrigued about this one for a while, but couldn’t quite fathom a rooibos blend being anything like a typical black breakfast tea. It turns out, I was right.
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this tea, and I actually enjoy the rooibos base that B&B uses, this does not make me feel like I’m drinking a breakfast tea. The scent and taste of rooibos is all I’m getting here.
Thank you for sharing Cameron!
Preparation
2021 sipdown no. 72
Unexpected sipdown of this last night! I call this one a fancy English Breakfast whenever Lex asks what I’m drinking, since the Assam base reminds me of the often prominent notes in an English Breakfast tea.
This tea is really well done with not too much malt, but certainly some, but then cut through with almost astringency, but not quite. It’s a nice bold cup and I did quite enjoy it. I think I will re-order this one.
Preparation
None of my teas have been speaking to me of late and many just aren’t tasting good at all. I’m chalking it up to end of term stress and additional work stress. C’est la vie, I suppose.
However, I broke down and made a cup of this and am so happy I did because it tastes just as lovely as I remember. Perhaps if I’m not asking too much, it can jog my tastebuds to enjoy my other teas as well. The interplay of chocolate and orange is really great here. The rooibos is present, which I usually avoid, but this is the one exception. I always wish I could get more of this one, though I’m not sure it’s even sold any longer.