1040 Tasting Notes
Western Steeped Jin Jun Mei + American Honey (Wild Turkey Bourbon) is making Dex a very happy girl tonight. (who knew honey bourbon was a thing? this is something I really need in my life…..)
Honey Bourbon is a good thing!
I need to try a different brand – this is too harsh for me to drink straight….. it’s really sweet and almost fruity in the black tea – it’s been suggested to me to try it in iced tea – will need to do that soon.
You can always stir in a little more honey. I think being warm can push the Bourbon hit to the front a bit more. My fave is Meyers Dark rum with a couple of cinnamon sticks and honey stirred and just warm.
Sorry that might not have been clear – this brand of honey bourbon is too harsh to drink as straight bourbon….. it’s fine in the tea – there is a sweet fruity note that’s unexpected and interesting. Awesome hot toddy.
Cinnamon and dark rum is interesting….
I got you. Wild Turkey brand. And yes rum and the evil concoctions are good on cold winter nights.
This is like my biggest weakness of the past meets my biggest weakness of the present. If only I had known they could be combined.
O’Connor’s cream with jamieson and honey was really good when I had it. Basically, tea and booze. A++. ;)
I’ve drank this on three separate occasions and each time I steeped it just a little different.
I can totally appreciate the caramel flavor in this, but the oolong base is too green for me. It doesn’t go with the caramel. It’s too vegital – asparagus and caramel do not work for me.
Thanks Sil for sending me a sample of this. Sometimes I feel bad when I get samples of expensive/hard to get teas – especially ones that others really love – and I don’t like them. I feel like they were wasted on me and others would have enjoyed them more. However, even the ones I don’t love – I’m always appreciative of the opportunity to try new things…. :))
i’ll send you fauchon version at some point – it’s my favourite, the oolong is not so green and doesn’t interfere with the deliciousness of the caramel…at least imo
Come to think of it, you’re totally right. I do love the flavouring in this but I think a lighter, maybe lightly floral oolong would have paired better with the caramel.
glad we’re all on the same page for this version haha
lol, asparagus and caramel—that doesn’t sound very good
2016 Sheng Olympics
I took the little bit that I had left of this and just tossed it into an infuser/mug – did a quick rinse – and then did about a 15 second steep (80C)
I’m not sure what I did last time – but this is much better for my tastes with the less leaf – more water – lower temp and just a quick steep.
Last time I thought it tasted old and musty. This time it was pretty sweet, with a little hay, and a touch of fruity.
I wish I had done this the first time. Really prefer this tea today.
Of all the amazing teas that Sil sent me – this was the one I was most worried about.
There are pieces of pine tree in here. The leaf looks like it’s been picked up off the forest floor. Now I’m sure this would excite some people, but it kind of scared me.
The first cup, I under leafed and under steeped – I was afraid….
That cup was really mild and didn’t really taste like much more than black tea – ok so far so good – not as scary as I had feared.
The second cup I steeped longer and with more leaf. This is a little piney and a little fruity. There is hints of woody and smoke. It’s like being out in the woods.
While I can appreciate how balanced and interesting this is – these flavors are not really to my liking. Not nearly as bad as I had feared, but this still isn’t really to my tastes.
Thanks Sil for this interesting experience – I would never have chosen this to myself and would not have tried it if you hadn’t sent it to me. :))
Pieces of pine tree would worry me too. :P
haha yay for getting out of our comfort zones :) there will be more from Bellocq that i’ll send you as i actually open them
I will try almost anything – I’ve been surprised before – that tea you thought you would hate but didn’t. That’s the amazing thing about sharing – never know what hidden gems you will find. :)
@Plunkybug- ok pine TREE might be an exaggeration – ingredient list says “douglas fir tips” :))
Ah, ok, that’s better. :P
Always looking for a really good pear tea. Pear is a tricky flavor that is either not done well or gets lost in the base.
This smells like pear, it tastes like pear. It also tastes French – French teas to me have a distinctive essence to them. It’s a little floral, and maybe a little apple. Pretty good but there is something in the base that doesn’t quite work – maybe just a touch astringent.
Yep I like this one, but I do think that it could be better.
Thanks so much Sil for sharing….
It really is a beautiful thing…..
I’ve been lucky this week to be able to enjoy several awesome chocolate teas.
This one says chocolate hazelnut – but I’m getting mostly chocolate not much nut.
Totally different than the other two I tried – it’s interesting how each company does chocolate differently.
This is a great tea – wish it had more hazelnut.
That’s so much Sil for providing this opportunity. :))
OH I’m confused. If I had tried this a week ago I would be swooning and gushing praise for this tea. Don’t get me wrong this is a GREAT tea, but is it as good as the one I was drinking about a week ago….. dunno
Rich, velvety, dark chocolate – almost bitter chocolate – and then there is a deeper note that’s reading as buttery to me – as this cools it’s coming across as chocolate buttercream icing. Bitter – sweet – buttery – creamy.
It’s good – it’s really good – but not at the top of the list….
Thanks Sil for sharing – this has been on my wishlist forever. :))
I love this, and it makes a tea latte very well, too. I need to restock on this.
Oh dear, I heard it is being discontinued today. I must buy all I can find. Ha!
I just heard that too – It’s showing sold out on the website. Will be checking local shops over the weekend…. :(
Me too.