172 Tasting Notes

96

This is one of my favorites out of the many teas I ordered from Butiki. It makes a smooth morning cup or a great afternoon pick me up.

It’s a fairly malty tea, and that’s the biggest thing that jumps out and me, but there are other subtleties that make this a great tea. After the malt, I notice something that reminds me very strongly of cherry. And along with that, there are slight notes of raisin and cinnamon.

This is a very comforting, smooth cup. Delicious.

Bonnie

Yes, I can see that…raisin, cherry

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97
drank Milk Oolong by Mandala Tea
172 tasting notes

Wow. I’ve only had one other milk oolong but this one just puts it to shame, no contest. I’ve been brewing it gongfu cha style and I’m on the 6th steep but it keeps on giving.

The last milk oolong I had tasted more like a tie guan yin with heavy florals and not so much creaminess, but this one possesses an extremely rich sweet cream scent and flavor. I would almost swear it was flavored if I didn’t know better. There are also notes of spinach and mint. This tea feels like a sublime dessert.

Thanks for the sample, Garret.

Garret

I am so pleased that you dug it, my friend! We just got done doing 4 days at a music festival of brewing in excess of 100 gallons of tea and having a non-stop tea bar going! The Milk Oolong was incredibly popular there!! Salud, my friend!!

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96

I can’t believe I’m the first to review this. It seems like most people on Steepster go to Butiki for flavored teas, but their straight teas from what I’ve tasted have been great, and this one is no exception.

This is an excellent tie guan yin. I brewed this one gong fu style in my competetion tasting set, 1 minute each steep. First of all, like the description says, it’s an incredibly silky tea. The thing that struck me most, however, was the incredibly refreshing nature of this tea. I felt as if I was sitting outside in the grass on a comfortably warm day, eating a bowl of vanilla bean Haagen-Dazs while the smells of flowers permeated the air and the sound of a running stream trickled in the background.

But enough poetics… This tea is delightfully silky, floral, sweet, creamy, and posesses a fantastic mineral quality with a vanilla bean aftertaste. Wonderful.

Bonnie

I like their straight tea’s the best too!

Butiki Teas

Fantastic description, very poetic. Your review is enticing me to do a gongfu session with this tea before lunch. :)

@ligongsf

man, this is so poetic…I wonder if all Tie Guan Yin from AnXi tastes the same. I have a friend who had me sip some. I was blown away by its fragrance

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85
drank Zhen Qu by Butiki Teas
172 tasting notes

I got a massive order from Butiki yesterday and the first thing I did was open up the bags to take a look and smell at the leaves of each tea. Many of the teas were absolutely gorgeous in their appearance, particularly this one and the Royal Golden Safari. I was also happy to find some generous bonus goodies with my order (thank you, Stacy).

The brewed tea is quite delicious. To me it tastes like a mixture of light chocolate and honey notes mixed with a bit of nuttiness as the description mentions, as well as a little smoke that finishes with a pleasant astringency. This is one of those teas that would be great on a stormy night.

TeaBrat

oooh, I have an order coming soon too!

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92

This is a wonderfully complex tea. The leaves are beautiful, and when the tea is steeping a very strong aroma of wintergreen, cinnamon and a sophisticated mustiness present themselves. I brewed this one gongfu style starting at 30 seconds all the way up to a minute in 5 second increments. and I have to say Rishi’s flavor notes for this one are pretty accurate. Notes of clove and cinnamon, wintergreen, plum, grape and malt greeted me along the journey. Very good. It was fifteen dollars for 30 grams, but it was worth the new experience.

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85

The combination of work and school has been keeping me extremely busy, and because of this my tea drinking and reviewing has fallen through the cracks a little bit. But on the bright side of things, it makes every cup of tea I get to have a little more rewarding.

I picked this up along with Florence and Boston also from Harney, and I was so disappointed with those two that I’m not even going to take the time to write a review about them. This one is a basic blend but it’s very good for what it is. It’s smooth, bready and a little malty with the faintest hints of smoke and chocolate sweetness in the background. Just a nice comfort cup.

I’ve got LOTS more tea on the way. I blew the majority of my first paycheck on tea, spending about $250 altogether on teas from Butiki, Mandala, and Verdant as well as a competition tasting set from Rishi. These things are my reward, and man they’re gonna taste so sweet.

Anyway, just thought I’d pop my head back into the Steepster world for a bit, catch ya later!

Bonnie

You are going to have a great time!

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92

Glad to have this one back. Simple, smooth and comforting. This is one of those instances where I find myself wishing Verdant was a little less vague about where they actually source their teas from. I know many of them come from smaller workshops but I have a feeling these have to be somewhat mass-produced. I’d love to know where I could find similar teas to this, I’d love to have a cake that tastes like this.

Azzrian

I have a sample size of this coming 7g I wonder how many toucha that will be maybe 2? Sounds lovely and have seen great reviews on it.

Scatterbrain

Each time I’ve bought an ounce of this I only got 5 tuochas, so you’ll get either one or two. I’m guessing they’d probably just round up and give you two.

Alphakitty

I have this coming in the mail as well, so excited!

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91

Woke up with a cup of Zhu Rong and now I’m a few cups into this and it’s really helping wake me up nicely.

This is a nice, creamy, sweet and slightly smoky sheng. There are hints of spice and aromatic wood along with a slight mustiness and fruitness. My favorite part about it is the creamy texture and sweet aftertaste. This is very nice. I’m feeling ready to tackle my interview now.

Update: I GOT THE JOB!

Bonnie

What interview?!

Scatterbrain

Just got back. I was applying for a job at a local thrift store. I’m a little cynical right now though, they interviewed like four other people and they were all fully grown, outgoing and friendly adults and I was very nervous. : /

Bonnie

None of them can write a tea review though. Next interview take some tea and a copy of your reviews heh!

Missy

Good luck :D

Hesper June

Do not let this discourage you!
My first job there was 3 other people who were ‘full grown’ and very qualified, however that was not what they were looking for…they were looking for someone who was trainable and I was that:)

Hesper June

YAH!!! Congrats!!!! ( wink, wink…I told you so;)

Bonnie

WOW! Congrat’s! Hope you have a thermos!

Scatterbrain

Hehe thanks Hesper.

Indigobloom

congrats!! maybe you can convert them to tea drinkers ;P

Scatterbrain

Thanks everyone. :)

Daisy Chubb

YAY congrats!!!

ashmanra

Hooray!

Scatterbrain

Thanks guys. I didn’t know it was possible for people to not get the job because they’re TOO qualified, but it worked out for me! :)

Alphakitty

Congratulations!

Missy

Yay for you!

Lucy

Congratulations!

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99

This a great shu. Possibly the best I’ve ever had. It’s so rich while still being smooth and light on the tongue. It’s pure and sweet, complete mellow earthiness that leaves a little tingle on my tongue as I’m transported to an old library or antique shop. It makes me feel like I’m going on a mental journey back in time. I envision the leaves piled up in a tea workshop in 1998, when I was only four years old. There’s just something amazing about it to me, that the tea I’m drinking right now has been waiting for me, mellowing and maturing for me for the past fourteen years. I didn’t know when I was four years old that there was an amazing tea sitting in storage in China that was destined to fill my cup and make me happy in the future. Absolutely delicious.

Bonnie

Oh boy, this is a special Puer! It does special things that are mystical…not only tasting the best but messing with your head too! I know you enjoyed this tea. I just received some more myself I love it!!!! A must have in my book!!!!

Bonnie

Multiple steeps, a must…this and Spring Laoshan White…are WOW! Transcendental!

Spoonvonstup

I love this review! I agree with you completely… I was 11 when this tea was first picked and processed.. (6th grade, with my first locker and changing classes like a real high-schooler).

TheTeaFairy

I really enjoyed your review of his tea, love that it took you to another place, a good one…

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90

Sweet, soothing, crisp and refreshing. I always love a good jasmine.

Guess what! I have a job interview on friday! I really hope it goes well because this would be my first job and I really need the money for tea, hehe. Wish me luck.

Hesper June

Best of luck!

momo

Good luck on your interview!

Scatterbrain

Thank you. :)

Azzrian

GOOD LUCK :)

Will Work For Tea

Congrats on landing an interview!

ashmanra

Oh yay! Money for tea is a good thing – LOL! I wish you the best!

K S

Be confident but humble. Best of luck.

Tabby

Woo, good luck!

Missy

yay! good luck!

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Profile

Bio

My name is Kyle. I love good tea, a good book, the great outdoors, and I am passionate about music. I also find enjoyment in writing and mountain biking here in beautiful Central Oregon.

Tea is a hugely misunderstood and under-appreciated gift in the western world, and my hope is to spread the gift of quality tea. It is communion between the passion of man and the raw beauty of nature. It is art, and it is therapy. I hope you enjoy my writings.

Location

Bend, Oregon

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