16 Tasting Notes

16
drank Swampwater by DAVIDsTEA
16 tasting notes

I wanted to like this tea. I really, really did.

I loved the smell. I adored the murky green colour. I thought it was going to be an amazing tea, and I even liked it the first time I tried it! But the reason why I liked it was because it was loaded with agave nectar, to the point where I could barely even taste the actual tea.

I tried Swampwater again several other times – both hot and iced – and each time I hoped that it would be a better experience. MAYBE I would like it this time. MAYBE there just wasn’t enough tea before. MAYBE it was just how the person serving me prepared it. But nope! Each time I was met with nothing but disappointment.

The colouring of the tea is pretty, but it’s all artificial, and so is the taste. When I drank it black, I didn’t taste any natural flavouring. It was more like I was tasting what somebody thought something was supposed to taste like. Does that make sense? I hope it does.

Anyway, aside from that, the tea itself was just hopelessly bitter, bland, and… well, gross.

The only time I liked it was when it was so full of agave nectar that I couldn’t taste anything else, and that is Not Good. If a tea only becomes palatable after one adds an overwhelming amount of sweetener, I consider that a failure.

I’m done with trying this tea, and I don’t plan on wasting my money on it again. I would advise everyone else to do the same.

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 4 min, 45 sec

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92
drank Chocolate Orange Pu-erh by Teaopia
16 tasting notes

This tea is amazing. Seriously, it is. The chocolate flavour isn’t muted or overwhelming, and the same goes for the orange. It’s a magnificent balance of flavouring, and the pu-erh base isn’t too strong, either.

To be honest, the best way I can describe it is that it’s like drinking Terry’s Chocolate Orange – no, I am not kidding. It is that good.

My only issue is that the flavour could stand to be enhanced a little bit more, but a little bit of agave nectar should be able to take care of that with no trouble.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 6 min, 0 sec

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81
drank Coconut Bongo by Tealish
16 tasting notes

This was my second experience at Tealish, and to be honest? I wasn’t expecting much, considering how poor my first one was.

However, I was proven wrong! A couple of days ago I ventured over to Tealish with a friend of mine. She got the Lemon Meringue and I got the Coconut Bongo. It was good! REALLY good! It was smooth, warm, and almost creamy? Even though I took it black. It was a pleasant surprise, and it was quite enjoyable. The coconut flavour came through quite nicely, and there was another flavour in there too that I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but it reminded me of buttered popcorn! Odd, but not bad.

Honestly, my only real issue was that the tea was a bit too bland for my tastes. Though that’s probably because the person serving it didn’t let it steep long enough. Either way, it’s good enough that I might consider getting some to take home the next time I visit Tealish.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 5 min, 0 sec
Buy the Stars

I only wish the Lemon Meringue had been as good! I may have to follow your lead when we try new teas on the fly, since your choices have a better track record than mine. |D

Angus

Haha, maybe! Though the Lemon Meringue wasn’t bad, I definitely agree that the Coconut Bongo was better. Though I wouldn’t completely trust my judgement, as I’ve had a good share of bad tea experiences as well. |D I think I just got lucky those times.

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96
drank Love Spell by Teaopia
16 tasting notes

It’s about time I write a positive review on here, so I may as well start with this.

This tea is… not perfect (because let’s be honest here, nothing is), but it comes pretty damned close to perfection. It smells absolutely HEAVENLY, and the taste does not disappoint, either. Every single flavour comes through clearly, and it’s an absolutely wonderful balance of flavour as well. The heart shaped candies are a very cute touch, and they also add another note of sweetness along with the papaya, pineapple, and coconut. But the best part is that it’s not overwhelmingly sweet, either! It’s just right.

I just… I am honestly having a hard time thinking about all the details of this tea that I absolutely love, because there’s so much to love! Funny how I can be so detailed about a tea I dislike, but when I come across one I genuinely adore, I struggle to figure out a good way to put things into words.

Either way, Teaopia’s Love Spell has certainly put ME under a spell. Give it a try, and maybe it’ll happen to you, too.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 5 min, 30 sec

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32
drank Strawberry Fields by Tealish
16 tasting notes

I tried this tea while I was out shopping yesterday, and I have to say I wasn’t terribly impressed.

However, I’m not sure if it was the tea itself or how the particular employee serving me prepared it. She said it would take four minutes for the tea to steep, and told me to just have a look around the shop or take a seat while I waited. I waited, and then she handed it over to me when it was done.

I left Tealish to continue shopping and immediately burned my mouth upon taking a drink. One would think that it would have cooled down enough to drink after four minutes, but it was still FAR too hot to enjoy or even taste anything.

I waited several more minutes for the tea to cool down, and when I tried it again, it was hopelessly bland. There was none of that rich, warm, soothing flavour that normally comes with rooibos, no fruity taste, no nothing. It just tasted like slightly sweet hot water. Disappointing.

Now, it might not be the tea itself that’s the problem. It may have been how long it steeped, how much the of the tea the Tealish employee actually used, or it may have just been my damaged tastebuds being unable to comprehend a potentially awesome tea.

Either way, I’m not sure I’d want to pay for another cup just to find out.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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30
drank Pumpkin Chai by DAVIDsTEA
16 tasting notes

The first word that comes to mind when I think of this tea is “disappointment”.

It isn’t BAD and it certainly isn’t the worst tea I’ve ever had, but it really fell flat when I tried it and didn’t live up to my expectations.

When I went to David’s to find a new tea to try, I thought I’d try a cup of the Pumpkin Chai, so I asked to smell it. When it was brought to me, I smelled it, and immediately told them to forget about the cup and to instead give me a 50g bag. It smelled AMAZING. It smelled sweet, spicy, warm, and it honestly made me feel like it was autumn all over again. The scent was just phenomenal, even better than I thought it would have been. I went home and I was so excited to try it. I wanted to see if it really was as amazing as I thought it was going to be.

It wasn’t. It really, REALLY wasn’t.

There was no spiciness, no pumpkin flavour, no nothing. All it tasted like was boring, bland, black tea. It was just… dull. It lacked all the flavours and sensations that the scent seemed to promise.

I tried it several more times, to see if maybe it was just a fluke, but nope. Each time it was the same, disappointing tea I had tried the first time.

All in all? If you like the taste of regular black tea, go for it. But if you try this tea and expect something phenomenal, prepare to be disappointed. I know I certainly was.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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