85

So I tried this, and yaupon in general, for the first time today. And I really liked it!

The dry leaf is so pretty, large but thin flakes in a myriad of earthy green shades. Dry scent reminded me of alfalfa hay and perhaps a bit of dried fig. Once steeped, the aroma shifts more toward oats and honey, still with some lighter hay notes. The color is quite dark and reminds me of olive oil!

I am honestly so surprised by how much I like this! It’s extremely mellow with a smooth grain-like flavor to it that does remind me of oats. There’s also a bit of hay and some autumn leaf in there, and a lovely honeyed sweetness. Tiny hint of earthy smokiness in the background perhaps. And then there’s a soft fruitiness that makes me think of dried apple rings. Ooh, was that a whisper of pine for a second…?

Overall, I really like this. It reminds me of some kind of cross between an aged white tea, an oxidized oolong, and some kind of light and earthy herb, maybe linden? And I am here for it! It’ll be really interesting to try the other two from the sampler pack I got, which are medium and heavy roast versions.

P.S. – Others didn’t seem to like this one nearly as much as I did. Am I crazy…? XD

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMx0-TihHyN/

Flavors: Apple, Autumn Leaf Pile, Dried Fruit, Earth, Fig, Grain, Hay, Honey, Oats, Pine, Smoke, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
Martin Bednář

You aren’t crazy. You have different experience. Maybe mine wasn’t the freshest. I was thinking about placing the order, but shipping is nightmare. And I have received a coupon for free shipping (already expired :/) and I haven’t got mood for ordering MORE tea in that moment.

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Martin Bednář

You aren’t crazy. You have different experience. Maybe mine wasn’t the freshest. I was thinking about placing the order, but shipping is nightmare. And I have received a coupon for free shipping (already expired :/) and I haven’t got mood for ordering MORE tea in that moment.

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron! I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January Sipdowns: 6
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 6

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I’ll also often use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however. I also enjoy maté, rooibos, and honeybush. I love matcha and drink it often! Fruit tisanes are not a favorite, but I’m always willing to try them.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially passionfruit, mango, and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura, chamomile, and elderflower. Osmanthus is also a favorite of mine. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing

Location

Austin, Texas

Website

https://www.instagram.com/tea...

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