1433 Tasting Notes

85

Backlog. I drank a whole pot of this last night and it kept me good and wired until about 7am. Funny how the coconut all fell to the bottom of the bag; as I work my way through 80grams it becomes more distinct.

What I’m actually drinking right now: Black coffee. I tried to log “coffee” on here a few minutes ago and then had an epiphany! My brain has apparently turned to mush.

OMGsrsly

Good one. I almost tried to do that earlier this morning… :)

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88
drank With Open Eyes by Butiki Teas
1433 tasting notes

My essay beverage (aka-stress management tea) of the semester.

It’s that time in November again where almost everything school related just sucks, sucks, sucks. This tea and Kuchar’s rendition of Shostakovich’s Gadfly Suite are helping me rationalize my existence as it stands right now, and help me forget that I must neglect Three-Day Road in order to finish this sad paper.

You know, I’ve listened to this so many times over the years without ever looking into the background of it. I’ll have to read The Gadfly someday when I have a life again. I want to read so many books that aren’t related to school right now, it’s not even funny.

Preparation
3 min, 30 sec
Courtney

Haha there is definitely a correlation between the amount of school work I have to do and the things I suddenly find interesting that are not related to school work that’s due.

Fjellrev

Ugh, sorry it’s sucking for you. We’ll be finished in a month. But it’ll be a loooooong month, I’m sure.

Plunkybug

It’s times like this that I’m glad I’m out of school. ;) But surely you’re making time out for the DW 50th anniversary special on Saturday, riiiiight? ;)

Crowkettle

Thanks Incendiare! It’s all my fault really as I did exactly as Courtney implied. :P I hope your workload is month is more smoothly set out than mine (can’t wait for winter break)!

Ah, Heather! By this Saturday almost all of my due dates will have passed and I can enjoy being lethargic again. I’m so stoked for the anniversary special.

tea-sipper

I definitely can relate to the too-many-books-I-want-to-read-right-now problem!

Crowkettle

After not having one for years I got a library card at the beginning of the semester. Turns out that was a huge mistake. I have a pile of fifteen books beside my bed just begging to be read.. and it’s paper season!

Plunkybug

I’ll be at the Odeon showing at 11:50am…super excited. Also, Vic High is doing a fundraiser at The Vic Theatre Friday night…

Fjellrev

Geez, I haven’t read a book in years. Never time for that.

But I can’t wait for the break either!

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drank Winter Fire by Butiki Teas
1433 tasting notes

Never for a moment did I think this would live up to the heat of its listed ingredients, even with the little “spicy” warning on the label. There have been too many disappointing run ins with “chili” teas that have all the spice of well boiled bell peppers stuffed with white bread.

Then there’s this, which is just like taking a shot of cayenne sauce and cinnamon. Um, wow! I think my roommate was even taken aback for a moment (the joys of shoving “mystery cups” in front of people and making them drink). She usually has a higher spice tolerance, with all her Indonesian cuisine, so the slight reaction was impressive!

It’s almost like that first sip of Fireball that burns.. Once you get accustomed to it the drink starts to taste sweet, although this is nowhere near as cloyingly sweet as Fireball.

Thanks for this fun sample, Stacy! It arrived just in time to help me stay awake for this paper.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 6 min, 0 sec
JustJames

lol….. excellent review! you had me chuckling away…..

Stephanie

I’ve been wanting to try that one! I like spicy stuff :)

Butiki Teas

I like to double the amount to a tablespoon to make it extra hot. This one is works wonders for me when my sinuses are stuffed.

Crowkettle

Glad you were amused, James. :)

Yes! I thought how perfect this would be during a bad sinus infection. I’m also tempted to pick up more just so I can mix it into things that should be spicier. I really appreciate that this exists.

Butiki Teas

Thanks! Our secret is the Bird’s Eye chilies ground up with seeds and the cayenne. There are 2 things that I do that help out with the sinuses with this tea. I keep a small jar full of the dry leaves and just inhale until I start sneezing like crazy. Sounds weird but it helps. Also, I make the tea extra strong and put my face over it and inhale then take a sip then inhale and I keep switching it up. I also think the caffeine helps too. It’s not a popular blend but we will always make it so that I can keep it around my house. That’s an interesting idea to use it to spice other things up

tea-sipper

Yes, this is my go-to tea for sinus problems. :D

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Yes! My little Butiki order finally came in! The Della Terra and Red Leaf orders arrived a week ago but I’ve been looking forward to this one especially. I was extremely excited about the Leafhopper magnet, guys. My roommates don’t seem to understand my enthusiasm but they will. Soon.

For me, the vanilla frosting is the most prominent, after the carrot bread flavour. This is a very convincing carrot cake; the lingering aftertaste of vanilla and carrot bread is spot on. The light sprinkle of spices remind me somewhat of the amazing Pumpkin Milkshake blend, which I’m off to make a cup of right now!

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
Sil

So excited to be able to order this one soooon!

MissB

Oooh. Even though I have a ton to tea to try right now, this makes me wish my Bukiti order was here already.

Courtney

Haha I ordered this one in my last order and it was so delicious, today I ordered another 2oz. Whoops!

Butiki Teas

Yay, glad to see you were excited about the leafhopper magnet. I’ve used it quite effectively as a conversation starter. Anyone coming into my house has asked why I have a bunch of those bug magnets on the fridge and unbeknownst to them it gives me a great opportunity to talk about tea and have them drink some.

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drank Thurbo Darjeeling by Butiki Teas
1433 tasting notes

This is the last type left from the Butiki Darjeeling sampler I split with OMGsrsly. It’s the last because it’s the one I originally cared for the least.

My taste buds seem to have done a complete reversal, or maybe I’m finally acquiring a taste for Darjeeling teas, as I’m really loving this today. I’d like to think I’m maturing, and that it has nothing to do with the fact that Della Terra’s monstrous Pineapple Upside Down Cake sat in this same steeper cup just last night. That’s totally not why the veggie hay notes taste so honeyed today.

The spiced wood, the wispy hay, and the tart fruity notes are all this tea’s own though, and they make for a great flavor profile!

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 45 sec
Stephanie

Darjeelings are really growing on me! This one is particularly good :)

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87

One scoop matcha, 3/4 almond milk, and 1/4 1% milk. Ran out of almond milk! :(

I think I may like this equally to, or even more than my caramel matcha. I’m putting this on my list as a “seasonal” repurchase. It’s so ridiculously creamy with the milk, and the spices are at a nice level.

Stephanie

Everyone seems to start out with the Caramel, and its good and all, but I’ve found some of the other flavors to be superior as well. My fave is the coconut so far :)

BrewTEAlly Sweet

I wish I could afford this! I’m soooo jealous. And I’m in with Stephanie coconut and white matcha are my favorites so far.

Stephanie

OMG we must try the coconut flavor on a WHITE matcha base some day!

BrewTEAlly Sweet

How funny I was thinking that the other day!

Crowkettle

I don’t know about the regular coconut matcha, but the coconut matchaccino has become an accidental permanent resident at my parent’s place. They also think it’s the best flavour :)

I agree with Stephanie- a coconut flavoured white matcha base sounds amazing. What flavoring level do both of you normally get?

BrewTEAlly Sweet

Whatever staphanie gets she’s my matched supplier ha ha

BrewTEAlly Sweet

Matcha* (autocorrect)

Stephanie

I forget what it is called but I like the middle range flavor level. Not the highest or the lowest.

VariaTEA

I just tried my first matcha the other day. I was always curious as to how the different matchas (i.e. white, red, etc.) compare to the original. This however sounds great.

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I killed this one today by forgetting about it. It just tastes like hot hibiscus juice with a salty nut lingering taste. Whoops.

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82

Ok, months have passed since Cavocorax sent me a sample of this. I dismissed it at the time as being too sweet and cloying for me, but shortly after I finished the sample I began CRAVING it. Nicole’s descriptive comment of an actual Pineapple Upside Down Cake on my old note reinforced that craving. I finally caved in last week and ordered some more, along with my staple Lime Chiffon.

Yep, It still tastes like rich citrusy cake. I’m actually getting some fruity pineapple before the finish/midsip, and their is a citrus sour aftertaste. This is not an everyday tea but I’ll keep it tucked away for when I really need a slice of cream-filled cake.

And here I was just complaining about how over-the-top sweet the winter blends from David’s Tea are. To give this tea some credit it’s less oily looking then RVC, Coffee Cake, etc.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 30 sec

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I’ve since amended my ways, but as a six year old fruit loops, particularly the blue variety, were one of my favourite things in the whole wide world. I only encountered them when we stayed in hotels with continental breakfasts- aka, when we stayed overnight at the pit stop, Santa Nella, on our way down to Disneyland.

The smell of this tea brings back memories. Hello fruit loops. Hello Santa Nella. Are we at Disneyland yet? Nope.

The chocolate is a nice touch to the candied blueberry note; I never thought to try fruit loops with chocolate milk! I think there some pop tart undertones here too. Aw.. I haven’t had a pop tart since elementary school.

Quick Summary: the tea has a profile of candied berry fruit, limp chocolate, and malt. Like fruit loops, or pop tarts, there’s something cheap and fun about this tea. It has its own appeal and the ghost candies are cute. This cup is hitting that nostalgic satisfying spot right now.

Thanks for including this as a sample, Della Terra, and also for the speedy delivery! This got here in less than four business days.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 30 sec
tea-sipper

oh boy. I had a pop tart… yesterday. :D

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I could do without this in my life.

Tastes and smells a bit like bubblegum. Salty, smokey bacon pops into the finish and aftertaste, but the cup has more of a candied citrus thing going for it.

Not bad, actually kind of neat, but I still wish it would leave my life forever.

I’ll give it a rating when I finally work through my packet. Only then will my deepest, darkest feelings for this rooibos be fully realized.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 30 sec
OMGsrsly

Hah! I got a sample of this one from Dexter3657, and haven’t had the courage to try it yet.

Spencer

Candied citrus is spot-on. Thanks for the chance to try this!

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Profile

Bio

I started my Steepster loose leaf adventure back in 2012. I can’t say I’m completely new anymore, but I still view oolong as a magical, extraterrestrial creature that unfurls in water.

My favourites are teas like Milk Oolong, Silver Needle,and Japanese Sencha/Gyokuro, or fruity and floral flavoured ones. However, I generally enjoy ALL the teas, including a good old cup of Earl Grey or Breakfast blend.

FAVOURITE INGREDIENTS/NOTES:

DESSERT FLAVOURS
Vanilla, Maple, Caramel, Butterscotch, Cream, Toffee, Nougat, Marzipan, Butter

FRUIT & BERRIES
Citrus Fruits, Passionfruit, Banana, Pineapple, Melons, Blackberry, Raspberry, Currants, Elderberry, Persimmon, Rhubarb..

SPICES
Ginger, Turmeric, Clove-forward chai, Cardamom

AROMATIC & HERBACEOUS NOTES
Sandalwood, Frankincense, Juniper, Eucalyptus, Mints

FLORALS
Lavender, Jasmine, Rose, Lilac, Violet, etc.

VEGGIE/GRAIN NOTES
Spinach, Grass, Hay, Cucumber, Rice, Sweet Potato

Less Preferred Flavours/Ingredients:
Stevia, Apple, Cocoa Nib, Almond, Licorice, Cinnamon-forward blends, Chinese Sencha

Subjective Rating System:
I don’t give a lot of low ratings out, since a) I tend to grab tea I know will appeal to me, and b) I don’t have a lot of strong dislikes.

90-100: Favourites. The Desert Island Teas.
80-89: Loved teas. Possibly staple-worthy.
70-79: Good teas, but I’m less likely to repurchase. Minor quibbles.
60-69: Ok teas. Likely a few preference and/or quality issues.
50-59: Cup of meh. Will do in a pinch.
11-49: Varying levels of undrinkable tea.
1-10: Nightmare tea from the chaos realms. This tea is the embodiment of the primordial swamp, an unholy abomination. It’s very gross and I’m almost positive it doesn’t exist.

Location

BC, Canada

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