76

This is definitely a niche tea but I like it more than not for its similarities to Silk Road’s Chocolate Panda (which contains vanilla so I like that one slightly better).

I think the aroma and flavouring is reminiscent of those licorice hard candies you get at Greek restaurants (there are also cinnamon ones). Sweet sugar, anise, with a touch of chocolate and barley (all hail the Barley Mother) to give it a “thickness” which I will generously dub “creamy.”

I added milk to my last steeped sample portion and kind of wish I’d been drinking it that way the whole time. It toned down the more medicinal aspects of this blend and made “creamy” truly creamy. Also a nice way to wind down with some “horror” novels (plural) last night. I don’t usually read or watch a lot of horror – I’m more a fantasy/sci-fi person but it’s always nice to branch out to the other speculative fiction genre every now and then.

My mom could not even handle the smell of a steeped cup so your mileage may vary.

Flavors: Anise, Chocolate, Creamy, Licorice, Medicinal, Roasted Barley

Preparation
Boiling 6 min, 0 sec
derk

Hm, yes. I might have to buy this again.

Crowkettle

When I’ve worked my way through the AU samples I think this will be part of the reorder too. It’s soothing.

tea-sipper

ooo.. wondering which horror novels?

Crowkettle

Oddball ones: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (almost finished), Revelator by Daryl Gregory (just started), Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo (finished; more of an LGBT+ Southern Gothic), and queuing The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher. Also queuing the not-horror Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett because I value my sanity and it’s spooky month themed too.

I’ve never read a single King novel in my life and I feel a tiny bit bad about that. I’m open to general horror/gothic recommendations right now, lol

tea-sipper

Oh cool, no time for King because you’re reading a bunch of new stuff! Everyone else can have him covered. haha. I have been meaning to read ‘House of Leaves’ for about a decade of spooky months now. :/

Crowkettle

Picking up the more recent stuff means I’m not sure I’ve the best baseline for what “horror” in book format is supposed to look like. I’ve read some old Victorian gothics, children fic (Coraline count? lol), and then this new stuff – a lot of it reminding me of the old gothic stuff or the kids stuff haha.

House of Leaves sounds interesting (and also a lot): “their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.” – Dr. Who, is that you? Will also to the TBR list for.. one day.

derk

House of Leaves was the most intense read I’ve ever experienced and it so deftly applied fire and ice to exposed nerves. It was like a Choose Your Own Adventure for overthinking adults. How far into insanity I was willing to go was up to me, though I wouldn’t say I was always at the helm.

derk

Either of you have any southern gothic recommendations? Why am I asking, though. I should really finish the Dark Tower series.

mrmopar

Twilight Eyes by Dean Koontz.

Crowkettle

I just learned Southern Gothic is a thing 9 days ago and was sort of hoping for suggestions too, haha

Thanks, everyone.

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Comments

derk

Hm, yes. I might have to buy this again.

Crowkettle

When I’ve worked my way through the AU samples I think this will be part of the reorder too. It’s soothing.

tea-sipper

ooo.. wondering which horror novels?

Crowkettle

Oddball ones: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (almost finished), Revelator by Daryl Gregory (just started), Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo (finished; more of an LGBT+ Southern Gothic), and queuing The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher. Also queuing the not-horror Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett because I value my sanity and it’s spooky month themed too.

I’ve never read a single King novel in my life and I feel a tiny bit bad about that. I’m open to general horror/gothic recommendations right now, lol

tea-sipper

Oh cool, no time for King because you’re reading a bunch of new stuff! Everyone else can have him covered. haha. I have been meaning to read ‘House of Leaves’ for about a decade of spooky months now. :/

Crowkettle

Picking up the more recent stuff means I’m not sure I’ve the best baseline for what “horror” in book format is supposed to look like. I’ve read some old Victorian gothics, children fic (Coraline count? lol), and then this new stuff – a lot of it reminding me of the old gothic stuff or the kids stuff haha.

House of Leaves sounds interesting (and also a lot): “their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.” – Dr. Who, is that you? Will also to the TBR list for.. one day.

derk

House of Leaves was the most intense read I’ve ever experienced and it so deftly applied fire and ice to exposed nerves. It was like a Choose Your Own Adventure for overthinking adults. How far into insanity I was willing to go was up to me, though I wouldn’t say I was always at the helm.

derk

Either of you have any southern gothic recommendations? Why am I asking, though. I should really finish the Dark Tower series.

mrmopar

Twilight Eyes by Dean Koontz.

Crowkettle

I just learned Southern Gothic is a thing 9 days ago and was sort of hoping for suggestions too, haha

Thanks, everyone.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

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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