1430 Tasting Notes

88
drank Dream On by 52teas
1430 tasting notes

I saw Kittenna’s note and realized I’d never logged this – despite ordering extra after loving the subscription sample. I finished my last packet of this off around the start of the New Year but it deserves more love.

This blend reminds me of some of my chamomile favourites: Citrus Dream from good old Butiki, and Moondrop Dreams from Bird & Blend (see a theme?). It’s that soft pillow of floral sleepy times (lavender, chamomile) mixed with an indulgent citrusy creamsicle (this had strawberry, I believe, whereas Butiki used goji and B&B uses typical citrus fruits). It’s charming; I consider this kind of blend essential but I sadly go through it way too quickly.

I hope this gets reblended at some point because it’s fantastic.

Flavors: Chamomile, Citrusy, Creamy, Floral, Fruity, Lavender, Strawberry, Vanilla

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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86
drank Lassi Mango by Dammann Frères
1430 tasting notes

It smells like MANGO BISCUITS (::dies::).

Mangoes. Creamy, biscuit-y Mangoes. With almond flour.

I’d given up on finding a Mango tea I liked until stumbling on DFs excellent passion fruit flavouring (which isn’t remotely the same thing, but still). It’s not quite perfect and it’s simple, but I still love this tea to the point that I have to hide it from myself at times so I don’t drink it every day.

It may be a diluted, “baked” kind of Mango, and it’s unsurprisingly more of an almond cookie than a rich, tangy lassi (it’s missing the cardamom and yogurt mouthfeel) but it’s a Mango I can believe in (and buy in large quantities). The nilgiri base is also a plush, smooth cushion of a black tea. Not much of a nip, but enough to prevent this tasting flat.

Today I drank it alongside a dosa and sambar (South Indian Cuisine but still a fine pairing). And the sun is out! I can’t stay sad.

Steep Count: 2

Flavors: Almond, Cookie, Creamy, Fruity, Malt, Mango, Smooth, Stewed Fruits, Sweet, Tangy

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
Cameron B.

I love Lupicia’s mango, but this sounds wonderful too!

Crowkettle

I’ve not had the pleasure of trying Lupicia’s mango teas (that ripe mango pouchong looks divine), but I imagine they’re better than this one (vague memories of trying momo and melon teas and remembering how vibrant and sweet they were).

Still, this one isn’t bad at all! :P

Cameron B.

I love Dammann in general so I’m sure I’d enjoy it. Definitely on the list for my next order!

P.S. – Just let me know if you’d like to try the Ripe Mango Oolong, I have plenty to share! :3

Kelmishka

Ahh, this sounds so delightful!

Courtney

Oooh! This one was on my wishlist, but I was waiting for some tea notes XD. You’ve made this sound just delicious!

Crowkettle

@Cameron B. – as a Canadian, trying Lupicia teas is a huge temptation; I may reach out when I get my (tea) life together :)

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drank Mai Tai Green Tea by 52teas
1430 tasting notes

Mastress Alita’s Sipdown Challenge January 2022: A Tea that reminds you of an Alcoholic Beverage

I polished this off by steeping it today in the fridge. I think it brings out the “rum” and tones down the nippier ingredients in the blend (the green base blend and vibrant citrus). It tastes more like the essence of Mai Tai this way, minus the sweetness I associate with the cocktail (kind of wish I’d experimented with sweetening it, maybe with grenadine). I also wish there was a hint of vanilla here, to mimic dark/spiced rum that’s sometimes used, but that’s just me!

June 2021 Reblend Tea

Flavors: Citrus Fruits, Citrus Zest, Lime, Orange, Rum, Vegetal

Preparation
Iced
Evol Ving Ness

Hmm, another candidate for adding the Kracken to. :)

Crowkettle

Yes, I wish I’d been more adventurous and turned this into a tea cocktail!

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76

Mastress Alita’s Sipdown Challenge January 2022: A Cream-Flavoured Tea

This sipdown took a bit of work. Also came to the realization that, while I enjoy this tea and think it’s neat, it’s not my favourite and I’ve been drinking “around” it. I ordered from this company about two years ago and only this and Gina Amaretta are left (and they are beginning to age unfavourably). It’s time to say goodbye!

Flavors: Cream, Irish Cream, Malt, Smooth, Tangy, Whiskey

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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Backlog from around New Year’s Eve. Received as a sample from Dammann Freres (the company included three).

They weren’t lying when they said the dominant note is rhubarb. It’s not even sweetened rhubarb so it’s pretty herbaceous, slightly sour, and watery. the other fruity and floral additions are less apparent – although, they contribute sweet, floral, and earthy notes to the cup in turn.

It’s not something I’d rush out to buy but it is fresh and clean.

Flavors: Earthy, Floral, Fruity, Herbaceous, Rhubarb, Sour, Tree Fruit

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 7 min, 0 sec 16 OZ / 473 ML

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90

The weather is gloomy rain and I got my booster shot today. The two books I’m currently flipping between are both slowburn tales. (The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley is whimsical and slow; The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara is repulsive and slow, with a MC who has the hubris and “issues” of Victor Frankenstein x100, with extra content warnings.)

Mood: lethargic. I need to put together a parcel and pack up the Christmas decorations. Tomorrow. Tonight is for this tea and too many blankets.

Flavors: Brandy, Bread, Caramel, Coconut, Cream, Honey, Malt, Root Beer, Smooth, Vanilla

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
Evol Ving Ness

Hurray for booster day! Hope the after effects are easy and mild.

I hope you have treats for today too.

Crowkettle

Lots of treats, and infinite books! +300 unread ones on my kobo (my book hoarding is worse than my tea collection).

The side effects seem mild again (fingers crossed).

Leafhopper

Glad to hear you got your booster! And yes, The People in the Trees is a disturbing book.

Evol Ving Ness

Good to hear that after effects are gentle. Yay!

My (Moderna) booster exhausted me. I slept and slept and ate and ate and then I was fine.

I hear you. Books and tea both happily crowd me.

Crowkettle

@Evol Ving Ness. That sounds identical to my day. I took so many naps this evening, and ate so much food..

@Leafhopper, this is my first Hanya Yanagihara novel; it’s definitely compelling so far, despite the heavy themes, unpalatable narrator(s), and real-world tie-in with Carleton Gajdusek :|

Evol Ving Ness

Oh, in that case, you should wake up in reasonably fine form.

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67
drank Capri by August Uncommon Tea
1430 tasting notes

Sipdown!

This herbal taste like a lot of mint with vague summer fruit inserts. It is what it is.

Flavors: Apple, Earthy, Fruity, Herbaceous, Melon, Mint

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
Evol Ving Ness

Hmm, vague summer fruits. Plagiarism!

hehehe :)

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80

Mastress Alita’s Sipdown Challenge January 2022: A Tea with Bean Notes

Another tea bag unearthed during the Great Congestion. I consider this quite the find and don’t know where it could’ve possibly come from. Back when I first started venturing more into tea I really wanted to try this tea company, and this tea in particular. Don’t ask me why. I don’t believe they ship to Canada, however.

Before steeping, it was not promising – a generously filled satchet with some brown looking, sour smelling, long-leafed tea. How old is this thing? Add water and the leaf remembers it’s green and gives off a wonderful lemon-hued butter veggie aroma. To taste, it has notes found in other Chinese green and white teas (ie – Silver Needle, Dragon Well): lemon, sesame, green beans, spinach (you know how spinach has that milky calcium quality?), melon. It’s smooth, nearing cream and butter.

Yeah, this is a treasure in a tea bag.

Flavors: Bamboo, Butter, Cream, Floral, Grass, Green Beans, Lemon, Melon, Nutty, Peas, Sesame, Smooth, Spinach, Sweet, Vegetal

Preparation
170 °F / 76 °C 2 min, 0 sec 12 OZ / 354 ML
Evol Ving Ness

This tea company has also been on my wanted list. Maybe one day.

Crowkettle

I made a mock order and they do ship to Canada – for $20.

I think I may wait to visit Portland directly (or for a particularly weak-willed evening).

Mastress Alita

I went to Portland in 2019 for the PDX Tea Fest and visited one of their local stores while there. I was a bit sad that even visiting them directly, other than ordering just a cup of tea, I still couldn’t get a bag of loose leaf smaller than 4 oz (which is just too big for me).

Daylon R Thomas

They have some unique blends like Rose City Genmaicha and a good Jasmine, but I think they are a bit overpriced. The company has become especially steep with their limited edition blends, and there are some quality loose leaf that you can get elsewhere for cheaper.

Crowkettle

The lack of size selection and generally high prices is further exacerbated on my end by the exchange rate and shipping costs.

The Rose City Genmaicha and Ice Cream Oolong are big temptations for me but, even with a 10% coupon and this delicious mystery sample, I think I’ll pass for the time being (to be revisited at a time when the tea cupboard is smaller and bank account is fuller).

Evol Ving Ness

All of those factors come out to a firm no. At least for now.

Kittenna

Ice cream oolong?!

Daylon R Thomas

They call it Ice Cream Royale. The original blend had jasmine with Jin Xuan, salt, a lot of vanilla, sugar, and some amaretto. The modern one uses chamomile. It’s a brilliant blend, but they charge close to $2 or more a sachet, which is insane.

Evol Ving Ness

That one sounds tantalizing, but with all the prohibitive factors, especially for us in Canada, still a firm no.

Crowkettle

If I ever cave and order online or pick some up while visiting Portland I’ll buy 4oz and share it. XD

Evol Ving Ness

I adore you for even the thought of it. It doesn’t actually have to happen. :)

Kittenna

Ugh, so tempting! One day. If I could get one sachet, I’d be cool with paying $2 or so for it. I mean, I’ve paid nearly $7 for drinks from Starbucks before!

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you, Kittena, for bringing logic to the tea math.

Crowkettle

Yeah, it’s just within the realm of what I’m willing to pay for tea. A coupon would sweeten the deal, but I don’t want to pay shipping on top of it if possible (US free shipping threshold is a low $39 so if I can arrange a border PO in WA that would be fine).

I don’t mind buying 3.5oz – 4oz as either as long as my cupboard is emptier and I have possible people to share it with (stale tea is sad tea). Right now my cupboard is full from DF’s 4oz Christmas splurge, and some reaaally old teas so I’m looking at spring lol.

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Here’s another tea bag I earthed up during peak congestion and stashed for later consumption. It’s from Numi’s “Nspire” series, and their website implies it’s intended for iced tea purposes (whoops).

It’s not super exciting: the jasmine is pretty strong, the green base is.. green and astringent (puckering mouth feel), but still kind of smooth. There’s something of the collard greens about it (slight bitter veg, but not unpleasantly so). Probably a twiggy base. There’s a hint of floral sweetness. It’s not something I’d run out to get, and doesn’t hold a candle to other jasmine teas I’ve had, but it’s drinkable!

Flavors: Astringent, Floral, Grass, Jasmine, Kale, Metallic, Vegetal, Woody

Preparation
170 °F / 76 °C 2 min, 0 sec 12 OZ / 354 ML

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76

Mastress Alita’s Sipdown Challenge January 2022: Apricot Tea

I was positive that I didn’t have an apricot tea in my collection, and I spent the majority of my time drinking this thinking it was a nectarine tea! (or something decidedly not apricot, even though it tastes just like apricot). I’m also surprised to see that this blend is from November 2020. Wow. I’m usually better at drinking up my subscription blends.

This isn’t my favourite honeybush or muffin blend from 52Teas, but it’s still pretty tasty! the stonefruit and cranberry flavours come through as gently tart and tangy, over top of buttery baked bread. The honeybush and the fruits are sweet too – complimenting the light tartness. There’s a bit of a spicy burn to finish and as a lingering mouth sensation. Everything is well-balanced.

For this sipdown, taken with milk. It may have brought out the sweetness a tad.

Flavors: Apricot, Bread, Butter, Cinnamon, Cranberry, Fruity, Nutmeg, Pepper, Spices, Stonefruit, Sweet, Tangy, Tart

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 8 min or more 2 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
Kittenna

Ha, I don’t even remember this blend. But apparently I do have it… might be my apricot sipdown too!

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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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