1711 Tasting Notes

drank Spicy Chocolate by Kusmi Tea
1711 tasting notes

Another tea from a swap with VariaTEA! :D

The name of this tea threw me off a little. I was reading spicy as hot, not spices. Chai like, got it! The scent of this reminds me a bit of Zhi Tea’s Cacao Chai, which I love so much! It tastes very similar too, but like a lighter more mellow version. There is a tiny bitterness in the start of the sip that quickly gives way to smoothness. Maybe I should have done a shorter steep? The aftertaste is nothing but spices!
This tea is really nice and if I didn’t already have something similar in my cupboard already, I’d be contemplating it as an addition.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 45 sec
VariaTEA

I am glad you enjoyed it :)

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drank Christmas (Rois Mages) by Kusmi Tea
1711 tasting notes

Being only recently introduced to Kusmi teas and a lover nearly all things almond, I was delighted to get a sample of this from VariaTEA.

First thing I smell is cinnamon. The description says it is just like eating a Christmas cake, but I have never tried or even heard of one! Maybe it is more of a European thing? First sip, whoa! Too much leaf with too little water! Good thing there is an easy solution for that. Diluted and sweetened… I would enjoy a cake that tasted like this! The tea base is strong and dominates the cup. As it cools I get more orange on the sip, but the almond blends in so well that I can’t pick it out on it’s own. I think I can taste it a tiny bit in different parts of each sip, but then other flavors come in before I can figure it out for sure. The tea is nice and quite smooth. The verdict is still out on if this is a must have for my cupboard or not.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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drank Pisces by Nina's Paris
1711 tasting notes

Thank you to VariaTEA for this sample! I had been wanting to try more of Nina’s astrological rooibos!
I think I brewed this a little too strong, but I don’t want to water down the rich caramel flavor! The flavor is more present on the aftertaste, but does start to show mid sip. At the beginning of each sip, there is this mild tartness that made me think this was a fruit flavor at first. My mouth is left a little dry, like most rooibos teas would. It was a very nice cup, but won’t make it to my “must stock” list although I do look forward to a cup or two more before the sample is gone.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
VariaTEA

I have never gotten a tartness from this. I will be sure to look for it next time I brew this cup…

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drank Pistachio Cream by DAVIDsTEA
1711 tasting notes

Today I opened my mailbox to find many new teas to sample courtesy of VariaTEA! Thanks, VaraiTEA!

This is the first that I am trying. This is definitely creamy! I get pistachio more on the aftertaste. It almost tastes like a mint herbal tea if you took out the mint. It has a similar base taste. Adding sugar brings out the pistachio in the aftertaste. This is interesting and I like it, but not enough to buy a huge 1lb closeout bag which is the only size they had on the David’s website. Really glad I got to try it tho since I was so curious.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 15 sec
VariaTEA

I am glad you enjoyed it.

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Oh! Ooooooooooh. Huh.
I foolishly took a bite of smoked trout before my first sip, so I’m trying to get through the fishy aftertaste and into the tea. I mostly taste a mild cilantro. I can maybe pick out a little bit of pineapple undertones and this tea is really smooth with a little creaminess on the end. I think I’m having an allergy attack today, so it is a little hard to pick out the nuances of this tea, but I’m enjoying it as much as I can anyways!

Thanks to Marcel Du Champ for this sample!

Preparation
170 °F / 76 °C 3 min, 30 sec
Stephanie

My allergies have been terrible lately. Stupid pollen! shakes fist at it

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I have been drinking this a bit lately, which surprises me since it isn’t my usual type of tea. Today it is a little on the bitter side at the beginning of each sip, but then mellows out into it’s usual tastiness. I may try a shorter steep or lower temp next time.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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drank Almond Cookie Green by Tea Embassy
1711 tasting notes

Found this tea over leafed and steeped once in the steeper that I had left on the counter full of my tea that I wanted a second cup of later. Boo! I’m guessing by the lights on the kettle that it was steeped at boiling and probably for too long. No matter, I shall try it anyway! Aaaaaaaaand meh. It is just a shadow of it’s true self. A light creamy almond on the sip with a strong honey aftertaste. It isn’t bad, it just isn’t what I expect from this tea.

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drank Caramel Matcha by Red Leaf Tea
1711 tasting notes

Flavored matcha usually comes with a steeper (heh) price tag than I am often willing to indulge in. So when I got the notice that Redleaf was doing a special offer on their caramel matcha, I had to give it a go. When I opened the bag, this wall of caramel scent rose to greet me! It was so rich and thick. I put a teaspoon in a cup with some sugar, poured a little hot water over it, whisked and then added milk. It is really tasty stuff! I’m not sure which grade matcha this is, but when it was warmer I couldn’t taste the matcha at all, only the creamy caramel flavor. As it gets colder there is a little matcha bitterness on the back of my tongue after each sip. It is super delicious stuff and I could see how someone could get hooked on this!

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Definitely growing on me. I made some of this tea yesterday to take out with me and when I got back home I found that SOMEONE had tossed the leaves I was going to resteep. I apparently didn’t get my fix because I’m drinking it again this morning. It isn’t a super flashy flavored tea like I’m often drawn to, but what it has it does really well.

Dustin

Ugh! I went for a second steep after a nap and came back to an empty steeper again. We have four steepers on that counter, three of which were not in use, yet mine was dumped to steep some other tea. My husband is usually pretty good about leaving my leaves, so I’m suspecting it was our house guest. :(

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drank Wedding Impérial by Mariage Frères
1711 tasting notes

Awww, my computer spazed out and lost my note! Still struggling to get the perfect cup out of this tea and haven’t made notes the last few times I have tried it. This time is a lot closer than before with a short steep and lower temp. It was still a little bitter, but adding sugar took care of that and let the rich caramel flavors come through. I may try an even lower temp next time.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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Bio

My name is Dustin and I like tea.

I’m an added flavor kind of tea fan, but have had a growing appreciation for plain. I want my tea to remind me of cookies and cakes with coconut and almond slices with a hint of chocolate drizzled on top. I want dancing ponies and flying monkeys shooting off fireworks! And no hibiscus. Hibiscus is the devil.

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BA, CA, US

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https://www.instagram.com/dre...

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