391 Tasting Notes
Sip Down & backlog
I was surprised when I discovered that Walmart sold 1-2 Tiesta Teas at our local store! I didn’t know that they had a hand in the tea game. Lol. When I first got into tea, I remembered discovering Tiesta Tea and enjoying anything I had from their catalogue. Since the Blueberry Wild Child was a favorite upon my first time trying their teas, I had to try this once again, a few years after my first experience with their brand.
I’ll note that my taste for hibiscus has changed quite a lot during my tea venture; I tolerate the taste less since it typically takes over any blend when it’s added. However, this is one of the few times when it works whenever you add to ice or cold brew. I made the last of this as a cold brewed tea last week and it dulled the hibiscus to the point it was greatly reduced to a mellow tartness which tasted more like blueberry and less like hibiscus. Lol. Drinking this one hot is not my style, and I’m certain that Tiesta Tea would recommend it to be chilled rather than served warm. Who’s to say? I prefer this one iced versus hot.
Sip Down & backlog
For the past few weeks, I went on a sun tea kick when the weather was cooperating. I only had 25-ish grams of this leftover and felt that ½ gallon jar was plenty to brew the remaining leaf in. I allowed the tea to sit from 06:00-20:00ish on Thursday, so that I could sip the tea throughout the work shift on Friday. I know that this was a perfect tea gongfu’d but wasn’t sure how it’d turn out sun brewed.
I noted, “Non-alcoholic whiskey, malt, & smooth. No texture to the tea. Could have more leaf next time, but this works well enough.”I acquired a sample of this in last month’s Tea Share club. I tossed the sample in a box with a few other teas to work on sipping down and forgot about it until yesterday. I decided that I wanted chai and there was plenty of the sample for a 16 OZ mug.
Aroma: Cardamom, clove, & ginger are strong with this one. No rose.
Taste: Nice bold back tea base & the cardamon really hits the palate. I wish there was more rose flavor – I am not tasting any rose – which would up the rating if there was more of the expected rose note.
Flavors: Cardamom
Preparation
Sip Down
Aroma: Leather, dust (like house dust?), old chocolate, garden bed, greens, produce aisle sprinkler water (whhhhat the heck was going on? LOLOLOL), & mixed vegetables.
Tasting Notes: Nutty, light bitterness (up front), turnip greens, kale, charcoal, & astringent.
Flavors: Astringent, Bitter, Charcoal, Kale, Leather, Nutty
Sip Down
Before May ends, I’ve decided to get ahead of the game, especially with the 3-day weekend. It’s wild to think we’re nearly 6 months in 2025 – such a strange era of life – however, I’m trying not to rush it any further!
I only noted on the back of the packet, “Your very standard tea. It’s good if you want to make a mug without needing too much thought. It does the trick for kicking the tea craving, but it’s a middle of the road brew. I’d definitely recommend something like this if you’re new to tea or need something for sun tea.”
Was it a regular Walmart or their groceries-only Neighborhood Market? (I’ve had several serendipity moments in the Neighborhood Market tea aisle over the years.)