2184 Tasting Notes
A sipdown! (M: 1 Y: 1) — prompt: Drink a tea that you prefer plain. Well, I drink most teas plain. The only exceptions are a few herbals, which I take with honey.
I am happy to have finished this one. It was a musty and earthy peppermint tea—not very good—with a long, unpleasant aftertaste. It felt like chewing on grass for a long time.
Preparation
I’ve been looking for an alternative to DAVIDsTEA since I can’t actually order from them myself, and honestly, this is quite a solid replacement!
This version is a bit “greener,” though I think some heavier roasted notes would actually suit the blend better. Some infusions came across as slightly vegetal and buttery, but the cinnamon remains distinct and pleasantly warming. It’s also less sweet than the DAVIDsTEA one, which could be seen as either a pro or a con depending on your preference.
On the other hand, at €11.30 for 50 grams, the price is fairly steep. I’m not sure how that compares to the price of the DAVIDsTEA version, but it feels like a bit much for a daily drinker. I can see myself picking this up once in a while, but it likely won’t be my go-to for those cold winter days.
Preparation
I am steeping this one in gaiwan, using all 5 grams in 100 ml; and while first steeps nutty, the latter were hay, grass and little vegetal and then… just nothing. It doesn’t last long even with fast steeps; and mouthfeel is really thin.
I don’t get any orchids at all. While it is drinkable, it is just too thin to get more of this one.
Preparation
Prompt: January 1st Sipdown Challenge Prompt – one of your newest teas
Ehh, this one is okay. Peach / Mango more on the artificial side than real fruit and very classic, non-descriptive base tea. Fine for some who would like black and fruity tea, but not for me, being a bit a tea snob.
Drinkable, but forgetable. What I can expect for such price, afterall.
Preparation
Sadly, because of funky Steepster & my busy schedule at home; I wasn’t able to write all the notes in correct date; nor even writing them down. So my Advent Calendar from La Via del Té is finished on time, but, those loose leaves from Siam Tee Shop are not.
So, I am more-less randomly picking teas and using all 5 grams of the tea at once in a family sharing teapot and today I have preared this one and even I am writing a note… as today is a very first day since 22nd when I am all home alone with my parents I live with and no guests around.
It was actually pretty tasty this way, but a little one-dimensional malty tea. Pretty strong after 3-4 minutes steep, but there wasn’t astringency or bitterness. It was just a tasty tea, without offensive notes… but there were better teas in the Advent this year.
Okay; here is wrong picture too, but uploaded earlier, and not from me.
Anyway…
This is one of the best green mint teas I had. The mint is refreshing as it was in just “mint” tea, very strong in menthol, but not like a toothpaste. And green tea was fresh too, not too hay-like, not too much grasssy, just a perfect match. They say it is a gunpowder tea, but it doesn’t had that typical smoky, or mineral taste, which is especially win in this blend.
Preparation
This tea in a wonderful outer wrapper was pretty tasty. And in the sachet there was a whole rose bud, which… considering it is a sachet only, is a big thing.
As of flavours, they’re were pretty much spot on… peach and strawberry with floral tea base. Maybe too floral. That peach was also somehow bright, and not with its ripe fruit sweetness. If I did a blind test, I would not recognize it was a black tea. It was that floral.
But it worked so well together. I am happy that I could try this one and maybe… maybe I would buy a pouch of 50 grams.
Preparation
This is supposed to be “sweet and intense créme caramel” flavoured rooibos, but honestly? I notice rooibos only. Yes, there are some hints of some flavouring, but not caramel in my opinion.
But somehow, comforting and nice cup.
Preparation
This is a good Earl Grey. Really. A robust base (they say Darjeeling but who knows), and a nice, citrusy and not overwhelming bergamot.
Huh… my notes are getting shorter and shorter.
Preparation
Yep, mine too. They’re also getting more honest, which isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Shorter reports could be a subconscious response to the slower Steepster behavior over the past year. Maybe.
I was actually thinking the frustration around Steepster could be a contributing factor. I’m also realizing that doing two advent calendars at once may have been a little ambitious. I can’t imagine having the stamina to do five or more as some people have done in the past.
Yeah, I think mine are getting shorter as a direct result of never knowing whether they will even actually post.
I generally compose and edit my reviews offline in a text editor, and can then wait for an opportunity when Steepster is more cooperative to quickly copy/paste them.
TeaEarleGreyHot, I compose my notes in a text editor as well. Steepster sometimes likes to freeze right after I click Save.
