45 Tasting Notes

49

I love the smell of bergamot, but there just wasn’t enough of it in this tea, even as “double" bergamot. Every now and then I got a nice whiff of bergamot, but mostly I had to hunt for it. And I found the black tea base a little bitter.

And in setting out on these explorations of the world of tea, I’m starting to realize (and must accept) that I’m just not crazy about black tea — so the black teas that DO appeal to me are mainly the heavily-flavoured/spiced ones. So maybe it’s not even fair for someone like me to rate this one!

I added a little sugar and milk.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
Starfevre

Could be that you’re just sensitive to bitter (like me) and have to steep for less time (I usually do 3 minutes for black teas) or just have higher quality black teas. I’ll include a couple of my better unflavoured blacks in my next box, so you can see.

Maryann

Okay! I’ve been careful to use a timer and not go past 5 minutes, but maybe you’re right, 3 minutes may be better.

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94
drank Orange Lemonade by Tealux
45 tasting notes

I found this a very nice herbal tea — citrusy but not too tart. I loved the flavor and aroma of orange, and the other ingredients (apple, lemon grass, eucalyptus, hibiscus) made it interesting, but kept the orange/tangerine at the forefront (which I liked, as I love orange).

And in a clear glass, it has a beautiful soft rose colour.

I added 1/8 tsp of sugar.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
Starfevre

Did I give you any Orange Grapefruit (would have been in one of the plastic baggies)?

Maryann

Yes, you did! I have 2 herbal ones left to try (I made a list :-] ), and that’s one of them. Will probably try it today.

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80

This was a really nice, satisfying tea… except that I wanted it to taste more of chocolate! So I, um, cheated. I added a little good-quality Belgian chocolate syrup that I had in the fridge. Just a little. And a bit of sugar, and milk.

With the added chocolate, I’d give it about 90 – but you could say that that’s not really rating the tea.
So the tea itself, as it comes, I’d say 80. Which makes it pretty good, for somebody who is just learning to appreciate black tea.

The black tea base was very nice, not bitter. I took care not to brew it for much more than 4 minutes, hoping to avoid the bitterness I often find in black tea.
(I made this for the first time a week ago, but brewed it for about 6 minutes, and I found it a little bitter.)

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 15 sec

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75
drank Raspberry Vanilla by Zen Tea
45 tasting notes

I enjoyed this one. Not usually a big fan of Rooibos, but I’ve never had it flavoured. So I’m just starting to experiment with flavoured teas, and this one is very nice.
Nice, fruity, raspberry and vanilla.
I added about 1/4 tsp sugar, and a little milk.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 30 sec

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92

Just made a mug of this tea, and really like it. It made a beautiful rosy brew, and smelled heavenly.
I had it with less than 1/4 tsp sugar and a bit of milk.
Yes, I noticed the hibiscus, which I often find too tart, but in this tea it was good.

After brewing, I fished the bits of strawberry and apple out of the straining basket, and ate them. (Good heavens, how undignified. ;)
Thanks, Starfevre, for introducing me to this one!

P.S.: Starfevre, I just discovered your note about milk ruining this tea!
Since I liked it with milk, next time I’ll try it without – maybe it will be even better.

Preparation
Boiling 6 min, 0 sec
Starfevre

Ruin…well it’s really that the tea has hibiscus in it, which tends to curdle milk, makes it differentiate into particulates, if you noticed that happening in your tea. I did when I made it, and with most ‘fruity’ herbal teas. You may or may not like it more without. If you do, great! If you don’t, obviously add some milk.

Maryann

Hmmm…. that’s interesting. You’re right, I’d expect the milk to curdle (I put the milk in without thinking much about it, before I looked up the composition of the tea). But it didn’t curdle. Hmmm.

Still, next time I’ll try it without milk,

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