501 Tasting Notes

75

From the Samurai TTB
Interesting combination of cocoa powder and puerh. The first steep was dark chocolate, slightly bitter, mostly from the cocoa powder that covers each dry tea leaf. The second steep has much less of the chocolate taste, and the puerh is not bad, kinda generic dark tea. Not a bad tea, but I think I’d rather add some cocoa powder to my favorite tea base and see what that tastes like rather than purchase this version.

Flavors: Dark Chocolate

tea-sipper 5 years ago

oh man this is a good idea! I think I’m going to mix some cocoa powder with some pu-erh today, see what happens. :D

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73
drank Pistachio Ice Cream by DAVIDsTEA
501 tasting notes

From the Samurai TTB
I had trouble putting my finger on this taste, it’s not pistachio, it’s not almond, not quite peanut. I don’t eat much sugar these days, so it took a while for peanut brittle to pop into my head. That’s the main taste here, sweet butter toffee and peanuts. Overall a nice cup, but not something I’d gravitate toward. Lucky for me I get to try it out from a TTB :)

tea-sipper 5 years ago

That’s what I love about tea boxes, trying a tea but also dismissing a tea from the list of things you think you NEED to buy in order to try it.

Michelle 5 years ago

And I get to share some of the yummy tea in my cupboard and see if others enjoy it as much as I do. Tea boxes rock and I’m glad this one is in rotation!

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71

From the Samurai TTB
The strongest note here is certainly anise, but I’m getting clove and cinnamon and a bit of sweetness from the apple. If you like anise this might be for you, or you could pick the star anise pieces out and give it a try.
I added a scoop of CTC Assam to the second steep, and it toned down the licorice flavor a bit. Still overwhelmingly anise.

Flavors: Anise

tea-sipper 5 years ago

an anise curse, more like?

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drank You Are My Sunshine by 52teas
501 tasting notes

From the Samurai TTB
It seems like I am drinking lots of tea today as I watch football and read a book. I can taste the tang of lemongrass in this blend, and maybe a creamy note, but not much else is going on here. Still it’s a pleasant cup as I’m enjoying the wind blowing through the trees and am glad I don’t have to spend much time outside today.

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77
drank Cottontail by A Quarter to Tea
501 tasting notes

From the Samurai TTB
A nice blend of coconut and vanilla. The vanilla brings out the toastiness of the coconut and I’m not getting lemon at all. It’s a coconut cream pie in a cup. An easygoing, relaxing brew.

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drank Assam by Joseph Wesley Black Tea
501 tasting notes

From the Samurai TTB
This Assam is surprisingly woodsy, not particularly malty or astringent. It’s not really smoky either, or bitter. I’m having a hard time describing as it’s not very assam tasting to me. The second steep is very smooth, a bit coppery, with a sweet finish. Not sure if it’s the leaf per water ratio, but I’m underwhelmed by this tea. Not a bad cup, but not great either.

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From the Samurai TTB
The small pack said only Wu Yi Dark Oolong, so I’m not sure this is exactly the same tea. Each sip starts out roasty, rather nutty hay, and ends with a lovely floral note. There was a bit more sweetness to the first few steeps, and the subsequent steeps are more floral overall. What a yummy Oolong this is, I’d be interested in trying this grandpa style.

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56
drank Blueberry Muffin by DAVIDsTEA
501 tasting notes

From the Samurai TTB
I get the muffin part of this tea, it tastes cakey. I’m not so sure about the blueberry part, it’s more fruit tart with hibiscus. It’s not bad for a herbal, though not sure I’d want to drink a whole lot of it as there is an artificial aftertaste.

Flavors: Cake, Fruity

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From the Samurai TTB
A bit gritty, but the anise trumps the chicory and makes it drinkable. I could do with some more cinnamon or a bit of mint to balance it out. It’s heavily anise and I have tried other teas that do anise better.
Another interesting tea from the box!

Flavors: Anise

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80

From the Samurai TTB
I brewed this up strong and it doesn’t disappoint. The first steep was a bit more complex with malty and peppery notes, as well as a tart berry aftertaste. A good example of what a black Yunnan tea should be. The second steep is approaching bitterness, and has lost some of its complexity, but is still drinkable.
A very nice cup indeed.

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Profile

Bio

I started drinking more tea about 10 years ago when I found that even my half -caf coffee was making me jittery and then sleepy after the caffeine wore off. While I started out with mostly Teavana, but soon expanded my tea cupboard to include lapsang souchon, pu-erh, Assam, and other strong black teas. I do enjoy oolongs, green, and other teas, as well as a nice tisane for an evening cuppa.
I’m not fond of jasmine or bergamont teas, though I’ll try anything once.
I am an avid traveler, hiker, soccer player/watcher.
I love trying new tea in new places, if you see something in my cupboard you want to try, hit me up for a swap!

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