50
drank Summer Berries by Teas Etc
371 tasting notes

I’m really glad that I hadn’t looked up this tea on Steepster before chosing it as a free sample with my Teas Etc. order. I would’ve run screaming.

The smell? Both wet and dry reminds me of this little local gift shop that sold Mary Engelbreit stuff and tons of lotions, perfumes, potpourri, and jewelry. I haven’t been there in over a decade and smelling this tea immediately transported me there.

Berries? Not so much. If I do the Jedi Mind-Fuzzing Tea Trick I can sort of taste a hint of fruit. Potpourri? Oh yes. This is like a steeped potpourri. There’s a neat sweetness that lingers around my mouth after I sip, and that’s what gave my tea rating a boost.

I also had a wonderful realization: Tea Etc’s steeping instructions for samples come on the bag that’s tucked into the tins. You cut open the bag, deposit the tea into the tin, and then toss the bag. I think this is why the Organic Relaxation was so very different on my second steep. Just looking at my two tasting notes my first nummy cup was with boiling water. On the second icky cup I had dropped it to a typical temp for tisanes: 180. I’m really raring to go try the Relaxation again, but with the hotter water.

I have enough sample for one more pot and I won’t be dreading that pot. I’m just rather ambivilent about this particular tea. But will I order more of this? No, no I won’t. M

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
Kristin

I feel like they put the same amt/time instructions on every tea. I’ve started ignoring their instructions. 1 tsp to 8 oz is never enough tea.

Daniel Mann - Georgia Tea Co.

Hey Kristin,

I agree with you, I don’t know one herbal tea that only needs 1 tsp per 8 oz. I put 1.5 tsp on my bag instructions for herbal teas, some even need more than that. It’s interesting to note, though, that when you order tea at a loose tea shop, notice the ‘teaspoon’ they use. It’s almost the size of a full tablespoon. There is a hand carved bamboo ‘teaspoon’ which is used by many that is actually a flat bottom teaspoon that really scoops the perfect amount of tea, just make sure to fill it only half way when making gyokuro or other green or black teas. I’ve ordered some and when I get them in, I’ll send you a link to them.

Kristin

I have tea ‘teaspoons’ but mine are definitely not that big. Mine probably really are just rounded teaspoon spoons. Have one from Teavana and several from TG. They are occasionally just thrown in with tea orders.

Daniel Mann - Georgia Tea Co.

Yeah, I gotcha. In the end, I guess it’s all about experimenting with the amounts for each tea. You can almost guarantee that an herbal tea will need between 1.5 -2 tsp. Plus whenever possible I let the herbal teas steep as long as possible to conserve tea.

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Comments

Kristin

I feel like they put the same amt/time instructions on every tea. I’ve started ignoring their instructions. 1 tsp to 8 oz is never enough tea.

Daniel Mann - Georgia Tea Co.

Hey Kristin,

I agree with you, I don’t know one herbal tea that only needs 1 tsp per 8 oz. I put 1.5 tsp on my bag instructions for herbal teas, some even need more than that. It’s interesting to note, though, that when you order tea at a loose tea shop, notice the ‘teaspoon’ they use. It’s almost the size of a full tablespoon. There is a hand carved bamboo ‘teaspoon’ which is used by many that is actually a flat bottom teaspoon that really scoops the perfect amount of tea, just make sure to fill it only half way when making gyokuro or other green or black teas. I’ve ordered some and when I get them in, I’ll send you a link to them.

Kristin

I have tea ‘teaspoons’ but mine are definitely not that big. Mine probably really are just rounded teaspoon spoons. Have one from Teavana and several from TG. They are occasionally just thrown in with tea orders.

Daniel Mann - Georgia Tea Co.

Yeah, I gotcha. In the end, I guess it’s all about experimenting with the amounts for each tea. You can almost guarantee that an herbal tea will need between 1.5 -2 tsp. Plus whenever possible I let the herbal teas steep as long as possible to conserve tea.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

Proud all-around nerd, designer, fibromyalgia manager, and Assistant Library Director/Creative Director.

After being a barista for almost a decade it wasn’t until 2010 that I discovered loose leaf tea. Now I’m hooked.

I’m quite loose when it comes to tea prep. I also ended up using Steepster to find my “daily” teas which I mostly have accomplished.

There’s really nothing remarkable or noteworthy of how I rate teas. I do take it a tiny further step to help clarify the muddled middle grounds for myself. TG is a definite repurchase. Anything below that is less and less likely.

TG=Teagasm
NE=Nice Enough
M=Meh
GA=Gods-Awful

Location

Midwest, USA

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