95
drank Mi Xian Black by Butiki Teas
110 tasting notes

1 heaping tbsp in 16 oz

Yummy as always. Today, I felt a little extra sensitive to astringency, though. There is a slight hint of astringency in this tea… barely any at all, really, but today I was feeling it a little more pronounced than usual. So, I did the unthinkable and added a 1/2 tsp of sugar to the 16 oz of tea. That just smoothed it out for me without changing the flavor.

I’ve decided not to beat myself up over adding just a tiny bit of sugar to my tea if I feel like it. I know that a gorgeous tea like this one doesn’t need it, but sometimes I just want my tea a little extra sweet and juicy. Not always, just now and then.

I am cold-steeping the used leaves overnight for what I know will be a delicious iced tea I can drink with my lunch tomorrow. Yay!

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 30 sec
Rachel J

Stacy, I hope you don’t think less of me for adding a little sugar to a tea that is marvelous without. LOL… Actually, I really feel like a disgrace to tea snobs!

Butiki Teas

Haha, of course I don’t think less of you. The best way to make tea is the way you enjoy it the most. For me personally, if I end up making the tea too astringent then I just add a little more water but its all about what you prefer. Occasionally, I have to watch myself for tea snobbery. I have a friend that buys the expensive black teas from me then mixes then with super cheap teas. I used to cringe when I would watch her do it but that’s how she likes it.

Rachel J

Haha… OK that makes me feel better. :)

Rachel J

Does extra water really make a tea less astringent?

Bonnie

I sweeten tea quite often but never use honey with any tea other than chai. Strong morning black tea and some puer tastes great with cream and splenda. Yes, indeed I said splenda. With all the tea I drink, there’s no way I can handle sugar.

Rachel J

That makes me feel better too, Bonnie!

Butiki Teas

Rachel-It works for me. :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

People who liked this

Comments

Rachel J

Stacy, I hope you don’t think less of me for adding a little sugar to a tea that is marvelous without. LOL… Actually, I really feel like a disgrace to tea snobs!

Butiki Teas

Haha, of course I don’t think less of you. The best way to make tea is the way you enjoy it the most. For me personally, if I end up making the tea too astringent then I just add a little more water but its all about what you prefer. Occasionally, I have to watch myself for tea snobbery. I have a friend that buys the expensive black teas from me then mixes then with super cheap teas. I used to cringe when I would watch her do it but that’s how she likes it.

Rachel J

Haha… OK that makes me feel better. :)

Rachel J

Does extra water really make a tea less astringent?

Bonnie

I sweeten tea quite often but never use honey with any tea other than chai. Strong morning black tea and some puer tastes great with cream and splenda. Yes, indeed I said splenda. With all the tea I drink, there’s no way I can handle sugar.

Rachel J

That makes me feel better too, Bonnie!

Butiki Teas

Rachel-It works for me. :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

I happily reside in Park Slope, Brooklyn with my husband, our baby son, and our dog. I teach over 40 piano students per week at my home studio and created “Fundamental Keys”, a classical piano method book and video series.

My husband and I are vegan and have been for about 8 years. We are enjoying bringing up our little one in the vegan tradition!

I went through a major tea phase some years ago (2006-2009) and had quite a collection and tasted hundreds of varieties. Then I went off caffeine when I decided to have a baby, and after he was born I got into a nasty coffee habit. Now I’ve come back to tea, thank goodness. I’m finding my tastes have changed quite a bit since my first go at tea fanaticism. Really enjoying some of the amazing and deliciously complex teas I’ve learned about through Steepster!

Location

Brooklyn

Website

http://about.me/rachelj

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer