65
drank Monster Brew by Adagio Teas
2238 tasting notes

The last of the Tree House blends. I think this one waited until last because I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the flavour. The other two blends – Tea Rex and Rocket Fuel – are reasonably clear in terms of flavour profile. This one has all the ingredients – orange, cherry, coconut, chocolate, apricot…

To taste, it actually turns out to be all of those things and none. The overall flavour is a kind of fruity nothingness – anything distinctive gets lots in the cacophony of flavours, but I suppose with a name like “Monster Brew” that’s maybe to be expected! Cherry was the strongest flavour, but only by a fine margin, and only if I really concentrated on what I was drinking. It’s not the kind of tea that you’d sip and instantly say “cherry!” I didn’t really get much chocolate, except in the background, and the orange was almost totally MIA. There was some creaminess from the coconut, a woodsiness that wasn’t unpleasant from the rooibos, and a “juicy” kind of flavour that put me in mind of the blended fruit juice drinks I had as a child.

It wasn’t a bad cup by any means, but the two blends I’d tried before were definitely better defined. It’s a pleasant-tasting caffeine-free option, though, and the generically fruity taste is nice if nothing else. I’m going to try this cold brewed next, because I think (as with the others) that it might come alive a little more that way.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 1 tsp

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Bio

Hi :) I’m Sarah, and I live in Norfolk in the UK. My tea obsession began when a friend introduced me to Teapigs a good few years ago now. Since then, I’ve been insatiable. Steepster introduced me to a world of tea I never knew existed, and my goal is now to TRY ALL THE TEAS. Or most of them, anyway.

I still have a deep rooted (and probably life-long) preference for black tea. My all-time favourite is Assam, but Ceylon and Darjeeling also occupy a place in my heart. Flavoured black tea can be a beautiful thing, and I like a good chai latte in the winter.

I also drink a lot of rooibos/honeybush tea, particularly on an evening. Sometimes they’re the best dessert replacements, too. White teas are a staple in summer — their lightness and delicate nature is something I can always appreciate on a hot day.

I’m still warming up to green teas and oolongs. I don’t think they’ll ever be my favourites, with a few rare exceptions, but I don’t hate them anymore. My experience of these teas is still very much a work-in-progress. I’m also beginning to explore pu’erh, both ripened and raw. That’s my latest challenge!

I’m still searching for the perfect fruit tea. One without hibiscus. That actually tastes of fruit.

You’ve probably had enough of me now, so I’m going to shut up. Needless to say, though, I really love tea. Long may the journey continue!

My rating system:

91-100: The Holy Grail. Flawless teas I will never forget.

81-90: Outstanding. Pretty much perfection, and happiness in a cup.

71-80: Amazing. A tea to savour, and one I’ll keep coming back to.

61-70: Very good. The majority of things are as they should be. A pleasing cup.

51-60: Good. Not outstanding, but has merit.

41-50: Average. It’s not horrible, but I’ve definitely had better. There’s probably still something about it I’m not keen on.

31-40: Almost enjoyable, but something about it is not for me.

11-30: Pretty bad. It probably makes me screw my face up when I take a sip, but it’s not completely undrinkable.

0-10: Ugh. No. Never again. To me, undrinkable.

Location

Norfolk, UK

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