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Scheherazade drank Pine Needle by Life In Teacup

2238 tasting notes

065/365

This tea came to me from Liquid Proust’s Dark Matter group buy, all the way back in 2016. That’s how very behind I am with tea things in general. I decided to try this one first as I recently tried the Teavivre version, and I really want something to compare it to. Judging from the notes, this one’s going to be a very different experience!

I brewed this one western style, for around 3 minutes. I can’t say I was paying that much attention if I’m absolutely honest (work…), but it wasn’t longer than that. It’s a beautiful golden brown in colour, and smells rather deliciously of chocolate and malt.

The first thing I noticed was how smooth it is. I’ve said that about teas before, but this one brings new meaning – it goes down like silk. In flavour terms, it’s absolutely delicious – dark chocolate, with a touch of blackcurrant, and a slight underlying earthiness. A far cry from last weekend’s “sweet water” experience. It’s malty, too, but not at the expense of the other flavours, and less prominently than I expected.

This is a tea that shines. I could drink it all day, and I just might do that!

Preparation

Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp

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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.