92

Every time I open an ATR sample, I am saddened to realize I won’t be able to get more of it if I want to. My sample collection has outlived the American Tea Room. Sigh.

I am also somewhat surprised that there’s not an entry for this tea already, given the number of ATR fans around here. But I tried a number of different searches and couldn’t come up with this. Sometimes the search algorithm and I don’t see eye to eye, so I apologize if I’ve just added to the duplication problem.

I steeped according to the directions on the packet. This was a never-before-opened packet, and the jasmine scent that comes out of it upon opening is remarkable.

If you read my notes at all, you know I am a huge jasmine fan. I have not met a jasmine green, white, or oolong tea that I didn’t like at least somewhat. With black tea, jasmine can get a bit dicier for me. But then, I don’t encounter that many black jasmine teas.

Moving along. The aroma of the steeped tea is wonderfully, naturally, jasmine. Light, but not too much so. Juicy, but not pasted on. It has depth, but isn’t artificial. It’s really lovely. The tea is golden yellow verging on amber, with a pinkish tint, and clear.

The flavor is the smell made taste-able. To the adjectives above, I’d add that there’s a subtle earthiness to the flavor that comes from the tea base and that gives it even more depth. And also, refreshing — there’s a clean, aromatic, freshening effect in the mouth. The aftertaste is first sweet, then has a slightly bitter downturn, but only slightly.

It’s one of the best jasmine white teas I’ve had. I’m so sad that it is no longer available.

Flavors: Jasmine

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 5 min, 0 sec 5 g 17 OZ / 500 ML

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Bio

I got obsessed with tea in 2010 for a while, then other things intruded, then I cycled back to it. I seem to be continuing that in for a while, out for a while cycle. I have a short attention span, but no shortage of tea.

I’m a mom, writer, gamer, lawyer, reader, runner, traveler, and enjoyer of life, literature, art, music, thought and kindness, in no particular order. I write fantasy and science fiction under the name J. J. Roth.

Personal biases: I drink tea without additives. If a tea needs milk or sugar to improve its flavor, its unlikely I’ll rate it high. The exception is chai, which I drink with milk/sugar or substitute. Rooibos and honeybush were my gateway drugs, but as my tastes developed they became less appealing — I still enjoy nicely done blends. I do not mix well with tulsi or yerba mate, and savory teas are more often a miss than a hit with me. I used to hate hibiscus, but I’ve turned that corner. Licorice, not so much.

Since I find others’ rating legends helpful, I added my own. But I don’t really find myself hating most things I try.

I try to rate teas in relation to others of the same type, for example, Earl Greys against other Earl Greys. But if a tea rates very high with me, it’s a stand out against all other teas I’ve tried.

95-100 A once in a lifetime experience; the best there is

90-94 Excellent; first rate; top notch; really terrific; will definitely buy more

80-89 Very good; will likely buy more

70-79 Good; would enjoy again, might buy again

60-69 Okay; wouldn’t pass up if offered, but likely won’t buy again

Below 60 Meh, so-so, iffy, or ick. The lower the number, the closer to ick.

I don’t swap. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that I have way more tea than any one person needs and am not lacking for new things to try. Also, I have way too much going on already in daily life and the additional commitment to get packages to people adds to my already high stress level. (Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does.)

That said, I enjoy reading folks’ notes, talking about what I drink, and getting to “know” people virtually here on Steepster so I can get ideas of other things I might want to try if I can ever again justify buying more tea. I also like keeping track of what I drink and what I thought about it.

My current process for tea note generation is described in my note on this tea: https://steepster.com/teas/mariage-freres/6990-the-des-impressionnistes

Location

Bay Area, California

Website

http://www.jjroth.net

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