788 Tasting Notes
Steep Information:
Prepared in store. Served in a tiny yixing clay pot, with an iron pot of water and a small iron cup. The leaves kept getting clumped and blocking the spout. I had to swirl it around to get the tea out. I managed to make quite a mess of it.
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Fall leaves
Steeped Tea Smell: Muddy fall leaves
Flavor: Fall leaves, Gritty
Body: Full
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: hard to see in the dark lounge
I do not like pu-erh, but everyone recommended this one for a non-pu-erh lover. I agree that pu-erh is best with food, I found it “meh” as opposed to gross. The muddy bit was less pronounced when i drank it while eating.
Ordered at the Zen Valley location for dinner with Squash Dumplings w/ Dipping Sauce (Handmade vegetarian squash dumplings w/ spicy sesame-soy sauce).
Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/samovar-loose-leaf-pu-erh-tea-maidens.html
Steep Information:
Prepared at Wicked Grounds.
Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: Honey, hints of black
Flavor:
AmazonV: Sweet, light black tea, slightly floral
MilitiaJim: vegetal for a black
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: Sweet, wood
Liquor: Translucent dark orange
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/red-blossom-tea-company-loose-leaf.html
Steep Information:
Amount: 4 teaspoons
Water: 1000ml water @ 212°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 2:30 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: fruity, apple? berry?
MilitiaJim: The dry tea smells like strawberries, which is a bummer. (He does not like them.)
Steeped Tea Smell:
AmazonV: fruity, mulled cider?
MilitiaJim: The brewed tea smells more like apricots
Flavor:
AmazonV: almond, fruity, black tea finish
MilitiaJim: It has light fruit and almond flavor.
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: dark amber
It doesn’t taste the same as when we sampled it in the store, I wonder how they brewed it up? The tea is still very delicious and enjoyable. It makes me think of some kind of holiday cookie.
Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar – more fruit flavor.
Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/harney-and-sons-loose-leaf-black-tea.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes (http://steep.it)
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: citrus, floral
Steeped Tea Smell: MINT, orange, lemon
Flavor: floral, mint
Body: Medium/Full
Aftertaste: orange, mint
Liquor: translucent orange-green
Took much MINT, bleh. That flavor overwhelmed the rest of the cup. I am not a huge mint fan unless it’s iced – and has alcohol.
This was a gift from TeaEqualsBliss, thank you.
Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/compass-teas-loose-leaf-herbal-tisane.html
Preparation
this tea strikes me as a tea that may be enjoyed at any other time but at breakfast – you know, like an after-dinner palate refresher or something like that
Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes (http://steep.it/)
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, vanilla
Steeped Tea Smell: vanilla, black tea
Flavor: astringent black tea with hints of vanilla, clove
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, nutty
Liquor: translucent dark orange brown
A gift from TeaEqualsBliss, thank you!
Post-Steep Additives: + 1 honey stick = a little spicier
I like it, and would select to have it again if it was an option
Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/compass-teas-loose-leaf-black-tea.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes (using http://Steep.It)
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, mild black tea, reminds me of a Darjeeling
Flavor: smooth black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: hints of sweet and nuts, and a bit of astringency and bitterness
Liquor: translucent dark red-brown
This was a gift from teaequalsbliss, thanks!
Overall it was not a remarkable tea, it was enjoyable but not something I will seek out.
Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/mcnultys-tea-and-coffee-company-loose.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: hot spigot water
Tool: kati loose tea system (my Review here.)
Steep Time: a little over 1 minute (http://steep.it)
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: fruity, floral
Steeped Tea Smell: cherry, fruity, floral, spring!
Flavor: cherry, fruity, floral
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: translucent orange-red
Enjoyable, makes this dreary winter day a little more like spring. I bet this would be good iced as well.
This was a gift from TeaEqualsBliss!
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/compass-teas-loose-leaf-green-herbal.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 infuser
Water: 50ml Goldschläger
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Cold
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: spicy, peppery
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon
Flavor: cinnamon
Body: Full
Aftertaste: peppery
Liquor: translucent orange-red
O.M.G. the cinnamon burns
Post-Steep Additives: ice, seltzer
Mellower on the burning, it has potential, perhaps in a cream liquor?
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/tea-forte-teabag-black-tea-silkroad.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: 12 ounces boiling water
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet vanilla
Steeped Tea Smell: caramel, vanilla
Flavor: bitter black tea, caramel
Body: Full
Aftertaste: bitter, astringent
Liquor: translucent orange-brown
Post-Steep Additives: + German rock sugar = more caramel, vanilla
Not bad, not great – works well as a quick minimal thought work tea.
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/lipton-teabag-black-tea-vanilla-caramel.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 infuser
Water: 2 oz Bacardi Select, 4oz seltzer
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Cold
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: lemongrass, mint
Steeped Tea Smell: RUM
Flavor: Rum
Body: none
Aftertaste: rum
Liquor: translucent orange-brown
15+ more minutes, and then left the infuser in.
Steeped Tea Smell: lemongrass and mint
Flavor: rum
Aftertaste: lemongrass and mint
This is from the Tea Forte cocktails collection.
Meh, more interesting than straight rum. I’m not much of a drinker so take my review with a grain of salt.
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/12/tea-forte-teabag-herbal-tisane.html