95 Tasting Notes

86

I have quite a bit of this one left in my tin and was running low in my stocks of the usual cold brewing suspects so I thought, why not give it a shot?
I cold steeper overnight for about 18 hours. The result is a rather ugly shade of yellowy brown, but the smell was the usual spicy smell so I got past the colour…
The result is good, but compared to this tea hot brewed, nothing special. The spice really comes through first, while the mint is almost an afterthought (and it kind of coats the throat wierdly…).
Overall, not a bad experiment, but I think that I will save this for hot brewing.

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100

So I messed up… The original review that I posted for this tea was actually for Peony Tea’s Dong Ding Oolong (my bad). I got my dong dings mixed up like the ding dong I sometimes am. Anywho…

This is fantastic! I can really taste the difference between the charcoal baked oolong and the dong dings that I have tried that aren’t. This one really brings out some pleasant earthy tones and provides delicious smokey hints. I got a cute little teacup with a basket for my birthday (as well as a cast iron teapot, which I didn’t bring to work so have not yet tried…), and I made 7 cups with the same leaves and made myself pee 12 times today because I could not stop re-steeping this tea…

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 1 min, 0 sec

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96
drank Salted Caramel by DAVIDsTEA
95 tasting notes

Of all the teas that I watched come out, this one was for sure the one that I was the most excited to try. It did not let me down! Salted caramel squares are one of my favourite treats, and this has exactly the same flavour, only less guilt! I get mostly toffee and a smooth on the first sip, and then a delicious salt caramel after taste like warm caramel pouring down my throat.
Also held up well to a second steep, which made for a more pleasant afternoon of fighting with my timetable…

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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84
drank Bamboozled by DAVIDsTEA
95 tasting notes

So I have been in serious DAVIDs withdrawal since I left Kingston and moved home for the summer. It has been torturous watching as all of the new teas have come out and the reviews have been posted to steepster…
Therefore, when I found myself at FCP for work, I just could not resist visiting the FCP location. When the girl who was serving me heard of my plight, she said “you poor thing” and then proceeded to pull down every tea that I’ve missed for me to smell.
I decided to get this one iced to go, and was not disappointed. It was a super hot day and either the bamboo or ice did the trick. This tea is deliciously fruity and refreshing. Very pine-apply and peachy and a hint of some other fruit I can’t quite place (maybe the apple?). I think this one might make a good cold brewing experiment- I am rather sad that I didn’t buy any while I was there…

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83

Thanks for Fong Mong Tea for this sample, I have been delayed in reviewing them because I want to ensure that I had a couple hours over which to do multiple steeps.
This tea came in lovely little balls with not too much of a fragrance.
1st steep: colour is a pale green, deliciously sweet smell. The main flavour is a sweet citrus-y flavour- almost lemonade-esque. Not too much in terms of vegetal flavours yet.
2nd steep: More earthy notes came through, less sweet but the citrus is still there
3rd steep: All sweetness is gone, earthy citrus-y taste, pleasant enough but I like my oolongs sweet.

Overall, this is a good oolong, but not among my favourites. It wasn’t sweet enough for my liking, but it was still a nice cup.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 6 min, 0 sec

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93
drank Strawberry Fields by Teaopia
95 tasting notes

I’m not going to change the rating since I really do enjoy this tea hot
BUTTTT
This isn’t good cold brewed!
I found the taste to be very artificial and bitter when cold steeped for about 16 hours.
Didn’t even finish the pitcher :(

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79

This is a pleasant enough sencha, but despite a very strong fruity smell (mainly pomegranate), the actual brew is very light on the fruit flavour. I was expecting a little more fruit, but it is still a pleasant sencha, just nothing special..

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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89

I was on a Fusion Teas kick today! Slow day at the office so I just brought my box of samples with me. Did this one for my morning pick me up! The chocolate and mint blended with the mate was fabulous. Exactly like a mint chocolate bar.
I didn’t taste the coffee at all, which personally probably made me like it better but if you wanted a coffee flavoured tea, this one might not be the one.
Overall- delicious! I am very impressed with the Fusion Tea samples so far!!!

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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92
drank Red Vineyard by Fusion Teas
95 tasting notes

This was a surprise thrown in with my requested samples, and I am very grateful that Fusion Teas decided to include it! The dry smell was very strongly peach, overpoweringly so, and I was a little bit wary… Brewed the peach smell mellowed considerably, and the brew came out a deep brown.
For a mix that was about 95% black tea and only 5% fruit pieces and safflower, I didn’t even taste the black, in fact, I could have sworn I was drinking a peach herbal! No complaints from me, as I am not a huge black tea person, and I still got the caffeine boost along with a lovely peachy tea. Mild, light, and yummm. I think I shall try it cold brewed next!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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97
drank Tropical Tulsi by Fusion Teas
95 tasting notes

My first tulsi, and definitely a good note to start on! I wanna say that the tea tastes like basil (being as its known as Holy Basil, I guess this makes sense), which sounds like it would taste weird but when blended came out delicious.
I was a little bit worried that the tropical fruit flavour was going to be IN YOUR FACE tropical, but that wasn’t the case at all. Instead it was a delightful and subtle fruity blend. As someone who has never actually tried a papaya, I can’t really say that it had a papaya taste, but it was definitely sweet and smooth and fruity. I was heartbroken when I reached the end of my cup, and was delighted when it stood up to a second steep well.
I feel like I’ve given a terrible description, but this tea can really be summed up in one word- YUUMMMMM!

Thank you to Fusion Teas for the samples! Stay tuned for the rest of my reviews :) They even came in beautifully labeled bags!

Preparation
Boiling 6 min, 0 sec

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Profile

Bio

4th year Commerce student at Queen’s University, interning on Bay St for the summer.
Just returned from a 6 month European exchange/adventure, combatting the tea withdrawal the only way I know how- a DAVIDs shopping spree!

Follow me on Twitter for many tea-related tweets! @Chelseywilson77
Check out my blog for tea and travel!
chellybean77.wordpress.com

Location

Toronto

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