two leaves and a bud

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Recent Tasting Notes

43

My brother is getting married tomorrow. I’m super excited for him. But tonight we are Matteo’s for the groom’s dinner. They offered coffee, I asked for tea. Should have picked the black tea. This one has either been sitting in the tea chest for a bit or is just that bad. Sorry but the metallic notes bite and the grassy notes are too sharp. Nope.

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19

Very nice color and scent but I truly don’t care for the tea. It left a dry feeling on my tongue and was not enjoyable. Might need a different tea to restart the day today

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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70

I’ve heard of this company but not seen it in shops or restaurants local to me. On my last day in WY, I spotted a sampler in the convenience store attached to our inn. I snagged a couple bags to take home. It’s a cool summer morning and I felt that chai would do to start off the day.
Steeped for 5 minutes and finally sipped about 5 minutes later. As usual, no additives used to alter the base tea. I love the scents of cinnamon, cardamon, and cloves. Found it to be smooth and comforting. I could see myself stepping it up with a dash of milk and honey over ice.

Flavors: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Ginger

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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70

Another random tea bag someone gave me over the holidays. I grabbed it thinking it was a straight black this morning and only realized after tearing open the packet that it’s chai. Ah well—it’s cold and windy today, so chai seems fitting.

I never find myself craving chai spices, and I’m not sure why, because I usually enjoy them. This one is heavy on the cinnamon, with the other flavors (mostly clove and cardamom, to my palate) playing second fiddle. It’s pretty nice, but maybe a bit too cinnamon-forward. That’s all I can say.

Flavors: Allspice, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Drying

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83

Another random tea bag that came along with a Christmas present! I adore jasmine teas and have a very fond memory of accidentally spending way more than intended on jasmine pearls at Teavana (RIP!) a decade or so ago.

Anyway, for a bagged jasmine, this one is quite pleasant. It’s delicate and light with a smidge of citrus. I bet it would be a good entry point for the jasmine-curious, because the floral note is fairly understated. So soft and soothing!

Flavors: Citrus, Drying, Floral, Soft

Preparation
3 min, 0 sec

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57

A family member gave me a few assorted bags of tea from this brand over the holidays, and I’m just trying one out now. I needed something caffeine-free, and this tisane seemed promising! Apple, blackberry, raspberry, citrus… and it smells exceptionally tasty, like plump juicy berries. Except… I somehow missed that hibiscus was the very first ingredient. Now that it’s brewed, though, it’s unmistakable in both scent and color.

As for taste… hmm. OK, the hibiscus is not horrible. It’s definitely the first flavor I get, but it’s not quite as aggressive as it could be. (An admittedly low bar.) There’s the faintest bit of something syrupy and sweet to back it up and temper it a bit. I have no desire to drink this one again, but I don’t utterly hate it.

Flavors: Berries, Fruity, Hibiscus, Juicy, Tart

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90

I thought I’d posted a note about this tea, but apparently not. Thanks, Derk, for the big pouch. I’ve had it a few times now, and while it won’t replace the peppermint from Zen Tea in Vancouver, which is sadly unavailable, it comes close. I steeped around two teaspoons in 355 ml of water at 200F for 3, 5, and 8 minutes.

The aroma in the pouch is of strong, sweet mint, and the steeps bear this out. I taste sweet, clear mint with a kick of menthol and a bit of earth. I don’t get stewy or vegetal notes as I have with some other mint teas. The flavour stays pretty consistent over the three steeps.

If I have one quibble with this tea, it’s that I have to use more leaf (two teaspoons vs. one of the Zen Tea mint) and a longer steeping time (three minutes vs. one) to get the same intensity. However, this is a pretty minor issue. Overall, this is a nice peppermint tea I can reach for at night when I don’t want any more caffeine.

Flavors: Earth, Menthol, Peppermint, Sweet

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 355 ML
derk

The bag of loose leaf I got did not seem as potent as the various sachets I’ve had over the years. Still great but not GREAT.

Leafhopper

I’m beginning to wonder whether the Zen mint had peppermint oil to make it so potent. I’ve had to use two teaspoons of all the other mint teas I’ve tried.

tea-sipper

I miss Zen tea!

Leafhopper

Me, too. I only placed one order with them before they stopped selling tea, but most of what I bought was really good and affordable. In hindsight, I wish I’d bought a pound of their peppermint!

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90

It’s over the year since I had it? Damn… time flies!

Anyway, I was looking for this tea all morning as I had somehow upset stomach all day at work and it wasn’t much fun at all. I wonder what was/is wrong, but peppermint tea to the rescue!

First of all, the menthol in was still present, secondly, it was still very good and tasty peppermint tea. Thirdly, it has helped with my stomachache.

Good on all points. But it is sipdown.

Flavors: Menthol, Peppermint

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec 3 g 10 OZ / 300 ML
Leafhopper

Glad you’re feeling better! I got some of this from Derk a while ago and I agree that it’s good.

ashmanra

Peppermint is so relaxing to me! I made a peppermint spray to spritz my mask with so it won’t be quite as hard to wear on those days when it feels uncomfortable.

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90

I got some loose leaf sample from California again; derk sent me some! Thank you!

I took two teaspoons and boiling water. Brewed grandpa. As we have peppermint in our garden, I wasn’t that impressed seeing another peppermint tea. But hey, this is so good as ours! Very fresh and I really liked the flavour. It wasn’t muddy, musty or just plain.

i am afraid I can’t say much more as it was as expected, minty and fresh. And as there aren’t any other ingredients, it was “just minty”. But good minty.

Flavors: Peppermint

Preparation
Boiling 2 tsp 10 OZ / 300 ML
White Antlers

Glad to see this tasting note. I just ordered this tea for myself last night.

derk

Bah, I would’ve sent you a good amount had I known. The four ounce size is too much for me.

White Antlers

derk No worries. Heaven help me if I start getting weak willed again and begin accepting more tea into my still bulging cupboards. Thanks for the thought! smiles

Leafhopper

I need to get around to trying this tea, which Derk also generously sent me. It smells promising, though. (I’m not the only one to open and smell incoming teas in resealable bags, right?)

Martin Bednář

You aren’t only one Leafhopper, indeed zou aren’t. I have Advent Calendar from Shae and it’s uch hard to not open the envelopes!

Mastress Alita

Resealable packages? Ya, I like to steal a wiff. But nowadays I’m trying to leave all heat-sealed packages sealed until I’m ready to drink to preserve freshness. (There was once a time when I used to rip open ALL my new tea to smell them right away, and after accumulating so much and now trying to sip down those years-old tea, I realize what a dumb practice that was!)

Leafhopper

Martin, glad to know I’m not the only one. :) I’d also be tempted by those little advent calendar envelopes!

Mastress Alita, I don’t open all my vacuum- or heat-sealed packages anymore either, although I remember a time when I’d cut open the resealable bags with a heat seal (though never the vacuum-sealed oolong packages). I have five or six bag clips and I limit myself to drinking only that many non-resealable teas. Since I gravitate toward green oolongs, which can go stale quickly, I’ve found this to be a good strategy.

Mastress Alita

I repackage the vacuum-sealed ones (or anything that won’t “reseal” after being cut open) into aluminum ziptop packaging (though it is infinitely annoying when a zip breaks away from the package… I have some bag clips like you describe exactly because of that problem, hahaha). But I used to do that right away, so I could smell the tea. With all new tea orders now, I’m making sure to keep them vacuum sealed/heat sealed right until the minute I’m ready for the first tasting! Takes me so long to get around to drinking things anymore that I may as well try to keep the flavor as long as possible…

Leafhopper

That’s a good idea. Where do you get your empty ziptop bags? I also tend to go through teas slowly and probably don’t need any encouragement to open more of them!

Cameron B.

@Mastress Alita – I’m getting to that point, too. I have so many older teas that are already open that I need to sipdown…

Mastress Alita

@Leafhopper: I purchase these ones, usually both the smallest size (good for samplers/up to an ounce or so) and the next size up (2-4oz depending on the tea).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XG3QR1Z/?coliid=I2RXNEVP3T5TUX&colid=XIWV3ILFTMY9&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Leafhopper

Thanks! The price is reasonable, though the shipping to Canada pushes it up. I’ll have to check if Amazon Canada has these bags (though again, do I really need an excuse to open more tea pouches?).

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95

I have this in loose leaf and it is really nice. Spicy without being overwhelming. Probably my favorite chai blend.

Flavors: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Spicy, Sweet

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 20 OZ / 591 ML

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80

Good breakfast tea. Clean and smooth.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 20 OZ / 591 ML

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93

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93

A gem for those looking to find subtle flavors in a quality green tea. Naturally flavored by several berries and botanicals, it is not overpowering like most berry-filled satchels. Despite the lack thereof, this can easily be overpowering and bitter if steep time is not obeyed. When following the directions, this is easily one of the most refreshing options on the market, hot or cold.

Grass notes of organic sencha are the first to bud on the palate. This quickly gives way to fruits, berry, and a suggestion of melon as it evolves over seconds. Bolder notes of cherry, and earthy nuts expand, giving rise to a mellow citrus finish.

Each sip is the stereotype of a rainforest stroll. A sensation I find most welcoming in the spring, summer, and fall months.

The original Tropical Goji tea was once far bolder with berries on the finish. Its replacement, the Organic Tropical Green being reviewed, is still a phenomenal sip for those looking to the calmer side of flavor profiles.

As a fan of bolder finishes, I consider the discontinued Goji Green a 97/100. The commercially available Organic Tropical Green still manages a 93/100, in the very least.

Flavors: Almond, Berry, Cherry Wood, Citrus, Dried Fruit, Fruit Tree Flowers, Goji, Grass, Melon

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 1 min, 45 sec 2 tsp 30 OZ / 887 ML

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drank pomi-berry by two leaves and a bud
1557 tasting notes

Sipping on a pot of this herbal tea now. Another old ass tea from depths of the kitchen, best before 08/2012.

Smells like berries > hibiscus > chamomile. Tastes like a mouthful of apple-straw chamomile tea, with very light hibiscus on the sip and a light but lingering berry-lavender aftertaste. Linden, lemon balm and lemongrass? Can’t taste ‘em. But maybe the lemon herbs are giving the slightly drying liquor this bit of lemon sourness. It’s aight.

3 bags to a 750mL? teapot.

Flavors: Apple, Berries, Drying, Floral, Hibiscus, Lavender, Lemon, Straw

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 25 OZ / 750 ML
Kittenna

Best before 2012? I bet I have a stash of those somewhere! (My loose tea hoarding started in 2012 or so, but I have some Tazo & CS bagged teas from prior. Much, much prior. Ha.)

Mastress Alita

I feel fortunate that I started collected in fall of 2016, which means my “mass collecting” and oldest teas now are mostly 2017s that I’m trying to sipdown and get out of my house. So nothing in my cupboard is too old at the moment. But I don’t have the storage to keep getting more and hording without clearing out now, so I think I’ll never have anything that spans beyond that two year gap anyway. (Aside from trades, and I guess anything goes with that… total mystery there!)

Kittenna

Learn from our mistakes!!

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95
drank Peppermint by two leaves and a bud
1557 tasting notes

Every coffee counter at every large medical facility is the same: oversized Costco muffins and pastries and bagels, bags of chips and M&Ms, ‘granola’ bars. You’d think with the way Kaiser promotes healthy eating that such items wouldn’t be available inside their facilities. I opted for a breakfast burrito from this fine establishment. I knew it would be the most basic egg, potato and cheese log ever crafted by a human but I was HONGRAY.

My radar is always pinging for tea and the innocuous ‘two leaves and a bud’ sign pinged back. The Doctor Coffee counter had a selection, even! But only 1 bag left of Peppermint. I hesitated. You know when you’re sharing an appetizer and the lone piece of cripsy calamari remains? The “No, no you take it” back-and-forth bullshit, and that poor squid who gave its life for your sustenance gets cold and soggy because everybody’s too damn polite to pop the last piece in their mouth. Yeah, no. Do not hesitate. Give me that last Peppermint sachet! It’s mine! I have to settle the upcoming gurgles from a subpar burrito and the ensuing intestinal rot from these antibiotics waging war. You know what I’m talking about and I’m not sorry. We’re all human.

There’s a reason why this is my absolute favorite peppermint leaf. It is by far the cleanest, least herbaceous and stewy, most mentholated and sweet peppermint I’ve ever had. Powerful stuff. Not for sissies.

Flavors: Menthol, Peppermint, Sweet

Martin Bednář

I agree, it’s one of the finest peppermint I had. Close behind is Celestial Seasonings I brewed myself (second bag from you) JUST yesterday. Need to finish this one too. Once I will cook something heavy again, as yesterday deep fried celery root (experiment by other family members)… it will come.

gmathis

Well, you just shot my “eh, peppermint is peppermint” assumption to smithereens!

Cameron B.

Mmm cheese log! XD

White Antlers

Agreed. I always have a box of this in the pantry. It kicks ass.
Hope you get sorted out and feel better soon.

Mastress Alita

I’m the asshole that will unabashedly take the last of whatever is sitting in the breakroom. None of that slicing it in half BS either.

Leafhopper

Your review inspired me to finally try this tea! I enjoyed it, though I may need to use two teaspoons instead of one.

Lexie Aleah

I really likw some of the teas from this company.

ashmanra

I need to buy this for Superanna, then. She loves peppermint tea,

Cameron B.

I looked for this at the store today! They had a few teas from this company, but unfortunately this wasn’t one of them… :(

TeaEarleGreyHot

But M&Ms are healthy eating…

derk

Gosh, I’m way behind with these comments. Leafhopper, the loose leaf isn’t as fresh as I would have liked. The past few nights I’ve been brewing 2tsp to 300-350mL and it’s been up to par.

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95
drank Peppermint by two leaves and a bud
1557 tasting notes

I met up with 2 ¡awesome and kind! Steepster members – Mastress Alita and Todd – at the San Francisco International Tea Festival today. I got blasted on tea and being around that many people in general is exhausting for me. Now that I’m home, I figured a cooling cup of peppermint from my aunt’s stash would help me settle.

So I spent all this time perfecting my loose-leaf peppermint brewing only to have that effort decimated by some bagged leaf drank grandpa style. Seriously, this blows all peppermint tea out of the water. Pure, potent peppermint that opens my sinuses, cools my lungs and warms this icy heart. No leaf stew here, no burps, no scratchy throat. Good job sourcing that leaf, two leaves and a bud!

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 8 OZ / 236 ML
Tabby

That sounds so cool! I wish at Atlanta had something like that.

derk

Maybe you can help start one ;)

Mastress Alita

It was a good time, but conventions are always draining on introverts. By day three of a sci-fi/anime con I’ll be so wasted, and most that I’ve been to are more spread out/have better crowd control than that.

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My mother placed an order for Two leaves and a bud company. They make the best peppermint tea! Anyways, she received a couple samples and gave them to me to try. They could both be cold brewed, so that’s how I made them. This one was my favorite one. I was skeptical of the ingredients list, but they blend well together.

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drank Hydrate by two leaves and a bud
561 tasting notes

This was the second sample that I got to try. I cold brewed this one as well. I did not mind drinking this tea, but I think the hibiscus would have been better off left out of this blend (just my opinion).

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It seems I prefer goji berry blends to be with black tea rather than green. I oversteeped this a bit since I forgot I was steeping it at all. It made the green slightly bitter and ruined the taste of the goji berry, so I shan’t be rating this tea. Disappointing since this is the only sachet I have of this blend.

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68

Well, it’s not a terrible earl grey, but I’ve gotten spoiled by better ones with much better base teas and actual bergamot pieces rather than just bergamot oil so it tastes pretty mediocre to me. I’m picky about my earl greys and this one does not make the cut.

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50

Honestly this doesn’t taste much like a sencha. It tastes more oolongy to me and I don’t very much like oolongs. Maybe I just got a bad batch but this isn’t an enjoyable cup of tea.

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79

Decent Genmaicha for a bagged tea. Toasty and the green is pretty mild. I enjoyed this but I probably wouldn’t buy it again, there are better genmaicha out there.

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