1743 Tasting Notes

86

Pretty green, and herby. I taste the milk aspect a little bit, but it loses out to the sea mist tone. Enjoyable, but I prefer the treated version of this one and the Tie Guan Yin. Some one newer to teas would probably not be able to taste the creamy notes, and mistake it for a green tea. You honestly have to be able to taste more nuance or have a more vivid imagination to fully enjoy this one. I’d probably say that you should try it for a better understanding of the difference between the treated and untreated Jin Xuan, so educational and fun, but again, I liked the other teas more.

Flavors: Creamy, Herbaceous, Seaweed

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 0 min, 30 sec 6 g 6 OZ / 177 ML

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I enjoyed this one equally to the Milk Oolong. The smell and even the taste distinctly reminds me of plumeria. I have yet to taste a Tie Guan Yin with this sweet, floral purity. I am so glad this came as a sample, and thank you again Garret for this wonderful tea. I didn’t expect it to be so creamy and aromatic, yet so subtle. It instantly clears my head, and deceives me into relaxing though it can probably keep me up all night long. I was very tempted to try it western style, but I decided against it and savored it Gongfu. The last steeping was the only one that lacked the flavor that I liked.

If I were to buy from Mandala again, I’m not sure if I would pick this one or the Milk Oolong. I’d honestly buy both if I can. But hey, I love the smell of plumeria making my inclination not so partial.

I’d highly recommend this tea for anyone who likes light florals, greener oolongs, or who wants to meditate to something great. To a newbie, it might be an eye opening experience or a highly floral green tea.

Flavors: Creamy, Floral, Flowers, Sweet

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 0 min, 30 sec 6 g 6 OZ / 177 ML

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72
drank Earl Grey by Ahmad Tea
1743 tasting notes

My grandmother drank this Earl Grey pretty often. I enjoy it out of memory, and I personally enjoy the more orange and lemony zest of the bergamot in the taste. The perfume botches my nose when I open the bag, or, at a distance, my nose really likes it. When I brew it, the smell is way better. It has a pretty smooth, malty taste and I actually prefer it to some of the black teas that I’ve had, save Irish Breakfast. I can do it with or without cream and sugar. I am glad that I have it, but I’m not sure that I would buy it for myself personally.

Flavors: Bergamot, Malt

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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82

I did not know this was a Pu-Erh. I had it when I was fifteen, and I remember the nice vanilla smell and really sweet taste. I thought that the earthier body and smell was because it was blended with a black tea-turns out I was wrong and it was a green Pu-Erh. It’s one of the few darker teas that I started to drink without cream and sugar because it was so rich, never mind the sugar was great with the peppermint. The Tea Spot Climber’s High is a lot like this one, but I prefer the taste of this one because of the peppermint next to the cinnamon and vanilla bean.

Flavors: Cocoa, Creamy, Earth, Licorice, Peppermint, Spicy, Sweet, Vanilla

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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80

I liked it. Really liked it. The Sencha and the Dragon well teas blend really nicely together to create a sweet, vegetal, sea mist background sweetened by the rhubarb and strawberry. Fruity and fresh. The smell is the real highlight and a stronger version of what I described in the taste. I am glad that I had a sample.

Flavors: Chestnut, Rhubarb, Seaweed, Strawberry

Preparation
170 °F / 76 °C 2 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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84

The Everything Tea. That’s what this is. Read the ingredients: roasted yerba mate, black tea, green tea, white tea, pu’erh, ginger root, cinnamon, cardamom, licorice root, eleuthero root, saffron, black pepper, clove, fennel, safflowers, peppermint, tulsi, and vanilla flavoring. See what I mean? I’m almost surprised that there’s no rooibos and oolong.

This is a really good chai, and the smell is probably the best part of this tea and the potential health benefits of each ingredient. It was designed to give people a mild high, and before the morning, or before a workout, it encouraged me to be alert and little bit more cheery, or energetic. I smell this, and it’s like Christmas and vanilla. With so many flavors, this tea also becomes more complex as you resteep it. Again, the taste like the smell is like Christmas and vanilla, more so on the Christmas fire angle.

Considering the kitchen sink nature of this tea, you really have to put in a lot of effort to try to get each ingredient in a single cup. There were times were I had more white tea leaves with the mate than the others, but honestly, those times or when the cup had Pu-Erh where the better brews. The flavors really came out with those teas. Otherwise, one ingredient could overpower the other, like the mate quenching the saffron. Or, two flavors could accent each other and overwhelm a different flavor- not clashing at all, but silencing. That’s why I steeped it for 2 min and 45 sec. It’s also good at 3 minutes, but you get more roasted mate. I added about 45 seconds in the following brews. I wonder if the sachets version would be better if each ingredient is placed in a specific way in the bag.

This tea certainly saved my behind up in college, helping get through the day. I also admit that I convinced myself that this is the perfect tea on a budget because it has almost “everything”. My health craze was also worse at that point (not that it still isn’t bad) making me think that it is better for my whole being. I liked the Bolder Breakfast more for taste, but this one is more effective for health which is why I rated it higher. Good for me, yes, but not a panacea. Worth it anyways.

Flavors: Cardamom, Cocoa, Fennel Seed, Pepper, Peppermint, Roasted

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 2 min, 45 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
Daylon R Thomas 10 years ago

P.S. Good on it’s own, hot preffered, good with cream and sugar.

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90

Smells and tastes like chocolate chip cookies. I was able to re-steep it a few times, and I was surprised that I liked it cold, too. The chocolate and the black teas are dominant with the Pu-Erh adding a more smoked, and earthy background. Fairly sweet and though good with sugar and maybe cream, it doesn’t need it. I’d probably exchange it for my morning coffee to be honest. Really good if you eat it with chocolate or cookies.

Flavors: Chocolate, Cookie, Creamy, Malt, Wet Earth

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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65

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Bio

First Off, Current Targets:

Whispering Pines Alice
Good Luxurious Work Teas
Wang Family’s Jasmine Shanlinxi
Spring, Winter Taiwan High Mountain Oolongs

Dislikes: Heavy Tannin, Astringency, Bitterness, or Fake Flavor, Overly herby herbal or aged teas

Picky with: Higher Oxidation Oolongs, Red Oolongs (Some I love, others give me headaches or are almost too sweet), Mint Teas

Currently, my stash is overflowing. Among my favorites are What-Cha’s Lishan Black, Amber Gaba Oolong, Lishan Oolong, Qilan Oolong, White Rhino, Kenya Silver Needle, Tong Mu Lapsang Black (Unsmoked); Whispering Pines Alice, Taiwanese Assam, Wang’s Shanlinxi, Cuifeng, Dayuling, Jasmine Shan Lin Xi; Beautiful Taiwan Tea Co.“Old Style” Dong Ding, Mandala Milk Oolong; Paru’s Milk Oolong

Me:

I am an MSU graduate, and current alternative ed. high school social studies and history teacher. I formerly minored in anthropology, and I love Egyptian and classical history. I love to read, write, draw, paint, sculpt, fence(with a sword), practice calisthenics on rings, lift weights, workout, relax, and drink a cuppa tea…or twenty.

I’ve been drinking green and black teas ever since I was little living in Hawaii. Eastern Asian influence was prominent with my friends and where I grew up, so I’ve been exposed to some tea culture at a young age. I’ve come a long way since I began on steepster and now drink most teas gong fu, especially oolong. Any tea that is naturally creamy, fruity, or sweet without a lot of added flavoring ranks as a must have for me. I also love black teas and dark oolongs with the elusive “cocoa” note. My favorites are lighter Earl Greys, some white teas like What-Cha’s Kenyan offerings, most Hong-Cha’s, darker Darjeelings, almost anything from Nepal, Green Shan Lin Xi’s, and Greener Dong Dings. I’m in the process of trying Alishan’s. I also tend to really enjoy Yunnan Black or Red teas and white teas. I’m pickier with other teas like chamomile, green teas, and Masalas among several.

I used to give ratings, but now I only rate teas that have a strong impression on me. If I really like it, I’ll write it down.

I’ll enjoy a tea almost no matter what, even if the purpose is more medicinal, for it is my truest vice and addiction.

Location

Michigan, USA

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