149 Tasting Notes

The smell of this dry is insane. Yes, it’s got the artificial flavouring going on, but sometimes I’m totally into that (other times I run away screaming… I don’t understand myself…). The first time I made this, I drank it straight. The first sip was fantastic, but as I kept sipping, the spices became too overwhelming for me, almost to the point where I couldn’t finish the cup. However, since then, I’ve added a little milk each time, and it’s absolutely delicious. I’ve been loving this tea at night; it’s so comfy and fall like.
I do honestly get the ‘cheesecake’ thing… mmmm
Rooibos, you’ve become a real friend.

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drank Pumpkin Chai by DAVIDsTEA
149 tasting notes

I have been drinking this just about every day since my order arrived. It’s completely what I was looking for, with the craving for pumpkin taking over ( I wish I were immune, I really do…but I’m so not! Pumpkin in the fall is heaven, however overused it may be…) I add a little milk and sugar to my cup usually, but I haven’t actually made it as a proper chai. It’s so good already, I haven’t wanted to take the time to mess with it. The spices are well balanced, and there is a definite ‘pumpkin’ presence.
So cozy and comforting! :)

boychik

yay i like it too and kids request it. i may need to get more before it disappears.

TeaTiff

So how do you make a proper chai? You both make this sound yummy.

Plunkybug

I didn’t like this one the first time I had it, as I had just had Saigon Chai and found it much weaker. The following year I had it again and liked it. It’s not the most pumpkin, and not the most chai, but it is tasty, and something I gravitate to this time of year.

DeliriumsFrogs

Boychik, my youngest daughter (9yr old) is my tea partner, but she hasn’t tried this one yet. She’s totally into warm cider with mulling spices right now. I’ll have to get her to try this, though. :)
TeaTiff, I’m sure I don’t make mine correctly. But, I like to use the milk of my choice, along with the measured out tea (usually 1 cup milk to 1tsp tea), and the sugar to taste in a saucepan on the stove. I’ll simmer for about 10 minutes and then strain it into a mug. If I’m using straight up tea that isn’t spiced (I really like A&D’s tiger assam for chai), I’ll add whatever spices myself to the pan (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, etc… whatever’s in my cupboard). It’s always SO yummy, but it dirties more dishes, and sometimes I just don’t want to clean them. lol
Amariel, which pumpkin tea do you think is most pumpkin? I’m totally new to loose leaf pumpkin teas (I’d just buy the boxed ones at the grocery store), and this year I seem to be craving pumpkin. :)

Plunkybug

I have not tried the others, but I think Teaopia had a pumpkin one that was a little more pumpkin. I may be misremembering. I have not tried the other two pumpkin teas from DT since they’re all sold out here. So far I have resisted getting any pumpkin chai, but I likely will soon, once I have drunk a little more of my cupboard down.

DeliriumsFrogs

My pumpkin chai is almost gone, so I might check out that Teaopia one (although, I may have to refrain from more tea purchases, since my bank account may not be too happy about it. lol).

Plunkybug

Teaopia got bought out by Teavana, so it no longer exists. I had some pumpkin chai today and it was gooood. I will eventually need to get some.

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drank Snickerdoodle by DAVIDsTEA
149 tasting notes

When I read about this one on the David’s site, it sounded so delicious. On a budget, I only ordered two teas, so this one got added to my “maybe purchase later” list. I was quite excited that a sample was included with my order, since I did really want to try it.
I’m very glad I tried it and didn’t buy it.
This tea is just not my thing. The cinnamon tastes like red hots, there’s a predominant apple flavour going on that I don’t associate with snickerdoodles, and the sweetener is something I’m not looking for in my loose tea (I’ll add my own sweetener if I want it).
The aftertaste is very artificial sweetener and red hot candy….
It sounded fantastic, but just didn’t work in my cup. Even dry, the cinnamon was way too strong and artificial.
Bummer.

TeaBrat

Now you know… :)

DeliriumsFrogs

Yes. And knowledge is a good thing…especially concerning tea you don’t like. :)

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I received a sample of this with my David’s order (hadn’t ordered from David’s before, but was pulled in by their Pumpkin offerings…).
This tea reminds me of the Grandma I never had. In my imagination, I like to pretend that I have this amazing Grandma and that she would bake me treats that would probably contain pineapple and walnuts (why would they contain pineapple and walnuts? I’m not really sure, but it just seems like they type of baked good Grandmas would really be into). I imagine she’d have tacky wallpaper, but I’d love it just because it would remind me of her. We’d have tea together, nothing fancy, just comfy mugs and treats. This tea smells (and tastes) like the baked good that would be on my imaginary Grandmas imaginary kitchen table…. It’s really, really comforting.
Imaginary Grandma, you’re the best. :)

boychik

None of my Grandmas baked anything. They were baking challenged ( me too, runs in a family, haha). So can we imagine together ? ;-)

Sami Kelsh

Imaginary Grandma would take walnuts and pineapple and whip up a glorious hummingbird cake! I aspire to BE that grandma one day. Guess I should deal with having my own kids first, but I’d rather be baking…

DeliriumsFrogs

Yes! I’d love to imagine together, boychik! :)
Oh, a hummingbird cake! Sami, that’s perfect!

carol who

I remember telling my children we were going to have hummingbird cake and them freaking out!! They are in their 30’s and we still laugh about it. ;-p

DeliriumsFrogs

Carol Who, that’s so funny! lol

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Oh, the Hatter came up with a good one here….
Being one who likes to make their premium teas last as long as possible, I made my cup with the full tablespoon of leaves, but also a run through with just over a teaspoon. Both ways made an absolutely magical cup of tea (I didn’t even have to fall down the rabbit hole…. although, on most days, I feel as if I already have…).
Brown sugar, bread crust (that really crusty French kind…), cocoa, and the light notes of stonefruit… it’s all there!
With both amounts of leaves, I steeped at least 3 times and loved every bit of it.
While I’m sure the flavours really popped with the full tablespoon, for me, it’s good to know that I can tone back the leaf if I want to make it stretch.

Utterly delightful in every way. :)

boychik

Why oh why you made it sound so delicious. I’m running out of space…;-)

DeliriumsFrogs

Oooh! I’ll send you some, if you’d like!! :)

Cheri

This is yummy.

boychik

Thank you. I would try. Keep for me 1-2tsp please. I didn’t come back home yet;)

DeliriumsFrogs

I’ll set some aside for you! I hope your Summer is going great—I keep thinking about how beautiful it must be at your summer home!

boychik

It’s nice, a little chilly. It’s 61F and low 50’s at night. Heavy comforter and pj. And lots of hot chocolate for kids. Tea for me;)

DeliriumsFrogs

I’m weird, and actually like the cooler weather, so comfy blankets, hot chocolate, and tea sound so inviting. :)

Cheri

I like cooler weather over HOT weather all the time. I can put on more blankies. When it gets too hot, there hits a point when I can’t take anything more off.

DeliriumsFrogs

Cheri, I am totally with you. You can fix being cold, you know, unless you’re stranded out in the snow somewhere… but you can only cool down so much when it’s hot.
It felt like Fall here the other day, and I knew I was about the only person around here who actually liked it.
Humid weather makes me melt…. and then I can’t drink tea! lol

boychik

I’m dreading the time I have to come back. It’s hot and humid in Brooklyn. I like cooler weather, but common I would prefer 70 in August, not 58.

Dexter

(Agreed – it’s been TOO HOT to drink tea the last few days here)

Whispering Pines Tea Company

Two days ago it was 64F, overcast, and breezy. I did nothing but drink tea outside all day. It was perfect. Today it was 80F…way too hot for me…but I also LOVE humidity over dry heat, so I have no real issue with the weather :P

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Malty, sweet, just a bit of a kick (the first steep), hints of chocolate, and baked bread lovliness…. mmmmmmm!
I managed to sip away while sitting outside and sketching… the weather is very fall like today, with amazing clouds. As I drank, I was sort of worried I’d get chucked in the head with an apple (Aragorn is not one for second breakfasts….), but this second breakfast was undisturbed and completely peaceful. :)
I steeped this three times (I may even do another…), and the third cup was very ‘baked bread’, with a delightful sweet aftertaste.
SO happy I ordered this.

Flavors: Bread, Cocoa, Malt, Sugarcane

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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I’m on a pu-erh kick right now, thanks to the wonderful ripe pu-erh sampler box from Mandala.
Going with this one today has been incredibly lovely… I think I’m on my fifth infusion, but I’ve been losing count with these Mandala samples because they resteep so fantastically well… I’m talking ‘drink all day and into the night’ type resteep here…
Boychik once brought up the plum pudding qualities of pu-erh, and this one right here is that exact type…. Creamy, velvety smooth, vanilla dancing around with the warm dried fruit notes, hints of spice…. This tea literally wraps its arms around you and gives you a giant hug (and, I sorta needed that…).
I can’t thank Garret enough for offering this sampler… these teas have made my week! :)

Garret

happy again! Thank YOU!! Your review made me smile. And giant hugs are always a good thing, am I right?

boychik

Hugs :)

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I’m only on my third infusion of this, so I may have to come back and edit to add…
Leather, mineral, and spice, with an almost smoky quality going on… So fantastic!
As with my other Mandala sample, I’ve only used about 3.5 grams in my gaiwan. My first steep was for 30 seconds, then adding 15 after that (that’s what I did for Noble Mark, as well…).
There’s still a velvet chocolatey-ness here, as with the Noble Mark, but the spice and mineral notes truly stand out….
I really can’t wait to keep drinking this. :)
Man, these Mandala tastings have turned into all day affairs! (I can’t imagine a better way to spend a day…)
*sample from the amazing Mandala Ripe Pu’er Sampler Pack

Garret

Wow! We seem to be drinking the same tea in the same sequence! Brewed up a session of this after yoga this morning! Loved it. This tea has changed so much since its pressing. Leather and plenty of it. One fellow tea importer named it “ancient wisdom” because it reminded him of the oldest section at his colleges library!

DeliriumsFrogs

Leather bound books! OH my goodness! That’s TOTALLY what I was picking up, but I couldn’t put my finger on it! Thank you—I love when someone figures out what I was thinking, but just didn’t have the words for. :)

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I received my sampler pack from Mandala yesterday (I may have let out a squeel upon opening the puffy envelope of goodness….). Deciding to try this one first, I chose to only use half the sample (about 3.5 grams) since in the directions it mentioned you could do this for a lighter brew. Pu-erh is still new to me, although I’ve loved it every time I’ve had it, and I feel like I’m still just getting to know what it has to offer….which, in turn, makes me feel like a newb and that I should take the ‘lighter’ route when offered (maybe I should get over that and just dive right in…I don’t know…).
I drank this tea all day…. ALL DAY. “One last time”, I kept telling myself, but that ‘one last time’ would be utterly delicious, and I’d go in for another ‘last time’.
The beginning was milk chocolatey with such a warm nuttiness, and always a fantastic aftertaste. Near the end (hours later), the woodiness in the infusions was brought forward, with that cedar note becoming much more prominent. So interesting, and so delicious.
Thank you so much Mandala, for offering a sampler pack at such a steal of a price!
I will definitely be coming back for more. :)

boychik

Yay! Glad you liked it!

Garret

This review just had me grinning from ear to ear. I am so joyful that you are enjoying this. Noble Mark has been my first tea of the day for over 2 years. And it just keeps getting better.

I appreciate you writing up your thoughts on this, my friend! From Rochester, MN to Rochester, NY I wish you great joy!

DeliriumsFrogs

Thanks for such a lovely comment, Garret! :)
Your tea has made my gaiwan incredibly happy (really. it’s like it’s been humming a tune and swaying ever so slightly, I swear…).
And boychik, I can’t thank you enough for getting me hooked on pu-erh! :)

boychik

soon you are going to say: Damn you, boychik! What have you done!

DeliriumsFrogs

Hahaha! Perhaps. But it would completely be said with love. lol

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MissB’s box of incredible tea is still a complete delight and supply of all things awesome (Thank you!!!)…. I picked this out of it this morning.
I’m feeling like I don’t have time to write in depth tasting notes, and that’s bugging me…but I told myself that I need to at least just jot down and log what I’m drinking, even if I can’t really get into it at that moment…
anyway…
This tea was exactly as it’s name proclaims… just a lovely classic black. It was bold and round, but not overpowering. I steeped this one 4 times and had a tasty cup each time…The 1st was dark and strong (but NOT in a bad way at all…perfectly fantastic!); by the fourth, the liquor was lighter (but still so pretty!) and had lost any bit of astringency, becoming sweet with a touch of roastiness.
really great tea!

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Profile

Bio

Oh, tea….
you’ve taken over my life, but I’m ok with that.

I’m pretty new to the tea scene, only drinking tea bags most of my life, but my friend ifjuly really got me into it (that sounds bad…). Butiki, Harney, and Verdant seem to be my ‘go to’ places to order from, but I LOVE trying new teas and companies. The variety is partly why I love tea so much…you can’t possibly get sick of it.
Well, that, and the transporting aroma of each cup…. I love that. It’s why I love wine, and tea does it just was well.

Really want to learn about different tea vendors out there, and about tea in general… it’s all so interesting to me.
I’m really excited to be part of this community and learn from all of you.

I don’t usually sweeten or add milk to my teas, so my notes are based on that….also, the rating system kind of throws me—I’ve always been horrible with giving number ratings to things, so don’t take those as set in stone (Honestly, I usually don’t even use the numbers…).

Everything in my cupboard has at least one serving left in it…I try to keep it updated. :) (I actually just added all my sample sizes to my cupboard, so MOST of the tea in my cupboard is of that ‘sample’ size…)

random info: music and art are pretty important in my life… i also thoroughly enjoy nerdy things like video games, anime, knitting, Doctor Who (the 10th is my favourite…), A Song of Ice and Fire, and random cartoons and such…. and i love, love, love to read. :)

I’m married to my best friend (I’ve known him since I was 15….we were totally going to be in a band together. It was going to be HUGE…), and we’ve got three kiddos. They’re pretty neat, too, even if they try to put sugar in my Verdant tea when they drink it….

Location

Rochester, NY

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