1674 Tasting Notes

drank Marfa - Dark Roast by CatSpring Yaupon
1674 tasting notes

Got a mixed package for Christmas of the 3 Catspring’s varieties of loose leaf yaupon. This extra teabag was in the box.

I’d be fooled if somebody told me this is a lighter roast houjicha. Hit all the right notes this morning with a summer fog that was sprinkling fine mist on every surface. Mellow and smooth and sweet. Decent caffeine kick to boot.

Will come back to this for tasting note details when I break open the looseleaf :)

Cameron B.

Love CatSpring! They’re less than two hours away from me, I should go visit sometime.

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drank Butterfly Garden by Old Barrel Tea Co
1674 tasting notes

Received as a gift from somebody who visited Old Barrel in person!

Cold-brew is my first attempt and it’s a fruity, saturated blueberry brew. Artificial in the sense that it reminds me of the blueberry-scented Strawberry Shortcake doll I had in the late 80s, but I like it in the moment. Some light florality from the oolong and other ingredients. A little bit of lemongrass permeates throughout the main blueberry taste. Purplish-blue from the butterfly pea flowers.

I’ll try it hot, but I think most of this will go cold-brewed since added flavorings tend to hold up better that way.

Flavors: Artificial, Blueberry, Chamomile, Flowers, Fruity, Herbal, Lemongrass

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more 6 g 16 OZ / 473 ML
rosebudmelissa

I had a strawberry scented version of that doll sometime in the 90’s. I didn’t even remember it existed until you mentioned yours!

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90
drank Cedarberg Rooibos by Five Mountains
1674 tasting notes

On my third canister over the course of 4 or so years. This rooibos remains consistently smooth and rich despite it no longer being “long cut”. Hands down the best rooibos I’ve had!

Flavors: Almond, Black Currant, Cedar, Mineral, Rich, Smooth, Tangy, Tobacco

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 10 OZ / 295 ML

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45
drank Ginger Peach Turmeric by Bigelow
1674 tasting notes

Bigelow teas, with the exception of Constant Comment, fall flat for me, almost like I did this morning as I nearly face-planted upon rising from a deeeep sleep. I was hoping for something that would stabilize the discombobulated wobbles and provide a bit of sunshine to the start of a cloudy and cool day. Sadly, this was not it.

Watery, spicy yet stale ginger, earthy but not grounding, weak turmeric, some tang, flat artificial musty peach. Couldn’t taste the chicory or any of the other spices like cardamom and cinnamon, but I could taste the paper teabag. That’s the worst part. Not that there’s anything wrong with teabags. Some just have a strong paper taste.

Flavors: Artificial, Cardboard, Earthy, Flat, Ginger, Paper, Peach, Spicy, Stale, Tangy, Watery

TeaEarleGreyHot

Gosh, it’s as if a pretty, decorative foil pouch can’t transform stale herbs, spices, and sour fruit wrapped in a bleached paper bag into something tangy, flavorful and fragrantly delicious!

Skysamurai

100% agree on Bigelow. And I used to like Constant comment until I found Marketspice Original blend. I don’t usually like artificial flavors but this one is special

Mastress Alita

I’ve always had that problem with the teabags from Bigelow… every single one I ever tried left the tea tasting like cardboard.

Martin Bednář

I am afraid that some companies are selling old and stale ingredients in the tea bags. Lipton for instance.
But I had also a many good experience with tea bags — as I am using them in the office. Lovaré is one of them or Basilur close behind.

TeaEarleGreyHot

@Martin, to be fair, I’m sure a lot of tea does its aging in supermarkets where volume is low until the old stock is put on clearance. When I’ve bought teabags mail order from a dealer, they are typically great (except for when they use fannings and dust for bags!) Either way, I’m guilty of letting excellent tea die a slow death in my cupboard. Lately I’ve gotten ruthless and added a lot of stale leaf to my compost pile. Of course, the pu-erh is supposed to improve with age, and I do have controlled environments with humidity pouches for them! But not every puer does improve, and I admit that many folks find great pleasure from very young sheng!

Skysamurai

I had a properly aged tencha last year that was amazing.

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November 2024 harvest

Second time I’ve received this as a freebie, thank you :) Must say, it’s a treat! Never took notes, but it’s about the same tastes as last time. I’m not picking up any astringency and it’s smoother overall. Rounded, naturally creamy and sweet, lusciously fragrant. Very floral prepared western style. It filled the office at work with a bouquet of tropical and temperate flowers. To me, this is a quintessential Taiwanese green oolong.

Three grams lasted three not finicky steeps. I suspect it could take water off the boil well. Should’ve brought home the leaf to cold steep for a final infusion!

Preparation
3 g 10 OZ / 300 ML

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85

Kaylee’s note sums it up perfectly: https://steepster.com/Kaylee/posts/436610

Clean white-hot zing of ginger softened by the sweet pollen note of chamomile. Spicy tingle lingers.

Wholly welcome on a foggy and chilly June evening as I wind down from a 21-mile bike ride.

Flavors: Chamomile, Clean, Ginger, Mineral, Pollen, Spicy

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 8 OZ / 236 ML
gmathis

That sounds like a nice combination—spices, weather, and solid ground after cycling that long!

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drank Tulsi Turmeric Ginger by Organic India
1674 tasting notes

Four years since first trying this, and with a new box, my past impression stands. One of Organic India’s better tulsi blends.

Flavors: Basil, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Licorice, Spicy, Tulsi, Turmeric

TeaEarleGreyHot

Could you taste the stevia this time?

derk

Barely, and only at the bottom of the cooled mug.

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drank Greek Mountain Tea by Rishi Tea
1674 tasting notes

A bit of a misnomer, those who are expecting only Sideritis will be surprised with additions of ginger, chamomile, licorice root and oregano. Chamomile dominates but is well balanced by sweet, savory and spicy aspects. Vibrant oregano lingers a bit at the end.

I enjoyed the 1 sachet from my aunt’s stash while at work in the morning. I found it to be gently stimulating and possessing a mix of warming and cooling effects. The first infusion was rather strong but the herbs do resteep well with the bag left in the mug. Very good blend with fresh ingredients!

Flavors: Balanced, Chamomile, Floral, Herbal, Licorice Root, Meadow, Oregano, Pollen, Spicy, Summer, Sweet

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drank Blood Circulation by bravo tea
1674 tasting notes

Bought this for I think $5.99 buy one, get one free at Sprouts.

Another TCM herbal tea I’m using to support my unruly cycle. Drank several days prior to that time of the month and for the first few days. It produces a concentrated, oily yellow brew that could be used as a dye. Tastes densely of celery which I don’t like to eat, however I find myself sipping the warm tea with ease. Mildly sweet. Feels nourishing.

Coming back to this a month later, it’s more like celery root, not green tasting at all like fresh celery.

Flavors: Celery, Oily, Roots

Cameron B.

Hearing mention of a celery tea makes me really miss those savory vegetable infusions that Numi used to make!

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80
drank Detox Tea by Triple Leaf Tea
1674 tasting notes

Picked this up at the Korean market for $6.99. Seems expensive.

Detox is a touchy term in the already touchy world of wellness which is full of arbitrary claims. So why did I buy this?

The past few years has seen me landing pretty dang squarely in Middle Age. A few years’ worth of going crazy due to hormonal fluctuations has led me into trying different things to relieve symptoms. Naturally, with my affinity for many things Chinese, I’ve wandered into TCM. It’s a vast subject and rife with contradictions to my education in the sciences but I have nevertheless been drawn in. A lot of it makes sense within my limited understanding of Chinese culture.

All I can say is this herbal tea is very tasty and seems to relieve, via mild diuresis, some of the water retention I experience. It does feel cleansing in a sense. I like the way I feel after drinking a concentrated cup (2 bags to 8-10oz) first thing in the morning and/or later in the evening on an empty stomach. It’s not something I want everyday, but I do reach for it several times per week. The taste is definitely in line with clover and dandelion and various roots with a soft cassia balance (there must not be much in there as it is often overpowering). Besides those, there is a whole mix of herbs in this blend.

Flavors: Burdock, Cinnamon, Clover, Dandelion, Mineral, Roots

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Bio

This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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Location

Sonoma County, California, USA

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