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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 :)

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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.