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Evol Ving Ness drank Coconut Lime by Handmade Tea

1403 tasting notes

GCTTB

I am so very grateful that the brief rainfall cleared the humidity and kept the neighbour children off that cursed trampoline. Those would be the other neighbours: not the ones with the shrieking baby and the at dawn exercise routine.

Yeah, I know—I must have done something truly horrible in a previous life.

I quite like this one though I was expecting a completely different set of flavours than those which arrived in my cup. The black base is pretty frisky. I had steeped it as per VariaTEA’s instructions at 4 minutes instead of my usual 2 minute black tea quickie. The lime here is earthy rather than bright. The coconut is missing altogether. Nice cup. If I tried it again, I would likely do a shorter steep.

Thanks, VariaTEA!

Preparation

Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

8 years ago

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7 comments

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Indigobloom 8 years ago

I usually forget to set my timer. So my steep times? not consistent, for the most part! >_<

Evol Ving Ness 8 years ago

Understood.

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Comments

VariaTEA 8 years ago

4 minutes is Handmade Tea’s recommended steeping. I usually steep for less time too.

Evol Ving Ness 8 years ago

It was very kind of you to write the steeping parameters on the packet. Sadly, I am one of those people who if someone takes the time to write something, I take that as an indicator of Please person, STEEP THIS AT 4 MINUTES. Crazy, huh? That’s why I don’t write steeping parameters, assuming that people will steep black the way they steep black, green the way they steep green and so on.

Evol Ving Ness 8 years ago

Imma disregard steeping parameters.

Evol Ving Ness 8 years ago

VariaTEA, I hope my comment did not in any way come across as critical. I was just being flippant and silly. Hope it came across that way.

VariaTEA 8 years ago

Hahaha no worries. I get it though I usually attempt to follow steeping parameters from companies unless they’re far outside my comfort zone. I figure the company makes the tea and in theory they should know how to best prepare it. So I thought it was best to share all the info I got from the company.

Indigobloom 8 years ago

I usually forget to set my timer. So my steep times? not consistent, for the most part! >_<

Evol Ving Ness 8 years ago

Understood.

Profile

Bio

A monk sips morning tea

A monk sips morning tea,
it’s quiet,
the chrysanthemum’s flowering.

- Basho

(1644-1694)

Note to self—-you do not actually need any more tea.

My real tea obsession began in February 2015.

Not, sadly, when I had been living and working in China, though I very much enjoyed sampling a variety of teas during my travels there as well. No, no, that would have been far too sensible.

I am a reformed coffee drinker. I still enjoy a long double espresso with a good quantity or milk or cream from time to time, but for now, tea is my thing. All day.

*note—this is way out of date, so if we are doing a swap and you are checking to see what I like and dislike, mostly never mind what you find below. One of these days, I will update this. In the meantime, check what I’ve been drinking and use your own judgement. I like all the teas. Well, I am open to trying all the teas.

I tend to drink black, green, or oolong tea in the morning to early afternoon. Rooibos or
Honeybush or herbal in the evening. And perhaps some sort of sleepy-type tea in the wee hours.

This year, I’ve been discovering flavoured teas, so it may look like that is all I drink although that would provide a false impression.

Not a big fan of chocolate or mint in teas, but I will try them and, from time to time, have been pleasantly surprised. Also, usually I dislike a prominent cinnamon flavour, if untempered with other things, in teas. Again, I say usually, because there are exceptions.

Also, please note that haven’t quite gotten into the habit of updating my tea cupboard on Steepster, and it is unlikely that I will do this on any kind of regular basis.

I drink my tea black and unsweetened. If there comes a rare moment that I add something to it, I will mention it.

Finally, while I thank large and successful tea companies for tantalizing and beckoning me to the world of tea, I prefer to support independent ventures with real people, real enthusiasm and commitment, and real dreams.

Currently, I am researching monthly tea subscriptions. Perhaps it will keep me out of tea shops.

And here is Shae’s rating scale— which I am using with permission, of course— which more or less describes the way I have been rating teas. I am going to make more of an effort to stay very close to these parameters now.

Rating Scale

1-20: By far, one of the worst teas I’ve tasted. I most certainly will not finish my cup and will likely “gift” the rest to my sweet husband who almost always enjoys the teas I dislike (and vice versa).

21-40: This tea is not good but if I mix it with another tea or find another steeping method I might be able to finish it.

41-60: This one is just okay. I might drink it again if someone were to give it to me, but I probably won’t be buying more for myself.

61-75: This is a consistently good tea. It’s reliable but not necessarily special.

76-90: This one is a notch above the rest and I would gladly enjoy a cup of it any day of the week. I’ll likely be keeping this in my cupboard, but it isn’t one of my all-time favorites.

91-95: One small change and this tea would be perfect. I’ll definitely have a stash of this in my kitchen if you come over for tea.

96-100: No words can describe this tea. It’s an experience, an aha moment. Closed eyes, wide smile, encompassing warmth. Absolutely incredible. Perfect.

Location

Mostly, but not always, Toronto, Canada.

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