2342 Tasting Notes
Because (a) Turmeric is the first noted ingredient and (b) I got called away and left this on my desk considerably longer than intended, I expected it to burn my throat. Not so—it’s pleasantly peachy, and any bitterness from the moringa has been beaten into submission by the fruit flavor. I like it and will save a little to try iced…spring is coming, right?
Had my musical characters mixed up—as I was steeping Herr Drosselmeyer this morning, I was actually envisioning smarmy “Uncle” Max Detweiler from The Sound of Music and thinking that this Darjeeling-heavy, wine-before-breakfast blend suited him nicely.
It definitely leads with the grape, but there is enough Assam to add a good, strong bass line and get your eyes open. Genießen Sie noch heute Ihren Tee.
Wow, talk about scent memories: one whiff of the dry teabag will take you back (hopefully pleasantly) to your elementary school cafeteria on fruit cocktail day. “Pears” nicely—pun intended—with the green tea delivery mechanism. Very cheerful and springy.
Prowling through the Everlasting Gobstopper of Tea Treat Boxes (don’t you love tea friends?), a packet of Jade Needle caught my eye, partially because of the eye-catching package—funky art, a sleeping cat sketch, and a wax seal; but mostly because of the steeping parameters. Green tea that invites abuse at 203 degrees and 4-6 minutes!
So I abused it at a good round 5 minutes and the results were pretty spectacular, considering green teas are generally on my B+ list. I can’t quite place the scent of the steeped leaves—simultaneously sharp and sweet. But the flavor is gentle and nutty—-pistachios dusted with a little brown sugar. Absolutely delicious, even the dregs I let get cold.
Pleasant things about waking up at 5:30 a.m. on a Sunday:
a) Mork and Mindy on Antenna TV
b) Not having to hurry
c) Time to ponder over a cup of East Frisian, which has been on my tea bucket list for a long while. Bucket filled, courtesy of ashmanra :)
This is hefty, beefy, and malty and I think I’m in love. Dark rye or pumpernickel with a little brown sugary uptick on the tip of your tongue, and the uptick is upgraded by a little bit of milk. It smells heavenly—I think that’s the Darjeeling talking. Delicious to wake up with.
So glad you liked it!
nanu nanu
I had toe socks the color of Mork’s suspenders. For future reference, toe socks are the most uncomfortable form of footwear ever invented. But they looked good with my gauchos.
I had rainbow suspenders! No toe socks until recently and they are Yoga ones. And you are right – they can be uncomfortable at times!
Had it not been for the lovely and talented Nichole, I wouldn’t know about Wise Ape Tea. I do now. I don’t know that Blueberry Time Machine added any time to a busy day of household drudgery, but it was a nice little refresher between chores. The berry flavor was authentic without being tart and the green tea/moringa just added a little crispness. Nice!
Oops. I just plain forgot I had some left. This was luscious when it was new; now that it has aged and I fished all the fruity chunks out of it for previous cups, it’s just faintly fruity. Not “off” or unpleasant; it will do for office tea. I’ll just have to remember it fondly, as it has dropped off Savoy Tea’s current product listing.
After last week, I am need of all things spring. Pink. Blue sky. Normal clothing instead of polar bear wear. Flowers. Bunnies. Confetti. Lilacs.
Therefore, a light and fruity tea was in order yesterday as I enjoyed a little silence after a rowdy afternoon helping supervise a 14-kid service project.
The picture on the TeaMaze website is an accurate representation. Big hunks of dried cherry and pineapple. An as-prescribed steep of 4 minutes gets you a cup of light, sweet, fruity sunshine. The lemongrass brightens the mix without making it tart. TeaMaze’s description references “tangy” twice, but I think that’s a little overstated. All the same, it was a very pleasant change of pace on a mild but muddy afternoon.
Some of you were still having pretend tea parties with your Furbies when I first reviewed Tea Forte’s English Breakfast, but at the time, I was very complimentary of it. Trying it again after a 10-year-break, I still have nice things to say about it. A good and beefy Assam with some brown sugar and raisin notes. Simple and sufficient.
I like this one best iced! Lightly sweetened!