234 Tasting Notes

60
drank Irish Breakfast by Twinings
234 tasting notes

This one has been hanging out in my cabinet for some time. I’m not sure where it came from. Maybe a tea gnome snuck it into the house. I’ve had this many times before as its a staple found in many restaurants but I’ve never sipped it with thoughtful intention.

I prefer it over the English Breakfast Tea. It is smooth and malty. Would drink it again, if it was offered. Probably wouldn’t purchase because I have become more intrigued in the huge variety of teas out there!

Fun to read over the reviews from the last 12 years. Noted that no one has reviewed it in the last 5+ years!

Flavors: Malt

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 15 sec
gmathis

I should help you remedy that. Love this one, drink it reasonably frequently, just don’t mention it much!

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43

More from my Christmas tea bag sampler. I tend to like to drink greens mid afternoon for a pick me up. After spending the day arguing with our heating system (I think I won) I decided to warm up with some tea.

I do like the Jasmine in this tea. I think I would like this even more if it was loose leaf. Not sure I’d buy it for myself but if it was offered in a restaurant or at a friend’s, I would have it with no complaint.

Flavors: Jasmine

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 45 sec
gmathis

Ooh! I have one little bag of this—I have no idea where it came from—in my office with a temperamental (oh, who am I kidding? it’s downright schizophrenic) heating system. Tomorrow may be a perfect day to sample it!

Jen vB

Magic Office Tea! I have a few of those random teas in my lunch bag.

gmathis

We pretty much have a tea buffet in my office and the one next door—a lot of snitching and sampling back and forth, although my preferences are usually deemed weird, “old lady tea,” or “smells like aftershave.”

Jen vB

That sounds fabulous! I’m a consultant and travel throughout the region. So my office is in my car. I wonder if I could set up a mobile tea station in the trunk. Not that I get much time to drink tea at work.

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42
drank Acadia by Simpson & Vail
234 tasting notes

Just booked flights for one of two trips to western US National Parks today. This first trip this year will be the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. I’ve been to both before and I’m excited to take some Girl Scouts to explore.

Today, I’m finishing off Acadia. I am reminded of a pancake parlor in Norther NH. They make the best blueberry oat pancakes. I really hope I get to go up there this summer. As a tea though, I don’t find it exciting. I think as much as I love blueberries, I don’t care for the flavor in my teas. Maybe I haven’t found the “right” one though. Just means I need to keep trying. It’s not bad though, I’m just unlikely to purchase it again.

Flavors: Blueberry, Oatmeal

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 0 sec
gmathis

What a brave soul you are! What age range are your scouts?

Jen vB

Our Ambassador Girl Scouts are in their Junior Year of high school and have been planning this since 2019.
I also have a Daisy troop. Lifetime GS myself!

gmathis

Both ends of the age spectrum! Sal—oot!

Jen vB

True!
I thought I was done with my GS Volunteering but then my own daughter wanted to try. So I’m starting all over again.

gmathis

Fifth and sixth grade is my volunteer teaching wheelhouse and weekly gig, but for short spurts, it’s fun to change to a different age. I tend to trend down instead of up. Any way to turn a tea party into a badge opportunity?

Jen vB

Well our Daisy troop is using their Cookie Money on Build A Bear…. sooooo Teddy Bear Tea Party is in my calendar. :-)

mrmopar

Yellowstone wow!

Michelle

The Gros Ventre camp ground at Grand Teton has a daily moose sighting at sunset. Just ask at check in for the campsite numbers and follow the crowd of photographers.

Jen vB

Thanks for the tip! In all my trips up north, I’ve only seen a moose once. In the dark, off a highway!

Michelle

Oh, and there are a few elk that hangout in the grassy areas near the visitor center in Mammoth. Kinda weird to see elk that close to humans and not really care. I’d be happy to chat about either park if you had questions I might be able to answer, I live about 1.5 hrs from the east gate of Yellowstone.

Jen vB

Such a beautiful area of the country. I’ve been out there twice. Once backpacking for 2 weeks and once touristing (Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier). I’m looking forward to going back.

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11
drank Spice Dragon Red Chai by Stash Tea
234 tasting notes

I had snagged these at the local Christmas Tree Shoppe when I was crafting my Christmas Tea Gifties. The tea bags were inconsistent through the box. Some were strong with cinnamon and others heavy on cardamon.
Today’s mug was heavy on cardamon and it’s the last of it. I won’t be purchasing it again. I sweetened it up with a drop of honey and enjoyed the warmth on this snowy day

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33

A friend gifted this to me because it’s one of her favorites. I don’t care for it. It just has too much lemon and not enough tea taste. Perhaps I would feel different if it was loose leaf. The tea bag was typical dusty bits of leaf.

Flavors: Lemon

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71
drank Earl Grey by Taylors of Harrogate
234 tasting notes

Another kid in close contact quarantine and day care is closed for 2 weeks, so I’m drinking tea for my sanity. This is my 3rd cup of the day which is unusual for me at this time. Part of the sampler that was gifted to me at Christmas and I’ve tried most of the sampler.

This is a bagged tea. I’ve recently grown to like EGs now that I’ve found some good ones. I think this is a decent one to serve to others and I don’t need to hide it away for myself. A nice citrus and bergamot taste. I like the smell of this one while steeping.

Flavors: Bergamot, Citrus

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79
drank Grand Canyon by Simpson & Vail
234 tasting notes

I think this is my favorite from the National Park Sampler I purchased. The prickly pear has shown up in two teas that I’ve enjoyed. I wonder if I can find one of those locally to try. I don’t find this overly sweet and, as others have said, vaguely of rhubarb.

Now, I really do want to get planning on my National Parks trips this summer!

Flavors: Rhubarb, Sweet, Warm Grass

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83

Another Christmas Giftie to try.

I have to say I really like this one; which is good because I was given a large box of it! I taste rose, grapefruit, and chamomile. I think I might add this to the list to purchase when they release the 2022 batch.

Flavors: Chamomile, Grapefruit, Rose

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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75
drank Rocky Mountains by Simpson & Vail
234 tasting notes

I think this is my favorite so far from this National Park Sampler. And honestly, I loooove the Rocky Mountains so that’s a bonus. One day I’ll have to get back out there.

Raspberry teas tend to turn me off but I like that the raspberry wasn’t too strong for me. I think it’s the sage that really makes this for me. This will be on my re-order list.

Flavors: Raspberry, Sage

Shae

What an interesting combination!

Mastress Alita

I’m a Rocky Mountain native! I have never tried this tea, but greatly enjoy the Tazo Rocky Mountain blend, “Juniper Mint Honey”.

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50

One of my Daisy GS gifted me a sampler box for Christmas. It was very unexpected and so sweet of her family to think of me (I need to write that Thank you!). After a long day of post Christmas meltdowns with the littles, some wine and now some Chamomile are in order.

Apparently, this is the #1 Best Seller for Tea Samplers on Amazon (evil empire). The price point is decent. I’ve never heard of this company (I seem to say that quite a bit) and glad for the chance to try something new!

So this is the first tea bag I’ve used out of the sampler, the tea bag was ripped when I took it out of the foil. Did I do it? Maybe. But I was just checking out reviews online and others have reported this. Hmmm

The tea it self makes me feel like a comfy blanket is being wrapped around me. Perhaps the wine is helping that or maybe it is the actual comfy blanket on my lap. But I’m going to say all three (wine, blanket, and tea) have helped to relax me.

I would/will drink this chamomile again (likely without a prior wine course) and have a better sense of the tea. It seems to be an okay chamomile tea with nothing exciting to it.

Flavors: Chamomile

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 15 sec
gmathis

Kid gifts are pretty special!

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Profile

Bio

In the early 2000’s, my brother worked for a grocery company that removed items from the shelves and I ended up with a cabinet filled with random tea.

After I finished that cabinet, I started trying new things and exploring the world of tea. Still exploring, still learning, and loving this community.

I tend to take my tea with no additions and quite hot. Though often I find myself having to reheat my mug due to distractions. I’m partial to herbals, white tea, green, and blacks. But I really will try anything once.

Rankings:
100-80 Love in varying degrees
79- 60 Good, but in the friendzone
60-50 Ok, would drink if offered
49-20 Don’t make me try it again!
19-0 Didn’t finish!

Location

New England

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