45 Tasting Notes
Mmmm, so floral and sweet! This peony is no pansy white tea. I was excited to try this because “nutty” was a listed tasting note, and I adore nutty teas, but I can’t find nutty anywhere in this cup. I can’t bring myself to be disappointed, though, it’s that good.
Flavors: Floral, Honey, Sweet
Preparation
This is my first yellow tea, and I have to say, I really like it! I’m not picking up any of the stone fruits mentioned in the description, but it’s vegetal, satisfying, and rich in the mouth. No astringency, and a little sweetness lingers in my mouth.
Flavors: Grass, Sweet, Vegetable Broth, Vegetal
Preparation
I don’t know if I’m doing this tea right. I don’t detect any smokiness at all (which, honestly, isn’t a bad thing to me; I don’t usually go in for lapsang souchongs because of the smokiness), and it tastes a lot like another tea from another Select box. It’s malty and earthy, with a light sweetness after the liquor’s swallowed.
From the January ’15 Select box.
Edit: It tastes like Red Jade from Eco-Cha.
Flavors: Earth, Malt
Preparation
This was a beautiful tea. The nugget shape was intriguing, and the smell was lush. I didn’t taste any actual licorice, but the sweetness was definitely there. I wish this one was available in the store.
Flavors: Ginger, Sweet
Preparation
It’s like a cup of lawn clippings, judging the appearance and aroma. Very springy.
I was surprised by the steeping guidelines (they want me to add BOILING water? Really?), but followed them anyhow. It’s yielded a yellowish green drink, and the grassiness has persisted in both the nose and the mouth. I like the astringency on the back end of the sip, and the bitter spinachness up front.
I’m excited to try the next steeping!
Flavors: Bitter, Cut Grass, Spinach
I was REALLY hesitant about this tea when I read ‘smokiness’ as a tasting note (I don’t like Lapsang Souchongs, and that’s what came to mind).
But I worried for nothing. The smokiness and the chocolate notes are just that- notes. The tea isn’t overpowered by either, and they play nicely together, fading (but still present) with successive steeps. There’s also an incredibly satisfying earthiness that reminds me of pu-erh.
From the September 2014 select box.
Flavors: Cacao, Earth
Preparation
What a lovely tea, so fresh and vital! The smells were so vibrant and intense while it was steeping.
I’m not sure what a marine note is, so I couldn’t say if it was there or not. I got piney, spinachey, grassy, full-bodied mouthfuls. The astringency is a nice punctuation.
This is not a shy tea.
Flavors: Grass, Pine, Spinach, Vegetal