863 Tasting Notes

100

Sipdown? What?!

I almost never drink honeybush (or any caffeine free tisanes) anymore, so it’s been a long while since I’ve had this. Even though I love it.

Steeped: 10 minutes, 3.5 tsp. tsp 500 ml. water with some milk and sugar added. Below parameters.

Yeah, still do love it. Tonight I get almost a graham cracker type crust with the toasted coconut on top. The milk accentuates the creamy tang of the cheesecake, and though sometimes honeybush can have a thin texture that’s really not happening here.

It will be missed, but not replaced any time soon as I’m really wanting to try newer teas instead of stick with old favorites at the moment.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

89
drank Salted Caramel by DAVIDsTEA
863 tasting notes

Followed my recipe in a previous note for salted caramel hot chocolate. That is really the only way I drink this tea, but it works REALLY well.

I have got to start whittling my stash down so I can get some new teas in my cupboard- I feel like I’m writing the same tasting notes over and over again. Sorry for being so boring!

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

93

Backlog from yesterday.

This is fall in a cup. It’s been one of my go to teas lately is so consistently good with a bit of milk and sugar. Did 3 tsp. leaf to 14 oz. of water/half and half and it was strong and spicy, the way I like it. The apple is surprisingly sweet and not astringent and the most prevalent spice is cinnamon but that’s what gives it a real pie crust note so I’m not complaining.

At the rate I’m drinking through it I imagine I’ll be decupboarding it very soon. :(

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

100

Note #600, and it’s a backlog.

It’s fitting it would be one of my favorites. Had it over the weekend with some homemade cinnamon rolls and enjoyed the fact that I got to have a rare Saturday without working.

Why can’t every day be like that?

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
ashmanra

Homemade cinnamon rolls. Just reading those words made me feel all cozy and happy.

tea-sipper

Oh.. I have a bit of this I almost tried today! Definitely need to try it soon!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

80

This did not stand up well to some half and half, sadly. I was going for a strong, latte-ish experience but I guess I underleafed? I felt like I did 1.5 tsp. to 10 oz. liquid, but even after 5 minutes the steeped liquor was very light.

I got a hint of spice and chocolate but I think more leaf is probably the answer for next time. Note to self, then.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
Bonnie

Honestly, it’s light but wakes up if you also add some honey.

OMGsrsly

I agree with Bonnie! It’s a really light tea.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

94
drank Smooth Earl by Compass Teas
863 tasting notes

Backlog from yesterday.

I went through a few days where I would drink a tea and think “you should log this” but then never got around to it. So now I’m in the process of catching up.

Steeped according to package directions, meaning 1 tsp, to 8 oz water and some half and half with about 1/2 tsp. sugar. I drank it while starting a new book (Luminaries, Eleanor Catton) and finishing up another (The Drowning Guard, Linda Lafferty) since I had most of the beginning of this week off.

I do think this is one of the best Earl Grey Cream teas out there. That I’ve tried, at least. Something about the cohesiveness of it, as though bergamot and vanilla and black are actually one singular ingredient. You taste them all together and can’t believe they ever existed apart.

I think marshmallow winter will probably be back in stock from Compass Teas soon (loved that tea last year but only got a sample, unfortunately) so if I place an order for that I’ll be getting more of this as well.

Perfect for my book reading afternoon.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
gmathis

The book reading afternoon sounds more delicious than the tea :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

68

Steep notes, 1.5 tsp leaf, 3 minutes, 180 degree water, about 10 oz. No additives.

This is a backlog from a day or so ago. I’ve had it for a while and not even tried it yet, which is kind of embarrassing because I’ve been whining about how I have no new teas to try (in my head, at least) and DER. One right here.

I’m not normally a white tea person, is the problem. If I buy one of Frank’s white teas it is because of the flavorings involved, as in this case. Mint julep? With strawberry? Fabulous. Let’s do this.

Of course drinking it the first thing I think is how wonderful it would have been to have cold. In summer. That’s my own fault, since I HAD it in summer and did not take advantage. :(

This really wasn’t bad hot though. While the dry leaf had an artificial berry note I didn’t find too exciting, steeped it turned into a very natural strawberry scent and taste. I didn’t get much mint except for that cooling after taste on the swallow, and the white tea did what it normally does and retired meekly to the background. I don’t drink alot of liquor so I didn’t really notice the bourbon flavor, but that’s okay.

Overall it was a clean light tea that I’m curious to try cold. It will have to wait a few days though, because I’m starting 3 12 hour shifts at work tonight and not much will be on my radar except for work and sleep ’til the end of the weekend. :/

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

73
drank S'mores Chai by 52teas
863 tasting notes

Really? Why was this not in my virtual cupboard??? I have a recent tasting note on here and everything.

Steep notes from today – long, long time. 5+ minutes, with some homemade coffee creamer to sweeten and 1.5 tsp. leaf.

Today was a smoky day for this one. Boo. My palate hates smoky as a rule and every time I go to drink it I have to fight the urge to pull away. Once I get it IN my mouth it’s okay, kind of sweet and spicy, but the smoke is definitely prominent and kind of ruins the fun.

This one seems kind of like a grab bag, best I can tell. Every cup is different. I think it would be more exciting if I preferred all the flavor notes in this – but since there’s that one I don’t like, it’s almost like russian roulette with tea. Something to drink when I’m feeling adventurous, I guess?

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 15 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

100

I am REALLY tempted to get the iced version of this. REALLY tempted.

My one hold up is how much I like it with milk and sugar, though… you can’t exactly do iced tea with milk unless it’s like a latte refrigerated. And that takes a whole lot of forethought, not exactly my strong suit.

Anyway, I had this with homemade coffee creamer (the vanilla cinnamon recipe on this page: http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/1016415/homemade-coffee-creamers-in-fall-flavors) and it was PERFECT. This tea is flexible enough that it’s good no matter what I put in it, though – that’s why it’s one of my favorites!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
Chizakura

I actually find this one works great cold brewed without milk, whereas when I drink it hot, it absolutely HAS to have milk. So maybe give it a try a cup’s worth? :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

100
drank Coconut Cream Pie by 52teas
863 tasting notes

It’s been while, coconut cream pie!

Milk + sugar at my normal parameters. It is still really creamy and coconutty, even though I’ve had it for a while. I’ve got a nice bit left, too, so which I’ll have to hoard as there isn’t any currently for sale on the site.

Also, I’m down to 69 teas. How did that even happen? I wonder how low I can get before Black Friday?

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

My tea habits:

*I am an unashamed Lipton iced-tea drinker (mass quantities, year round).
*I like hot teas but only in cold weather (and occasionally late summer nights or mornings).
*I love Japanese greens (the more seaweed-y the better) and good strong malty black teas.
*I do NOT love smoke in any form.
*Vanilla, cinnamon, or lemon anything will usually pique my interest.
*I’m working on pu-erh but it’s definitely going to take some time to grow on me.

(updated September 2015)

Location

Medford, OR

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer