828 Tasting Notes
I apparently was totally offline this weekend. I drank tea, but no logging. And I didn’t do much else on any other social sites, either.
But, wow, Florence should have prompted me to stop by. I got this one from the Traveling Tea Box, and now it’s on my shopping list.
I couldn’t remember what to expect out of it. I just knew it was one I wanted to try. So, as it steeped, I was surprised by the lovely chocolatey/hazelnuty scent coming from the cup. And wow! It was flavorful! This definitely strikes me as a dessert tea, and reminded me a tiny bit of dragon balls. But, really, a more grown-up version of dragon balls.
Yum! I can’t wait to get some more!
So I’ve switched gears and am having a cup of this now. 30 second wash, 1/2 teaspoon tea, 4 oz teapot, 2 minutes to start.
It’s good! Not quite as floral (feminine?) as Four Seasons. It strikes me as much more what I expect out of an oolong: roasted, woodsy, strong. It’s a good cup of tea!
Steep 2: 3 minutes, off boiling water. This is another good cup. Again, roasted and strong!
Steep 3: 4 minutes, off boiling. I kindof messed up this cup! I poured what I assumed was warmed water from my electric tea kettle over the leaves, only to realize it was fresh from the tap! I poured that off immediately, boiled some water, let it sit about 5 minutes, then used that. And this cup tastes a lot like the first two. So far, for me MPIGM is a consistently good cup, resteep after resteep.
I need a thermometer!
I (unbelievably!!) only have one thing on the schedule today, so I knew I’d spend most of the day in my office. With that as the plan, I realized this is the perfect day for resteeping oolong! I’m using the tiny teapot, with just half a teaspoon of tea (based on a few recommendations from here). It’s actually even prettier steeping that way. You can really watch the leaves unfurl, and the tea is a lighter color.
So the rinse was about 30 seconds in boiling water. Then the first steep was about 3 minutes off boiling for 2 minutes. I LIKE this one a lot. So, it looks like I was using too many leaves before!! Instead of the first cup being spinach like, this is a bit more floral, and at the point the tea was at several steeps in with the larger leaf quantity. I’m certain this won’t hold up to as many resteeps, but I’d bet it’ll even out in the end since we’re starting with so many fewer leaves!
Steep 2: 3 minutes, cooler water. This was a smooth cup of tea! It’s actually really similar to the first steep, though I’m noticing slightly fewer floral notes…
Steep 3: 4 minutes, warmer water. Again, a really good cup. I think I’ve found the right amount of leaves to use in this teapot! It’s smooth, slightly floral, and I almost got a hint of peppermint a second ago. Fabulous cup!
Steep 4: 5 minutes, cooler water. This is the tea that just doesn’t stop! It’s a little less obviously Hi-I’m-Totally-Awesome, but it’s still a really good cup. At this point the floral notes seem to have dropped a bit. It’s the type of tea that I could just keep drinking in the background without even realizing it, then at the end of the day be startled at how much I drank. Good stuff!
Steep 5: 6 minutes, cooler water. Again, this is a great cup! I brought a second type of oolong to work today, thinking that I’d make that after lunch, but if this keeps going and going like this I’ll never make it to the other one! The tea is much lighter, but it still is flavorful.
Steep 6: 7 minutes, cooler water. Pouring this tea out, it looked a lot like water. However, drinking it, it’s still tea. It’s not as strong of a tea, but it also doesn’t taste like watered down tea (which is what I expected). I might shift gears after lunch, though, afterall, to compare this tea to Iron Goddess!
I do love this tea. I like it best really hot. This cup taught me that as I made it, stepped out to do a few things, and came back to my typically favored really warm cup. At that point I thought it could really use some sugar. Now it’s even cooler and I’m not digging it too much. But one cup of not-digging-it-as-much tea is worth it to have a better understanding of how to serve it.
I got a sample of this tea from the Traveling Tea Box. It was good… much sweeter than I expect from an Earl Grey, but I’m sure that’s due to the mandarin and orange. The leaves unfurled to a full size, for the most part, making for a pretty steeping.
The flavor was not as intense as I expect from Earl Greys. I assumed it was because I had used too much water, but in reading the other reviews, I see that it’s just a more subtle tea.
I’m back at work, and trying to be productive. I have a cup of this to start the day and try to get myself going earlier than I have for the past two (I think I slept in until 1030 both days!!)… hopefully I’ll get a lot of (decaf) tea in today as I try to get myself back in gear.
I am home sick today. I didn’t feel too hot yesterday afternoon, and this morning it went into full-fledged cold mode. However, unlike yesterday I did have an overwhelming need for a cup of tea. Looking through the cupboard I didn’t have a lot of options that struck me as ideal, then I came across Brattle Street. This is my comfort tea. It’s perfect if it’s been a rough day or I’m not feeling great. So, that’s what I’ve settled into bed with. Let’s hope this thing passes quickly!
Feel better soon!
Hope you are much better tomorrow!!!
You probably don’t get to take any fun pharmaceuticals right now, either, do you? Take care.
Hope you’re feeling better quickly!
Thanks guys! I made it to the office today, so I’m on a good path.
You’re right, gmathis, no good pharmaceuticals for me!! Luckily, hot beverages seem to help. :)
