New Tasting Notes

Sipdown (2330)!

I know I’ve been on a peach kick lately, but this was one of my free samples in my last Bird & Blend order so I feel like I can’t even blame my cravings for this one. It was just handed to me on a silver platter in sachet form.

I’ve had the tea before and I think it’s fine – more blueberry than peach, but definitely a little bit of each. It’s certainly much better iced or cold brewed, but that’s not realistic with these sachets so I just had it as a late night hot cup instead. Perfectly fine! Kinda a bit like Froot Loops if it was slightly less generically fruity.

Iced Oat Milk Latte!

This powdered Chai blend really shines with this type of preparation – but that, of course, makes sense given you’re taking a blend with oat milk in it already and just doubling down on that. It’s a nice balance of creaminess (taste and body) and spice though with a natural sweetness from the very prominent cinnamon in the blend. Secondary spices, like clove, follow. I feel like sometimes people are scared to add clove to Chai blends in a noticeable way (like with anise), but I think it just adds so much more depth to the profile here.

Thick and jammy, but with a pleasant briskness from the black tea base. I had this as a hot cup of tea first thing when I got into the office on Monday and it was just spot on the straight forward and flavourful blend I needed to jump start the week!

Gongfu!

I knew this tea would be interesting from the moment I cracked open the sample bag and was hit with a wave of wood and spice aromas mixed with a brighter note of freshly macerated strawberries. Though strawberry didn’t come through in the steeped notes, this seven year old aged Taiwanese oolong did continue to be pretty intriguing and nuanced.

After a few softer steeps, while the leaves really opened up, this full bodied and deeply woody tea really started to pop off with notes of allspice, petrified woods and pine sap, clove, nutmeg, baked quince, and sandalwood. Lots and lots of sandalwood, actually. Somewhere in the middle of the session I got an infusion with a particularly notable cozy and fruity undertone of apple butter – that was my favourite part of the session, especially with the range of almost Autumnal spice notes present.

I think the only really negative of the session (if you even want to go so far as to call it negative) was the backend astringency of each steep, and the slight numbness left on the bed of my tongue. I didn’t particularly mind the numbness, though it was strange. However the astringency had an almost “crawling” sensation where it would catch in the back of my throat as well. I do have a tendency to leaf a little heavy with oolongs though, so that could maybe be resolved with a lighter touch…

Side note! After years of having some of my Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures volumes in the background of my tea space I’ve finally switched things up and rotated in some new graphic novels and manga. Still deciding if I like it, though it’s definitely a bit brighter feeling!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct62Ad3OnDT/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3m-IhgWyAo

Grandpa Style!

I’ve been so impressed with all of BLT’s black teas lately and this one is no exception. The liquor has a rich and velvety full-bodied mouthfeel. From the first sip, the sweet and savory notes of malt, brioche dough, and dark golden honey with an almost orchid-like floral undertone which makes me feel as if I’ve just walked into a bakery in the opening hours of the day. Intensely warm and inviting aromas of different pastries, rolls, and breads fresh out of the oven. Aside from that, there’s a slight undertone of golden raisins that completes the cup; very delicious alongside the array of pleasant baked notes.

Tea Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct9zq71OSMD/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5fSu774THM

Iced Oat Milk Latte!

Immediately digging into my recent Bird and Blend order with a refreshing Jaffa Cake iced matcha latte!! Though I would have loved a little more chocolate and a little less orange, this was a refreshing afternoon pick-me-up. A bit of a drying mouthfeel – I think from the ground up orange peel – but it’s not a deal breaker. It’s seriously a real shame that Jaffa Cakes aren’t nearly as popular in North America as they are across the seas in the UK, so I always try to pick up a Jaffa Cake inspired tea blend whenever I come across one.

I also picked up all of the biscuit collection and a sampler of the recently announced Zodiac collection, so I’m seeing some delicious iced lattes in my near future. I know a lot of people get really into iced and cold brewed fruity teas this time of year, and honestly so do I …but I think I drink just as many iced teas too!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuATo2JujkR/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G09Qx-UGQLQ

Gongfu!

A morning session from yesterday. This is definitely one of those reoccurring sheng productions where I always forget just how much I enjoy it until I’m sitting with a cup in hand, thinking to myself “Wow, why don’t I drink this more often!?” I can think of no better way to describe the texture of the liquor than to simply say it has a distinct and commanding presence to it; somewhere between soft and pleasantly biting and astringent. Usually I focus more on taste over mouthfeel, but I honestly can’t even recall my tasting notes from this morning – it’s just all warm body feels and texture!

Tea Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuDOtrAOJyt/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMOakrucBME

You can really taste the citrus here, which is a nice addition to the EG. This was pretty hearty for a decaf tea, making strong and tasty first and second steeps. I think I would have preferred this to be a bit more floral, but it was really quite decent.

Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – June 2023 Tea #5 – June 29 – International Day of the Tropics: drink a tropical tea!

Nope, nevermind tomorrow — I snuck in a tropical tea tonight.  And could the name of this tea BE more accurate for this prompt?!? I just happened to have this one along on the trip.  It’s aging.  Not fantastically.  but that is understandable, and could be worse at this point.

Ashmanra’s Sipdown Challenge | June 2023 | June 29 – International Day of the Tropics: Drink a tropical tea!

A sad sipdown, because I forgot how good this one is! It’s delightful cold-brewed. The coconut comes out more strongly, giving the whole thing a creamy, coconutty, peachy vibe that is quite nice. Very refreshing after a workout.

2023 sipdown count: 40

Sipdown! (4 | 193)

I just find this one weird. Like yeah, it has peppermint, hence the candy cane. But then there’s cinnamon and chicory, both odd choices to me. I guess I kind of get holiday vibes? But the extra ingredients make it taste less like a candy cane.

Not one I would buy again.

Very hard to beat for the price. Steeps well in a tumbler without getting bitter. The texture is a little thin, but the flavor is nice and malty, strong but not overpowering.
Unfortunately my city’s air is full of smoke right now, but this warm tea helps to soothe my throat.

Oh no I forgot the tropical tea prompt today! Maybe tomorrow. I think this was from SkySamurai a while ago. Thank you! A sample holding two servings. A tasty jasmine tea good for two steeps. It’s pretty good! The green tea allows the jasmine to shine. But really nothing comes close to Teavivre jasmine. Though this sample is many years old now, so this is PRETTY good for being this old. I was glad I brought it on this trip and it’s one less tea to take back home in a couple days.
2023 sipdowns: 53

Tannic and crisp. Unremarkable but not off-putting.

YUM YUM YUM Only second to Gingerbread Festival by Harney teas… missing the molasses flavor but overall really nice!

25 is being nice… unless someone else wants it, it’s gonna be composted. It tastes like bitter lipton tea mixed with nail polish remover? Smells good but ew….

Well, tastes certainly do change huh? I have to bump this score up a pretty good amount lol. I made a big pot because I recently grabbed a box of sachets because they were on clearance and I was like hmm… it has been a while since I tried it (almost a year) and wow! I really love this blend!!

I don’t know what it is, it’s perfect for me. I love spice like in chai and such but when it’s overwhelming I get headaches. This however, it perfect… the spice, pumpkin, and bergamot are all well balanced in this blend.

I can see how the spice could overwhelm the bergamot but I found that the bergamot is more noticeable when iced rather than hot. I think that my favorite way to drink this blend is hot with no additions but it’s really good iced, as a latte, and as an iced latte! I may need to grab a few more hehe…

Hmmm… this one is rather strange, I’d have to agree with Cameron B, its rather generic and it tastes like… I’d hate to say it but Lipton tea bags? There’s a slight marshmallow note but… eh?

June Sipdown Prompt – a tropical tea

I thought I didn’t have a tea for this prompt when I looked at it earlier in the month, but I found this pouch while digging in the stash. And it is still good! Better than good! The coconut hasn’t gone off at all and it is still so refreshing cold on this muggy day. I have enough for one more pitcher which will no doubt be gone by Monday.

The green rooibos base is carrying the fruit flavors so nicely. Though the drink is red though is no hobby tartness here, just smooth fruit and coconut. I did. have a small cup of it hot before chilling it and it was just as good.

I can’t stop drinking this one lol… I feel like this and Toast and Jam are my two comfort teas. Not necessarily favorites (although T&J is) but what I need when I can use a pick-me-up.

This is a kind of hit-or-miss blend for me, I mean I want to like it but I’m not sure I do… It’s a very bitter oolong, mixed with a light puerh, and an astringent green tea. It’s lightly peachy and floral but unless it’s cold brewed it’s not… hitting the spot.