40 Tasting Notes

84

So here’s the first in a series of very generous samples sent to me from Dylan and Missy. As I understand it, this is from Azzrian via Dylan and Missy.

I really, really enjoy this. The dry leaf has a a very powerful orange smell, and the leaves themselves are very dark. Once brewed, the color is a reddish orange mixture, and the smell of orange blossom subsides so the oolong scent can take over. The flavor is heavy on the toasty oolong, with a nice delicate orange blossom follow up. Note that this is not a citrusy tea, it’s more of a subtle floral note. It’s very sweet on it’s own, so I can’t really see the need to add any sugar or honey.

I’m going to have another cup of this in a moment, but after the first I think I can say that I’ll be placing an order to keep this one on hand.

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

Glad you enjoyed it. Especially with out violence to the face in any form….. :D

Azzrian

English Tea Store is a great place to shop too! Try their Lady Londonderry for something really wonderful!

Dylan Oxford

See Azz, it just needed the right audience!

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drank Gen Mai Cha by SerendipiTea
40 tasting notes

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89

Bold, rich, full, but very smooth. Another Damn Fine hit.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 30 sec

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80

This was mom’s other pick of the day. The bag smell’s richly of clove and a fakeish clementine. When brewed, they both came across natural and rich. The taste was in your face but not overbearing. This seemed to be the favorite of the day, and may be my favorite from Tropical so far.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec
Azzrian

Go mom!

Scott B

wish my peach had been able to make that transformation

Sandy Stith

I will give this one a try tomorrow. It’s been calling to me.

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78

Finally cracked this open to try it with my family. As much as I hate trying a new tea while I’ve got The Black Death, it’s what mom wanted to try. Through the fog of my illness and infected taste bud(s), I can pick up a hint of butterscotch. It’s not at all overwhelming, which is a plus for me. Again, these dark days reviews aren’t to be taken too seriously without my faculties. My mom and littler sister both seem to really enjoy it, so that’s a plus.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 15 sec
Missy

We had the black death a while ago too. Totally ruined trying out new teas. Hope you feel better soon. All though the soap taste in one tea we tried seems to have carried over. I can’t shake it now that Dylan has pointed it out. Boo for Black Death!

Blake

Yeah I remember that actually. It’s frustrating to have new teas you want to try, but to know that you aren’t getting all they’ve got to offer. I do appreciate the well wishes though =]

TeaBrat

Feel better soon!

Blake

Thanks Amy, I’ll certainly do my best ;)

Scott B

I lost my taste and smell for a few days at the end of a cold/sinus infection/black annoyance. I lost a good set of leaves before I figured out what was happening too.
What I wound up doing was using my Jasmine Pearls as a guide. If I couldn’t smell them fairly strongly, I didn’t make any expensive or subtle tea-but it was a killer and it really made me want to try tea more. But, seriously, if I couldn’t smell the jasmine, there was no point.

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Late night listening to Tiny Desk Series on shuffle (currently Ivan And Alyosha) while transferring tea from bags to tins. Also spending a disproportionate amount of time on tins when compared with my talent for writing/drawing anything.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 1 min, 15 sec

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86

I really enjoy this. I’ve actually drank this a few times, but I was simply too busy to log it. With that said, I’m going to continue to log what I drink, but I won’t be leaving any real notes until this black death that I’ve contracted decides to move on.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec
Ninavampi

Get better soon!!! : )

Blake

Thanks, I’m breathing a bit better today =]

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91

Andrews & Dunham are ruining all other teas for me. I’m so torn with the desire to just alternate between their teas everyday, and the need to stretch it out because I don’t want to run out.

I can’t give this a proper review. I’ve had a dreadful day, and about half way through, I realized I was starting to get sick. I’ve got that burning sinus that just won’t clear nonsense going on, which always happens before I get cold like symptoms. As a result, I’m not fully capable of picking up flavor notes on this. Yes, the floral magnolia is there, but no overpoweringly so. I think I might hate Jasmine (I need to give their Jasmine green a second chance before I give it away), but this is more subdued and enjoyable. I keep thinking I’m tasting Pez, which is arguably my favorite candy. It’s that after taste of Pez that I’m getting. That lingering beauty. Seriously though, my taste buds are out of whack, so I don’t think they can be trusted. Either way, I just crushed this cup, and I’m almost leaping out of my chair for a second.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 5 min, 0 sec
Azzrian

I hope you get well soon – and Wow PEZ tea sounds perfect!

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81
drank Earl Grey by Tropical Tea Company
40 tasting notes

So I’ve had an awful day all around. After tossing in bed for hours and getting pretty much no sleep, I was woken up by a phone call from my bank’s fraud protection service stating that someone in the UK attempted to use my debit card to buy $400 worth of clothes. My debit card that I’ve had for two weeks.

This was the…uh…maybe second time I’ve had this? It’s not bad by any means, but it doesn’t blow me away. It’s a solid Earl Grey, but it just doesn’t stand out to me. I may be being unfair here, as it was an awful day, and A&D’s Earl Grey may have ruined all other EG’s for me. Someday soon I intend to start doing marathon tastings of similar teas from different vendors. EGs one day, Irish Breakfasts another, etc. Until then, this is good, but that’s about it.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 15 sec
Azzrian

Dang sorry about that – I will send the clothing back.

Blake

I wouldn’t worry about it Azz. I appreciate the offer, but the fraud service stopped the charge, so if they ship the clothes anyway you may as well keep them! They were using it at some website.

Azzrian

LOL well thank you – but seriously though – that crap happened to me a year or so ago – just unbelievable how people can do this so easily!

Dylan Oxford

Yeah, back in the day PayPal used to offer these one-time use credit card numbers linked to your PayPal account. I miss those thing so much.

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75
drank Pai Mu Tan by Tropical Tea Company
40 tasting notes

Steep number 2 is a much less vegetal affair. After taking a few unadulterated sips, I added a pinch of sugar. In all honesty, I’m finally starting to get a bit tired, and my taste buds are fried. I’ll give this another shot soon.

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