2170 Tasting Notes

drank Earl Grey Cider by 52teas
2170 tasting notes

I’m not supposed to have caffeine. I’m sensitive to it in general and it can sometimes set off a flare if I’m not careful. That being said, it’s so hard for me to give up my favorite black teas so I usually drink them anyway and try to stay mindful of how my body is feeling on a given day. This cup suffered because of my sensitivities.

I knew immediately when I opened the pouch that this was the tea I wanted. I love a good Earl Grey and how can you go wrong by adding the flavors of hot cider?? It steeped up beautifully, even if I did steep too long, and tasted lovely. But . . .

I only got one sip in, literally just one, before I got the caffeine woozies. Darn. I tried a few more sips, I think 2 or 3, and finally gave it up. What a waste. I still have enough for a couple more cups so I’ll be trying this one again on a better day. Until we meet again.

Flavors: Bergamot

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 7 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 7 OZ / 207 ML

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drank Maple Apple Tea Cake by 52teas
2170 tasting notes

Not sure at all on the temp of this cup so I let it steep extra long. It smells so much like maple candy and the apple comes out while steeping. It’s a touch bitter but I’m sure that’s because of the long steep. It has a lot of flavor for being as old as it is. Not one I’ll miss now that it’s gone (there are so many teas!) but one I’m glad to have tried white it was around.

Update: Not sure which black tea caused it or if it’s a combination of the two (probably), but I’ve had entirely too much caffeine today. Doubling up on the water now.

Flavors: Apple, Candy, Maple

Preparation
8 min or more 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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drank Lemon Peppermint by 52teas
2170 tasting notes

I can see how this one would make for a really great iced tea. Light on the lemon with just enough mint flavor to accent the tea and not overpower it. It reminds me a lot of Front Porch Special from Piper & Leaf but with lemon replacing bergamot for the citrus.

Flavors: Citrus, Lemon, Mint

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 7 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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drank Pu-erh Hazelberry by Tupelo Tea
2170 tasting notes

Before leaving for our trip, we looked up tea shops near Blue Ridge and found this one right in the middle of downtown. It was frigid and windy today, so by the time we made it to the tea shop we felt like walking icicles. We each picked a tea to try as a latte and warmed up inside the store while we waited. Mine was supposed to be a blend of hazelnut and strawberry, but I think the strawberry flavor may have been lost in the coconut milk they used in my latte. I could taste the hazelnut, though as a whole the tea flavor was weak. I bought a bag of this to bring home with me, so I’ll try it again making it the way I normally would to see if I can bring out some of the flavors.

Side note – When was putting this into Steepster, I noticed another tea with the same name from Adagio and the exact same description, word for word. Maybe Tupelo Tea is an offshoot of Adagio? I did notice they were using Adagio IngenuiTEA steepers while we were there, but didn’t think too much of it.

Flavors: Hazelnut

Preparation
16 OZ / 473 ML
Mastress Alita

Small independant teashops typically wholesale their teas from other places, and Adagio is one that turns up a lot. They are likely wholesaling their teas (buying in bulk) from Adagio, then serving/resaling them in their shop. I notice this all the time (and am one of the few Steepsterites that tends to log teas under the wholesaler than the individual teashop).

Shae

Ahh, I didn’t know this!

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drank Yogi by Folk Apothics
2170 tasting notes

My husband and I are in Blue Ridge, Georgia, for the weekend and stopped in at Folk Apothics this morning. This store – oh wow, is it incredible. There are dried herbs hanging from the ceiling, dark bottles of elderberry syrup and vanilla, bars of homemade soap, and walls of glass jars with all sorts of teas and herbs. We, of course, picked up some teas to take home while we were there, but we also sampled this Yogi tea that the owner had warming by the door. When he told me it was Yogi tea, I thought he meant the brand and was kind of bummed that he didn’t have one of his own teas out for sampling. When we started looking through the tea selection though, I saw this one and realized that it’s the name of his blend. Makes more sense. This is a nice, warming blend with cinnamon. Probably not one I would drink in the morning, but it would be a comforting cup at night before bed.

If you’re ever in Blue Ridge, or even kinda close by, please go visit this shop! They also have a website if you want to have a look at some of the teas (and other goodies) they carry.

Flavors: Cinnamon

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86

I was really craving a smoky tea this morning and decided to go with this unflavored version. My husband and I are heading out on a weekend trip today, so my brother and I decided to have some tea together before we hit the road. He had his favorite – Chroning from Gnat & Bee – while I went for this version. He downed his pretty fast, so I was left sipping on mine while I finished packing. I didn’t drink all of it but I enjoyed about half before we left. This is a good, solid favorite for me when I want a reliable smoky black tea.

Flavors: Smoke

Preparation
Boiling 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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75

Bought at a local coffee shop, O’Henry’s, so I’m not sure how they made it but it was lightly sweetened, floral, and also a bit bitter. I would have preferred it sweeter like Piper & Leaf makes it at their stand at the downtown market. Aside from the bitterness, not a bad cup. Piper & Leaf does it better though, of course.

Flavors: Bitter, Floral

Preparation
Iced 16 OZ / 473 ML

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This has such a nice citrus flavor, both bitter and bright (so really authentic), plus the ginger is present.

Flavors: Bitter, Candy, Citrus, Ginger, Marshmallow, Sweet

Preparation
170 °F / 76 °C 3 min, 30 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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This smells delightfully of gingersnap cookies! I love gingersnaps.

I really struggle with finding flavor in white teas, but I can taste the ginger and the coconut here. No pineapple though and I’m not familiar enough with kumquat to pick up on that flavor (though I was expecting a hint of citrus).

Flavors: Coconut, Cookie, Ginger

Preparation
170 °F / 76 °C 3 min, 30 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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drank Gathering Berries by 52teas
2170 tasting notes

I’m excited about this tea after reading the description – like picking wild berries on an autumn day, leaves all around. There are definitely berries present in the aroma. A bit of roastiness too.

Flavors: Berries, Roasted

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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Profile

Bio

Lifetime student. Lover of books and paper and ink. Kitchen dweller. Aspiring herbalist, excessively proud cat lady, and tea fanatic. Thirty-something elder millennial. She/her.

I love flavored black teas most of all, always with cream and honey. I enjoy floral and fruity teas, as well as flavored or scented ones. I’m not overly fond of green or white teas, but I’ve found a few that I enjoy.

I’m open to tea swaps and/or just sharing what’s in my tea cabinet! Please reach out if you see something I have that you’d like to try. I do my best to update my cupboard regularly.

Favorites
Any and all black teas, smoky teas, raspberry, strawberry, red fruits, bergamot, chai spices, floral teas, caramel/toffee, jasmine, rose, vanilla, peaches, plums, valerian root, cinnamon, cardamom

Not a huge fan
White teas, green teas, artificial sweeteners, sarsaparilla, licorice, lemongrass, lavender, hot hibiscus, hibiscus in black tea blends

Rating Scale

1-20: By far, one of the worst teas I’ve tasted. I most certainly will not finish my cup and will likely “gift” the rest to my sweet husband, James, who almost always enjoys the teas I dislike (and vice versa).

21-49: This tea is not good, but if I mix it with another tea or find another steeping method I might be able to finish it.

50-69: This one is just okay. I might drink it again if someone were to give it to me, but I probably won’t be buying more for myself.

70-79: This is a consistently good tea. It’s reliable but not necessarily special.

80-90: This one is a notch above the rest and I would gladly enjoy a cup of it any day of the week. I’ll likely be keeping this in my cupboard, but it isn’t one of my all-time favorites.

91-95: One small change and this tea would be perfect. I’ll definitely have a stash of this in my kitchen if you come over for tea.

96-100: No words can describe this tea. It’s an experience, an aha moment. Closed eyes, wide smile, encompassing warmth. Absolutely incredible. Perfect.

Updated May 2022.

Location

Alabaster, Alabama

Website

https://www.goodreads.com/sha...

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