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An Ode to Tea challenge #2– T

Time for this last lingering teaspoon to go!   I really enjoyed this one fresh.   I’m sad that oolongs lose their distinctness so quickly when they get this old.  But this IS old.  Not much to say as a unique oolong profile becomes Generic Oolong Flavored as it gets older.  It tastes like oolong!  But not how it once tasted. A tough lesson to learn, but I won’t be amassing a ton of tea like this anymore. But also, I only used one teaspoon this time and the past note says 2 1/2 teaspoons did NOT seem overleafed, so that could be the problem too. It’s hard to tell which of the oolongs are my favorite from Teavivre.  They were all so good back when I was trying most of them around the same time.
2021 sipdowns: 103

An Ode to Tea challenge #2– S Redux

An actual sipdown to repeat for ‘S’ again.   A decent lasting strawberry flavor, if you don’t mind the jello type of strawberry flavor. Even on the second steep. But it’s also very earthy flavored now. And at 102 sipdowns I just hit the total number for 2020! Yes. The goal of 130 for the year is now looking possible!
2021 sipdowns: 102

An Ode to Tea challenge #2– S

oh darn, really thought this would be a sipdown when I measured it out!  But next time.  The flavor here is lasting quite a while.  Tasting: Raspberry.  Rhubarb.  Vanilla.  I had to look at the description to see if these were actually in the tea (I haven’t had this much and it’s old) and yes, all three of these flavors were there.  I like this combination!  I wouldn’t mind having this stocked. I love a tea with lasting, accurate flavors.   That probably means this last serving will linger around.

An Ode to Tea challenge #2– R

additional notes: Finished this sample, a little bit bland and flavorless to be honest, and I don’t consider this older. The leaves aren’t that golden to me, which I know wouldn’t have aged as well, so I’m not sure what happened. I know I used enough leaves. Anyway, one less tea around…
2021 sipdowns: 101

An Ode to Tea challenge #2– Q

My only tea for ‘Q’ and certainly not a sipdown. I forget where this tin came from… a kind and generous Steepsterer for sure. It’s always nice for that slightly smoky, slightly chocolatey robust profile.

Mastress Alita’s sipdown challenge July Theme: A Berry Fruity July

Look at the photo for this blend though! Huge slices of starfruit! It’s a shame I’m only writing about this now. Thanks again M Mack! Tons of lovely looking fruits here. If there is any white tea it looks like the tiny minuscule chopped bits type of white tea. Maybe that was because the fruit pieces are so big, the blenders wanted to make sure white tea was throughout the big fruit pieces? Traditional leaves might not fit in a scoop if there aren’t that many. I didn’t get any big pieces of starfruit in this mug but there is a tasty variety here. Only hints of stevia which should be more noticeable now with age, so I’m glad the fruit itself is shining through. Very fragrant and perfect for hot days.

An Ode to Tea challenge #2– P

Sipdown! I liked this back in the day but it’s a bit faded now. Not the tea’s fault! I liked the mix of great pear and caramel. Tried to find it, but it looks like it’s gone now. I threw out the packaging which I could have googled the ingredient list to find the tea again, but I don’t see it on Spice and Tea Exchange anymore. I’m surprised at the low rating.
2021 sipdown: 100

Mastress Alita’s sipdown challenge July Theme: A Berry Fruity July

additional notes: A fitting tea for this challenge. I love this flavor on hot summer days on this black tea base. So good.

Thank you again, AJRimmer! But oo boy, this is a weird cup. haha. I mixed this weird blue rooibos powder in milk. Clumping was annoying, but I have this habit of adding matcha or hot chocolate or this sort of stuff to just cleaned mugs with water in the bottom, so that is definitely not helping clumping. Overall, the flavor is like a chalky berry vitamin and I’m not sure who thought that was a good idea. At least it’s not overly sugary. Fun to try but don’t really want to try it again. haha.

An Ode to Tea challenge #2– O

Not a sipdown on this one (not very many ‘O’ teas close to a sipdown), but I never wrote a note for this, so it can count.  Thank you M Mack for this one a while ago.  It’s older now but pleasant.  A nice orange on a rooibos base.  Tastes a bit like creamsicle orange, which makes sense with vanilla.  Not too many noticeable orange blossoms in the blend for a tea named ‘orange blossom’.  I like this.