88

This is from Ost’s sale and another that I really wanted to try. So thank you Ost! I LOVE a good vanilla black tea with actual vanilla pieces. I’m loving the big vanilla pieces here. Somehow oddly enough, the first steep has a massive note of sarsaparilla even though this is stored in very nice packaging. The black tea is certainly deep enough for me but it’s hard to tell what the black tea itself tastes like with that root beer flavor! The second steep — more of those vanilla notes. And like it oddly appeared in the first cup, the sarsaparilla disappeared in the second cup. I don’t get the lower ratings for this on Steepster, maybe the older formula wasn’t as good? Also, Golden Moon has a free shipping sale for a couple days, if anyone is interested.
Steep #1 // 1 1/4 teaspoons for a full mug // 12 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 minute steep

If anyone liked my Ed Harcourt rec the other day, I have two more. I’m always a little disappointed when the best of year lists come out and not many of my favorite things from the year are included. So here are two: Jonathan Wilson had an excellent album this year. Way better than annoying Father John Misty whom he sometimes works with. I could suggest songs from the album, but they’re all so different. I also loved Kimbra’s album this year. I usually am NOT listening to pop but her talent can’t be matched. If the radio isn’t playing her, they should be. All of her albums are solid. Give ‘Top of the World’ TWO listens and tell me you aren’t addicted. Or the live version of ‘Plain Gold Ring’ from the deluxe version of Vows to hear her talent. Or ‘Everlovin Ya’ for a very unique sound. Much like Jonathan Wilson, you can tell Kimbra’s musical influences are all over the place. They are true music fans.

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Bio

Hi! I love tea and trying new ones – it adds a bit of variety to my day! Books, music, TV & movies are my thing… and tea, of course.

Some of my favorite tea shops (still operating):
birdandblendtea.com
teavivre.com
52teas.com
svtea.com
whisperingpinestea.com
justea.com
harney.com
Dammann Freres
fusionteas.com
Javateaco.com
Lupicia
Octaviatea.com
Davidstea
eco-cha.com
what-cha.com
singleoriginteas.com
teasenz.com
tealyra.com
Mandala
verdanttea.com

Favorite tea shops (RIP):
butikiteas.com
steapshoppe.com
steepcityteas.com
aquartertotea.com
dellaterrateas.com
zentealife.com
angrytearoom.com
theteamerchant.net
joysteaspoon.com
tealiciousllc.com
Rivertea
Specialteas

My icon photo is Richard Mayhew from the graphic novel ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry.

Most of the teas listed in my cupboard are actually sample sizes. I don’t really have 2,000 ounces of tea around here! Many of my teas have only one teaspoon left… maybe two. But I like keeping them in my cupboard list for reference to what I could be sipping. Usually, I write tasting notes once for each tea. I’m still drinking them, just not writing tasting notes each time!

I’m always in search of: Hattialli, Qu Hao black, Jin Jun Mei, teas using marshmallow root.

My dislikes: hibiscus, ginger (unless in chai), turmeric, bee pollen, charcoal type flavors

My ratings:
95-100 – Super awesome deliciousness favorites – cupboard essential
80-95 – Also pretty delicious
65-80 – Pretty good
50-65 – Okay
1-50 – Probably won’t want to sip it again

I’m planning on being a Steepsterer as long as there IS a Steepster, so if you’re not hearing from me, that means something happened to my health… if you know what I mean. (Or as evidenced by the great computer hiatus of 2019, something happened to my computer… I have a dumb phone so can’t access internet on that. As of 12/20/21 my wifi might start getting unreliable.)

Happy sipping!

Location

USA

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