SQUEE!
Auggy sent me an extremely awesome package in the mail of a bunch of teas for me to try. Just because she’s amazing and awesome like that. It wasn’t even a tea swap – it was a gift! Once I amass a large enough tea collection, she’s getting lots of yummy goodness her way!
Anyway, the package arrived yesterday, but I was so busy that I barely had time to tear it open and inspect all the wonders inside. I was out late last night, and I woke up super groggy and completely out of it. I was out until 4:30 am last night at a friend’s birthday party, and it was freezing out. 7 degrees with wind chill. So yeah, I woke up not in the best of spirits this morning. I wanted something delicious and strong. Something pirate-y that would be a nice kick in the pants.
And boy, did this deliver! The wet leaves smell strong and assertive, the way a proper Irish Breakfast blend should. The cup brewed up to a much darker color than Adagio’s, but less cloudy than Twinings. On first sip, I had a huge smile on my face.
Auggy knew that I had been disappointed with Adagio’s blend – that it wasn’t RAWR-in-your-face assertive enough for me to call it a true IB. The Twinings blend is such a punch-to-the-face it could almost be TOO aggressive at times. This one is the perfect happy medium to those two. The Assam gives a nice, malty kick at the end of each sip, pulling you awake by your lapels. And the Ceylon is the beginning of every tasting note, that smooth, default essence-of-tea taste. They complement each other very nicely, creating a very drinkable cup with more sophistication than the Twinings blend but still enough kickassery to really wake you up in the morning.
This is the way that I pictured Irish Breakfast loose leaf to taste. Smooth but bracing with a some astringency and spice. Auggy hit the nail right on the head when she sent this to me! I can’t wait to tear through everything else she sent me!
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Yay! I’m glad you liked it! I can’t remember the other teas I stuck in for you, but this was something I tried to match to your tastes. The others might be more ’don’t know if you’ll like it but it’s a fun tea to try’ kind of thing. Maybe.
t wait to try all of these! SO EXCITED!
BLAH! Where did my post go?! :(
I said something along the lines of YAY AUGGY IS AWESOME AND AMAZING!
Then I proceeded to list the teas:
SerendipiTEA’s Colonille
Rishi Jade Fire
Rishi Citron Oolong
SpecialTEA’s Almond Cookie!
WHEEE! I’m sure all of these will be awesome to taste and try! You are awesome on so many levels. I want to bow down to the awesomeness that is Auggy!
Yay! My own little worshiper! I feel so special!
Oh yes, the Jade Fire… I’m thinking you might like that. The second steep was a bit too in your face for me which made me think you might enjoy that… so definitely give that one a resteep! The Colonille is a good vanilla (though I think I mentioned another one of their’s in my note? That’s the best one I’ve had). And Almond Cookie! It’s nummy! And Citron Oolong is just to weird (but addictive) for me not to share.
I’m also thinking this Kenyan tea I’m trying might be something you’d like a lot. Hmm, might be borderline. I reserve the right to make you try it.
Correction: the Tanzanian one I’m drinking…. the Kenyan was yesterday.
Yay! m not going to like (cucumber = ew), but all the varieties of fermentation/oxidization seem to be pretty awesome to my mouth and tummy!
See? You’re turning into a fine Tea Guru already. ;)
Hee, hurrah for tea packages!
Yay! I’m glad you liked it! I can’t remember the other teas I stuck in for you, but this was something I tried to match to your tastes. The others might be more ’don’t know if you’ll like it but it’s a fun tea to try’ kind of thing. Maybe.
t wait to try all of these! SO EXCITED!
BLAH! Where did my post go?! :(
I said something along the lines of YAY AUGGY IS AWESOME AND AMAZING!
Then I proceeded to list the teas:
SerendipiTEA’s Colonille
Rishi Jade Fire
Rishi Citron Oolong
SpecialTEA’s Almond Cookie!
WHEEE! I’m sure all of these will be awesome to taste and try! You are awesome on so many levels. I want to bow down to the awesomeness that is Auggy!
Yay! My own little worshiper! I feel so special!
Oh yes, the Jade Fire… I’m thinking you might like that. The second steep was a bit too in your face for me which made me think you might enjoy that… so definitely give that one a resteep! The Colonille is a good vanilla (though I think I mentioned another one of their’s in my note? That’s the best one I’ve had). And Almond Cookie! It’s nummy! And Citron Oolong is just to weird (but addictive) for me not to share.
I’m also thinking this Kenyan tea I’m trying might be something you’d like a lot. Hmm, might be borderline. I reserve the right to make you try it.
Correction: the Tanzanian one I’m drinking…. the Kenyan was yesterday.
Yay! m not going to like (cucumber = ew), but all the varieties of fermentation/oxidization seem to be pretty awesome to my mouth and tummy!
See? You’re turning into a fine Tea Guru already. ;)
Hee, hurrah for tea packages!