Guanabana

Ah poop. I really hate it when work gets in the way of my steep timing. Like with this one. I ended up having to take a few phone calls, and before I realised it’d been steeping for around 12 minutes. Its ended up quite bitter, but just drinkable when I first sip it, but after a minute the sweetness comes through. So there is great potential here when I’m not distracted and can manage a better steep. I’ll rate it when its brewed correctly.

And this is another from my swap with Michelle, that this morning I realised I’d not sampled yet. Dearie me Michelle you’re generous! Still need to finish the box!

I’ve been putting off trying this tea because there is something weird about the aroma of the dry leaf.. Well I steeped it and honestly… I can’t handle the flavor… I feel like I’m drinking a rotten banana. It’s fruity and I can definitely taste the strawberry but that rotten banana flavor is just too much. I had to dump it..

Tried this one tonight, because I’d had it in blends but I’d never had it straight before. … but I sweetened it with swedish fish, just for fun. Because why not?

I think I would enjoy a guanabana lingonberry blend.

It’s not fantastic or anything, but I’m still kinda sad that adagio is discontinuing this one. (Now what are we supposed to use in blends as a shorthand for “quirky”? =P)

Ceylon tea is usually the only black tea I will stay away from but I think perhaps I will give it a second chance. I had to with this tea. Soursop seems too interesting to pass up. It’s a very unique flavor indeed! The soursop must give it the tropical flavor while the ceylon gives it a very earthy flavor. The mix of both works well together. So far I am liking it better hot.

There is one thing, however, that I do not like and that is the dry smell. I almost decided not to drink it just because of that but any good tea drinker knows you can’t judge a tea by it’s dry smell.

After drinking about half of the cup I wanted to be a little adventurous with honey. So I’ve put some raspberry and blueberry honey into the tea. Interesting! Brings out the soursop a bit more. The ceylon is almost mute now. Odd. Think I like it better without the honey.

I was hesitant to try this free sample because it smelled extremely sweet and fruity. Today I tried it and did not enjoy it at all. I drank a cup because I did not want it to go to waste. I’m not sure if I had steeped this wrong, so I am willing to try again since I have a sample of this.

Decided that it was probably best to squeeze in a few of the caffeine teas from the other TTB before it gets too late and the caffeine keeps me up all night… then I’d be up all night tasting teas :P tehehe.

Small Big Traveling Tea Box

This tea is different than what I was expecting. The name leads me to believe that it would have banana and guava in it. But to no avail. Luckily it does have some fruity notes, a bit mango-y to me. Actually, this reminds me of a black tea version of their green mango tea. Hmm. I’ll have to add some to the box so people can try both of these.. :]

Samples Only TTB
I think I should have steeped this a little longer, because it’s a little watered down tasting when Iced. I get fruity, but I couldn’t tell you what kind of fruit it is. Not bad, but it’s hard to judge because it became to watered down when iced.

Guanabana has always been a particular favorite of mine. I especially love blending it with jasmine, strawberry, and coconut teas as it has a sweetness to it very similar to lychee in my opinion. I mostly enjoy it hot, but I have found that it’s very good cold as well.

This is a really good complex black tea. Not only does the smell draws one in. The taste is simply amazing. The golden black liquid is like pouring gold int o your cup and taste is powerful. It is almost hypnotic and once you start drinking you will feel bad once it is gone. Because you will know that after your first sip of this tea you will never have one that is better.

Good tea for my 1st day back at work!!