226 Tasting Notes

80

I had a blend this morning of this tea and Rooibos Peach Bloom, from Teavana. This oolong’s flavor is just strong enough to add a nice milky aftertaste to the more prevalent flavor of the rooibos (Rooibos Peach Bloom is one of the strongest rooiboses I’ve ever smelled or tasted). I enjoyed the blend very much, mostly because I was craving Rooibos Peach Bloom but prefer darker teas in the morning (more caffeine, woot!).

By itself, this oolong is one of the most floral I’ve ever had, so I suppose it is aptly named. :) I love pairing it with fruity teas, because it tends to balance them out and create some really interesting flavors. A great staple to have in your cupboard.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 45 sec

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91
drank Spice of Life by Teavana
226 tasting notes

I like this tea so much, it’s the tea I chose to use in my Yixing pot. I prefer spicy teas, and this tea barely even tastes like a white tea, it’s so rich and flavorful. Good for about 4 or 5 short steeps.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 1 min, 15 sec

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91

I actually steeped a whole pot of this tea today. I used 1/3 cup of it as part of the wet ingredients in a chocolate bread recipe I have, and I drank the rest.
I’ve made this bread before, and it’s the best chocolate bread I’ve ever had. The oolong adds a depth of flavor that brings out the bitterness of the cocoa powder, and it’s just so rich and chocolaty, I have to resist the urge to eat several pieces right as it comes out of the oven.
Anyway, the oolong is a joy to drink as well. It’s smooth and nutty, doesn’t take much sugar, and can be steeped up to three times. I tend to steep it a little on the long side for oolong (3 or 4 minutes), but I find this only enhances the flavors, even though it decreases the number of re-steeps I can get out of it.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 45 sec

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90
drank Petal Pedal by Red Stick Spice
226 tasting notes

I am well acquainted with the owners of Red Stick Spice. When they told me I had to try this tea because it had won first place at a tea-tasting competition in California, I agreed that that sounded like a good idea. Let me tell you, I was very skeptical about the idea of rooibos and mint together. The tea spoke volumes for itself, however. It smells mostly of mint, with only a little of the musky-nutty rooibos scent, and the other flowers nonexistent. However, when you steep it, the flavor of each component somehow comes to life, like children standing in a line on the stage of a school play. You can see each one of them distinctly, each bringing their own drama and quirks. It totally amazed me that the mint, normally known for being a strong flavor, was so subtle and accommodating to the other flavors. This will be one of the permanent denizens of my tea shelf.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 30 sec
teataku

Wow! I never thought they would, but I was never involved in their personal lives. I’m sure they did what made sense for them. As far as the new owner goes, it looks like she’s going to take the company to some good places! I’ll have to go by there again soon. :)

Dixie_Amazon

I met the new owner Anne today. She seems very nice. Purchased some peach oolong to try. :)

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95
drank Earl Grey Creme by Teavana
226 tasting notes

This was the first Teavana tea I ever tried. I was hooked at the first sip. I have since kept a constant supply (it’s been several years now). It’s not that great if you accidentally oversteep it, which happens to me more than I care to admit… but it’s a wonderful morning tea. It’s also great for a pick-me-up on those afternoons when you feel your energy sputtering out. It’s smooth, with the creamy bergamot mixing beautifully with the slightly fruity-ness of the blue cornflower petals.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 15 sec

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83
drank Cha Yen Thai by Teavana
226 tasting notes

I have owned this tea for several months now, and I have not been able to do anything to it to make it taste bad (even oversteeping!). The rooibos in it expertly balances out the black tea, and the spices, like cinnamon and cloves, are balanced out by the creamy smooth coconut. It has such a delightful finish, and hardly needs very much sweetening. I drink it both hot and cold, with and without milk, and with and without sweetener.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 15 sec
TeaNerdette

…We need some trades of this one!

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Profile

Bio

I very clearly remember my first experience with tea. It was in a Target near my house, and my best friend handed me a cup of chai from the Starbucks inside the store and said, “Try this.” I believe I was about 12 at the time, and from then on, I was completely hooked.

Anyway, as my increasingly weirded out family will tell you, my obsession with tea has (almost) steadily escalated since then. I discovered the world of tea slowly, first with just chai, and then with bagged teas I could get from supermarkets and specialty stores, and then with loose leaf teas. I mostly shop for tea at Teavana, but I also patronize other local shops that I’ve discovered within the last couple of years. I’ve ordered a smattering of teas from a few online places, but I’m always leery of buying tea online, since most of how I select teas in person is by smell… unless I’m at The English Tea Room.

My favorite types of tea are blacks and flavored blacks. And oolongs. Right underneath that are rooiboses and whites, and then greens and herbals, and then mates. I’m always looking for a new favorite, but I appreciate rediscovering old favorites. I like to blend teas, but I never store them that way, mostly because I like to leave myself options.

I prefer nutty/sweet/rich teas to fruity/light-flavored teas or bold/full-bodied teas, but I do try to drink some of everything to widen my palate. I’m always willing to try any tea at least once (except this one tea that Teavana mercifully discontinued… the loose leaf smelled like cheese, I swear). I do perhaps rate teas a little leniently… because I’m not very picky. I will try a tea at least three times before I pronounce that I hate it, and I will always focus on the good aspects of a tea rather than the bad. That’s just how I roll. :3

Location

Colorado, USA

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