120 Tasting Notes
Another gift sample from my friend KiTT!
Ok, first of all, I am not much of a TA fan, so no connection there, but the flavors in this blend are all the things I enjoy, gunpowder green, orange, a hint of spice. This day has been ramping upward since it started, feeling like a scene from Inception with the rioters getting closer and closer…so, by building a wall of green, a covering of gunpowder and the clear-eyed focus of orange, this tea is providing the protection I need.
Thanks to KiTT and her generosity, I now have some interesting options to try. This was the first on my list. I actually had the first steep last night, added a little more tea this morning and resteeped, the flavor was still full and fruity. I don’t think I can add anything to the volumes already written on this tea. I like it, I enjoy the fruitiness and like others, find it to be a good blend (like punch) with no one flavor taking center stage. I also like that fact that in all that fruitiness, the sencha is still present. To me, this plast point, is what makes the tea successful.
First of all, I agree with some comments posted here on Steepster that overall, Tazo is a disappointment, and seems to be concerned with marketing more than quality tea. However, this is what I think of, when I think of Chai. The spices are all in place, but not too much of any. Just the right amount of pepper, and the black tea comes through as well. I have tried this without milk and honey but it just isn’t the same. With those, it is almost perfect.
The concentrate is very good as well, but adds more carbs than I want or need.
I don’t have many loose leaf chai teas under my belt, and I am sure I will find some I like, but for now, I know I can always get at least one tea I love at the grocery.
Yet another new experience from the Asian market!
I had seen some reviews of this blend, the price was right and I tried it. Honestly, the aroma when it is steeping is not what I would call wonderful, this does not drive you wild like vanilla, or chai. But, the taste is something else. And like my first experiences with Per-uh and Lapsang Souchong, unlike anything I have ever tried. Toasty, grainy, savory and then the subtleness of the green tea. The color is a nice shade of green, not cloudy at all. The more I sip, the more I like this… I have the leaf version, not bagged.
Gotta love the Asian supermarket…I found my first bag of Maeda-En Genmai-Cha at the Asian Grocery. Packaged similarly to this one. If you venture to add honey or sugar in the raw, it’s like drinking Honey Smacks. One of my favorite cereals :)
I always liked Honey Smacks too…I will try some honey in it tonight.
I love the Samurai legend connected to this one too!
Ok friends of the 80’s, like, I had this bummer of a day…totally.
But I had a few minutes between meetings and drove by yet another
Asian Market I have yet to try and Bam! For 99 cents I get 4 ounces of solid
gunpowder green. A dash in my press, steeped a cup or so and man,
the day just got a lot better. As others have noted, this is a bit smokey, a little cloudy, and not the most beautiful color of green you will find, but the taste is rich and full. This is an in your face green that could handle any type of food or seasoning. I am thinking enchiladas…oops sorry, back to the tea. At this price, I will never have to drink bagged green again!
Holy moly – as a gunpowder fan I am beyond jealous at this gem you found! :)
Sometimes the best things in life are almost free! I bet there is some hiding around you, from the other reviews, it seems pretty common.
Give me something to hunt down and I’ll find it. I’m the go-to gal for that, for some reason. (I think it’s the journalist in me!) Anyhoo, I’m on it! :)
I find some the best quality teas for the best prices at the Asian market near me!
Hey, check it out… if you REALLY like it, you can get a kilo of it from amazon.com! :) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009X65FC/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0009OYIYG&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0D5MBZF7H6MKQY6J6942
… for only $11.99!
Cool! And free shipping with Prime!
DJ I am learing that valuable lesson.
That prime shipping is so worth it. :) I got my Burn Notice Season 3 DVD in one day – today, a federal holiday.
If anyone wants to split the order, lemme know!
Not sure how I have failed to rate this, I honestly thought that I did…
Oh well, I enjoy this tea. I keep a tin at the office and at home.
It more or less a go-to tea when I am not sure what I want. The peach flavor is wonderful, makes me think of the peach preserves my grandmother made…the ginger is subtle, just right and there is something else in the aftertaste that is brief, can’t quite define it..maybe a minty note, maybe hibiscus…something is there though. This is a keeper.
Additional Info: I agree with Hazel, the color of the liquor is gorgeous!
Keeping that black trend going today…every sip induces a pause and moment of reflection…the color of this tea is perfect, a deep dark amber. Through the sip there is a swiriling of lightness, to slight astringency, then a smooth aftertaste.
“to complement the traditional, hearty English Breakfast”
Tried to cut some carbs this morning so I left out some of the “traditional” items, but this sure complimented my eggs and sausage quite well. I think my personal taste is towards the black teas, I enjoy the oolongs, whites, and greens I have tried, but I always want to get back to that ingrained “tea” taste. Only the blacks do that for me.
Been reading about blends, both the successful and disaster varieties. So…..drum roll please, I blended this Jasmine with the Ti Kuan Yin I had on hand going about 1/2 each with a favorable result. The Jasmine was toned down and the Ti Kuan Yin brought a full and rich tea taste to the cup. I will be doing this again, and may just mix the whole lot.
