251 Tasting Notes

68
drank Earl Grey by DAVIDsTEA
251 tasting notes

I’m neutral at best on earl grey in general, just to preface. This is a pleasant enough earl grey. The bergamot is present but not totally overpowering the black tea, and it’s smooth overall.

The earl greys I’ve liked more tend to have other flavoring happening. I’ll enjoy the rest of this, but I don’t think I need more.

DAVIDsTEA Around the World Advent, Day 12

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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65

I’m rating this because I want the record of my first impression, but I also don’t know how fair the rating is. I steeped it to bring to work, at which point I was excited because the scent was a marvelous winter spice orange blend. The few sips I had hot were tasty, and I was quite excited to keep drinking it!

Then work got busy, and I had my mask on a lot, so I let the whole thing get cold. And cold I get almost nothing from it at all but black tea. Maybe a slight aftertaste of cinnamon.

It would be nice to try it again, but I don’t think it was quite nice enough for me to buy more.

Plum Deluxe Caffeine Advent, Day 12

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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5
drank Maui Madness by DAVIDsTEA
251 tasting notes

Puling this out of the box yesterday, I knew I remembered this tea but couldn’t have told you where. I looked through my spreadsheet and I didn’t have any on hand, which seemed odd, so I went back here and – ah. I drank it and hated it.

But it smells incredible! Bright and fruity, tart, and a gorgeous purple too. The last time I’d tried it I went iced, so it had to be better hot, right?

Absolutely not. Like, I adjusted my rating down from “I hated this” to “I really hated this”. I get nothing but a cloying and artificial sweetness. I stand by my comment that it’s like someone at the Starbucks went all-in on the added sweetener. No thanks.

DAVIDsTEA Around the World Advent, Day 11

Flavors: Artificial, Sweet

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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70

I’m not sure what to make of this tea. On its face, it should be everything I want. Peach is high in the ingredient list, prominent in scent and flavor. The addition of apricot, while I can’t distinguish it by taste, is usually positive. But the lime…

I like lime, and I know adding it can brighten a lot of fruit flavors. One of my favorite popsicles is actually a watermelon popsicle with the addition of lime juice – you can’t taste the lime but it makes the watermelon surprisingly bold. So maybe I can thank the lime for the strong peach. But it’s also a little artificial. Not quite candy – maybe like a candy made with a sugar substitute?

I don’t think I want to buy more of this, but if I had more, I’d try a cold brew.

Plum Deluxe Caffeine Advent, Day 11

Flavors: Artificial, Lime, Peach

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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92

Another straight tea that I was excited to keep drinking. And here I thought I’d only ever appreciate flavored tea.

At two minutes, there is only a slight bitterness – it’s mostly a smooth vegetal cup that’s a bit grassy. Shared with my partner and double-steeped each round again. I think this could easily replace the Japanese Sencha I have in my stash as a favorite straight green.

DAVIDsTEA Around the World Advent, Day 10

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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10

The name definitely tells you where you’re heading with this tea. It’s strong coconut with a little cinnamon at the back of the sip and a clear black tea base.

I was hoping the cinnamon could be something that got me past the coconut, but it’s barely there. Probably interesting if you like coconut. Not for me.

Plum Deluxe Advent, Day 10

Flavors: Coconut

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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45

I love tart and tangy teas featuring hibiscus. If not for the coconut, this one would be perfection – I can even distinguish the pineapple above the other flavors! But while the coconut was not strong enough to completely put me off the cup, it is strong enough to keep me from wanting any more. A shame, really, because the pineapple and tartness are fabulous.

BrutaliTeas Advent, Day 11

Flavors: Coconut, Pineapple, Tart

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 30 sec

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89

I’m a big fan of almond flavoring in teas, and this was a tasty one. The almond is definitely present in scent and flavor, but it isn’t overwhelming the base of tea. I couldn’t give you much else on the flavor profile. It was a hit for me and my partner, so we’re adding it to the list for the future.

BrutaliTeas Advent, Day 10

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 30 sec

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72

This was an interesting one; the black tea base is most prominent, and a strong one at that. The aftertaste though feels like I’ve just eaten strawberries, angel food cake, and cream. I’ve got to give it points for a tasty berry flavor (especially since we’ve established recently I’m quite picky about strawberry in tea). I don’t think it will be in rotation here any time soon though; I’m not a huge cake fan to start with, and I have other black teas I much prefer.

BrutaliTeas Advent, Day 9

Flavors: Bitter, Cake, Cream, Strawberry

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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80

This was a lovely surprise win for me. I expected just another mint tea, but it’s richer, with some depth going on.

The mint is more forward than the other flavors. Aside from the color, I wouldn’t have even guessed a black tea base. But the aftertaste of ginger and the lingering peppery flavor are what’s really selling me here. I’m sad this one is gone because I want to play with it more.

DAVIDsTEA Around the World Advent, Day 9

Flavors: Black Pepper, Ginger, Mint

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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Bio

College instructor, mom of 2, and general homebody in California.

Great at buying tea, good at drinking tea, bad at timely reviews. Drawn to fruit, floral, spice, smoke, and flavored teas in general; prefer those that stand well without milk or sweetener. Black is fine, green is better, and red rooibos is trash.

I aim to rate when I finish a package or a complete sipdown, except in advent season.

My ratings are for me, so I don’t accidentally buy something that sounds amazing but I’ve already tried and disliked. I struggle a bit with wanting to be “fair” to a tea that other people would probably like, but then my system won’t work!

90-100 A: loved it; would make this a permanent member of my stash
80-89 B: tasty; would pick it up again
70-79 C: good; could grab with a good deal or to try in a different style
60-69 D: okay; would keep in a set but probably would not repurchase on its own
1-59 F: various shades of bad; would not purchase; closer to 1 means may not even drink again if offered.

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