86
drank Banana Tie Guan Yin by 52teas
1445 tasting notes

This is so perfect. I should’ve picked up more, especially considering I got dinged for Duty by Canada-US Customs and won’t be ordering again for a looooong time because I’m so mad (yet, I’m already fighting the compulsion to order a giant pouch of this).

Seriously though, the world needs more creamy banana with brightly floral tieguanyin. This is a jackpot blend for my taste buds. I look forward to resteeping and savouring all 12g of this.

Steep Count: 4

(2017 holiday reblend)

Flavors: Banana, Cream, Floral, Mineral

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec
Show 14 previous comments...
Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

To be dinged by Customs with already worrying about the poor exchange AND shipping sucks. A lot.

Crowkettle 7 years ago

They didn’t even end up charging me for anything in the parcel- just the inconvenience of holding and handling for $13 CAD. Not impressed.

Mastress Alita 7 years ago

I hate to admit it, but it’s all the US/Canada customs horror stories which is why I personally won’t ship over the border. I once really needed a medical device from Canada (had more settings and didn’t require a script for it in Canada) but I knew the shipping would be evil part when my good online friend up there agreed to get it for me when I sent her the money for it. She brought it with her on a visit to friends in Michigan, then shipped it to me after she was stateside. Honestly, though, it shouldn’t have to be that difficult…

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

I have had A LOT of tea coming from the States and all without incident. However, out of dozens, one batch got dinged and I won’t be ordering from that company again.

Crowkettle 7 years ago

I’ve been ordering across border semi-regularly since 2011 and never payed duty. Going by the paper slip they sent me and the original customs declaration, I honestly don’t know how they justified it here. The tea companies I love right now are so limited right now that I’d be pretty choked to cut out 52teas. I’ll probably give it another shot and if it happens again it will be a PO box for me!

@Mastress Alita, glad that worked out and that you had such an amazing contact! The hassle can be real.

mrmopar 7 years ago

It is more about how the declaration on the customs paperwork is I think. If you list something as a gift and list the value as low I think it will bypass the duties.

Sil 7 years ago

this sounds yummy….

Fjellrev 7 years ago

That sucks, CrowKettle! I’m lucky that so far I haven’t been charged for any tea orders, however, I’ve been dinged 2-3 times for ColourPop (and maaaybe another cosmetics order from somewhere else…) so I stopped ordering from them. Definitely all the more frustrating when we are already dealing with a weak dollar.

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

If the value is listed at under a 100, it should be fine. It is the over 100 purchases that seem to raise eyebrows at the border.

Crowkettle 7 years ago

Yeah, it was listed well below 100 ($29) so it’s a mystery to me. Oh, well!

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

!!!!!!

Likely a random spot check then. Boo! And here I thought that I had things figured out. Luck of the draw then.

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

Certainly an uncertain world.

Fjellrev 7 years ago

Hmm, just checked and my Colourpop orders were all 40-60 USD, yet they got me anyway.

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

When did this dinging take place?

I am wondering whether it might have something to do with the orange debacle’s more recent attack on us— tariffs etc?

Starfevre 7 years ago

“the orange debacle” LOL

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

hahaha, and that it more of my more polite euphemisms.

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Comments

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

To be dinged by Customs with already worrying about the poor exchange AND shipping sucks. A lot.

Crowkettle 7 years ago

They didn’t even end up charging me for anything in the parcel- just the inconvenience of holding and handling for $13 CAD. Not impressed.

Mastress Alita 7 years ago

I hate to admit it, but it’s all the US/Canada customs horror stories which is why I personally won’t ship over the border. I once really needed a medical device from Canada (had more settings and didn’t require a script for it in Canada) but I knew the shipping would be evil part when my good online friend up there agreed to get it for me when I sent her the money for it. She brought it with her on a visit to friends in Michigan, then shipped it to me after she was stateside. Honestly, though, it shouldn’t have to be that difficult…

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

I have had A LOT of tea coming from the States and all without incident. However, out of dozens, one batch got dinged and I won’t be ordering from that company again.

Crowkettle 7 years ago

I’ve been ordering across border semi-regularly since 2011 and never payed duty. Going by the paper slip they sent me and the original customs declaration, I honestly don’t know how they justified it here. The tea companies I love right now are so limited right now that I’d be pretty choked to cut out 52teas. I’ll probably give it another shot and if it happens again it will be a PO box for me!

@Mastress Alita, glad that worked out and that you had such an amazing contact! The hassle can be real.

mrmopar 7 years ago

It is more about how the declaration on the customs paperwork is I think. If you list something as a gift and list the value as low I think it will bypass the duties.

Sil 7 years ago

this sounds yummy….

Fjellrev 7 years ago

That sucks, CrowKettle! I’m lucky that so far I haven’t been charged for any tea orders, however, I’ve been dinged 2-3 times for ColourPop (and maaaybe another cosmetics order from somewhere else…) so I stopped ordering from them. Definitely all the more frustrating when we are already dealing with a weak dollar.

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

If the value is listed at under a 100, it should be fine. It is the over 100 purchases that seem to raise eyebrows at the border.

Crowkettle 7 years ago

Yeah, it was listed well below 100 ($29) so it’s a mystery to me. Oh, well!

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

!!!!!!

Likely a random spot check then. Boo! And here I thought that I had things figured out. Luck of the draw then.

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

Certainly an uncertain world.

Fjellrev 7 years ago

Hmm, just checked and my Colourpop orders were all 40-60 USD, yet they got me anyway.

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

When did this dinging take place?

I am wondering whether it might have something to do with the orange debacle’s more recent attack on us— tariffs etc?

Starfevre 7 years ago

“the orange debacle” LOL

Evol Ving Ness 7 years ago

hahaha, and that it more of my more polite euphemisms.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

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Bio

I started my Steepster loose leaf adventure back in 2012. I can’t say I’m completely new anymore, but I still view oolong as a magical, extraterrestrial creature that unfurls in water.

My favourites are teas like Milk Oolong, Silver Needle,and Japanese Sencha/Gyokuro, or fruity and floral flavoured ones. However, I generally enjoy ALL the teas, including a good old cup of Earl Grey or Breakfast blend.

FAVOURITE INGREDIENTS/NOTES:

DESSERT FLAVOURS
Vanilla, Maple, Caramel, Butterscotch, Cream, Toffee, Nougat, Marzipan, Butter

FRUIT & BERRIES
Citrus Fruits, Passionfruit, Banana, Pineapple, Melons, Blackberry, Raspberry, Currants, Elderberry, Persimmon, Rhubarb..

SPICES
Ginger, Turmeric, Clove-forward chai, Cardamom

AROMATIC & HERBACEOUS NOTES
Sandalwood, Frankincense, Juniper, Eucalyptus, Mints

FLORALS
Lavender, Jasmine, Rose, Lilac, Violet, etc.

VEGGIE/GRAIN NOTES
Spinach, Grass, Hay, Cucumber, Rice, Sweet Potato

Less Preferred Flavours/Ingredients:
Stevia, Apple, Cocoa Nib, Almond, Licorice, Cinnamon-forward blends, Chinese Sencha

Subjective Rating System:
I don’t give a lot of low ratings out, since a) I tend to grab tea I know will appeal to me, and b) I don’t have a lot of strong dislikes.

90-100: Favourites. The Desert Island Teas.
80-89: Loved teas. Possibly staple-worthy.
70-79: Good teas, but I’m less likely to repurchase. Minor quibbles.
60-69: Ok teas. Likely a few preference and/or quality issues.
50-59: Cup of meh. Will do in a pinch.
11-49: Varying levels of undrinkable tea.
1-10: Nightmare tea from the chaos realms. This tea is the embodiment of the primordial swamp, an unholy abomination. It’s very gross and I’m almost positive it doesn’t exist.

Location

BC, Canada

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