13 Tasting Notes
This was a nice quality full leaf, and it brewed up quite nicely…but there was no real malt to it. I tried this with a splash of 2% milk, which is how I enjoy my morning cup of Assam. So, nothing at all wrong with the quality, just not the one for me.
Preparation
I like a nice Assam in the morning. I take it with a splash of 2% milk. My main requirements is to have this strong and malty. This is not bad. I suspect I will keep looking for the “perfect” morning cup, but this can stay in the kitchen as I search. It’s a nice quality CTC leaf, the dry leaf has a great scent. I brewed this up in the One Touch and it made a nice morning cup.
Preparation
So I’ve been on a bit of a quest. I get free coffee/tea at work and have been enjoying Tazo Green Ginger teabags. Thought I would try to find a higher quality loose leaf for home use. Since I do like coconut, I thought I would give this a try. Not bad at all, but the subtitle should be “Wheres The Ginger”. It has a very nice high quality green base, and the coconut is nicely balanced, but the ginger does not show up to the party. The quest continues…
Preparation
OK, so I’m a bit late to the party. I won’t rehash everything else that has been said about this, but its all true! What a great machine. I find myself drinking more tea now that I have it (not a bad thing). This won’t replace all of my other pots, and I would not want it to. I still have a small collection of Yixing pots and Gaiwan’s for Gong Fu. This is not a pot for Pu Er. I only have two (very small) negatives. The fill lines are behind the handle and somewhat hard to see. Secondly, the basket, is somewhat difficult to clean. I find that the leaves tend to stick to the inside a bit and are harder to detach under running water then some of my other baskets. Other then that, just a fantastic machine.
Got this as part of a sampler order from Butiki. Since Assam is one of my favorite teas, I thought I might enjoy this. I was not wrong! I don’t drink a lot of flavored teas, but I can see keeping this one in the house. Very nice late afternoon or desert tea. Love the flavor sand adding just a hint of sugar tends to bring the Carmel flavor up a notch. The vanilla is subtle (but there) and is exactly how I would want it. If my other Butiki teas are this good, I’ll be one happy camper!
I have been cycling through a bunch of Upton samples. This is a medium roasted organic oolong from Japan. Very nice! I steeped this one western method (which is the only way Upton recommends), leaves smell very nice. I’m getting hints of grass and some spice. Taste is very clean and refreshing.
Preparation
I brewed this both gong fu and western style. Very nice both ways. For me, I get more of a cinnamon smell then any real taste, but I do get a very “spicy” taste that is quite pleasant. I think I enjoyed it more gong fu, I was able to get 6 good infusions, but it works western as well for when I have less time. I have been very impressed by the Mendala teas I have tried…and this one is no exception!
