33 Tasting Notes
Like the monks who toil over lush gardens of fresh leafy flavors, consider the possibilities of pouring piping hot boiling water over actual dried leaves of tea…the ones that you can actually distinguish as leaves. It has been whispered through the halls of the time-tested tea wisdom of our elders, that tea’s true flavor is derived from the oil of the leaves as they gently relinquish their essence in defeat to their defeator, boiling water…therefore one may deduce that the absence of tea leaves, means the absence of flavor as well.
Preparation
If you want cinnamon dust in a bag – this is your tea! For devoted fans of tea fannings and dust, you will not be disappointed! Let the exotic colors of the box mesmerize you into thinking you’re not in isle 7 of a mainstreet USA grocery store. Let the exotic pictures on the box transport you to a time when colored water with little-to-no taste was appreciated in more than just an oversized coffee mug with a happy face on it. Your imagination runs wild with the possibilities that someday this tea may join the legendary shelves of teas that carry a name recognized by legacy and grandeur. For now though, you’ll just have to settle for cinnamon-colored water. Dare to dream though! :)
Preparation
This review. I ♥ it like whoa.
This is amazing.
Great yet razor-sharp review of a tea I really like and yes, I’m a fan of dust. I’ll take the box off of your hands if you don’t want it.
Don’t get me wrong. The stuff’s in my cupboard too, it just shouldn’t advertise itself as quality tea is all I’m sayin’. :)
Hilarious! Sadly, my life is aisle 7 of mainstream USA, LOL :) Thanks for the funny review!
Mine too! Although these last couple of years I’ve really amped up my online ordering of tea just get access to a greater variety and higher quality of tea. I get frustrated when companies advertise flavorful tea and they know they’re selling the crumbs of the good stuff. I don’t think it’s fair. If there is a tiger on the box, I expect a tiger flavor to jump out of the cup and gimmie a nice tiger roar. :)
Haha, I’ve just recently stopped my ordering of tea online. I got one bad, bad batch of a Sencha, one that I’ve ordered for years. It caused me to lay in bed wide awake, eyes wide open with an above average pulse ALL NIGHT! I tried another cup around a week later and got met with the same results, zero hours of sleep. Perhaps they stock “Sencha” right next to “Speed” and had a little mix-up.
It’s fannings and dust for me, from here on out! I still reach for the ol’ Tiger in the morning. Nothing wakes you up quite like lighting your tongue on fire.
Serdie, I totally understand. You know that tends to be why tea wholesalers tend towards selling blended teas. The tea harvest changes from year to year just like wine and is compeletely influenced by the environment. A blend can help mask the subtle changes from year to year. I support you in your decision, yet encourage you to keep an open mind for an occasional high quality loose leaf cuppa. :)
Ok, I’m a scorpio, and there is water ALL over my natal chart. So I tend to be guided however the mood strikes me. A couple of very close friends gifted me with this tea when they returned from a beautiful trip to Maui. The tropical flavor of this tea is VERY pronounced and lovely. It’s a very strong tea, and will give you the caffeine boost you’re looking for depending on your favored quantity per cup and steep times for black tea. I’m not big into iced teas, would rather have a piping hot cup even in the dead of summer. However I would imagine this would make a splendid iced tea because the flavor is so nicely pronounced. This has become a standard in my collection.
Preparation
I’m not big on iced tea either, but that’s probably because it involves more work and I am very lazy. Never underestimate the lazy.
Totally with ya on the laziness. I’d rather buy premade iced tea than make my own from scratch. I think I have to used more because once the drink is ice cold the flavor dampens a bit and that’s what I was originally going for anyway. Great tasting iced tea has the potential to be cost prohibitive. :P
Another Scorp on Steepster. The mind reels with the possibilities. A beleated happy birthday to you, Amy.
Thanks Rena! I’m a right-in-the-pocket Scorp. :)
I’m not such a big fan of blending Ceylon, Assam, and Darjeeling teas. I feel it muddies the true signature too much of each. Or perhaps I’m just a big fan of Ceylon. This is a nice full-bodied black tea, however it’s a ways down on my list when it comes to my first morning cup grab, or a nice afternoon lift. I keep thinking if I add some other tea to the mix my feelings about this one might change, but fear that the inherent issue is with the actual blend itself. Who knows, maybe the blend may grow on me over time.
Preparation
Mr. Grey wants to do something, he just doesn’t know what that is yet. Hiding in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to make a statement, he perhaps might be waiting quite a while. His many personalities speak of a mysterious combination and hint towards more like something of confusion. Walk down this tea-laden path at your own financial peril. Once this gent is up, I won’t renew.
Preparation
My dearest Peach Apricot, I love you so! We’ve been friends for several years now, and I still do not get tired of our brief moments spent together!
She holds up well on her own and likens herself to a medium-bodied lady. Able to wear many a different teapot, she beckons to be appreciated in only the finest of cups. She welcomes cream and sugar, only asking that she not be over-steeped as she tends to get very bitter about that. ;) A very understanding lady, she’s fine with your visiting other “friends” knowing that soon you will want to catch up with her again over a tasty sandwich or two.
Preparation
Definitely not for purists of the Earl, this one gets the “Royal” pardon. A time-tested favorite mellowed to a creamy afternoon echo. While on the softer side, it still holds up pretty well. I would recommend brewing just a smidge longer, or using more than one heaping teaspoon per cup when brewing to punch up the strength. To me the cream guides this flavor more into the “dessert teas” even without any cream or sugar.
Preparation
It just hit me that your review style totally makes me think of Andrews & Dunham.
LOL. really? I can’t help putting on a slightly British hat when talking about tea – although I’m as far from British as one can get. Actually I do a great cockney accent with very little falter – although I’m a bit droopy on the vowels. Last week I kept going around to my friends saying in my finest british cockney accent, “Would you like something from the snack trolley dears?”
I was inspired by a local tea house here in LA to think about tea blending possibilities. I purchased this base raspberry flavored tea specifically for the purpose of blending with other teas. If I were to have this tea on it’s own it would be as brewed ice tea, however I have not yet tried it this way. This tea blended with straight Earl Grey black tea is AMAZING, and made even more of treat with milk and sugar added! Don’t be afraid to guide your time-trusted Earl in a whole new direction! :)
I created a tea blending matrix for my teas so that I could create new flavors based on my current stock. When blended with other teas, this one gets a ratings boost.
Preparation
I first had this tea at the August Tea Room, and it made for a perfect pairing with lunch. Although since then I’ve had this tea at breakfast as well. No frills on this one, however it’s nice to have a medium-strong black tea from China every once in a while to keep my tastebuds guessing. This one is more robust than the Nine Bend Black Dragon and can turn bitter if steeped for too long. Milk and sugar bring punch up the flavor nicely.
Preparation
A truly mysterious blend of flavors, and richly comforting at the same time. This is a medium-bodied tea that beckons reflection and dare I say a smidge of solitude. While not yet tempted to enter a deep meditation with this flavorful tea, it deserves the attention of one who is not in a rush for their caffeine fix. Any time of day is the right time for this tea.
And the church says, “Amen!”