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Anna drank Grapefruit Dragon by Butiki Teas

303 tasting notes

Okay, so this is interesting. I’m drinking this on the same day as Butiki’s Creamy Eggnog, and as I smelled this sample in the bag, I was struck by how very similar they appeared to my nose. There’s one note that’s very present and dominant to me and that sort of drowns out everything else. I think this might be the safflower, as this is the one ingredient that seems to overlap between the two teas.

I like it, but after having had the eggnog tea so recently, this just seems like that same tea, but without the creaminess that made that appealing to me. I get no grapefruit at all. Nothing even remotely resembling citrus, even. And seeing as I just had the grapefruit tea that potentially renders all other grapefruit teas obsolete, namely Grapefruit Green by Lupicia (reviewed here: http://steepster.com/clareborn/posts/199758) this review seems particularly badly timed.

So sorry, little dragon, you went down quite smoothly, but you’re just not for me.

[From my Butiki order to Santa Clara, October 2013.]
[Sample polished off in Rome, January 2014.]

Preparation

175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 30 sec

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5 comments

Sil
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strange because this one is VERY grapefruit. wonder if it was a funny batch

Anna
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Oh, weird! Yeah, I’ve read some reviews now, and it’s really strange. I’ll see if I can snag another sample and try again.

Butiki Teas
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I’m guessing it might be the baggie that we use. I imagine the flavor wouldn’t hold very long.

Anna
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Aaah, so now there’s a little grapefruit ghost haunting my kitchen.

I’ll just ask for a new sample with my next order, if this tea is available, and then promise to drink it immediately.

Sil
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haha grapefruit ghost… wonderful imagery there

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Comments

Sil
Delete

strange because this one is VERY grapefruit. wonder if it was a funny batch

Anna
Delete

Oh, weird! Yeah, I’ve read some reviews now, and it’s really strange. I’ll see if I can snag another sample and try again.

Butiki Teas
Delete

I’m guessing it might be the baggie that we use. I imagine the flavor wouldn’t hold very long.

Anna
Delete

Aaah, so now there’s a little grapefruit ghost haunting my kitchen.

I’ll just ask for a new sample with my next order, if this tea is available, and then promise to drink it immediately.

Sil
Delete

haha grapefruit ghost… wonderful imagery there

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Bio

I’m going to try all the teas.

Then I will choose a lucky few perfect specimens, and we will live happily together in my tea cupboard.

Forever.

* *

2015

This will be a year of in-betweenness and logistics. Where to put the teas. How to arrange the teas. Which teas to replenish – which ones to say goodbye to.

Still doing Project Green.
Still doing Project Jasmine.
Still doing Project Peach.

Dr. Tea is the name, I’m ahead of my game
still, steeping my leafs, still f*ck with the temps
still not loving Assam (uh-huh)
still rock my Bosch kettle with its high-pitched shriek
still got love for the greens, repping Lupicia
still the cup steams, still doing my thang
since I left, ain’t too much changed, still

(With apologies to Mr. Young.)

2014

This year, all bets are off. I am going to drink both peppermint and chamomile and possibly suffer a little. But it’s okay – it’s for science.

I’m doing Project Jasmine, Project Peach and Project Unflavoured Green.

In terms of flavoured teas, Lupicia and Mariage Frères have become my massive favourites, and I have learned that Dammann Frères/Fauchon/Hédiard and Butiki aren’t really for me.

The O Dor, Adagio and Comptoir des thés et des épices are all on this year’s I’d like to get to know you better list.

2013

Getting back into tea drinking last fall, I was all about rooibos. This past spring has been all green tea, all the time, with some white additions over the summer. Currently attempting a slow, autumnal graduation to black teas. Oolongs are always appropriate.

The constant for me, flavour wise, is the strong presence of fruity and floral notes. Vanilla is lush, as long as it’s not artificial. Peach, berries, mango. Cornflower, rose, lavender.

No peppermint.

No chamomile.

No cinnamon.

Ever.

* *

My ratings don’t reflect the ‘What does this tea do for me?’ standard, but rather my own ‘What would I do for this tea?’ scale.

100-90
My absolute favourites. Teas I would travel for – or, in any case, pay exuberant postage for, because they simply have to be in my cupboard. Generally multi-faceted teas with complex scents and flavours. Teas with personality. Tricky teas.

89-80
Teas I wouldn’t hesitate to buy again if and when I came across them. Tea purchases I would surreptitiously weave into a travel itinerary (Oh! A Lupicia store! Here?! My word!).

79-70
Teas I enjoyed, but don’t necessarily need to make any kind of effort to buy again.

69-0
Varying degrees of disinterest and contempt.