The Steeping Room

Thanks to MzPriss for this sample. I’ve had one other keemun mao feng and that was Harney’s version which I quite liked.

At the 3 minute mark, this brews up to be a medium amber kind of color. I’m getting gentle cocoa notes and there’s something about this that seems almost flowery to me. Other people have mentioned smoke which I am not really getting, aside from a bit of tobacco in the finish that stays with you a bit after you’ve sipped on it. This is very pleasant. Overall it seems like keemun mao fengs may be more to be liking as they seem a bit more gentle than the other keemuns I’ve tried. I guess it has to do with the processing of the leaf.

Glad I got to try this one! — p.s it’s also delicious with soymilk

The problem that I find with most chai is (that I dont mix myself) is that it is not assertive enough. This one goes a step beyond assertive straight to aggressive. To love this tea, you must LOVE chai. And I do. This one is big and bold and in your face spicy – perfect for me. It is microground so you need a very fine strainer or it will be a little gritty. I am of the opinion that if you’re going to drink chai, you need to go all in and that’s what you get with this tea. It is the best chai I’ve ever had. The spice level is turned to 11. It is hot, with all of the spices nicely balanced. Too many chais rely too heavily on cinnamon. You taste all of the spices here. It brews a very dark cup and you can drink this in lieu of using an eyelash curler. I use a small amount of almond milk and a very small amount of honey in this tea. I usually prefer my tea nekkid, but this one benefits from accessories. If you don’t adore heavy spice, you will be unhappy with this tea, but if you really love chai this will make you glow. HIGHLY recommended for chai fans.

You get to start enjoying this Keemun before you sip. There is a distinct honey aroma that pleases my nose mightily. It is a deep amber in the cup. This is not overly smokey, but the smoke is there in background. It is winey and full bodied with the distinct “keemun-ness” that you would expect and honey notes. I I like this especially in the afternoon and brew it frequently at work around 4 pm several times a week. I love this tea and recommend it highly.

It’s very warm and cozy. Love the right amount of cinnamon and fig with the black tea.

I think this is a tea for the tea lover that likes chocolate in their tea. My mom tried it but didn’t like it at all. I didn’t love it %100 but i still really enjoyed it. Good for as a dessert tea .

Still a favorite all afternoon oolong…it is almost time to go out and get more…

admittedly, this is the first oolong i’ve had since undertaking the Big Tea Experimentation of 2013, but DARN if this isn’t one of the yummiest teas i’ve ever had! Rich, chocolate-assam-redcurrant-esque depth with just the tiniest TINIEST smoky flavor, just yummy. even the smell of the tea leaves makes me happy.
Next time around, i shall try a splash of milk and/or sugar, however just plain, this is delish.
(evidently not available on their website – i was there in-person and had to actually ask for it from behind the counter. it is one of Those Special Select Teas.)

Stopped by the Domain location of the Steeping Room while out to lunch with my boyfriend. It was really busy, like always. I just grabbed an iced cup to go. I was torn between Peach Black and Coconut Green, and the boyfriend, not a fan of coconut, told me to go with the peach. It didn’t say “Georgetown Peach”, but I’m guessing it was the same. I liked it but not as much as I remember liking it before. It tasted almost generically fruity, not as distinctively peachy.

For some reason, I’ve never logged this, even though I had two ounces and I used the last of it last night. This was one of my first loose teas, and I’m sad to see it go. I’ve had it for almost two years now, so it was about time it was drunk. This is a very sweet peach tea, it smells a lot like the gummy peach rings I used to eat all the time. So, I may like this partially because of nostalgia, and partially because it’s local, but I promise this is a good peach tea if you’re looking for something sweet. If you’re in the Austin area, check out the Steeping Room. I hear they’ve remodeled recently, I may have to go back and get more of this and check out their new look.

One of my favorite teas. Nice and warming, not too much cinnamon and fig flavor – just the right amount. Great with a bit of agave nectar.

I had this at the Steeping Room on Lamar in Austin, Texas. It came out the perfect temperature, the aroma was absolutely mouthwatering. A little agave nectar made it dessert in a cup, it was like drinking a slice of cake. Buttery and nutty with strong vanilla. I had to take some home!

Unfortunately, the aroma of the tea in the bag is so overpowering that it almost puts you off drinking it. A very, very situational tea. I can only drink it on rare occasions that I am in the mood for something powerfully sweet. Thankfully the tea itself isn’t as cloying as the leaves. Don’t steep for too long or too hot.

Thanks for this one Emilie! This smelled terrific!

The aroma and taste is that of a peach and floral combo over a medium-strength black. I like this a bit better cold than hot but both are tasty and I am thrilled I got to try it!

As a fan of Earl Gray, this blend of mandarin orange and bergamont is satisfyingly strong in citrus flavor. The addition of the mandarin though adds some complexity and takes away some of the weight that a heavily flavored Early Gray might have. Delicious hot or cold, I will often make a pot and then drink it through the day after the tea has come to room temperature.

Honey colored, seed-toned scent; the flavor is very interesting, front of the mouth is the tiniest bit sweet and tan, the back of tongue is very nutty and rich. Little finish, but pleasant. Best when drunk when juuuuustt cool enough to drink; letting it cool more leaves out a lot of the flavor.

I can never get over how lovely this tea smells when brewed. It’s a strong dark and smokey scent… just lovely and pleasing.

The taste, as I’ve said before, is quite smokey, too. Nothing about this tea overwhelms, it’s a delicious flavor that balances just right in your mouth.

Smokey, wonderful scent and flavor with lingering finish.

Like the description says, it is a strong Earl Grey that was a bit too bitter for me. The addition of agave nectar (or, most likely, any other sweetener) showed a change from the bitter drink that I had a hard time swallowing to a pretty fantastic cup of Earl Grey. I will definitely buy it again but I’ll make sure I have a sweetener around when I have it.

What a wonderful black tea – I am a beginner at 58 years old – I used to compare Bigelow to Twinings and have now left both in the dust. This is my current favorite – I can’t discuss this in trade talk but I do know it is a wonderful cup of tea. Yea! I discovered the Steeping Room through a staffer at Starbucks over at the 1890 Shopping Center. I have thanked him more than once for sending me over. The folks at the Steeping Room are particularly patient as I ask multiple questions. Thanks for being there! Grins.

Cold-brewed this for 24hrs.

Very intense flavor. VERY floral in the back of throat and mouth. Delicious if you like such, in this case I do. Yum. But not for every day.