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This is the first tea I saw on instragram for Artemis, and wanted to try it, and I finally got some. HEAVY on the berry in smell and profile with a like of the cocoa like dark chocolate in the dry leaf, and the same goes in the brewed flavor western. The yunnan teas are a bit faded in the background in the first cup I made because the berries and wine skins dominate. The second cub (heehhehe get it? This was a typo that I decided to keep, ’cause ursa, ’cause “cup”) I rebrewed western had much more of the Yunnan Black with a smooth profile blending into the cocoa nicely with a little bit of chocolate tannin in the aftertaste despite being on the way lighter side of tea.

This one is like Byzantium’s older berrier sister. It was what I hoped for, and I really didn’t need 60 grams of it, but it’s a very good tea I don’t mind having around with all the others. No ratings yet, just enjoying it for the different take on a berry blend. To think of it, this tea reminds me of the Icewine flavored teas I used to get from Canada…

I’ve resisted having this one, but I’ve been craving for it straight without any additives despite saving it for sweet and condensed milk again. I tried some, and it definitely works for the blend iced, but it’s more comforting hot. Granted, I like hot tea over iced tea most of the time anyway even in hot months, but the way the anise melts into the clove and creamy vanilla always sits right with me, especially amidst the puerh and softer black tea bases. It’s actually very soothing on my stomach and my throat, and I was a trigger away from getting more of this one in my next order if it weren’t for the fall flavor sampler going on discount, especially with an oolong I’m gunning for.

I’m back in a phase of wanting to try no teas and limited editions in addition to bulking my staples. So stupid of me. Then again, there’s What-Cha and other sites adding really cool experimental teas more within my tasting range too, but I haven’t bought from in a while and I keep going towards blends with occasional pure teas. Now, you have back to school angst coming in, and now I’m planning on my work rotation for the dealing with the Youth.

Going back to this one, it’s soothing and grounding while tasting like Eggnog. It definitely has a Thai tea tasting profile, yet it’s way more mild compared to the spice punch from the Tamarind you get. I can’t decide to rate it. I know I’ve stood in my 80-90 comfort zone lately, and me wanting to keep coming back to this tea is throwing off my rating a little bit. It rebrews pretty well, scores points for being forgiving and easy to drink on its own, and is versatile, so that’s at least above a 70%, + 10% for the balance of flavors, and then the soothing nature of the tea that keeps me coming back to it pushing it near 90 for me. Sometimes, it’s a little too mild and I wish there was a little bit more of a spice kick, and other times I want the mild nature of this tea. It’s roughly $11 for an oz of this, and I think it’s $33 for roughly 4 oz of it, though I think I’m partly wrong.

I think this is an easy tea for beginners for sure, and I think more experienced drinkers would want more kick and richness for this one to justify the price perhaps. I also see people who really don’t like Pu-Erh yet want to like Pu-Erh enjoying this one, and I’d hate to say it, it kinda reminds me of the few Butiki blends I’ve gotten to try. Simple and soothing and …basic.

I’ve had some of the herbal with honey, and served it to my dad. It really helped his throat, and I’ve had some myself with and without honey as the rooibos herbal blend. It’s grown a little more on me. If it weren’t for the price, I’d easily reorder more of this one. The lavender white chocolate and mint profile would have me keep coming.

Cheap gorgeous lapsang. Andrew had a feeling the basic people would like this one, and I did it mug fu style with 30-50 second rinses. I varied it depending on aroma. The dryleaf smell is a weird combo of pine needle, smoke, and caramel. It’s like a bougie log cabin in Oregon or Washington state. That’s what it makes me think of. The flavor definitely has lapsang smoke, yet like Andrew described, is laced with a caramelized sugar taste. Sometimes, I thought I was drinking sap filled caramel coffee. Also heavy in a maple direction too, and the later steeps had more of the lapsang notes I’m used to, but sweeter. Soooo much sweeter. I contemplated getting more of it because $8 for 50 grams is cheap. But again, I have too many black teas.

Definitely recommend it to my basic tea lovers and nerds.

This one sold out really fast on Andrew’s birthday. I decided to snag some with Smoke and Mirrors. I’ve only had a slopfu session with it in this backlog, and it’s what I hoped it would be, which is a fruit forward green oolong. Very, very heavy on pineapple notes and nectarine notes, with some sourness like apricot. I can see some people describing peach, but it’s more on the sweet side of yellow and orange fruit in general. Rinse, 25, 35, OH CRAP, 55, 45, 1 min 30, 3 minutes, western for a unknown amount of time. It’s good. I don’t regret the splurge.

I ordered the Shanlinxi originally, so this was a mistake and a happy accident. It’s actually more fruity than the Dayuling, which I did not expect. That one has a richer floral smell, but this one has more flavor gong fu AND western. I’m looking forward to enjoying this one while I finish the Dayuling off.

BOGO backlog. A bit dissappointed with this one. It’s only worked gong fu so far. Otherwise, it’s too grassy. I know, I’m an ungrateful snob. Florals and slight fruitiness gong fu, but western and grandpa, it’s grassy and tastes like underripe banana or a green Maofeng. Hopefully, I can figure it out again. I know I got a deal on it, though I kinda wish I saved for other teas. I actually liked the Lishan I accidentally got a little bit more.

I got 50 grams of this with the doubling sale for Crafted Tea Leaf, so I got 25 grams in price, but got twice the amount, and I’m pretty happy about it. I’ve only had it once western mug style using 3 minutes, and it’s really close to it’s mainland counterpart. Heavy red fruit notes in the light malt of the tea, and brews several times with slight astringency, but no harshness except some slightly bitter notes. Very heavy on the nutty qualities and sweetness. Soooo good, but hits me a little bit with the caffeine. I’m not ready to rate it until I gong fu it. I’m otherwise pretty pleased.

The Wanderlust Teas have been hits for me so far again and again. This one is an easy like for me because it combines all the flavors I like such as Melon, Ginger, and Coconut, and it was done really well. I fully expected it to be a black tea since it was initially written as Bali Breakfast and a black in the adds, but Zhena went with a white tea. All of the white teas have been really exceptionally flavored, so I’m not complaining. I’ve contemplated on getting more Ravello, so there’s that. I know, I’m basic.

But I like this one a lot because one flavor doesn’t dominate the other. The coconut and ginger marry each other, and the melon flavors the tail end of each sip followed by some texture and fruity qualities from the apple. I’ve only had it once hot, but I really like it. I wonder if I’ll write more on it, but it meets the marks of things I like. It’s very similar to the Cancer tea, whereas that one has a very creamy candied ginger mango taste, this one is straight up fruity. Now, onto the next teas.