117 Tasting Notes
This was one of the Verdant samples, and it was my morning tea today. On the first infusion I think I could taste the apricot-orangey notes, but that might have been the power of suggestion. It was pleasantly light and refreshing, perfect for a summer morning. My favorite part was the lingering aftertaste of key lime pie! Very pleasant. Did three infusions this morning, apparently I should be able to get at least three more, so we’ll see how the flavors continue to develop.
It’s currently on clearance on the Verdant site and I can’t decide if I want more of it or not. Hmmm…
I love how this one looks — pink peppercorns just make everything so pretty! Between this and the sakurambo, I think peppercorns in tea might be my new favorite thing.
I took a few moments out of a hectic morning yesterday to enjoy a cup of this — in one of the elegant white teacups, with a bit of cream and a dash of sugar. I didn’t really have the time to properly savor or pay attention to it, and I didn’t find it particularly striking, but I kept looking back at that moment throughout the day. The strong black tea, the rich creaminess, the sweet, subtle spiciness lingering on the tongue, the sudden moment of peace amidst a sea of turmoil.
It was a perfect moment to hold on to. It made me happy. More thorough review to come (maybe).
Drank the last of this one this morning — I really don’t know where all these Teavana teas came from! I found it to be a little bit… meh. Although it’s very possible that the tea was a bit too old, or there wasn’t quite enough of it, so no rating. Doubt I’ll be purchasing it (again?).
Wow. I might be in love. The cherry taste is strong, almost artificial tasting, but not in a bad way? The hint of pepper accents it beautifully, and the rosemary doesn’t really come across as rosemary, so much as just an interesting, almost savory note to the tea. Plus, the pink peppercorns and green bits of rosemary make the dry tea look lovely. The flavor might be a little too intense for constant drinking (I wimped out after my third cup of the day and went back to the chocolate and strawberry), but it’s definitely a tea I want in my cupboard. It’s a blend unlike any other I’ve tried.
It’s almost two in the morning, there’s a pot of strawberry vanilla bean jam bubbling merrily on the stove (I keep sneaking tastes even though I know it’s not done yet), and this tea is the perfect companion. I got up early today to go to a yoga class (yin yoga, which is new to me but oh so satisfying) and followed it up with a couple hours of rock climbing. It’s been a long day, and there’s another one tomorrow (way too much bureaucratic nonsense to deal with), but right now there’s a cup of tea that reminds me of dusty strawberry fields under the hot sun, and the crickets chirping incessantly, and the scent of jam filling the kitchen, so it’s all okay.
I found a small plastic bag with one pot’s worth of something labeled “Grandma’s Garden” in one of the cupboards in my parents’ house. In a Christmas themed tin, of all places. If I recall correctly, we got it from a little tea shop in Urbana-Champaign when we visited my sister, so that must have been at /least/ three years ago…
It’s obviously not the freshest, but it still tasted all right — like those Celestial Seasonings fruit zingers, but better, with a better balance of the acidity and sweetness. Not my favorite, but take that with a grain of salt, since I’m not even /entirely/ sure this is the same tea we’re talking about… =P
