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I got a sample of this from Cameron B.! Thank you!

Upon first sniff, this seems like your average Earl Grey. Perfumey, romantic bergamot and that’s about it. Not that I mind. However, the flavor has a very noticeable lime note in addition to the usual citrus bergamot brings. That’s interesting! I’ve never had lime in my Earl Grey. Others are saying they taste lemon, too, but I’m having trouble distinguishing that from the bergamot.

Anyway, I’m really enjoying this. It makes perfect sense to add more citrus to an EG. I haven’t had many lime teas because artificial lime isn’t really my thing, but this tastes natural enough. I’m happy with my choice of daily work tea, and I’m happy I got to try this. It’s yum.

After trying a few chocolate teas lately, I decided I’d include this in my most recent Harney & Sons order. I figured H&S is reliably good, and a sample was really cheap. If it’s not good, eh, whatever.

This tea is SO fragrant, both in dry leaf form and steeped. But the aroma isn’t exactly milk chocolate. It reminds me more of chocolate alcohol, like Bailey’s or maybe Kahlua. It also reminds me of Tootsie Rolls. You know, that fake chocolate flavoring. Hmm. That’s not very promising.

The reviews for this tea are all over the place. Mine falls somewhere in the middle. While this isn’t the rich chocolate experience I was hoping for, it isn’t bad. There is a nice toasted sort of flavor, but the chocolate does taste kind of fake. And there’s an inexplicably fruity note mixed in, too. Raisins, maybe? I wonder what it would be like with a splash of milk.

Again, I find myself ruined for chocolate teas after trying MiCacao. I need to just stick with that.

Daily work tea, bought for nostalgia’s sake. I went through a 4 ounce tin in the fall/winter of what I think was 2012? 2011? It was my morning staple for a while when I worked at the noodle house.

Still so fruity. Cranberry and orange peel with a little tartness. Not sure why I gave it a 95, though. I guess I was young and inexperienced. Note to self: 3 tsp is too mild for 24 ounces of water.

I got this from Cameron B.! Yay, thank you for my first barley tea!

The aroma has me confused. Watermelon, yes, but also… coffee? Is that what barley smells like in tea? There’s also something kinda oceanic, like roasted seaweed. I have gone from confused to a little apprehensive.

The brew looks like black tea. Dark brown. My first sip is not as horrifying as I expected. However, it is nothing like any tea I’ve ever had before. It does taste like coffee. Like a somewhat sour, dark roast, but without that acrid bite. Just the flavor. And then there’s watermelon. I’m left wondering why this is a thing. Who thought these two flavors were meant for each other? It’s like I’m tasting some kind of culinary accident.

Daily work tea. Slowly trying to put a dent in this sampler. Even at 2 minutes, this is still so savory and bitter. Powerful stuff. I hope the other teas aren’t such a kick to the head.

I got this in a little trade with Lexie Aleah! Thank you! I’m kinda amused by the name of this tea company. My uncle’s name is Steven Smith.

My eyes have been opened to chamomile only recently. I had previously overlooked it, thinking it was stuffy and boring, but I have gotten over my prejudices against caffeine free teas. And I have tasted some fresh, quality chamomiles. This is no exception. I was pleased by the sight of the sachet, full of pale dried flowers and a few colorful petals, with linden collected in the bottom. The aroma was sweet, clean, and floral. Appley chamomile is the main thing I taste. So calming. I’m also getting floral notes that end with a little bitterness/fullness I don’t recognize. Maybe that’s hyssop? I’m not sure. I understand that there are a lot of herbs in this, but really, I mostly just taste chamomile. And that’s lovely. Makes me want to get into bed.

I’m curious about the rest of this company’s offerings now. Going to have to check them out.

This is back in my stash again for the last time. Sad to see it go. I’ll be leaving this one in the shrink wrap for a while while I focus on other teas.

Tried to make this over ice when I got back in town yesterday, only to realize I had no ice. Well then. So, I just had this hot. I tried to make it stronger this time, but still can’t really get much flavor out of it. There is a faint hint of hay and sweet grass. And maybe something lightly tart. My palate might not be refined enough for this one.

Again, this is one from Joy’s Teaspoon’s going out of business sale. There is still some available, but probably not for long.

Unfortunately, I have to say I’m glad I got this one on sale. The spice and dessert flavors aren’t the bold experience I remember from when I tried this back in the day. Cinnamon is very present, without a doubt, but it’s mild. And judging by the black tea base, this isn’t something I can pile on for more flavor without it getting bitter. Still, this isn’t bad in any way, just a little boring. It will still be warming and caffeinated on cold mornings.

I got this in Joy’s Teaspoon’s going out of business sale. Always a shame to see a tea company disappear.

I love how “spicy” doesn’t just mean cinnamon in this tea. There are also whole cloves mixed in with the cinnamon chips. Clove isn’t listed in the description, but it also says it’s made by an outside blender, so maybe the description isn’t up to date or something. Not that it matters anymore, I suppose.

This came out a bit milder than I expected. I’m definitely going to have to be more heavy-handed with my scoops. The pear flavor takes a backseat to the spices. But it’s there and it’s nice. I can taste both the peel and that sort of rich note that makes a ripe pear so good.

Anyway, if you want to try this, you’d better be quick. There’s still some in stock, but I don’t know for how long…