Cameron B. select Send Message

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4322 tasting notes

I’m not sure how I still have a couple of Lupicia holiday teas that I haven’t tried! This is the only caffeine-free one, so the others will have to wait until tomorrow. My sachets of this tea are in a cute little tin with two doves holding bells on it. Inside the sachet, I can see small black tea leaves, a few pink rose petals, and some small shreds of coconut. Coconut… why? Isn’t this a strawberry and vanilla tea? I really hate it when companies put real coconut in their teas, it goes bad so quickly and ruins the entire blend. I’ll be sure to drink these up quickly now that I realize they contain it. Anyway, dry scent is sweet strawberry candy.

The steeped tea also has a strong and candylike strawberry smell, perhaps with a touch of cream. Hmm, this isn’t half bad. I never have high hopes for decaf teas, since the bases are usually terrible. Now, certainly the base here isn’t amazing, but it’s mellow and quiet and isn’t making anything bitter. The strawberry is certainly the candy variety, but I don’t mind that actually. I’m not sure I taste any vanilla, but I do taste cream, and it makes me think of eating fresh strawberries with whipped cream on top. I’ll definitely be able to finish off my 4 remaining sachets.

Flavors: Candy, Cream, Smooth, Strawberry

Preparation

200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 8 OZ / 236 ML

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2025 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- February sipdowns: 0
- Total 2025 sipdowns: 34

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia (or monkfruit, etc.).

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing