70

Ugh, I’m in such a tea funk lately. I don’t really want to force myself to drink it, but I also don’t want to stop drinking it completely and lose interest, and I’ve been doing so well with sipdowns that it seems a shame to stop now…

Anyway. Trying this as my first tea of the day. It was a free sample that Deb included in my last order, and something I wouldn’t have chosen for myself because of the lavender. So it’s probably a good thing that I let her choose my samples this time around, heh, to try new things outside my comfort zone.

But actually, the lavender here is very mild. At the same time, this is a bit odd-tasting to me. I think it’s because the black base is quite musty and hay-like? The bergamot and lemon are well-balanced though, and I like the slight herbal quality of the lemongrass, and the very slight floral additions.

I’m not sure it’s something I would order though, because of the weird base… Maybe it’s the combination with the lemongrass that makes it taste so musty to me? I don’t recall this being a thing with her other black teas… (shrugs) I really like the blend otherwise.

Flavors: Bergamot, Floral, Hay, Herbaceous, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Musty, Smooth, Wood

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML
gmathis

I think the funkiness is a common malaise once the weather starts warming up.

Cameron B.

It probably doesn’t help that the weather has been uncharacteristically rainy and overcast here for the past couple of weeks… -.-zzzZZZ

gmathis

Southwest Missouri, too. Just when I was getting excited about wearing capris and skirts again.

amandastory516

I’ve been in a tea funk too!

Dustin

It is a time of year thing?! I’m feeling it too. I almost don’t care what tea I drink because none of them are going to hit the ever moving target of what I feel like drinking.

Cameron B.

I’m doing slightly better today. I think it’s just because I was “sick” (vaccine reaction) for a day and it threw me off, and it took a few days to recover my tea appetite…

Michelle

I think its called hedonistic adaptation and it happens with things other than tea too. I’ve often wondered how people can drink the same thing every day (coffee, tea, diet coke, whatever) not craving variety, while us hedonists want new and better things every day, and then adapt to the new things making them less desirable. Supposedly being aware of hedonistic adaptation, along with savoring and gratitude for the things you do have is the way to go. And while I know (and have read the scientific studies) that accumulating things won’t lead to happiness, I can’t get my brain to equate that to tea :)

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gmathis

I think the funkiness is a common malaise once the weather starts warming up.

Cameron B.

It probably doesn’t help that the weather has been uncharacteristically rainy and overcast here for the past couple of weeks… -.-zzzZZZ

gmathis

Southwest Missouri, too. Just when I was getting excited about wearing capris and skirts again.

amandastory516

I’ve been in a tea funk too!

Dustin

It is a time of year thing?! I’m feeling it too. I almost don’t care what tea I drink because none of them are going to hit the ever moving target of what I feel like drinking.

Cameron B.

I’m doing slightly better today. I think it’s just because I was “sick” (vaccine reaction) for a day and it threw me off, and it took a few days to recover my tea appetite…

Michelle

I think its called hedonistic adaptation and it happens with things other than tea too. I’ve often wondered how people can drink the same thing every day (coffee, tea, diet coke, whatever) not craving variety, while us hedonists want new and better things every day, and then adapt to the new things making them less desirable. Supposedly being aware of hedonistic adaptation, along with savoring and gratitude for the things you do have is the way to go. And while I know (and have read the scientific studies) that accumulating things won’t lead to happiness, I can’t get my brain to equate that to tea :)

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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, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January Sipdowns: 6
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 6

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. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I’ll also often use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

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 also enjoy maté, rooibos, and honeybush. I love matcha and drink it often! Fruit tisanes are not a favorite, but I’m always willing to try them.

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

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially passionfruit, mango, and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura, chamomile, and elderflower. Osmanthus is also a favorite of mine. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

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

Location

Austin, Texas

Website

https://www.instagram.com/tea...

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