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Cameron B. drank Plum Black Tea by Simpson & Vail

4170 tasting notes

Sipdown! (38 | 74)

This is a strange one.

I don’t really get plum. Maybe a hint of prune, but even that is a bit of a stretch. It mostly tastes like an unflavored breakfast blend of some kind. Mine also doesn’t really look like the photo, it’s a mix of what I would consider standard-sized black tea leaves and then some really fine, almost feathery looking leaves that have a redder hue. In flavor, to me it tastes like a blend of a generic Chinese black tea with maybe Kenyan? There’s a strong earthy/mineral note and then also a bit of malty, biscuity, slightly tannic flavor. As for the flavoring, I think I would believe you if you told me this was unflavored. And even knowing that there’s flavoring, I would guess vanilla or maybe caramel before plum.

Very odd, not upset to have finished it ha ha…

Flavors: Acidic, Biscuit, Caramel, Earthy, Malty, Mineral, Smooth, Sweet, Tannic, Vanilla

Preparation

200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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14 likes

1 comments

Lupiressmoon
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Strange we are getting such different tastes and tasting so close together! I’m not seeing the reddish things in my blend, have some purple.

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Lupiressmoon
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Strange we are getting such different tastes and tasting so close together! I’m not seeing the reddish things in my blend, have some purple.

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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… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- December sipdowns: 0
- Total 2024 sipdowns: 156

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.

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