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Mmm, after that little rooibos misadventure this is really hitting the spot. So much for deciding to have no more caffeine for the day, heh

I remember the first time I drank this, while I loved it, I found I didn’t understand why it was called ‘cream’ since I wasn’t picking up on it, but I sure am noticing it now! It’s SO creamy, that I can’t believe I didn’t notice it before. To the point that I just want to guzzle its comfortingness instead of calmly enjoying like the image of white tea I have in my mind. :) Not that that’s a bad thing of course.

Decided to try out one of the teas my parents apparently purchased the other day at the Blue Teapot.

This is my first tea from there, but as this is a rooibos — a tisane I’m pretty sure I don’t like — I won’t make any snappy judgements on the company itself.

Anyway… I don’t really like it. The blueberry flavor itself is very nice, the sweet sort rather than the tart as some blueberry flavors can be. At the swallow it does taste like I actually swallowed a blueberry. The problem … is the rooibos base. It’s heavy and medicinal. It takes over the scent of the tea, and has a very medicinal like presence all throughout the taste. Honestly, it’s making me feel rather nauseated. I suspect this is the reason why I hated Birthday Cake rooibos so much from David’s. The problem’s the rooibos, not the sweet flavor.

It’s a shame, because the blueberry itself tastes quite good, but I just can’t get over the taste of the rooibos itself. I don’t think a shorter steep time will fix this, as it seems if I steep any shorter I won’t get much of any flavor at all.

Bottom line, if you don’t mind the medicinal-like taste of rooibos and you like blueberries, pick this one up! :)

Typical. The one time I expect DT to miss the mark on the flavor — and buy the tea accordingly — is the time where they succeed. Admittedly, that’s my own fault, but ah well. So although unfortunately it actually does taste like rum, happily I taste more coconut and vanilla (which was what I was expecting) than rum, so I’ll be able to finish the 20g bag, but I doubt I’ll buy more.

Again, my own fault. If you like rum, go for it. :)

EDIT: Starting to rethink this note. As I sip further down, the less I taste rum and the more it explodes into an almost marshmallowy coconut. Think like those snowball things around winter, the chocolates with a mallow filling and with coconut. This tea is beginning to taste like that, minus the chocolate.
Already thinking I might make a second cup of this in a row… :)

EDIT 2: … Starting to change my mind yet again. xD; Now it just seems waaaay too sweet. Like teeth rotting sweet, and I didn’t add any sweetener…

Not sure where I’m going wrong with this one. When I had it at the store, it was FRENCH VANILLA/VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM IN YOUR FACE and it was creamy and delicious. After one sip, I exclaimed “WOW! I’ll take 50g!”

But no matter how I prepare it at home, I can’t get it to taste like vanilla at all. I’ve tried following the instructions on the package, I’ve tried doubling and tripling (not recommended to triple, wow that infuser nearly exploded!) the leaf. In a last ditch effort, I even tried loading it with sugar. (not that I wanted to drink it that way, just wondering if that was how they did it so I could put the issue to rest) Even that unsavory means didn’t do it. Just tasted like sugared oolong. Which isn’t a good thing. =/ Just plain oolong, thanks.

If this is what I’d tasted when I bought it, this wouldn’t be a problem. You see, normally when a flavored tea ONLY tastes like the flavor and not like tea at all, that’s usually a huge negative with me. But I bought this under the impression that it’s SUPER vanilla with the hopes that this could be a dessert busting tea, and when I want to drink tea I’ll just reach for something else in the cupboard.

But as it stands, this isn’t making a dessert buster, nor a really good tea either.

I just can’t for the life of me figure out what the girl did at the store to make it taste so different. It’s like it’s two entirely different beverages.

So I feel really disappointed. I feel like my first impression at the store was an entirely wrong impression and now I feel like I’m missing out on a tea that everyone else seems to be enjoying, which I can’t because of a misconception. Not really sure what to make of this.

I was scared to try this for two reasons. One, I was worried I overhyped it in my head too much and would be disappointed. Secondly, yesterday was a tea DISASTER. I ruined every cup of tea I attempted to make in various ways. So I was worried that curse would follow into today.

The result of this experiment? One of the most delicious teas I’ve ever had in my whole life. I cannot believe that this isn’t flavored. It’s SO thick, and SO chocolately. I feel like I’m drinking liquefied brownie, thick texture and all. My tongue feels coated, but in that pleasing indulgent way, except this is even better since it’s with zero guilt!

Stop trying to buy a chocolate tea. Seriously. Stop. Now. Buy this. Trust me. It tastes like rich, thick, heavenly dark chocolate, and it’s not forced in any way. This is just how the tea tastes naturally on it’s own.

This will clearly last multiple steeps, and I’m looking forward to each and every one of them.

(And now to PANIC to Verdant Tea’s website and order more before it’s all gone.)

Erm… oops? Apparently I forgot to set the timer. So about twenty minutes later I thought “this is the longest seven minutes ever.”

Then I looked at the infuser. “Oh,” I said. The mulberry leaves bloated with a vengeance. The liquor of the tea is a very angry pitch as midnight — but still somehow green. The thought “I didn’t know herbal tea could GET this dark” crossed my mind.

Smells like cooked spinach.

So um yeah. I’ll refrain from rating this until I make it properly. Considering all of the above it tastes surprisingly good, so this is a good sign that it must taste delicious when made properly.

Had this prepared as a drink in DavidsTea today. :) Definitely glad I tried it in store and didn’t bring any home, because while it was enjoyable enough to drink the cup it’s not anything I feel the need for at home.

It doesn’t really taste like a chai, it just tastes like cinnamon tea. Very good cinnamon tea mind you, but it wasn’t what I wanted. If in the future I feel a hankering for cinnamon tea, this is what I’ll get.

No steep or temp information, ’cause I have no idea. xD

I need some peace and quiet. Today at work — Starbucks — was extremely busy with not enough staff, and yay the customers were just THRILLED about the inevitable wait times. On days like that I’m mentally DRAINED and I just fall unconcious when I go to bed.

So this seemed like a perfect opportunity to give this tea a try! The reason white tea appeals to me in the first place is that it just gives me this image of utter calm and relaxation: sipping slowly and closing your eyes as each delicate flavor gently washes over your tastebuds. The smell of this tea is very refreshing, so that seems like the perfect combination for what I need right now.

The tea leaves are very beautiful. The white leaves have that fuzzy look that white tea is so known for. There are very pretty pink buds in there as well that I didn’t notice while scooping into the infuser. There are real chunks of pineapple in this. You know we live in a scary artifical chemical world when for a moment you’re thinking “… what are those?” and then being absolutely stunned that there’s actual pineapple in there.

So I want to give Stacy a quick thankyou for your natural teas. It’s impossible to avoid all chemicals in our foods and drinks nowadays, so it’s very comforting knowing that there still are options for some things at least.

Anyway, the smell of the steeped tea is as refreshing as the leaves. Perhaps a little stronger. The liquor is a pleasant yellow, deep but not opaque.

There’s a burst of pineapple taste, that’s both juicy and a little tart, which is perfectly accented by the cilantro that gives it a little punch. It doesn’t taste LIKE cilantro, but it adds a lot of complexity to the flavor; if you somehow had a sip without the cilantro it would be noticed and missed. The pineapple is the first part of the tea that grabs your attention, which is then gently followed by the delicate taste of the Bai Mu Dan which is every bit as soothing as I hoped. At the swallow a pleasantly tart — but not puckering — pineapply taste lingers at the back of your tongue.

I’m impressed at how much this tea is bursting with flavor (I don’t sweeten my white teas mind you) and yet doesn’t assault your tastebuds either. It’s exactly what I needed right now. I think after the second infusion I’ll make up a cup of Cantaloupe and Cream also by Butiki.

From now on after a a busy Sunday, I think I’ll make my first tea upon returning home to be a white. I can feel my frustration and stress being lifted away with each sip.

Received this as a sample in my order. :)

Nice and hearty cup. This proves that Stacy has talent with the basics as well, it’s nice and strong — but not overpoweringly — and gives you a very thick mouthful which I like, especially in the mornings.

The second infusion remains strong and flavorful as well.

Overall I prefer her Irish Breakfast over this, so if you’re going to choose one breakfast tea from Butiki, I’d go with the Organic Irish Breakfast. :) As far as English Breakfasts go though, this is one of the better ones I’ve had.

Oh yeah baby. This, right here, is myyyyyy kinda tea. Super ROBUST STRONG tea, that’s almost like a punch in the face. But is it bitter? No, no, no! Sure, I have fun trying out dessert teas, but when it comes right down to it, it’s cups like this that made me a tea lover to begin with.

The raisin note reminds me of Premium Taiwanese Assam, except without the cocoa or cinnamon and with more KICK to it. It’s technically 9:30PM right now, but I can definitely see myself reaching for this in the morning for that kick in the pants. I tend to crave sweet more in the evening so I added half a teaspoon of golden sugar in a 12oz serving, but it definitely does NOT need it, just what I was in the mood for at the moment.

A toasty sort of taste follows the raisin note and lingers in your throat. I’m loooovin’ it. This is heaven in a cup.

Cupboard staple? Yes, yes, yes.

Delicious. If this is how Ireland drinks their tea, then I gotta get meself on a plane.

Edit: This tea is very good value. The second infusion was just as strong as the first. This could easily take a third, maybe even a fourth.