1429 Tasting Notes

A quarter of the way through WoT book thirteen (so close to splurging on tea purchases!), my kobo file went glitchy and I had to switch to my dad’s hardcover edition. It’s the worst development this series has taken so far- this 800 page behemoth has already tried to maim me twice today! Lots of respect for the people who followed this series as it was released, with the hardcover editions.

This smokey sample from Amariel made up for my failings with physical book copies today. I drank about eight cups this evening and now it’s gone. It has some rough elements (smoke, leather, bitter cocoa) , but this tea presents them in a smooth and easily drinkable way.

Flavors: Cocoa, Leather, Malt, Smoke

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec
TeaLady441

That sucks about your kobo! Hardcovers are so difficult! i could NOT have read the hardcover,, but I was really disappointed they wouldn’t release the ebook utnil 3 months after the hc release. (I would have paid the hc price or equiv to have the ebook at the same time)

carol who

Okay… What’s WoT?

Veronica

Carol – It’s The Wheel of Time. I haven’t read it yet because it’s an epic series and a huge time commitment, but from everything I’ve heard it’s really good.

Crowkettle

It’s definitely a huge time commitment. I’ve taken over a year, with lots of breaks between the slower middle books, to get to the end. It started off as a way to take my mind off ASoIaS, but I’ve come to love the series a lot. It’s going to be so weird finishing WoT..

That’s frustrating about the release dates for the different formats! It’s so nice having a 10000+ page series fully published and transportable on lightweight ebook devices- I feel spoiled XD

Starfevre

I need to re-read that. I was current up to book…8 or something like that and then I decided to wait until the series was finished before making another run at it.

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drank Butterbeer by 52teas
1429 tasting notes

I’ve been hoarding this pouch of halfway root beer tea since I picked it up almost two years ago. What’s the point of having tea that I never drink?

This is still my favourite blend from 52teas so far, but it rarely journeys out of my cupboard, except for the odd New Year’s or Thanksgiving party. The smooth, buttery root beer gimmick is something I’d imagine becoming tired of, but that hasn’t happened yet and it’s been nice to have around.

Flavors: Butter, Root Beer

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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95

I’ve been suffering from the “tea blahs” lately, which I want to blame on the lack of oolong, dragonwell, Potato Pancake, or white teas in my cupboard. However, it’s probably just my mood because I have this amazing black tea to hold me over between purchases! I’ve stared at the Potato Pancake on the website for the last 10 minutes and it’s not getting any easier. PTA, you are so very raisin-like today!

Flavors: Dried Fruit, Raisins

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec
Fjellrev

OMG I just made another order and I forgot to grab this one again. This has happened every. single. time. Neeext time.

And I totally agree about Potato Pancake. That one needs to be in the cupboard at all times.

Crowkettle

I’ve done that before, usually with the Sparrow Tongue. What did you end up picking up?

Crowkettle

Not that I should ask you, as it will further motivate me to place an order sooner than I should. :P

Fjellrev

So annoying, eh? It’s been two years and I still haven’t tried it due to my own stupidity.

I picked up the new ones, more Lemon French Macaron, and restocked on good ole Potato Pancake. And sent them to my mom’s to motivate me to finish stuff up here before going there to visit haha.

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88
drank With Open Eyes by Butiki Teas
1429 tasting notes

I’ve progressed to book 11 of 14 WoT!!!!!!!!!!!!!.. and this tea is gone. If you think those exclamation marks are a sign of a diseased mind just you wait until I hit book 14 AND get my refill of With Open Eyes (yes, I’m going to sync these events up somehow).

Goodbye for now, steadfast tea.

Flavors: Butter, Nuts, Strawberry, Toffee

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 30 sec
Ost

:O A WoT fan?? :O You have good choice in books. After that series you should read Brandon Sanderson books if you haven’t already! :P

Stephanie

I really dig Brandon Sanderson books!

Ost

Yes!! Super stoked there’s another fan on here!!!
He’s seriously my favorite author! :D

TeaLady441

Woohoo! :D
That sounds like great planning. Also I really need to refresh on books 11-14. I blitzed them when I was on mat leave and I think I was too exhausted to notice all the details.

Stephanie

Elantris was my fave but I also really enjoyed Warbreaker.

Crowkettle

I’ve read the Mistborn series and Warbreaker, and really enjoyed both of them. The rest of Sanderson’s books are in queue after WoT :)

I wish I had made up my own Aes Sedai and nobility spread sheet when I started WoT; I also need to refresh myself with details and I’m currently reading them! Ah.. >.>

Ost

Ahh yahh!! Another fan! That makes me so ridiculously happy! ^^
Haha well you could do that with The Way of Kings series, that I’m totally blanking on the name of. xD I have trouble remembering everything too in epic series xD

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85
drank Pumpkin Chai by DAVIDsTEA
1429 tasting notes

Drinking this is like coming home.. It’s making me feel all sappy and nostalgic. I guess it has been too long. It manages to sucks you in right with the aroma; even apathetic Red Rose Father commented on how “very pleasant” this tea made the room smell. Pumpkin Chai scores yet another point with the crowd!

Steeped in frothy steamed milk, with a bit of cinnamon powder added on top.

Flavors: Caramel, Cinnamon, Citrus Zest, Cloves, Pumpkin, Sugar

Preparation
7 min, 0 sec
TeaLady441

Yay! Glad to hear this one didn’t disappoint. I have 100g in free tea to redeem and I think it’s all going there!

Nightshifter

I LOVE Pumpkin Chai. I am so excited it is back!

Crowkettle

I really like this one too! I wasn’t keen on it last year, but luckily that seems to have been an unfortunate phase. I went in for 15g and somehow came out of the store with 50g, which is probably too little now that I think about it..

Crowkettle

Cavo, do you remember the thing about the cardamom spice last year? This year it’s still not listed on the website ingredients but it is mentioned in the write up!

Nightshifter

I know 50g was too little for me last year. I’m thinking of at least 100g this time around. I like it straight and it is great as a latte, too.

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90

I’m finding this tea sinfully easy to drink.. scary, considering how it’s a luxury item in my cupboard. It has a misty autumnal vibe to it, but the eucalyptus and evergreen could be appealing in many scenarios.

With all the sharp, “green” elements, the vanilla is an interesting contrastive choice, but a nice one nonetheless. Whispering Pines seems to make a nice vanilla tea and that goes for this one too.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
cteresa

Whenere I see this tea listed, Port, i expect it to be Port wine flavoured tea, because come on, that is an awesome concept – sweet grape with many other hints, I already think naturally that often tea reminds me of wine or of wine must. But I confess this blend, while being so different from expected, does sound entriguing!

Crowkettle

I thought this would be a wine flavoured tea as well when I saw the name. Instead, it’s more of an earthy yet crisp evergreen laden shore kind of ‘Port.’ Not what I was expecting either!

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Thanks, Amariel, for this smooth and subtle green. This has some really lovely notes of chestnut, coconut, and even some sugar-like sweetness. It’s a nice balance between savory (nutty) and sweet.

I hope I get around to picking up more of this before the new year, or in time for the latest harvest.. maybe as a reward for when I finally finish The Wheel of Time (I’m so close).

Flavors: Chestnut, Coconut, Sugar

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 30 sec

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86

It’s like buttered and jammed cream scone, without the actual baked scone part if that makes sense. This is probably my favourite out of the Teavivre oolong samples I’ve tried so far.. DaYuLing was good too, though.

Thanks for the lovely sample, Amariel.

Flavors: Butter, Flowers, Jam

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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This is a very floral and slightly sweet oolong. It’s not as exciting as other floral oolong teas I’ve tried but it’s nice in a simple way. The broth leaves the sensation of a buttery coating on the tongue- that’s something I usually appreciate!

Flavors: Butter, Floral

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 30 sec

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Backlog.

Lately it’s been too hot for tea, especially the black tea which seems to have finally completed it’s aggressive conquest of my shelf space. Under an Everest of unopened black and puerh samples I found this stranded oolong- originally a smuggled sample from Amariel’s giant Teavivre swap bag (you gave me so much tea, Amariel!).

I’m glad I decided on this one; the minty floral profile is a refreshing thing in a house with no air conditioning. The first steep of the first serving had an interesting curry leaf aroma (I have witnesses that can vouch that this cup smelled distinctly of that plant), but this quality never resurfaced on the subsequent steeps. Probably for the best; mint and flowers are good enough.

Flavors: Floral, Mint

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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Profile

Bio

I started my Steepster loose leaf adventure back in 2012. I can’t say I’m completely new anymore, but I still view oolong as a magical, extraterrestrial creature that unfurls in water.

My favourites are teas like Milk Oolong, Silver Needle,and Japanese Sencha/Gyokuro, or fruity and floral flavoured ones. However, I generally enjoy ALL the teas, including a good old cup of Earl Grey or Breakfast blend.

FAVOURITE INGREDIENTS/NOTES:

DESSERT FLAVOURS
Vanilla, Maple, Caramel, Butterscotch, Cream, Toffee, Nougat, Marzipan, Butter

FRUIT & BERRIES
Citrus Fruits, Passionfruit, Banana, Pineapple, Melons, Blackberry, Raspberry, Currants, Elderberry, Persimmon, Rhubarb..

SPICES
Ginger, Turmeric, Clove-forward chai, Cardamom

AROMATIC & HERBACEOUS NOTES
Sandalwood, Frankincense, Juniper, Eucalyptus, Mints

FLORALS
Lavender, Jasmine, Rose, Lilac, Violet, etc.

VEGGIE/GRAIN NOTES
Spinach, Grass, Hay, Cucumber, Rice, Sweet Potato

Less Preferred Flavours/Ingredients:
Stevia, Apple, Cocoa Nib, Almond, Licorice, Cinnamon-forward blends, Chinese Sencha

Subjective Rating System:
I don’t give a lot of low ratings out, since a) I tend to grab tea I know will appeal to me, and b) I don’t have a lot of strong dislikes.

90-100: Favourites. The Desert Island Teas.
80-89: Loved teas. Possibly staple-worthy.
70-79: Good teas, but I’m less likely to repurchase. Minor quibbles.
60-69: Ok teas. Likely a few preference and/or quality issues.
50-59: Cup of meh. Will do in a pinch.
11-49: Varying levels of undrinkable tea.
1-10: Nightmare tea from the chaos realms. This tea is the embodiment of the primordial swamp, an unholy abomination. It’s very gross and I’m almost positive it doesn’t exist.

Location

BC, Canada

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