516 Tasting Notes

98

Ohhhh I got my oolongs in the mail.

Let’s talk this tea. I smelled the dry leaf of the Spring TGY and it reminded me a little of the raw butternut squash I had cut up recently. THEN I opened this one up! Now THAT is squash! No, deeper! Definitely pumpkin. Pumpkin and spiced rum and oolong and yeeeah I’m drinking this one tonight.

I’m sure it comes as no surprise that this tea just gives and gives. The flavours evoke so many autumn feelings – I love it! I definitely want to don a knit sweater with a thermos full of this and go apple picking.

My first experience with this tea was with my gaiwan. I just love to get on the boat and take a ride through the flavours as they change. When I see the reference to simmering oatmeal, this tea really evoked a memory of a recipe I have for slow cooked steel cut oats with pumpkin puree and spices, topped with whipped cream. Ah, fall! How I love thee!

Also, let’s not talk about rain. I guess it goes hand in hand with fall here – I only like it when I don’t have to go out in it – and the grey depresses me so! That said, with a tea like this to keep me warm, I think I’ll be okay :)

Easily one of the best TGYs I have ever had the opportunity to taste.

MissMylin

When I moved from Regina to Vancouver, the rain got to me too. We Prairie folk need our sunshine! But teas like this will definitely make it more bearable :)

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91
drank Bamboozled by DAVIDsTEA
516 tasting notes

I don’t drink this one too often, but I’m going to miss it when it’s gone!

I actually preferred it hot, although it also makes an amazing iced tea. I have my second steep cold brewing in the fridge – I’ll probably leave it in there for a few days to get the most flavour that I can.

Yummy and peachy with a hint of pineapple! Just like juice, but needs NO sugar. Love it!

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88

Ah gingerbread. Is there anything more comforting than a chewy ginger cookie around the holidays? Well yes, probably (haha realism!) but that is definitely one of my favourite things! My simple pleasure. One of my other simple pleasures is a perfectly golden brown grilled cheese! Hmm all of my simple pleasures soon to revolve around food… I digress!

Simple pleasures in matcha form! Way quicker than to bake a cookies, cheaper than buying a batch, and I can drink it! YES! I am very pleased with this matcha. : )

The first time I tried it was shaken in a waterbottle! This was not the way to go haha. It tasted like ginger water – definitely tasted like it was good for me! Just not too palatable.

Whisking it up hot with a pinch of brown sugar is definitely the way to go! Holy moley that’s good! Sweet and gingery (VERYgingery) with the depth of molasses. I tamed the ginger with a splash of cream and was more than happy with the result.

This is another of many amazing offerings from Red Leaf tea! (http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/gingerbread-matcha.html) Unique and delicious flavours! I will definitely take my cue from aisling of tea and bake up a batch of green zombie gingerbread men this Halloween! Thanks for the awesome idea – I might even have to make some zombie santas for Christmas too ; )

LiberTEAS

I’ve got this one on queue for today. Can’t wait to try it, I think I’m going to prepare it as soon as I finish my cup of the spice blend I’m drinking now.

Zoltar

hop on the shopping list ! Gingerbread man i should start making some soon been one years already ( i make then just after the first snow fall it kinda my winter dessert

Daddyselephant

If only I hadn’t already promised to make pumpkin poundcake and cranberry orange bread for thanksgiving, I would so be showing up with zombie gingerbread men. Grandma would love that >.<

Daisy Chubb

Ohh those sound delicious too! I’m was going to make pumpkin custard tarts but I don’t have any family here so no one will mind if I change it up haha. I’m sure your bread/poundcake will be amazing!

Nik

Pumpkin…custard…tarts? [brain explodes]

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77
drank Mint Matcha by Matcha Outlet
516 tasting notes

Mint mint mint! This is my review of how to love mint matcha!
First of all – they’re both green! That helps with that feeling of “I’m drinking a strawberry flavoured drink but it’s green instead of red! Ow my brain!”

It freshens your breath! Don’t do what I do and make your matcha way too strong – otherwise associations of swallowing mouth wash come to mind. Oops!

It’s classy! Think of crème de menthe. Okay crème de menthe way be a little old fashioned, but it still hits the spot when you sip from crystal glasses. Drink this matcha from a crystal bowl! Now you’re fancy too!

It’s great for cookies! Peppermint shortbread is one of my favourite Christmas cookie flavours. Nobody will blink at a red and green cookie – so go for it!

It’s a perfect mixer! I know this is a strange and unorthodox review, but this is finally the part when I drink the matcha and love it! Chocolate mint my friends. I mixed a healthy dose (1/2 tsp) of Belgium Chocolate matcha with a small amount (1/4 tsp) of mint matcha! The mint is quite strong, but after experimenting I’ve found this to be my favourite mix. For an extra treat I add the matcha right into warm milk and froth it up!

It is delish and reminds me of an After Eight hot chocolate. If that’s not a treat, I don’t know what is!

Here’s where you can pick up some minty goodness, but be careful, it’s STRONG! (http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/mint-matcha.html)

CHAroma

This is random and not tea related, but your comment about drinking matcha out of a crystal bowl made me think of it…Did you know that crystal stemware is made with lead??? Yes, the lead that poisons people!! I couldn’t believe it! Check this out (and check out the date, 1991!!! How come I’m just now hearing about this?!): http://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/20/garden/fda-issues-warnings-on-using-lead-crystal.html

Daisy Chubb

Oh I did NOT know that! Good to know! I actually don’t have any crystal, I was referring to a moment from the movie 28 days later! I’m not really at all fancy lol

CHAroma

I happened across that article when I was trying to figure out which crystal pattern to register for. Now I’m thinking I’ll just skip the crystal…LOL! My mom thought I was making way too big a deal about it, but better safe than sorry! I don’t want to have deformed kids and then find out it’s from drinking lead! Ahhh!!!

Nik

Yummy, liquified After Eights (or Andes candies). I think that’s how I’d drink this, too. Thanks for the great idea. =)

Babble

What flavor level did you get? Mint matcha does sound good to mix with other flavors.

Daisy Chubb

Delicate :)

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92

Alriiiight I am so glad I decided to get this one now! (http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/eggnog-matcha.html) I definitely debated as to whether I should drink it before Christmas. My curiosity got the better of me and I had to open it when it arrived. Oh! The smell is creeeeamy. It reminds me a lot of Bavarian Cream matcha but with a hint of allspice.

I whipped it up and added a bit of sugar. Eggnog as a beverage is usually thick and creamy and coats your throat! I routinely cut mine with milk to make it a little more thin. This technique also makes the Eggnog last longer! The taste of the matcha reminds me a lot of my “milked” down version – the texture as well!

For my next cup I upped the creamy ante and added cold milk (I’m not a hot Eggnog drinker, always has to be cold!). This helped a lot with the eggnog taste! It was sweet and just a tad of allspice was present. I’ll admit the taste does remind me more of the Bavarian Cream than Eggnog – but that is not a problem in this household!

All in all it’s a very tasty matcha – does leave a bit to be desired when it comes to associating with the name, but the amazing flavour certainly makes it worth it. Once I get some spiced rum, it’ll be splashed in with vigor!

LiberTEAS

Going to have to get this one soon too.

Autistic Goblin

It’s on my Christmas list :D

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82

Tis the season for pumpkin pie! And hey, happy Thanksgiving fellow Canadians! I am thankful for this matcha.

So frothed up on its own (no additions) it was quite spicy. Well, not spicy hot but tasted a lot like spices! The pumpkin was definitely in the smell though, so I knew it was a pumpkin tea and not just a spice tea! I did spring for Robust flavouring which might have been the result of the spices.

Of course, what’s a pumpkin pie matcha without a latte? This is where the tea did SHINE! I frothed up the matcha with a bit of brown sugar then added about ¼ cup warm water. I then heated up the rest of my Vanilla Almond milk, added it and topped the cup with a healthy helping of whipped cream – oh mama! The brown sugar brought out the sweet pumpkin flavour – I could even taste a bit of crust! I love when that happens.

To be honest, this isn’t my perfect Pumpkin Pie Matcha – I find the clove to be very overpowering, which I don’t mind, but I could use more pumpkin in my perfect flavouring. That’s just me though, everyone is different!

I definitely recommend this tea as a hot latte on a crisp fall day in your cutest flannel and plaid scarf. You can add in some friends to share, or be like me and keep it all to yourself.
Either way, here’s where you can find it: http://www.redleaftea.com/matcha-tea/pumpkin-pie-matcha.html

canadianadia

Happy Thanksgiving :)

tattooed_tea

Happy Thanksgiving!

Daisy Chubb

(it’s a few days early, but I couldn’t resist – it is pumpkin after all!)

tattooed_tea

I wish I had this, so I wouldn’t indulge in a full pie! haha I can’t help myself when it comes to pumpkin

MissMylin

Happy Thanksgiving to you too! Hope you have a relaxing weekend with many cups of yummy tea to offset the turkey dinner :)

Autistic Goblin

Happy Thanksgiving (none of my pumpkin teas made it in time) so I’ll have to have some of my pumpkin chai later :D

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92

Had a huge creamy latte with this today!
SO tasty, but I have to agree with some of those notes that it isn’t quite "eggnog"y enough for my taste buds to make that association, but still tasty. Full review to come!

Nik

I plan to whip this up with 1/2 vegan ’nog and 1/2 milk during the holiday season. Sounds like that might make that ’nog flavour really pop.

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88

Trying this first as an iced tea in my water bottle today – wasn’t the best choice I must admit. haha!
Kind of a strange ginger water. I’m sure it’ll ward off sickness though!

Next try will be a nice creamy latte and all will be well :)

teabird

It’s hard to guess which ones will be good with milk and which without!

Daisy Chubb

It’s true! I think this one would even be better hot instead of cold

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96

Yummeh! Yay for whipped cream, it’s topping all my lattes at the moment. off to work, but here’s my full review, pics, and my crappy response to the fact that I’ve talked to some people who are appalled that you can get flavoured matcha.

Full review: http://www.daisychubb.com/review-black-cherry-matcha-by-red-leaf-tea/

Mercuryhime

The Japanese have done some creative things with matcha. They put it into noodles! No reason why we shouldn’t enjoy it our own way when the creators of the matcha tea ceremony are cool with it. Just don’t flavor the pemium stuff I say. That would be like making tomato sauce with a $600 bottle of red wine.
Also, your matcha looks scrumptious!

Excelsior

Also matcha ice cream.

CHAroma

The matcha promo is coming to an end???? Whhaaaaat? I’ve never even taken advantage of it yet! Nooooooo!

Kittenna

I know… I think it’s because some people used it very overzealously :P I wish some limits had been set, so everyone could have had a shot!

Daisy Chubb

Well Kittena the promo has been around for at least 7 months, maybe more, and I’m sure the point of the promo was to get the word out – the word certainly got out!

No worries Charoma, when I have some swap money I will send you a matcha care package :)

Kittenna

Oh yes, I know the promo’s been around for quite a while! I just think that for sustainability and such, some limits could have been imposed :) It clearly worked as for getting the word out though!

Daisy Chubb

yeah! haha sorry I reread what I wrote and it sounds totally bitchy, I hope it didn’t come off that way :3 I totally get what you mean!

Kittenna

No worries at all! :D

CHAroma

Aww thanks, DaisyChubb!!!!

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100
drank Pumpkin Chai by DAVIDsTEA
516 tasting notes

I don’t want to sip this down, I don’t wanna!
No matter how much I whine, I’m still almost done this tea. Strange how that works!

Anyways, tonight I’m drinking this to inspire me to actually write my blog on time, yay! Friday’s recipe is for Chai Spice Snickerdoodles, so of course I had to drink a chai for inspiration! Even if the chai in question is one of the least chai chais in the world, it’s still freaking delicious. How many times can you say chai? How much chai could a chai chuck chai if a chai chuck could chuck chai?

Nik

LOL. Chai Spice Snickerdoodles sound amazing.

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Profile

Bio

29/f/CAN

My favourite tea companies are DavidsTea and Verdant Tea. They please my palette in different ways – and I love them both for it.

I’m back bb!
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<3 Daisy

Location

Ottawa, ON [Canada]

Website

http://www.daisychubb.com

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