Mantra Tea offered me a free monthly sample of the Ruby Black because in my last tasting note, I said that I didn’t like it as much as the first time and they thought it might have been that particular batch. Anyway, I also ordered more of this Ti Kuan Yin. If a package was going to be shipped overseas, I’d feel bad if it was only a free sample.
I like this tea. It’s not one I’ll buy often because it is slightly over my budget, but I am happy to have it on hand once in a while.
Name: Shelley Lorraine Limegrover
Location: Livingston, MT
Hobbies: Learning, reading books, math, physics (have a degree in it), literature (have a degree in it too), anthropology, traveling, piano, and drinking TEA, of course (^o^)
Favorite teas: Kukicha, Green teas in general, aged oolongs, charcoal roasted oolong, taiwanese oolongs, Assam . . .
Don’t like: Genmaicha, Earl Grey, Darjeelings, ginger, coconut, smokey teas (even mild ones), nut flavors, overwhelmingly strong floral flavor (esp. Jasmine), most della derra and adagio teas. . .
My Rating System
100 My happiness absolutely depends on it
95 Will definitely repurchase
85: Might repurchase (teas that depend on my mood)
75 Won’t repurchase (but I would drink it again if offered).
65: meh
45: I reluctantly finished a cup.
15: Couldn’t finish a cup.
I simplified my ratings to single numbers rather than ranges because I can’t precisely compare so many teas with a system more detailed than this.
An unrated tea is most often one that I recognize as having significant notable quality, but that does not suit me personally. Sometimes, I leave teas unrated for other reasons, such as I am undecided or I brewed it wrong, etc.
Note: Boiling temp. barely reaches 200 where I am (and a few times it sticks at 195, I assume due to unexplainable shifts in altitude or the position of the moon. . .aliens?. . .).
Colorado
I’ve been curious about that tea…I may have to order a bit..