526 Tasting Notes

89

The name of this intrigued me. I love it when companies get inspired and creative and let their ideas flow. I had no idea what to expect with this brew. I believed it to be a robust rooibos with the almost coffee tobacco flavoring. Instead I was greeted with a silky smooth caramel treat. This blend has just the right amount of sweet and spice. I can hint at undertones of chai, allspice, and zest. I picture a golden strip in the desert with a cherry red mustang roaring down the road. I love this brew, and I usually don’t appreciate flavored tea. I will definitely add this to my stock in the future.

Flavors: Caramel, Root Beer, Smooth, Vanilla

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 6 OZ / 177 ML
carol who

Sounds good. It does make you wonder what the name Academy Road means to the tea company. :D

Haveteawilltravel

I know I’m curious as to what they thought of :)

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79

I picked out this tea because the label was intriguing, and it looked very unusual. I brewed western with one heaping teaspoon. The leaves were very creamy and soft. I loved the texture. The aroma was creamy but slightly overwhelming. Upon brewing the aroma intensified. My tea room was filled with the air of coconut stuffed truffles. It was a very desert styled tea. It tasted of creme, coconut, and white chocolate. The flavors were very weak though, so it was all undertones. I enjoyed the aroma, but it might not be the tea for me. The aroma was very pleasing. I couldn’t taste the pineapple in this brew.

Flavors: Cake, Coconut, Creamy, White Chocolate

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 6 OZ / 177 ML

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93

This brew is heavy. While looking at the dry leaves I can spot Yunnan Dian Hong and what I thought was Kenyan Estate black. It turns out its a pellet formed Assam. I brewed western at a very high temperature. The liquor is stunning crimson orange, which I love. I’ve been searching for this particular color so already the tea had me won. The taste is powerful and smooth. It has a very hearty depth and follows through with a silky finish. This is some strong stuff. It has a sweet coffee flavor. This would be perfect for an early morning pick-me up. Also, I couldn’t stop hearing Dark Horse by Katy Perry playing in my head while drinking this, hahah.

Flavors: Clay, Coffee, Dirt, Malt, Oak

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 6 OZ / 177 ML

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91

As soon as I spotted the word “bamboo” I was very intrigued. The dry leaves smell of a floral perfume. They’re a beautiful assortment. I can see red, blue, green, and small bamboo shavings. This is truly an interesting blend. I brewed western with a very small amount. The aroma was magnificent. It was a blossoming sencha! The flavor is smooth and rich in scents. I am drafted in Rose, Hibiscus, Vegetal, Jasmine and a sweet undertone of Spring. This is a tea of growth and I enjoyed it :D

Flavors: Green, Hibiscus, Rose, Sweet, Warm Grass, Vegetal

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 6 OZ / 177 ML

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97

This is spectacular!!! The buds are a golden topaz and so fluffy! This is a brilliant Yunnan! The brew was gorgeous! The dry buds have a faint smoked scent and slight tang. I brewed western in my press. The aroma reminds me of a steak dinner and Thanksgiving all in one. This is a very hearty brew. The liquor has such depth and tastes of baked sweet potatoes and mahogany. The steeped buds give off the scent of a grand feast. I am in love with this Yunnan, and I need it in my life haha

Flavors: Cherry Wood, Maple, Roasted Chicken, Sweet Potatoes

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 g 10 OZ / 295 ML

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92

I mistook this for a lightly roasted oolong so I brewed with very hot water. I now know that this is a green tea, hahah, but it was still amazing. In the package the floral smell almost went pungent and I was wary of this brew. I brewed in my gaiwan and the floral notes calmed out and brightened. The aroma of this was spectacular! I was transported to a sweet and sunny garden. It was a nice escape from my regular “winter wonderland.” The taste was sugared and like nectar. The brew is a brilliant jade and glistening.This is a very good tea and I will be gathering some in the future.

Flavors: Citrus Zest, Guava, Jasmine, Nectar

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 3 OZ / 88 ML

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60

The small nuggets seem like a regular Jade Oolong. I opened the bag and it smelled very artificial, almost like cough syrup. I brewed western in my tea press. The leaves had a very nice expansion and all were mostly intact. They didn’t smell all that pleasant though. I could only describe it as cherry lipgloss on soggy cigarettes. The brew was a thick bright gold. the aroma was of red Gushers, which was kinda amusing. The flavor was very faint. It was mostly like drinking a regular Jade with a slight hint of neapolitan ice cream. I really am not one for flavored teas, but I tried it and its nothing special. It isn’t horrible either.

Flavors: Green, Rhubarb, Strawberry

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 15 sec 6 g 10 OZ / 295 ML

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91

Yabao!!! This was the first one that i tried in this tea box. I have never had Yabao and have been very interested in trying but could never get ahold of any. Finally my day has come :D Now I opened the package and it was mostly odorless. I could hint at a very light dry grass aroma. I brewed in my gaiwan with near boiling water. The aroma of a sweet and savory emitted from my vessel. This tea is unlike a lot of teas. The taste is somewhat cooked and syrupy. Its like an anise honey flavor. The best part of this brew is its colour! Its an iridescent green topaz! It’s very beautiful! I am so happy to have finally tried Yabao and I definitely will be purchasing in the future!

Flavors: Anise, Cut Grass, Honey

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 0 min, 15 sec 6 g 3 OZ / 100 ML
TheLastDodo

I have been eyeing their yabao for awhile. I’m glad you like it!

The Finest Brew Co.

Happy to be of service @haveteawilltravel! It is a little surprising how neglected this tea is especially given it isn’t even a tisane. We will introduce more premium versions of this tea in the future. And Fantastic DP :)

Haveteawilltravel

I am very glad to hear it, this tea should be more popular in my eyes. Its a more abstract version of tea :)

The Finest Brew Co.

Couldn’t have said it any better myself

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94

Wow, what a brew! This cake definitely lives up to its name. First, I opened the wrapper to reveal a deep ruby black and gold cake. It had a faint aroma of cacao. Then, as soon as I sunk my pick in the scent of raspberry and cream emitted from this beauty. I was easy with the amount of dry leaves that I used since it was a dark yunnan. I brewed in my gaiwan with anticipation for this lovely treat. It brews an orange and red liquor. The smell of raspberry, cherry, dark chocolate maximize within the wet leaves. The brew tastes of mahogany and cherry. I can hint at undertones of Asian Pear. It is a very smooth sip and deep flavor. I’m glad I picked the spring version, for its very decadent and silky flavor. The best part about this tea is its power. I haven’t noted prominent Qi in Red Teas before today. While drinking this you truly become “Drunk on Red.” Yunnan Sourcing never disappoints.

Flavors: Cherry Wood, Cream, Dark Chocolate, Raspberry

Preparation
Boiling 0 min, 15 sec 5 g 3 OZ / 100 ML
mrmopar

I just about pulled this one out the other night. Now I need to get to it.

Haveteawilltravel

Oh its amazing, hahah :)

mrmopar

I am going to get it now. Thanks for the review on it.

Haveteawilltravel

Glad I could “convince” you

Tealizzy

Wow, I gotta get some of that! Sounds delicious!

Haveteawilltravel

its amazing, also very affordable!

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68

I once thought that Sheng was feminine in comparison to its counterpart Shu; I stand corrected. This is a powerful brew! I opened the wrapper to reveal a dull green and jade Tou Cha. With pick in hand, I began separating a generous amount. A small and faint aroma of grass and shale emitted from the bird’s nest. I brewed in my yixing with boiling water. The wet leaves emit the scent of smoke, bitter greens and a sweet undertone. I washed the leaves. By the second steeping I was drunk. This brew has an intense overwhelming menthol flavor. It dominated with sharp and bitter with slight astringency. I could only hint at the sweet undertone after drinking and allowing my mouth to relax. I thought maybe that the sharp would die down and the flavor would plateau, but I was wrong. The intensity of this never died down. I assumed it to be slightly deepened, considering its twelve years old. I also came to expect a slightly lower quality considering price. I’m not sure if this Sheng is good or not, I couldn’t muster the strength to steep after round seven. If you enjoy an incredibly powerful sheng then this is for you. Also, as a last note, I do enjoy the box it comes in. I think it would come in handy for storage.

Flavors: Bitter, Menthol, Smoke, Sweet, Warm Grass

Preparation
Boiling 0 min, 15 sec 10 g 3 OZ / 100 ML

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Bio

Young and experienced Tea consumer. I’m continuously learning and developing knowledge about tea. If I have learned anything at all from the world of tea it is that I do not know anything about the world of tea. I enjoy good tea, and I try to acquire the best of the best. I usually brew gongfu but I’ve been known from time to time to resort back to western brewing.

I have an Instagram (haveteawilltravel), and I am proud of my photographs. I use my pictures in my reviews,and I hope that they aid in portraying the beauty of tea and teaware.

https://www.instagram.com/haveteawilltravel/?hl=en

Tea Rating System:
I rate my teas based on the category they fall into (Puer, Red, Oolong, Darjeeing, Flushes, Yancha… etc.)
This means that I will rate a Oolong based on how it stands up as a quality Oolong. I try not to compare teas, rather I work to evaluate them on their craftsmanship, harvest, processing, and qi.

I am most strict with Shou and Sheng Puerh, only because of the vast expanse of various experiences, such as; region, vintage, production, processing, etc.

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