16 Tasting Notes
This tea is the reason why I’ve drifted from Steepster as it has become my daily tea. A great flavourful decaf tea. I’ve been searching for a decaf Earl Grey for a long time as my doctor advised going off caffeine for awhile. This has proved to be the best of the ones I’ve tried and I ended up buying 1000 grams to last me through our rainy seasons. Nothing better to have brewing after a cold dog walk.
Preparation
Fall struck today and I busted out the comfy sweater, switched on my therapy light to sit under and brewed up this tea. I wanted something comforting and sweet. I don’t know how this tea made its way into my cupboard as I don’t remember buying it but who am I to turn down the magic tea cupboard gifts.
Mine was bagged and I made it sweet and milky. I was just really searching for a sweet caramel flavour and this served its purpose. I actually prefer this over another creme de caramel roobios that I own which is much more costly. It is just a good basic tea for when you have a chill on and want something sugary to get your heat on.
This is probably the first tea I ever bought on my own so it has that comfort flavour for me. Using up the last bag that someone sent me in the mail in a yarn/knitting swap as it is 3 a.m. and I just don’t feel like emptying and cleaning my pot and strainer for some loose leaf.
Not much to say about this tea that hasn’t been said before I’m sure. A basic black earl grey. My taste buds have changed since I have become more aware of tea over the years and I don’t have much bagged outside of restaurants but this is still enjoyable. Not overpowering with the citrus (though I hear they are changing that) and just the right amount of bergamot.
Usually made willy nilly. Pour water into cup, add bag and wander away. Remember tea and come back. Add some milk and a splash of sweetener for comfort if I have it around. Drink tea. Enjoy. Not much thought required.
This is my first experience with white tea and I probably went about it all the wrong way as I had to quickly drive someone a few blocks over and thus it steeped for about 9 minutes. Seeing as how I see some whites being recommended for only a 30 second steep and this exact brand recommends 4-5 I am sure I sinned greatly here.
On first sip (with the recommended milk and sweetener – agave) I wasn’t that big of a fan. I think the aroma of the tea put me off a little. The mixture of chamomile, tea, some sort of mint and something else I can’t identify just smelled a little off. Or I may just not have experience with the smell of white tea.
Two sips in and it started to improve a bit. A light flavour. I can taste the butter and the chamomile but none of the mango it mentioned. I sense a tad bit of florals as well as which is off putting to me as I’m not a floral fan.
I won’t be buying this again but if offered a cup by someone I wouldn’t turn it down. Though I wouldn’t turn down most tea. :)
Preparation
I’ve had this tea twice now with the only difference between brewings being the addition of milk in the first round. (Agave syrup used both times). Yet I’ve gotten completely different flavours from it.
Round one it was heavenly. Such a nice deep lemon vanilla flavour. It reminded me of lemon meringue pudding that I’ve had. So thick and rich on the tongue. Just perfect for a dessert tea or a before bedtime snack as it is caffeine free. It moved to the top of my list of citrus teas and I was happily awaiting a chance to have it again.
Tonight I skipped the milk as I’m trying to cut back on that habit and just found the whole thing falling flat. Barely a lemon taste and certainly no vanilla. I steeped it for the same amount of time and you’d swear that all I did was walk by and wave my tea at the water hoping it would flavour it that way.
So I don’t know what is going on here as I’m sure milk doesn’t make that much of a difference. I put the tin back in the cupboard to punish it and maybe lingering in the back for a few more weeks will teach it to brew properly.
This is the default brew of the diners and basic restaurants in my town. Thus, I’ve had it a hundred different times all pretty much served the same way. In a scalding hot metal tea pot that is sure to leak upon pouring and burn your hands. If I’m lucky they bring it to me without the bag in so I can at least be aware of the steeping time and maybe they bring a pitcher of milk. Usually I’m stuck with creamo at the table and sugar or splenda if I want to sweeten it, as I usually do for I find it sort of bitter.
I guess I can’t say that I’ve actually tasted this tea pure so maybe I am selling it short. I associate this with coffee mugs of milky sugary heat that I’d have one after another while chain smoking and gabbing with friends late until the night. So less of a flavour and more of a good memory tea.
Preparation
I’m not quite sure what the blue flowers bring to this tea aside from decoration. I am finding that more and more these days I’m running across them in black teas merely to impart colour to the blend it seems. As long as it doesn’t impact taste I am fine with it I guess but do find it a tad silly.
This is one of the better Earl Greys I have tried and one of the samples I got from Upton. It is just a regular ol’ Earl Grey. Nothing shocking or surprising here. Nicely balanced mix between the bergamot and the tea. I’m a huge fan of Earl Grey and will say that this will go onto my shopping list for the next time I decide to bite the bullet and pay for the shipping Uptons’ charges.
I’m a sucker for a mint chocolate flavour in all food and this tea doesn’t disappoint. It is more minty than chocolate and does tend to run bitter if over steeped but if done right or even under it is like a mini dessert. I find milk and a sweetener improves it even more. I’ve tried both rock sugar and agave nectar and been pleased with both additions. Add in some plain biscuits for dipping and you have a nice treat for yourself and ,dare I say it, a replacement for a chocolate bar.
