1301 Tasting Notes

64
drank Macaroon Rooibos by Gaia Tea
1301 tasting notes

Gaia is a small outfit, so I wanted to give this tea its best chance. Per the package instructions, I steeped for exactly 9 minutes in 12 ounces of boiling water. It turns out a lovely medium honey tone. I can’t quite describe the aroma – it’s woodsy and faintly sweet.

Having just spent 8 days eating macaroons, I can tell you with confidence that this tea’s flavor does not at all live up to that part of its name. The rooibos is good, but it is by far the dominant flavor. The tea has a bushy taste, with a smoky aftertaste that is pleasant at first but too strong by the end of the cup (I don’t actually smoke, for what help that gives in gauging the degree of smokiness). There is a hint of sweetness, almost like honeysuckle. I can also detect a touch of carob and coconut, but no cocoa or almonds at all.

The instructions suggest that this tea is best served with honey and milk. I still have another sample left. I’m willing to try this again at some point, albeit with rice milk instead of cow. Hopefully I will find it more enjoyable the second time around. The smokiness was just too much this time.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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80
drank Red Tea Classic by Wissotzky Tea
1301 tasting notes

This tea brews up a lovely deep red color. It’s pleasantly, mildly sweet – I definitely wouldn’t add any sweetener – but it becomes cloying if paired with a sweet dessert. This is a very smooth tea with a caramel taste. It also resteeps nicely.

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96
drank Darjeeling Green Tea by Chamong
1301 tasting notes

I think of this as a really classic green tea. It’s a light green color with a flowery aroma. The flavor is nutty, almost savory, with a hint of rice. It’s also a bit dry, if that makes sense.

I like to drink this when I’m working because it stays tasty even if you forget to take the teabag out, and it re-steeps well either way. It never gets bitter. It is also nice and energizing. I shared this tea with a co-worker when he was feeling very tired and he said that it picked him right up. I also like this as an iced tea – I brew hot, add honey, leave the teabags in there, and let it cool (first on the counter and then in the fridge).

This is hands-down my favorite tea. I bought a three-pack (totaling 60 bags) on sale in December and I’m down to 8 bags. The only reason I haven’t ordered more is because it distracts me from trying the other teas in my cupboard!

For the record (and the skeptics), I have no affiliation with this company and no one has paid me to write this review.

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72
drank Lemon Zinger by Celestial Seasonings
1301 tasting notes

I’m generally not a huge fan of Celestial Seasonings, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that I quite like this tea. The instructions say to steep in boiling water for 4-6 minutes. At the 4 minute mark, it was a delightful blend of lemon and sweetness (almost honey-like). At the 10 minute mark, it was overwhelmingly lemony, to the point that I began to regret not taking the teabag out. But surprise! At the 15 minute mark, it reverted to a nice balance of tart and sweet. I like this for an afternoon tea if you’re looking for a little kick but don’t want caffeine.

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71
drank Chamomile (filter bag) by Stash Tea
1301 tasting notes

I bought this tea to help me sleep (if you’ve seen my other notes, you may have noticed that I have trouble sleeping and turn to a variety of bedtime teas for help). I like chamomile, but this one is just too strong for my taste. I agree with Syaffolee that it has a strong musky scent. I just find it overwhelming. Steeping it for only a couple of minutes helps, but not much. I far prefer the H&S chamomile. It has a much lighter scent and flavor while still making me sleepy.

I used 1 teabag in 16 ounces of boiling water, steeped for 2-3 minutes.

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78

I followed Bonnie’s suggestion and steeped the tea in 8 ounces of water for 3 minutes. The result was a stronger vanilla flavor and a very mild grassy flavor. Still too creamy for my taste, but much better than it was when I was using more water.

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87
drank Red Lavender by Zhena's Gypsy Tea
1301 tasting notes

I’ve had this tea in my cupboard for about a year. Based on the other reviews, I wonder whether the tea gets better with age. I like the rooibos as a base. It really accentuates the lavender. I do definitely smell the lavender – noticeable without being overwhelming. The smell is very soothing. Between that and the fact that this tea is caffeine free, I find it a good option for a bedtime tea. It’s also great as an iced tea – refreshing and faintly sweet.

I use 1 teabag in 8 ounces of hot water, not quite boiling. I just leave the teabag in the mug. For the iced tea, I use the same proportions and let the tea cool (first on the counter and then in the fridge).

Bonnie

Where is the valley of the gods? We have the Garden of the Gods here in Colorado,but I have never heard of other place.

Kaylee

It’s in southeast Utah, not far from Monument Valley. It’s on Navajo land. http://www.navajonationparks.org/public_html/images/p3.pdf

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91
drank Navajo Tea by Yanabah Tea
1301 tasting notes

I picked up a box of this tea at the gift shop when I went to the Valley of the Gods. It is absolutely wonderful, especially at bedtime (it’s caffeine free). The tea is grassy and earthy with a hint of mintiness. Quite soothing. The box recommends steeping for 3-4 minutes and promises a mild taste. I far prefer to let the tea steep longer for a more robust flavor.

I use 1 teabag in 8 ounces of boiling water. I just leave the teabag in the mug while I drink.

Kaylee

You don’t have to go to Navajo country to enjoy this tea! It is available online at http://www.yanabahtea.com

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78

I typically love Harney & Sons, so I was excited to pick this up on sale. I don’t taste the same things others seem to, though. To me it just tastes creamy and grassy, and not in a way I find especially appealing. The lemongrass is overwhelming and I can’t taste the ginger at all. I want to love it, but even after multiple tries over several days I find this tea disappointing. I would not buy it again.

I used 1 bag in 16 ounces of near boiling water, steeped for about 5 minutes.

Bonnie

Usually the amount of water per serving would be 8oz by American standards. Green tea often is better a little under boiling…so if you were to try again, less heat and less water might produce a better tasting tea. ( not 5 min.) . Take a look at getting on the free tea program from Teavivre that most of us have enjoyed. GO to the website and I think it’s on the right hand side.(free tea for reviewing).

Kaylee

Thanks for the advice!

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80

This tea is really basic. The green tea and the mint are well balanced. It’s very smooth, but there’s nothing really outstanding about it. It would be a good complement to a very flavorful meal or dessert, or as a palate cleanser. This wouldn’t be my first choice if I want to really savor my tea though.

I used 1 teabag in 16 oz of near boiling water, steeped for 3 minutes per package instructions. This tea does not resteep well – it just turns out extremely weak, no matter how long you let it steep.

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she/her

Geek and nerd (shoutout to GeekSteep). Still trying to get a handle on this whole work/life balance while ALSO succeeding at work thing. I have some chronic illnesses that make that harder. Tea is my respite.

Favorite tea types, in order:
oolongs
green
herbal
white
yellow

Don’t drink:
black
pu’erh

A sampling of tea shops I like:
Te Company
Calabash
Volition
Tea Thoughts
Harney & Sons
Yunomi
Teavivre

RIP Butiki

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