91
drank Tiger Hill OP (CL) by SpecialTeas
4843 tasting notes

I chose to start my day with a Nilgiri. One of my two favorite black teas (with a good quality Yunnan being first, a good quality Nilgiri being second).

This one has a nice complexity. It is bright and flavorful, with interesting fruit-like notes (I can definitely taste a citrus-y flavor, especially right at the finish).

Very smooth and rich tasting for a medium-bodied tea. This is definitely a tea you want to watch carefully to not over-brew, as it can get bitter.

I had to use a different tool today to brew my tea (yep, had to grab a different gadget!) The brewing of the Fleur De Vie tea last night left my smart brewing device smelling quite like the very fragrant tea, so the device requires some added attention to free it of that aroma so that it doesn’t possibly affect the flavors of the teas that I brew today.

So, I got out a teapot, and used for the first time a Mary Pop-In. This seems like an effective tool to strain teas from a tea pot, but I don’t know how well it would fair with a rooibos or a finely cut chai. I shall have to do a little more testing.

I also used for the first time a tea cozy from Thistledown Cozies – I like this cozy! What it lacks in handmade charm it makes up for in conventional wisdom.

So, there! See! I can and do use gadgetry. However, there is something that is quite peaceful and meditative about simplicity when brewing tea, and I prefer that overall sense of calm to being the TEAtective Gadget, which is why I am so resistant to the gadgets in the first place. Tea isn’t just about good taste, it’s about that beautiful sense of serenity that comes from the process… it helps the chaos of everyday life melt away for a few moments each day.

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 30 sec
Cofftea

I totally agree “Tea isn’t just about good taste, it’s about that beautiful sense of serenity that comes from the process…” isnt it funny that to one person that means gadgets as little as possible, and to other it means gadgets are fine? :)

LiberTEAS

Cofftea – it’s all about what works for the individual. I find serenity comes from simplicity, and that gadgets just seem to add to the noise that make the serenity less accessible… but, I know that there are those that don’t agree with that. And that’s fine… just as each tea tastes different to each individual that tastes it, each tea experience is the tea drinker’s own, and they should shape it in whatever way is best for them.

Cofftea

Good point… the only tea gadget I currently have (other than the timer I set) is my milk frother and I haven’t gotten up the courage to use it get since I’m such an amazing klutz lol.

LiberTEAS

I don’t even have a special timer, I just use the timer that is on the stove. The only time this proves problematic is when I’m brewing tea at the same time I’m baking something…

I do love my milk frother… it is something that I refused to buy for so long because I had convinced myself that it really wouldn’t make that much of a difference, but it does, and I absolutely love it. But, I don’t use it daily, because, well, it IS a gadget. LOL

Cofftea

I use the one on the microwave, but I definitely know what you’re talking about w/ the difficulty of multi tasking.

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Cofftea

I totally agree “Tea isn’t just about good taste, it’s about that beautiful sense of serenity that comes from the process…” isnt it funny that to one person that means gadgets as little as possible, and to other it means gadgets are fine? :)

LiberTEAS

Cofftea – it’s all about what works for the individual. I find serenity comes from simplicity, and that gadgets just seem to add to the noise that make the serenity less accessible… but, I know that there are those that don’t agree with that. And that’s fine… just as each tea tastes different to each individual that tastes it, each tea experience is the tea drinker’s own, and they should shape it in whatever way is best for them.

Cofftea

Good point… the only tea gadget I currently have (other than the timer I set) is my milk frother and I haven’t gotten up the courage to use it get since I’m such an amazing klutz lol.

LiberTEAS

I don’t even have a special timer, I just use the timer that is on the stove. The only time this proves problematic is when I’m brewing tea at the same time I’m baking something…

I do love my milk frother… it is something that I refused to buy for so long because I had convinced myself that it really wouldn’t make that much of a difference, but it does, and I absolutely love it. But, I don’t use it daily, because, well, it IS a gadget. LOL

Cofftea

I use the one on the microwave, but I definitely know what you’re talking about w/ the difficulty of multi tasking.

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Bio

I am obsessed with tea!

I am a co-founder of the SororiTEA Sisters:
http://sororiteasisters.com

I no longer write for the SororiTea Sisters but I am still the admin for the blog.

*

The reason I’m no longer writing for SororiTea Sisters is because I am now the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas:

http://52teas.com

I’ll still be posting occasional reviews on teas here on Steepster, mostly backlogged reviews because I’m way behind on getting reviews posted. That’s why I’m keeping two accounts active at the current time – so that I can get those backlogged reviews posted.

*

My favorite teas are Yellow Teas with most Oolong teas at a close second. As far as “flavored” teas go, I love Earl Grey, Chocolate and Jasmine teas.

I also am intrigued by flavored teas with an unusual or unique flavor combination, which is why I was very excited to be the Mad Tea Artist of 52Teas!

Location

Vancouver, WA

Website

http://SororiTeaSisters.com

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