310 Tasting Notes

75

I think I steeped it in too hot of temperature, wasn’t paying enough attention.

This is a mild, pleasant Darjeeling with a slight astringent bite during the first part of the sip, but this seems to dissipate by the time the sip is done.

Overall a pleasant drink but almost bitter, and frankly a bit dry for my preference. There’s a smudge of sweetness that’s enjoyable but Darjeeling may not be my favorite thing. Will have to do more experimenting.

Will rebrew later at a different temperature.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 4 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 5 OZ / 147 ML

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88
drank Strawberry Cream by Zen Tea
310 tasting notes

Well, I have to say this tea is delightfully, surprisingly delicious.

The tea leaves are pretty with bits of strawberries. Dry, the smell is appealing and natural (not artificial seeming). It definitely holds up to the smell – the tea is surprisingly dark when brewed (did at 2 1/2 minutes, it was recommended as 2-3).

Strong tea but not overpowering at all. What surprises me is how non-artificial and realistic this strawberry tea is. A delightful flavor that stands out, but still somehow manages to stand behind the tea and highlights itself at the same time as just complementing.

Why this is so surprising is because I’m NOT a fruit tea fan. I only tried this sample because of an opportunity when doing another order – glad I did. I finally have a fruit tea I want to keep on the tea keeper shelf. It’s like drinking a nice black morning tea and eating a piece of toast with strawberry jam.

I’m curious about trying this with milk as a form of latte – usually don’t drink milk with tea but may in the future with this one just to test.

Flavors: Strawberry

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 2 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 5 OZ / 147 ML
Miss Starfish

Isn’t this one great?! It was the first sample I tried from Zen and I was hooked. Their teas are fantastic!

Lupiressmoon

Yes I really love their Phoenix Pearl too. Thankfully ordered a lot of samples from them, can’t wait

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77

Before Drinking:

Name thought – I love whimsy, fancy names such as this for teas. Windsor’s Castle? Awesome name.

The Tea Table sent me this package in a nifty looking golden package that tears at the top.

After taking a whiff of this, the smell is a fresh, definite black tea before steeping. The leaves are small, even, and non-distinct looking.

Picture after Brew:
http://photos-a.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t51.2885-15/10802635_426679040818824_1333565126_n.jpg
Yes, have some leaves in there, but liked the steam look

After Steeping:

A strong black tea that I’m glad I sampled before steeping too long. Definitely only do at 3 minutes tops, it can get oversteeped (Bitter) quite easily. There is an almost bitter afterthought when taking a sip of this.

It leaves behind a satisfying silkiness on the tongue. I taste that the darjeeling and assam were blended well and smoothly. It’s an ideal breakfast tea, strong and robust, brisk and noticeable blend. There is not any golden, spices, or other distinct flavours. Improves with each sip.

After a few sips, it’s definitely relaxing and soothing. I tried this with a small amount of sugar, but did not sample with milk. Would go well with a splash of milk if that is what a person prefers. Would also be great as an iced black tea.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 4 OZ / 118 ML

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74

Since I’m in LOVE with Bog Goblin Green Tea from the same company, I couldn’t resist trying their Chai, which is a favorite type of tea for me anyway.

Instagram pic – chai and a treat, yummy:
http://photos-a.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t51.2885-15/10852852_1426058957684480_1648789881_n.jpg

Rating? Decent, sharp and smooth. Drank straight black, then with sugar. Have not added milk. Overall I prefer Chai with more cinnamon – you can sense the clove first and foremost with this one. Their Green Tea is still the winner in my book, but this is pretty good, although my tongue is almost numbing from the clove after drinking too fast. I did oversteep a little, will try again to see if steeping right brings out cinnamon more.

Flavors: Clove

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 5 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 5 OZ / 147 ML

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83

A strong and hearty black breakfast tea. No frills or whistles, smooth, no bitterness. I drank with a little sugar but it’s fine without, haven’t tried with milk. Stout and a good go to for the morning. Leaves a nice silkiness behind in the mouth.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 4 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 5 OZ / 147 ML

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70
drank China Keemun by Zen Tea
310 tasting notes

Hm, I’m not an expert with Keemun at all, so I really can’t say much about this in comparison to others. I do know that to me this is a good, very basic, plain black tea, with no special frills or pleasantries. When first steeped it had almost no flavor, but after cooling slightly it improved. Still, it’s a flavorless black tea to me, smooth and decent, but not worth making again. It may not be Zen Tea’s fault, though, it could just be that all Keemuns are like this. I’m confused as I see descriptions of smoky, or chocolate, but I get absolutely none of that.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 5 OZ / 147 ML

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85

My aunt sent me this for a Christmas gift. I fell in love as soon as I took it out of the box. Pictures don’t do the design justice. There’s the cup, saucer, lid, and infuser, all except the infused with the design that really stands out in person. Unfortunately on one side of the cup the design is absent, but this isn’t a huge deal. It’s a treat to hold with the style, and love the lid. This is the first infuser mug I’ve had that wasn’t a metal form of strainer, and I love that too. It does get some leaves and twigs in the cup, but this doesn’t bother me personally – I’m finding it a relief how easy it is to clean.

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91

I’m using my new mug my aunt sent me from Teavana for Christmas. (Okura Ume Blossom Infuser Tea Mug – their website picture does not do this mug justice AT ALL) I love this infuser mug – ceramic steeper is surprisingly fun, it’s so easy to clean when I’m used to metal meshes, and the design is just upping the experience for me. I’m eating two of my mother’s chocolate chip cookies she baked today for the occasion.

I have had this sample of Golden Monkey for awhile. A few years back I tried Adagio teas Golden Monkey and remember enjoying it quite a bit.

This tea really does have a comforting, golden glow about it. It just puts me in a good mood to drink it. I add a small smidge of sugar but it already has a nice sweetness that radiates from it. Very smooth and delicious to gulp up. It’s just as yummy while it cools down!

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 15 sec 1 tsp 6 OZ / 177 ML

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94
drank Phoenix Pearl by Zen Tea
310 tasting notes

One of my new favorites. This one stands out as unique without overpowering or seeming fake at all. I am in love with this tea. I usually don’t like cocoa notes much but this one is right on. I saw a review earlier that said there is something cozy about this tea, and they are so right. It has a certain indescribable quality. I just ordered a big bag after having two samples – so delicious, cannot wait for my order to arrive. Stunning tea that will be a staple in my kitchen.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 30 sec 1 tsp

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30
drank Orange Spice by Tea Largo
310 tasting notes

New tasting is still unimpressive. For some reason this tea reminds me of twigs. It’s very earthy tasting, but I don’t sense spice or orange. It’s a weak black tea I wouldn’t recommend.

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Profile

Bio

I have a drink obsession in general – daily lattes and coffees, and of course teas of many varieties. I mainly drink hot tea in Florida, but still enjoy the occasional southern sweet iced.

My preference is black tea, although I’m open to trial and error with others. I like the old fashioned English style tea cups, tea parties, food pair-ups, mini desserts and pies, cubes of sugar, small collection of Rose Red tea pets, you get the idea. I will always have an old fashioned tea kettle on the stove, but have recently purchased an electric tea kettle that I absolutely adore. I’m lazy by nature, so I have switched to stuffing tea bags for the loose teas to save on clean-up and disposal with other strainers.

I love smokey teas, non-bitter, not overly astringent, strong tea background mixed with flavored teas, no artificial sweetener tastes, balanced florals IF there must be a floral. I used to love spice, but it has to be done right. A former chai fan – now it reminds me of colored pencils. Cinnamon sounds good but so many teas have it artificial or odd tasting. Same goes for chocolate, some things have to be done just right to work.

Primary Tea Companies currently in 2022 – Harney and Sons, August Uncommon, Simpson & Vail, Fusion, Tea Spot, English Tea Store for odds and ends, The Tea Table

Most missed tea place and tea: Plum Brandy Cheesecake by Butiki

Very picky with anything Roobios, and Darjeeling/Oolong are hit or miss depending on the blend and my taste buds. Mint works in a mood but I’m not a big fan. Gravitate toward good name blends and fall themes when doing yet more sampler orders.

I like adding a cube of sugar to almost all teas, not usually milks. I don’t like stevia or any artificial sweetener taste. I adore honey, but to me it doesn’t suit tea unless I have a sore throat as both the tea and the honey change their flavor profile quite a bit if I mix them.

Location

Lakeland, Florida, United States

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