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A sipdown! (M: 2 Y: 18)

Finally I decided to gongfu rest of this tea. Which means it is a sipdown; and when it is a tea bought abroad, it is sometimes a little bit more sad. But I have saw this tea available from different vendors, including Czech one too. So, I may get some one day; but definitely I will wait for a new harvest at least.

So, this tea is kind of hard to describe… even after following sessions: 45 seconds, 3 times 15 seconds, 20 and 30 seconds. There was a quick, 5 seconds long rinse, that I drank but haven’t made any notes.

The first session is very strong, woody cup, with hints of rose and cinnamon; however the mouthfeel feels a bit flat and drying. The drying mouthfeel is quite long, but in the same time you just want to try another cup of this tea.

The short sessions were equal in terms of flavours and very similar to first one, with more spicy notes and cherry wood; however I didn’t noticed the fruity notes as some vendors described in their listings.

As I wrote last time, definitely a tea that gives me autumn-feel-vibes, and even though I drank it in February, it is full-flavored and potent. That’s roughly 10 months from harvest, again based on some vendors info. I don’t know when exactly my batch was harvested and processed, but I can imagine having more of this.

Glad to try another thyme black tea; but this one seems so far the least favorite. Of course, it’s not even close to Kokati by Teoria, but first of all, this one doesn’t contain Georgian tea; and secondly, it is a tea bag.

It’s not so distinctive and the base tea was on the other hand a bit too strong and harsh and with thyme that isn’t so fragrant as I would hope… it doesn’t go well together. It was quite mediocre to me. The thyme had some other notes than savoury, like it was mixed with some other herbals, but I am not able to point out what exactly.

So, keeping my thyme black tea source somewhere else.

A sipdown! (M: 1 Y: 17) prompt: February 2 – Groundhog Day – drink the same tea twice!

Well, as I finished a whole pot by myself; it passes this prompt I guess.

My impressions are very same as during advent season, very mellow jasmine tea with long mouthfeel. Just steeping time needs to be longer and hotter water doesn’t hurt it (used 90°C today) at all.

This one is surprisingly delightful, though I am not sure if available anymore?

The base was so smooth and herbaceous, with no trace of any bitterness; and combined with juicy and fruity raspberries; it was just perfect easy to drink cup.

I tried to search some white teas with raspberries, but sadly it seems like a quite rare combo; though I have found a few. Maybe one day I will try them out.

This is a second tea that I have received from my Swiss friend last time; and I really appreciate the thought behind; this tea isn’t much for me.

I like Darjeelings and I like Earl Greys; but sadly this one is maybe too floral to me? Floral base tea, and strong bergamot; makes it a bit soapy in the mouth and powdery. Maybe I need to release a bit of the aroma to make it less strong.

But on the other hand it is one of the flavoured teas that I don’t have a lots of, so slowly going through will be a key. But I just had better Earl Greys, but definitely less reachable too.

A list of January sipdowns that didn’t make it to write a full note:
A sipdown! (M: 8 Y: 8): Mango & Banana by Hyson; prompt: A sunny tea to chase the Janu-weary blues away
A sipdown! (M: 9 Y: 9): Midnight Blossom Oolong Tea by Tielka; prompt: A tea you plan to buy again
Not a sipdown yet!: Ranní zahřátí by Leros; prompt: January 3 prompt – J.R.R. Tolkien Day
A sipdown! (M: 10 Y: 10): Zhejiang High Mountain Mao Feng by Siam Tee Shop; prompt: A leftover advent tea
A sipdown! (M: 11 Y: 11): Fresh Lady Green by Sonnentor
A sipdown! (M: 12 Y: 12): Lishan Hongcha by Bok
A sipdown! (M: 13 Y: 13): 2008 LBZ Premium Ripe by Puerhshop.com
A sipdown! (M: 14 Y: 14): Joy of Tea Green Jasmin by Pickwick
A sipdown! (M: 15 Y: 15): Pipachá Bio by Chá Camélia
Not a sipdown yet!: Douglas Fir Spring Tips by Juniper Ridge; prompt: A tea that makes you feel better when you are sick
A sipdown! (M: 16 Y: 16): Ji Long by Xian Cha Tea

Another Nordqvist tea; another tea bag… and another flavored black tea. Again, steeping for short as recommended by vendor; and sadly the impressions about the flavours are pretty same. They are present and well done, but a bit too weak for me and disappearing quickly.

This one is supposed to be with wild strawberry flavour and the flavor is definitely well executed; but as I wrote above — it’s too thin. I am actually curious if loose leaf version is better in this matter, but on the other hand I don’t want to buy a bag of, quite lots of tea, that can be pretty much flavourless.

I started to do postcrossing again this year; with a hope that it won’t be that hard year and will have time for this hobby… and first postcards reached my mailbox. And yesterday, one a very full envelope from Finland too! And inside, there were 9 different tea bags in their outer wrappings! Every single one is different which is perfect and many teas to try (again) and tea bag form is sometimes welcomed.

Like today. I came home again later than usual (and work is not yet done!), so I grabbed simple ta bag and lemon flavouring was something I was craving for. I do have a lemon black tea in the office, but hopefully Moomin tea will be better.

Well, kind of. This tea has got a nice and mellow black tea base, but somehow not distinctive at all as I became probably more serious about tea since I was in Finland — it will be 9 years this fall. And lemon flavouring was a bit like lemon pie, but sadly with short effect and as the tea was cooling down, it dissappeared completely. That’s a shame, because otherwise I liked that note.

Unlike Cameron, my tea wasn’t cardboard-like; so I assume it was sadly an issue of their Advent back then. I completely with her other comments though.

A sipdown! (M: 7 Y: 7)
A very sad sipdown of tea that I have received from Courtney — thank you a lot.

It is a wonderful mild and smooth oolong with warming cinnamon notes that was just perfect today evening. My family apparently likes oolongs, mostly because they’re not so heavy as black teas; and green tea is not always a good pairing or opinion.

The pot I prepared with this tea was finished so damn fast, and it was loved just by everyone; and now I want to get more… and I just see it is discontinued tea? Sad, so sad…
I hope to get a replacement somewhere somehow!

Raising rating from 78 to 86.

A sipdown! (M: 6 Y: 6) prompt: Your newest tea

Definitely one of the newest, as it was in the advent. There is another tea I drank for the prompt A leftover advent tea.

I decided to use second half in my gaiwan and steep rather long, as the amout of the leaf was too small. So, on average the steeps could be around a minute long, but it seems it doesn’t ruin the tea.

It was very mellow breakfast tea with hints of florals, as mentioned when preparing western in December; with scents of orchids and lilacs. That was complemented with smooth, almost creamy, mouthfeel, which lasts long.

While I am not definitely convicted to buy more of this, it is a perfect and easydrinking oolong that doesn’t have any off notes that could, for instance, beginners, discourage to try other ones.