2059 Tasting Notes
I was travelling yesterday so long by train..
It was railway rallye after all. 25 hours, 1026 km (do not count travel to start and from finish place).
We finished 5th from 13 teams. Good.
I bought this “tea” in vending machine, expecting for the rpice it would be something better than usual Lipton Ice tea.
Nope.
Sweet drink with nothing like oolong taste. Just sweet water. Bleh. Poured to glass, it is rather like black tea. Dark brown, bit cloudy.
Flavors: Sugar
I woke up really tired today.
So, I took probably one of the most caffeine teas I have. Black tea with coffee beans. And fruits.
Kittena hit the nail on the head with description of this tea. It smells after Tiramisu, or, rather Czech chocolate bar called Kofila. It is bar filled with coffee cream. That is it.
I prepared it with splash of cream. Thus I would not rate it. But, it is delicious even plain. Cream added creaminess (how surprising), and made it bit milder.
Flavors: Coffee, Creamy, Vanilla
Preparation
Okay, lazy person here again.
I took 1 teaspoon and – grandpa.
Dry leaf smells strongly peppermint with little (but noticable) blackcurrant. When brewed, it turns blue-green colour. Yep, again they have added blue pea.
The brew was very minty in aroma, but blackcurrant tartness was certainly there. When sipped, it was refreshing and fruity. Berry fruity. I had even one whole black currant berry there, so I crushed it with spoon and that was value adding! It was really fruity with minty freshness.
I thought about adding a tea spoon of sugar, but I did not. The berry added exactly what was needed there I think. Some fresh fruit taste.
In conclusion, it was bit weird – but rather surprising. I expected some combination which I could not drink, but in fact, it is very tasty. Nice refreshing drink for summer.
Flavors: Berries, Black Currant, Peppermint, Tart
Preparation
It’s good to hear this weird combination of flavors is surprisingly tasty — but Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters should be much much weirder. I asked about funny books in another tasting note, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide is one of the funniest.
Tomorrow a funeral of my dear aunt. Still sad about it. But today a new B&B subscription came. As you can see in my cupboard, three new teas appeared. This is one of two caffeine-free teas. Rooibos with strawberries sounds interesting. And there are almonds? Whoa.
After opening the pouch, a combination of strawberries and almonds (marzipan) hit my nose. It smells really nice.
I took recommended 1 tsp of tea and as I thought there is no strawberry pieces, I dig again and get some strawberries. So, maybe 1 1/2 tsp in strainer. I do not know about steeping time, I assume about 5 minutes.
It smells like strawberry jam! I just imagined having strawberry pancakes. Yum.
In taste, it has got some woody notes from rooibos, but overall, it is quite sweet and marzipan-like with strawberry topping.
Flavors: Almond, Jam, Marzipan, Strawberry, Wood
Preparation
Woo!
This tea is much better than previous one I had. It is actually quite tart, bit sour. Both fruits are well present in taste. And even more in aroma.
It was certainly good one. But still bit far from better fruit teas. Maybe I am to used to loose leaf?
Flavors: Black Currant, Blackberry
Preparation
This tea tastes as you actually expect. Tropical fruit mix. Nothing much to write about. Some notes of oranges, pineapple and papaya. Certainly some coconut hit my nose too.
Clear red colour caused by hibiscus.
It was not bad, but nothing extra.
Flavors: Coconut, Orange, Pineapple
Preparation
What a nice summer blend! I will have to keep an eye out at our Tuesday Morning store … they don’t stock Basilur teas consistently, but when they do, I grab them!
I bet that loose leaf is better opinion for this one. As well, this tea bag was rather old, that maybe caused a lot too.
I took it bit stronger today. 5-6 grams per 300 ml grandpa style.
My parents were enjoying the coffee, while I was enjoying great tea.
It is still same as previous notes I wrote. We were talking about lots of things. Some job is needed in garden, so – actually I am bit avoiding it by writing this tasting note. Meh, I really do not want to do anything, just staying at home, listening to music and relaxing. Not this time I guess.
And guess what! As we were sitting on the patio, we have a little bit of flowers there including few sunflowers. A goldfinch arrived and started to eat the seeds. He was there for 10-15 minutes and enjoying it apparently! It was so nice. So nice as this tea.
PS: I know this is rather diary entry than tasting note.
Flavors: Malt, Nutty, Tea
Preparation
Sunshine? Not here much today. it is cloudy, quite cold. Finally.
But the name is very nice. As well the dry leaf aroma; it is quite floral; violets and some other flowers. No rinse.
1st steep is 15 seconds, pours light yellow-green liquor. It became bit more fruity in aroma and vegetable (cucumbers). In taste light and bit of citrus fruits, but not so much. Maybe bit of stonefruits.
2nd / 30 s.
Lemongrass; by heichaholiday? True too! Now it is full of different flavours. Lemongrass, stonefruits, just more full-bodied.
3rd / 45 s.
Maybe little of white grapes appear.
4th / +- 60 s.
Little of astringency appeared. Good though.
Of course I continued, but it just had mood (and time) to write these.
Song pairing (sad): https://publisher.bandcamp.com/track/never-wanted
Thank you derk for sample; I used all in one go.
Flavors: Astringent, Citrus Fruits, Cucumber, Floral, Lemongrass, Stonefruit, Violet, White Grapes
Preparation
2 tsp with boiling water; as it is 8 pm. Grandpa.
It is bit tart – that is what I needed probably. It is generic fruity though. Strawberries are there; as well some tartness from pomergranate. It is not really full of title fruits as I have expected.
But it was good for this evening.
Combined with cornish clotted cream vanilla ice cream.
Preparation
As I had it in the mug for long time, it turns out pretty fruity with strawberry sweetness and pomergranate tartness. It needs long steeps apparently to feel fruits how it should taste like.
Another go with this one.
I need some strong tea with nice flavours so hopefuly it would be good. Why? Because my one of the most favourite aunts died today. Because of cancer of adrenal glands. Month ago they found it, in terminal state. “It is matter of weeks.” She was really “simple the best” aunt.
Oh well…
Tea is indeed quite strong. As last time – citrus fruits are overwhelming tea base. But today it is somehow enjoable. I steeped it longer, so orange flavour is most dominant, with bit of tangerine. In background lemons and limes.
PS: Yesterday was my third day without a tea this year.
Flavors: Citrus
Preparation
Oh, Martin! I am so sorry! It makes me so happy that you had a wonderful aunt to love. That is truly special, and it would mean so much to her to know that you spoke of her dearly as you did. What a treasure it was to have her, and I am sorry for your loss. I will be thinking of you and praying for you and your family.
Ashmanra – I still somehow can’t understand it. I know it can happen but still it’s somehow so fast. She was 63 only, my father is one year younger (he is brother of her) and he is so touched of it. I think he can’t understand it either. She was healthy lady with bit higher blood pressure, but that’s “normal”. In spring she complained that she is bit more tired but she said: “I am not 20 anymore.”
Kittenna: it’s sad, unfair, bit that’s life I guess.
Canned and bottled teas are generally just plain nasty. There’s a brand in the US called “Red Diamond” sold in gallon jugs that tastes like citric acid and sugar. Non-teaists don’t get why I bring my own tea to the carry-in dinners at work!