1847 Tasting Notes
Took two teaspoons for my 300 ml cup. Steeped for 5 minutes.
Baked bread notes were first notes I have noted. Then malty, dried fruits. Woody in the end. All together quite works well, enjoyable. Mild, even the steep was quite long.
I liked it, as it was quite strong and brisk. Woody aftertaste wasn’t a troublesome, instead it was like somehow expected flavour. Again, I haven’t noticed any soy sauce in this.
I still have something left, I think it will be around 1 tsp, which I may try gong-fu (where is my new gaiwan!?) I think it is bit behind the What-cha offer, but still pretty great, especially for the age.
Thank you derk and White Antlers.
Flavors: Bread, Dried Fruit, Malt, Wood
Preparation
I got 10 grams from derk, thank you and ashmanra maybe? Or not? I am again confused.
While I am writing those lines, Steepster is down again. Dashboard is stuck. I hope it will work correctly during Advent calendar period! And I can’t wait for my Advent calendar from this company. Based on tracking, it seems it’s in Chicago already! That means it could be delivered quite fast maybe?
Anyway, to the tea. I saw big chamomile buds in pouch and, well, I am not fan of chamomile. I actually dislike pure chamomile teas. But on the bottom there is something like rooibos? Something else than just chamomile? Sounds better.
I have opened the pouch. I notice maple? Apples? Spices? That indeed seems better!
The pouch weight is 10 grams. How much I should use? I have decided for half.
I brewed for 5 minutes and I immidiately start to inhale the aroma and felt cozy.
The taste is good to. Maybe the aroma hyped me maybe bit too much, because it’s mostly chamomile in tate. Yep, I know it is chamomile based blend, so what I was expecting, right? But beneath the chamomile, there is more. I am not really sure what is it, as there shouldn’t be any apples, but I think my mind is only playing with me because it reminds me rather apple-cinnamon blends that my mother loves and we had tried a several blends. I like the full-body flavour; it’s not watery at all. Actually rather thick.
Certainly cinnamon is present, some sweetness as well. Not that sure about pumpkin as label suggests, but I don’t mind :)
Oh well, an amazing tea for grey day as today with rain showers. I went to post-office to send few postcards (postcrossing) again. Two to US (east coast), Russia (far east part), Belarus and Germany. I didn’t mind the rain, I really needed to get out of my house as I am usually going to the store and back… only.
Flavors: Apple, Cinnamon, Maple, Spices
Preparation
Having an excuse to leave the house is nice. Toronto might be going into another lockdown, so I’ll be staying home even more.
Sorry to hear that Leafhopper. We are in half-lockdown. Schools were closed (but primary are opening now), libraries, museums, restaurants, bars… all closed down. Restaurants can have take-away, at least.
But I am already so tired of distance learing. *sighs
I am indeed recently looking for some reasons going out, but unfortuntately don’t have much time!
I just ordered a Cuppageek Advent calendar…partly for myself, and partly for some mini-Christmas treats to share with friends.
Restaurants are closed here for dine-in service, though takeout and delivery are allowed. I wouldn’t be surprised if schools and libraries are shut down in the near future. Sigh. I imagine that distance learning is getting old, especially since it can be hard to focus after a while.
I hear you Martin. We are in modified lockdown AGAIN. Many restaurants are closed from 11/20 through March or April, all the museums are closed until next year, movie theaters closed, offices have to have staff working from home again, no public gatherings over 10 people, no private gatherings over 10 (and everyone has to be RELATED-but how will THAT be enforced?!), gyms closed, restaurants can only serve outdoors but now the days are in the 40s and 50s (Fahrenheit) and it gets down to freezing at night. If you go to a restaurant as a group, it can only be a group of 4 and once again, everyone must be from the same household. WHAT?! I understand that precautions are necessary and I will abide by them but working from home and being home ALL the time (don’t drive) I am going absolutely stir crazy.
I don’t drive either and am trying not to use public transportation, so I’m also going a bit stir crazy. I think these restrictions are hard on everyone, although I absolutely think they’re necessary and am following them. I wish some people wouldn’t be irresponsible and have huge parties (one gathering of a hundred people was shut down in Toronto this weekend) so that the rest of us don’t have to suffer. Anyway, thank goodness for tea, which makes staying home a bit more bearable!
Leafhopper I love Canada. When I have visited, the people I encountered have been incredibly courteous and civilized and I always felt safe there, even when traveling alone. I thought is was just us rough around the edges Americans who where the scofflaws during this pandemic. Tea, the company of cats, some good books, netflix, Amazon Prime series and movies and mindfulness are on my side-and things could always be worse.
I’m glad you enjoyed travelling in Canada! Most of us Canadians are law abiding to a fault, but sadly, not all of us are. We have our fair share of anti-maskers and those who don’t think the rules apply to them. I’m also reading more than usual and enjoy visiting my neighbour’s cat, although that hasn’t happened recently due to the pandemic. I’m also spending more time doing gongfu sessions and looking at tea I shouldn’t buy.
Looking at tea I shouldn’t buy has become a favorite pasttime of mine as well the last few weeks…
I do the once a week shopping cart routine now with anything I think I need when I boredom shop online. I allow myself to fill a shopping cart but the rule is that the cart’s contents have to sit for a week before I press ‘buy.’ As a result, I have spent very little money during the pandemic. For me, it feels like simply pretending that the sky’s the limit with shopping is usually as satisfying as having the goods. It’s nice to go back to the cart(s) when the week is up, say to myself-“What the heck were you thinking?”, have a laugh over my foolishness and then delete the contents of those carts. Sometimes dreaming is as good as doing. Or having.
I like this one, too, Martin! We have been drinking it at night a lot, plus another called Baked Apple Pie with a Dash of Rum. GMathis is the reason I ordered that last one, although I don’t taste rum in it.
White Antlers, sitting on your shopping cart for a week is a good idea. You’re right that a lot of boredom shopping is just daydreaming. This’ll be hard during all the Black Friday sales, though. I’m sure I’ll convince myself that I “need” more Dan Cong and unsmoked Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong, which are the teas I’ve been filling my fantasy shopping carts with lately. (I also bought these teas a couple weeks ago, though they have yet to arrive.)
Martin: I like to send you chamomile because you don’t like chamomile. Am I sadist or merely abetting the pushing of boundaries? I very much enjoyed this one. After I finish off an old tin of some ‘sleep’ blend, I’m going to order a few ounces.
White Anlers: Consider this! We can go to shops only in two, unless you have your own children with you. You have to got shopping cart, because you have to keep 15 sq. m. free around you. That’s circle with diameter 4,7 m. And of course nobody cares, for example you are picking the bread. If there isn’t cart for you, you have to wait outside the shop.
We don’t have an online orders available here (of groceries). I am going slightly mad, because I go only to shop and back, so going to post office was a nice change.
Leafhopper I completely agree with you, they are tough, but they make sense. Unless you are changing them every day or two, as here. They declare something, but they change their mind again and change it afterwards. So we are pretty much in stress what changes again, day after day! Looking at teas I shouldn’t buy… and daydreaming about trips and everything, that’s all I do if I am not having a lecture! Haha. Luckily my bank account is quite thin, so I don’t have money for all the tea I see. Kind of luck that Bar Harbor Tea Company haven’t replied to my question! On one hand it makes me sad, on other hand I don’t have to pay the shipping!
ashmanra: * I can imagine indeed! It’s much better than I have been expecting, especially seeing the almost only chamomile buds. I am curious what will be in the Advent Calendar! But I hope I will be able to *do not look before the day comes!
*derk: * You are teaching me that chamomile CAN be tasty! I think you push the boundaries that says chamomile is yuck. Not the blends! I was indeed worried it will be too strong in herbal note, I can imagine the same but with black tea base, but then it won’t be an evening blend, huh?
Martin you have my sympathy being stuck with so few shopping options. While I love going to the grocery store or a farmer’s market, I don’t drive and schelpping a week’s worth of groceries and pet supplies on a bus is very difficult. With COVID, I avoid the markets (indoor and outdoor) but am lucky enough to be able to have organic groceries delivered once a week from a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) plus Amazon (at least in the USA) has Whole Foods as well as Amazon Fresh delivery. There is also Fresh Direct, a big online grocery delivery service. I also can get pet supplies delivered through an online service-Chewy.com.
Even though many grocery stores now have special hours for senior citizens, I prefer not to take a chance being around a lot of people in a store. Reading about your very restricted options makes me grateful for all I have available here and also makes me feel less grouchy. I’m sorry you are so limited in your choices but I do thank you for (inadvertently) helping me to feel better about things here.
Grr these tough times. I’m wishing safety and health to you all! (Yeah, I’m slowly catching up on tasting notes and comments.)
Today shoppign was kind of distster; I had to go early morning because of lecture. So many people! As it has to be closed in Sundays, everyone needed get a breakfast. We had that limitation that 1 person/15 sq. m. — so you have to get the shopping cart. When I was returning the cart, there were only 3 left!
I got some loose leaf sample from California again; derk sent me some! Thank you!
I took two teaspoons and boiling water. Brewed grandpa. As we have peppermint in our garden, I wasn’t that impressed seeing another peppermint tea. But hey, this is so good as ours! Very fresh and I really liked the flavour. It wasn’t muddy, musty or just plain.
i am afraid I can’t say much more as it was as expected, minty and fresh. And as there aren’t any other ingredients, it was “just minty”. But good minty.
Flavors: Peppermint
Preparation
Glad to see this tasting note. I just ordered this tea for myself last night.
Bah, I would’ve sent you a good amount had I known. The four ounce size is too much for me.
derk No worries. Heaven help me if I start getting weak willed again and begin accepting more tea into my still bulging cupboards. Thanks for the thought! smiles
I need to get around to trying this tea, which Derk also generously sent me. It smells promising, though. (I’m not the only one to open and smell incoming teas in resealable bags, right?)
You aren’t only one Leafhopper, indeed zou aren’t. I have Advent Calendar from Shae and it’s uch hard to not open the envelopes!
Resealable packages? Ya, I like to steal a wiff. But nowadays I’m trying to leave all heat-sealed packages sealed until I’m ready to drink to preserve freshness. (There was once a time when I used to rip open ALL my new tea to smell them right away, and after accumulating so much and now trying to sip down those years-old tea, I realize what a dumb practice that was!)
Martin, glad to know I’m not the only one. :) I’d also be tempted by those little advent calendar envelopes!
Mastress Alita, I don’t open all my vacuum- or heat-sealed packages anymore either, although I remember a time when I’d cut open the resealable bags with a heat seal (though never the vacuum-sealed oolong packages). I have five or six bag clips and I limit myself to drinking only that many non-resealable teas. Since I gravitate toward green oolongs, which can go stale quickly, I’ve found this to be a good strategy.
I repackage the vacuum-sealed ones (or anything that won’t “reseal” after being cut open) into aluminum ziptop packaging (though it is infinitely annoying when a zip breaks away from the package… I have some bag clips like you describe exactly because of that problem, hahaha). But I used to do that right away, so I could smell the tea. With all new tea orders now, I’m making sure to keep them vacuum sealed/heat sealed right until the minute I’m ready for the first tasting! Takes me so long to get around to drinking things anymore that I may as well try to keep the flavor as long as possible…
That’s a good idea. Where do you get your empty ziptop bags? I also tend to go through teas slowly and probably don’t need any encouragement to open more of them!
@Mastress Alita – I’m getting to that point, too. I have so many older teas that are already open that I need to sipdown…
@Leafhopper: I purchase these ones, usually both the smallest size (good for samplers/up to an ounce or so) and the next size up (2-4oz depending on the tea).
Thanks! The price is reasonable, though the shipping to Canada pushes it up. I’ll have to check if Amazon Canada has these bags (though again, do I really need an excuse to open more tea pouches?).
A tea from Madeline as US version, but again, I think it will be pretty much same as UK, or international one. Thank you!
3 minutes were suitable instead of recommended four; it was really strong and bold almost biting and bitter. And tannic. I am not really sure it has got some other qualities than strong taste and probably high level of caffeine.
As always, drank plain. Not really call it smooth as they claim to be honest. And to be honest… it’s builder’s brew for sure. Won’t call it bad, but it’s not a tea I would look forward trying when seeing it somewhere. It’s common.
Flavors: Biting, Bitter, Tannic
Preparation
Sad SIPDOWN
Although I am not that impressed as I have hoped about this tea, it’s sad sipdown as it was actually pretty tasty today.
The leaf was quite broken as it was just some dust on bottom of pouch, but it made this tea more brisk and bold and it was actually better in opposite of elderflowers and elderberries which are in this blend as well.
Today, it wasn’t cloying sweet as previous brews, and I liked it more. Maybe the previous teaspoons were too heavy on flower side. I don’t know, but I will rate it bit higher than 78 as it had before this tasting note.
I should try more from them, but I guess it will happen after holidays, as I am bit short on money (and Cuppageek order ate again something from my thin account).
Canadian friends, I would be very happy to see some orders from you to this company. I want to see if I am obsessed with small businesses and unintentionally being biased. Haha.
Flavors: Bread, Flowers
Preparation
I just went to check since I’m in Canada, but where is this shop in Canada? It has no address haha! I’ll check through their teas to see if anything intrigues me though.
Their ZIP seems to be V8X 3V5, I have ordered from Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CasablancaTeaCompany :)
Ahh perfect. BC — close to me. :)
Good for you then :)
Another tea I received from derk, but it is from White Antlers. Thank you both!
I was confused about the aroma of this tea. I have exppected some pu-erh chocolatey notes, but it is indeed rather on tobacco side as derk said. It is even bit cinnamony and raisins, which is indeed weird while it contains only black tea and cocoa.
While brewed, I had it actually pretty much same as previous rater. Yep, aiming for 4 minutes, but actually 6.
The tate was pretty much medicore bold black tea while sipping quite hot, but as it cools down, the flavours started to be interesting.
At first, I wasn’t sure if it is cocoa as it was quite raisin and maybe cherries. But as I said, it was cooling donw and when it was lukewarm I get the cocoa notes! I have expected some stronger notes and mostly I imagined it will be bit more like hot chocolate, but it isn’t that sweet and cloying hot chocolate. Maybe you think I think it is dismal for me, but actually it isn’t. I am glad it is not like that, as bar of chocolate isn’t always dominantly chocolate but good chocolate is having different flavours too. Even that cherry seems good for me.
Seems bit pricey though!
Flavors: Cherry, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Raisins, Tobacco
Preparation
No, I don’t have enough tea in my cupboard, certainly not… (irony over)
I needed this tea for two reasons: a) Fairtrade, organic tea b) easydrinking simple black tea without flavours. Blends are nice and loose leaf is sometimes bit too time consuming, weighing amount of leaf and so on… so on…
And one more thing. It is individually wrapped and I have new tea bag to my collection, though it seems it isn’t anything new. But it will find its customers during exchanges :)
This tea I had in the afternoon, after draining lectures and honestly I am impressed! I let it steep for long 4 minutes, but it wasn’t bitter at all. It had got bold and strong tannic flavour, round and hints of florals. Certainly the long steep (I had to do few other things) wasn’t good for the florals, so I will need to re-try this tea. But overall it was good tea for that simple tea bag. Trying to rate differently between loose leaf and tea bags, so that’s the reason for, quite high rating!
Their website seems to offer much more than teas; maybe check them out for upcoming holidays?
Flavors: Floral, Round, Tannic
Preparation
Dang, note lost.
2 teaspoons, 2 minutes, 79°C water.
Lacking flavour a bit, but amazing aroma of chesnuts was great. The flavour was mostly dry grass/hay/grass seed. It is 5 years old GREEN tea so I am not surprised it is lacking; but it was enjoyable, though missing a bit that moment of fresh grass note that I am always expecting in green tea.
Considering, it is 5 years old, it is still great. Fresh would be lovely, but it is a gift and I can’t blame previous owner that it was delivered so past the prime time of this tea. It’s not bad one. I actually enjoy it as simple drinker nowdays. If it is fresh, I suppose I will say it is great one. 5 years old is “only” above average. This tea don’t deserve my rating, because it’s old.
Flavors: Chestnut, Dry Grass, Grass Seed, Hay
Preparation
Thank you ashmanra via derk :)
Well, it is a nice tea for sure. A nice body from the base and strongly lavneder in taste. I admire lavender mostly for the aroma and that was very nice as well. I expected more creamy taste though, but it’s not a big complaint! That said; it is interesting I haven’t found it that creamy as derk did. I noticed way more lavender notes, those were nice.
Not sure as well about bergamot. Yes, it was somehow citrusy, but I expected bit more probably. Can’t tell much about the vanilla as I have paired it with organic chocolate cookies, so that “killed” other flavours a bit. I guess, I need to try it again (I got about 4 tea spoons, I have used two), and multiple steeping as well.
Flavors: Citrusy, Lavender
Preparation
3 grams from derk used in single tea.
The expectations were as her wrote in her tasting note comments. Some petrichor, dungeon fell, cellar and ehhm, nothing from those.
Not a bad tea though! I have noticed mostly red fruits, red apple skins, I felt rather being in orchard than a castle. Certainly, there are notes saying it’s black tea, but overall so nice and mild. Enjoyable drink, smooth, no astringency nor bitterness. Nice change of pace after flavoured teas in recent days.
Preparing western maybe didn’t made the most complex flavour profile though.
Flavors: Apple Skins, Red Fruits
