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A sipdown! (M: 3, Y: 39)
Not going that well as I have hoped. 39 looks like a nice number, but I would need to double it and no new teas.

Honestly, this is fine pyramid sachet tea. It gives you a nice flavour, not bitter, slightly buttery and grassy taste. If warmer water is used, then you get more vegetals. Simple tea, indeed. Good for newbies in tea. Cheap and relatively tasty. At least it’s not a disaster, you know.

Actually, I didn’t wanted to buy any tea during my stay in Germany last, a bit pro-longed weekend. But you know; sometimes you just can’t resist. And I found out that white teas are perfect for hot days and I almost have none.

So, when I was just a few metro stations from this place, which I actually wanted to visit last year too, I just went in.

Sourced directly from India, owner/shop assistant was chatty and helpful and I bought two teas and got one for free.

Wel, I have to say I wasn’t paying much attention to this tea, which it certainly deserves. Because it has got nice fruity notes, among with sweet vanilla wafers, which resembles me 2020 Winter Darjeeling White tea by Ketlee I got from derk and reviewed back in February. Maybe it is very same plantation?
Flavor continues with muscat notes, white wine and lemon zest, which is… werid as I said I wasn’t paying too much attention.

Also, steeped with almost boiling water was, surprisingly, not a bad experience and leaves very nice, large tea leaves in the strainer. They claim that it can be steeped twice, but maybe next time… with the rating.

Another tea bag from lovely Canadian Postcrossing member. I had a mood for black tea, although hot afternoon says that some light tea would suit the weather better.

Well, this tea is strong. Steeped for recommneded 2 minutes in 300 ml cup. I got a bitter (not astringent) cup full of tobacco. Not a fan!

So, after my short Germany trip, Bruce Springsteen concert in Hamburg stadium being the most important reason, I came home with two new teas I have bought. I got one sample free of charge, but this tea isn’t any I have bought. Instead, when I came home, a thick envelope from Canada landed on my desk; saying “Happy Postcrossing!” so it is a tea from Canadian Postcrossing member.

There were actually 5 different tea bag wrappers and I took this one today, looking for something simple — but flavoured.

There is a text on the wrapper saying: “This bright green tea blend has a kick from ginger & a sweet note of pear.” That caught my attention, moreover seeing no pear in the ingredients list on the other side. On the other side there is also a lovely typo saying that you should use 80°F (175°C) water, but trust me, I haven’t prepared it in the steam, but used 80°C water instead.

Honestly, there is no ginger kick, but there is the pear along with lemongrass in the flavour. Green tea was mild, but also a weak in flavour, but yep, it was refreshing and non-offensive. But I don’t need getting and trying it again.

A sipdown! (M: 2, Y: 38)
Eh. The first note? Have I ever shared this tea with someone or I drank it all alone? I don’t remember!

Anyway, last year FF Darjeeling. Probably a good timing to sip it down, as I have some 2023 FF too.

A funny story behind buying this tea. I have put it in to shopping basket in the webshop, reading it is my favorite Mokalbari, placed the order along with other teas; and then I have read in the invoice saying Makaibari. I went back to the tea shop and it was clearly marketed as Makaibari. I just read it wrong!

But decided to try it anyway, as back then I didn’t had any FF tea. And afterall, why not trying another tea garden.
In fact, I never loved this tea. It was quite highly astringent all the times, proper steeping parameters were working once, twice and then I had to change them again; it was fine and non-offensive tea, but it doesn’t gave me any particular impression. No fruity notes, no florals; just somehow astringent and sometimes even bitter tea.

Well, until today; when using last 4 grams and steeped for 3 minutes and it was round flavour with hints (but only hints!) of tropical fruits and again that creeping and, even for me, too high astringency.

A sipdown! (M: 1, Y: 37)
I would rather get a proper, ice-cold mojito. But this tea was refreshing nevertheless!

At first, a Wrigley Spearmint gum notes appeared. Nothing “great”, but then it developed into much more interesting notes; as lime has appeared somehow and in the end I get a nice and quite refreshing hot tea.

Mojito? Well, not absolutely, but certainly I see their attempt as a success.

Another sample from teaoria I took today morning. It is crushed black tea, pretty much similar to Classic Black Tea by Georgian Tea 1847, and to be honest, I think it is very same tea. Used only half of tea sample… 3 grams, so maybe a little weaker than used to, but it was still great.

Very robust after recommended 4-5 minutes steep, very rich and brisk. A little earthy, malty and such. They also call it “extra breakfast” and as a breakfast tea it suited it so well, I have no further comments. I will focus a bit more on the flavours next time.

Raise your hand, if you heard about feijoa fruit before.

Okay, this green blend contains moreover orange and kiwi. But about feijoas… at first I thought that the man told me about it, I thought he meant figs and using Polish word for that. Took only a sample, which was about 6 grams; and steeped it yesterday at home.

Honestly, the green tea base isn’t noticeable there at all, because all flavour is from the fruits. And while it was great — no off flavours, it was so mixed up, so I could say only tropical tea flavour. I steeped it for 3 minutes, so maybe the tea didn’t had enough time to reveal itself; also green tea from Georgia isn’t truly famous for its distinctive flavours, but it was fine. I am sure it would be great cold-steeped or iced, however, I ran out of this tea and I am not sure if I want to get 50 grams of it right now.

A few years back I had a wonderful black tea with thyme and I didn’t remember what brand it was. Another a few years back I had a black tea with thyme and it was bad. Or at least, not that good. Since then I am searching for a decent, distinctive thyme black tea and now, I think I have found the gold.

Well, yes… it is a Georgian black tea base, something I have soft spot for. So, I am totally not biased.

It is very intensive. Afterall, on their 5 leaves ranking system, this tea have 4 and 1/2. Very strong black tea, sadly crushed into small pieces, with same size of thyme leaves. I even would say there are twice as much of thyme than tea itself.

Anyway, a great wake-me-up cup of tea, worth two steeps (maybe even three!), both steeped 5 minutes; without any loss of flavour. Yes, it may be quite one-dimensional, because thyme being so strong.

Song pairing (not true anymore :D ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3-5YC_oHjE

I have tried this one on the tea festival and immediately wrote down I want a pouch. It is for 195 CZK (8.91 USD) for 50 grams; which I think it is rather cheap considering how good is it.

I found out that water seems to be very similar in Cieszyn to my home water, because the flavours were quite similar. Back there I tried it prepared in cupping method, now I have tried it “basic” western steeping.

Also, why you can’t dislike this tea… just look how the leaves look! Long, wiry, many golden buds, very aromatic (afterall it’s harvested just a few months back) and overall just lovely.

It is very complex in flavours. I have noticed many different flavors, ranging from dark fruits, dark malt (almost like a dark beer), forest honey and with long, sweet and round aftertaste. In the end of aftertaste I noticed notes of brown sugar, it’s quite sweet on its own.

Well, I guess that my 50 grams won’t last long!