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Okay, finally, I have received a second box from derk and thus all teas should be tried as soon as possible. Okay, joking… but this one had on the label a warning sign saying DRINK SOON! so I decided to try it first from this box.

I have prepared it gong-fu and according to Ketlee.in suggestion. So 80°C water, 4 grams per 120 ml. As I had only 3 grams and 125 ml gaiwan, I was prepared for a little weaker tea.

I also steeped according to their suggestion, so 20 seconds first and subsequent steeps were with 5 seconds increments.

The dry aroma was reminding me mostly some sheng puerh from Farmerleaf and their maocha I had chance to try. So, nothing too distinctive, but like sun-dried tea leaves with hints of vegetal notes.

First steep and thus wet leaves were very different. Almost rose-y, white tea like, hints of hay and decently floral (other than rose). Liquor was again rose-like, so lightly peppery, lightly herbal. In the mouth it was smooth and round. No astringency.

Next steeps were a bit harsher, stronger rose notes and honey note that I have picked up. Lightly spicy maybe as well, but certianly not overpowering.

The mouthfeel was amazing and long lasting. It has got those flavours and they were staying for long. I would gladly try it again and I will keep it in the wishlist as a tea I will look later on.

Afterall, I would not expect this as a black tea. Rather it is somewhere on crossroads of maocha and white tea? Not sure. But as I wrote, is it truly black tea?

Thank you derk, it was nice start from this long-travelling box.

ADVENT DAY 11

I can’t believe we’re almost in half of Advent Season: It flies so fast. And today, we have got another tea I had before theAdvent season and thus I have two sachets remaining.

I blame Paper and Tea they put higher quality ingredients in or better mixed. Because today it was even a bit better. Wonderful base as in previous experience, more orange and very creamy (and nice) vanilla notes. Smooth, mouthcoating and cocoa-like indeed as well. What I liked the most, and I will repeat myself, is that the flavours aren’t “punch in the face”, but very subtle complements to the base tea. Today it was even more distinctive than last time… I mean the orange and cooca and it reminded me that one experience with chocolate covered orange. Sadly, this flavour wasn’t translated to long aftertaste, that’s was only black base with vanilla.

I will keep this rating, however it has got good chances to climb higher than 80/100.

ADVENT DAY 10

I came from work drained today. And with a bit of sore throat.

Took my advent calendar, took out this tea sachet. I have to say I really love the outer wrapping! It has got ivory color with purple details. And that detail, among the name of the tea, is dragonfly. Not much detailed, rather like a clip-art, but wonderful combination of colours.

The tea itself is wonderful too. Although caffeine-free tea, it’s tasty and somehow complex. Peppermint is very fresh and the menthol covered my mouth very well. Then hibiscus takes it’s note and it was lightly tart. Rose petals? Yes, when hot! I have noticed it while it was hot and it has got that rosey-peppery note and somehow I have to confess I loved it. As it was cooling down, the hibiscus was somehow stronger and I was thinking of fruit notes… maybe because I have associated hibiscus with fruit teas I suppose.

Interesting blend!

ADVENT DAY 9
It snows all day. What a fun to ride a car in this weather (irony). But it was necessary. I have a crown instead my tooth. Hurray!

And this tea waited for me in the afternoon at home. I did only single steep, as I had my two years old niece around and we were baking Christmas cookies, so not much time for tea.

I am grateful for tea from derk that I have finally received and now I have to find some time to put it into virtual cupboard. I don’t think I will do it today, although there are some nice ones for sure.

But for this tea. It should have fig, honey and leather notes and I can say I noticed all three? The base was very rich and leathery, but not in offensive way; smooth and enjoyable as well. Honey — I dare to say dark one. Very mouthcoating. Great base! ANd finally, the fig. I haven’t got much figs lately, to be honest. But it has got some quite nice fruitiness, a bit tropical for me — so I hope it is a fig.

Overall very enjoyable afternoon cuppa. I think I am getting used to their “not hitting in nose” notes and I can notice those fruits, herbs, whatever is in.

ADVENT DAY 8

In the Mood for Love and jasmine tea? I would expect rather rose than jasmine. But let’s try it!

It is indeed delicate green tea, naturally scented as they write on the outer wrapping. The scent was very natural and pleasant and green tea base was delicate and flavorful as well. Slightly hay and grassy. The jasmine was wonderful and not overpowering; even I say, like Roswell Strange, even a bit of fruity notes. I wouldn’t call it grape, but not sure what is it — maybe rather hints of muscatel to me.

We had fire alarm test at noon today at work. As every Wednesday. Awful sound.
But that means I can brew this tea! I have received it from my brother, who received it from his colleague. And I received it because of tea bag, not because of tea.

But decided to brew it anyway and the speed of steeping scared me a bit. Not a bit. Actually a lot. And suggested 3-5 minutes steeping time was crazy long. Or I have thought so. I sadly had to solve something with my co-worker and I forgot about time. But… it was about 4 minutes.

Hey it was strong. A really strong black tea. I was afraid of super bitter cup, with no flavour and whatsoever bad.

First steeps were bitter. But it was really hot, so there weren’t much noticeable notes. As it cooled down it went into more complex flavours. The bitterness was there all the time, but some maltiness was there. And in the end of sip there were earthy, like weak pu-erh notes.

I would like to re-try with shorter steeping time, but sadly, it was only one tea bag I had.

ADVENT DAY 7

Won’t lie, Linden tea is welcomed today. Although, this tea would be lovely with cold symptoms.

It’s a very tasty tea, with notes of linden and elderflowers, which both are my favourite in taste as well as in aroma. Obviously it’s indeed floral, and both those ingredients were quite fresh. Of course, the flowers were crushed, which is shame espicially for linden, but ces’t la vie and not all teas can be like http://steepster.com/teas/aalia/95296-lipovy-kvet-ze-svojetic.

The apple pieces added some depth of flavour and added sweetness for those who don’t like those flower notes that much. I should notice… it’s written on the backside of the outer wrapping… sunflowers. Nah, I wasn’t able to. Not sure if it just hid under the others, or it is not so distinctive (I think rather the latter), or what was wrong.

A good tea, indeed.

A tea from derk, originally (for sure) from mrmopar. Thank you both!

Today afternoon I was in a mood for gongfu, especially after shoveling in greenhouse while outside being zero centigrade. I hit my little finger which hurts even 5 hours later. Luckily, it’s left hand and I am being right-handed. But it is unpleasant, won’t lie.

I did again quite a random steepings, because somehow I can’t focus on time while steeping. My mind can’t calm down somehow recently.

But, anyway I have to decided to try. I have started with rinse, which brought out mostly floral notes of lily of the valley, violets and fruit tree flowers. It wasn’t overpowering, rather I noticed there as well notes of vegetables, hay and a bit of herbaceous notes.

Steeps were, as I wrote, rather random. While I started, with 5 seconds, I have tried my best doing some common increments and first few steeps I was able to. Then, something happened and I lose my counts.

The first steeps were actually quite enjoyable and smooth, mouthcoating and without any astringency. I even can call it sweet, which is quite uncommon descriptor for me. Later, I have noticed stronger vegetal notes — somewhere between peas and green beans. Okay, it is weird, isn’t it?

With longer steeps I feel it is rather more harsh, but not bitter nor astringent. The aftertaste is long, even with shorter steeps.

This tea, brought me a mood for writing, that’s why is this note a bit longer… and overall brought me warmness all over the body. My mind stopped overthinking as well, which is certainly a good thing and overall, I feel quite relaxed.

This tea is unoffensive, easy-drinking pu. However, it does not up to my tastes. It seems even a bit flat to me? I know I know… I wrote lots of descriptors. Weridly, I haven’t noticed any tobacco from it. Haven’t expecting much, and it is not crazy of flavours, but well, something IS missing there. I can’t say what… but nah, I would not necessary get more of it.

Thank you derk for sending though and maybe, it wasn’t just a correct time for this tea. Maybe early spring would be better than a day with white stuff outside.

ADVENT DAY 6

Well, another tea I had already. But I have been kinda expecting it will happen. Luckily it is a decent cup.

Again it was a very pleasant, apricot tea with white tea base. It was truly great, although in winter, a bit uncommon. But for summer, it is a delish and iced it can be wonderful I bet.

So smooth, so mouthcoating, so…. I don’t know, so well blended.

ADVENT DAY 5

Classic Chai. So true! I mean, it was a delicate black tea base, bold and full flavoured, malty and highly enjoyable on itself. Quite ginger forward cup, but not overpowering the other spices as cloves and cinnamon. I tend to like more cinnamon chais. Cardamom was present as well, though, again, I would prefer more of it than the ginger.

I do plain chais, so no milk nor honey, but in milk it could be better. More smooth. Better pronounced weaker spices.

Something is missing in this cup.