1839 Tasting Notes
I bought a box of those (and of Oriental Jasmine) last year just before Christmas; as a gift for myself and also the price seemed quite fair.
I have tried Lavender Grey twice, yesterday for first time, today for second time; sadly both results are not so great. They have used pyramid sachets (in outer wrapping, well that was another reason for buying), but tea itself isn’t really top quality, rather it was a bit dusty and very broken, hardly to see any lavender buds there and in smell it was some generic “Earl Grey aroma” instead of fresh and distinct bergamot.
Sadly, when brewed it’s not much better. Tea base is fine, Ceylon with its bright citrusy notes, no astringency or bitterness, but somehow flat. Bergamot made me feel again that some cheap bergamot oil was used as it was again somehow mediocre and flat. And lavender? Well, in first session I haven’t noticed any, in second session it was just a bit of floral extra note… but I wouldn’t guess a lavender if it wasn’t labeled as such.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 15, Y: 15)
And this is again a very sad sipdown. This tea is lovely, very forgiving steeping paramters and yet so wonderful. I had roughly 6 grams left, so decided to use all the leaf for my western steeping.
I got so wonderful cup of tea, full of caramelised sugars from the leaves, hints of roasted and chocolate notes, some smooth and toasted notes; even 5 minutes steep did not brought any harsh and rough notes.
If anything… I will miss that forgiving steeping parameters. You can use any water temperature, I did 90°C — 3 minutes and 95°C — more than 5, but less than 10 minutes and both steeps were equally good. Also, it is low in caffeine, so definitely good for evening drinking too.
No, I am not crying. My eyes are just sweating.
Preparation
Sipdown prompt: A blend made in your home country — not really sure about that, as Sonnentor have at least two production facilites (one in Austria), but I will hope this one is blended and mixed in Czechia.
Not a sipdown yet, but 2 tea sachets remaining
As usual… yes; almost a sipdown. And, just after reading my first note, it was a free tea? I completely forgot about that!
Anyway, drank in the afternoon and remaining two bags will be finished hopefully still in January. I mean, it shouldn’t be a big deal… right?
What to write about this tea? Well, it is mellow green tea with nice amount of lemongrass. It is not overdone with other ingredients, artificial flavourings or such things. Both ingredients being distinctive enough and lovely. Organic sourcing is a plus for me.
Would I buy that again? As a daily drinker, why not? But I don’t drink greens that much.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 14, Y: 14)
Sipdown prompt: A small business blend — a small business blend for another small business
Definitely overaleafed (I just used the rest… which was apparently too much) and too hot water (90°C water instead of 80 or so, probably lazy me in the morning)
Well, it has lost of its flavor. Or I had too much green tea remaining and not that much of the fruits. It was grassy cup with fruit line indeed somehow similar to chewing gum as gmathis notices, though I never had Fruit Stripe one.
Nice mish-mash of those fruits; and grassy green tea, though a bit bitter this time for me… definitely both steeping errors didn’t help with the flavours. But I am happy to log another sipdown.
Another ripe puerh from Michelle (thank you!) and it seems I never had it before? In the pouch there was lots of leaf and there is no note from me.
Anyway, tried it and did several steeps in average 30 seconds long for 6 grams / 125 ml. But somehow, I couldn’t notice anything but shu puerh; like many others. That woody note and somehow smooth taste. I feel that all those puerhs are the same, nevertheless the origin and I wonder why it is this way.
Hmm.
Preparation
Sipdown prompt: January 20 – National Coffee Break Day – Take a break with a coffee flavored tea, and if you don’t have one, just take a break with a favorite cuppa!
Not a sipdown yet, but 2 tea sachets remaining
Okay, I woke up with terrible headache, sore joints and feeling terrible. As I said to my family I feel broken down. It is kind of funny to speak about yourself as you are some kind of mechanic machine.
Anyway, I knew this prompt is coming and decided for this tea already yesterday when I was thinking about it. Today it was definitely boozy and there was the coffee and chocolate flavours beneath the alcohol flavour. Sadly, the first mentioned flavour was too strong this time and not welcomed today. But it was great fit for the prompt. Maybe I will finish the remaining 2 sachets during January. I can do that I assume.
Preparation
This is an interesting blend, intended to be drank in the mornings — so I have prepared it in the evening. I was freezing cold all aftenoon and evening, so I wanted something to warm me up.
Myrtle + ginger is making a quite clashing flavour profile, a little zingy sap. Myrtle definitely makes the sap notes. At least in my experience here.
Peppermint makes on the other hand the refreshing note. Black tea to have some caffeine… but it didn’t helped me much, I am still tired and it’s not present in the taste; and last ingredient, licorice root, makes whole liquor a bit thick and sweet — sadly, it is a bit too much of it.
But for warming up, it did its work.
Preparation
I have 3 different Georgian white teas and each one is different on their own.
I don’t want to call this one the most unique. But it is, definitely, unique. Pressed white teas are not common, moreover outside China!
So, I had to buy this. But I assume the main reason was… Georgia origin. Thick leaves, layered on each other. Easy to pry, but so hard to make exact weight. Leaves are wonderful.
Anyway, I tried 8.5 grams brewed gongfu (125 ml gaiwan) with 95°C water in the start of the session. Vendor suggests 8 g/100 ml; so a bit different ratio.
After rinse there were lovely birch aromas, slightly woody, slightly herbaceous and slightly woody. But bright wood scents, like birch is. I was surprised to see my agreement with the description by vendor.
I did several steeps, with various times. 20-60 seconds, first being shorter, naturally.
The flavours are… so interesting. Well, first of all, quite viscous. Secondly, the notes are creamy, slightly woody again, but that was definitely a good flavour! Meadow notes. Florals.
To be honest, even though I am writing this note right after I finished the session, I am not able to pick up the correct words. It is so nice, but hard to say how it is like.
The mouthfeel isn’t so long, but the unique notes repays it greatly.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 13, Y: 13)
Sipdown prompt: A winter inspired blend
This pouch was in my office since I have been hired. That was September 2021. I prepared this tea once, maybe twice. It was still called Snowball and best before was maybe a year ago or so. Definitely old.
Anyway, to fill this prompt and get rid of another tea; I decided to brew it. Based on the dry leaf aroma it was fine. A little bit too much coconut, also a bit waxy; but decided to brew the rest I had. Well, the coconut definitely wasn’t freshest and yes, it was waxy cup of tea. Moreover drank lukewarm as morning was really stressful and in rush.
Chocolote was there too and again, quite waxy. Overall, waxy is the best descriptor for this tea; however based on the age, I won’t change the rating. But apparently I didn’t like it even fresh.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 12, Y: 12)
Wow, this is an oldie. My first note was written on 10th June 2019 and definitely it is from this batch! I never had any other Damman Freres teas, so yes it’s that old.
But luckily, their sachets are so tight, it doesn’t affect the tea. I mean the age. It was like brand new in aroma; so was the flavour. But now, as my taste buds are more refined than back then, I have to say, it has got nothing with Pecan Pie (which I have baked in meantime) but rather an Almond Pie. Very strong in almonds and marzipan and hardly any pecan or other, similar nuts. A little bit sad story…