1847 Tasting Notes
A sipdown! (M: 9, Y: 9)
Sipdown prompt January 12 – National Hot Tea Day – Have a tea that is close to a sipdown!
Whoops, actual office sipdown.
Well, it is a fine example of English breakfast tea; a good one for waking up in the office, with high caffeine level (I assume) and no frills tea; as it’s in tea bags.
Simple, malty cupppa; but no standout characterics as gmathis notices in her note.
I acutally “blended” it often with Basilur Cranberry (fruit tea), to make a little fruit line and the fruit one is sometimes really tart, almost unbearably. Together it have been a nice combo. It wasn’t the story of the last bag of this, though.
Preparation
Sipdown prompt: Your oldest tea
Well, actually I am not sure if this is the oldest tea in my books; but rough look in my black tea box says it is at least from blacks. And I also decided to finish those last single session teas worth amounts; so those 3 grams from derk and White Antlers definitely passes that one too.
This tea I was afraid to prepare. Don’t ask me why… but definitely I have been storing it for longer time than it needs. Definitely old one and I had it for longer time as well. Maybe it was 176 F, or 30-45 sec. on the label? Well… I just set the temperature on the kettle for requested temperature. It’s not that strange temperature at all!
Steeped for 45 sec and it was indeed a bit too short as derk notices so, I did right after the 2-3 minute one (included the first one) and I got nice, cocoa notes, but sadly, in the flavour it is rather woody. I guess it’s because the age.
It reminds me a Wooricha from Dobrá čajovna, but that’s definitely possible as it is a cousin of this tea. That one is also a Korean black tea, sadly, I just haven’t found any more information but it’s from Mr. Cho garden. This one is rather a co-op tea and that effort is good for me as well.
Kept without a rating as it’s old. If I get a fresh batch, I would gladly rate it.
Preparation
This tea I got from Leafhopper so thank you! Unlike derk I got 2022 harvest year. And moreover, I can compare it with its first flush I got from Siam Tee — note to be found here: http://steepster.com/Martin-CZE/posts/443764 (copy and paste it).
Anyway, I steeped my 4 grams in my western basket longer than I have thought, roguhly 5 minutes, but hopefully it won’t cause any big troubles.
Well, I got a very brisk tea, but no bitterness or astringency to be found. A bit more tannic, instead and somehow standard SF Darjeeling There were autumn leaf pile aromas and hints of orange in flavour,along with lots of malts and little of woody aftertaste (but well, long steep). Definitely better than its FF.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 7, Y: 7)
Sipdown prompt: A grocery store blend — correct me if wrong?!
And steeped for 2 minutes in 80°C water, so definitely not oversteeped with wrong tea temperature. Thank you anyway for new tea bag wrappers for my collection. That counts and that is a positive thing.
Preparation
After I have finished half of the mug, I dumped the rest. A bitterness appeared (from what?)and it’s absolutely undrinkable. Blah
Our local grocery stores don’t stock Taylors, but our big-city Steepster friends could probably find it at theirs.
I sent this solely for the collection.
Our grocers carry at least a few in the British food aisle.
And I appreciate that derk!
I grabbed this one in the TTB; so thank you anyone who put it in!
I am not so sure if I like it or not? It is an unique tea, somehow smoky, but when drank it is a floral bomb. Powdery note here as well.
A bit too much floral for my tastes.
Used 3g / 300 ml for 3-4 minutes western steep. Definitely going to gongfu remaining 3 grams.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 6, Y: 6)
A sad sipdown! I gave others so many, that I just drank single bag of this lovely tea. This time was red apple a bit more prominent in the flavour, but that long aftertaste I notice is definitely, fresh, buttery pear.
Why I have bought the small box only?
I think I put it into TTB
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 5, Y: 5)
Sipdown prompt: A CTC tea
A single last tea bag I had in my black tea box. Forgotten a bit.
Also I am surprised that I haven’t wrote a single note about this one. But well, there isn’t anything to write about. It’s tea. Tea-ish tea with bitter aftertaste.
Honestly, not impressed. But every sipdown counts.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 4, Y: 4)
I am keeping high pace of sipdowns to finish those last session worth teas. I had two pyramid sachets; first one I drank… long time ago and now the second one. To be honest, I just remember that vervain teas are just with nice herbaceous and slightly bitter flavours, but what they are good for? No idea. I haven’t done the research this time.
Anyway, after recommended 5 minutes steep I got green, like on the box, coloured drink, with a whiff of a bit stinky feet aroma. Luckily it isn’t too strong.
The flavour is, how I have been expecting, mostly herbaceous with some bitter aftertaste. Nothing much else and to write about.
No rating on purpose
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 3, Y: 3)
Last 8 grams… what to do with this tea from Michelle and Rich? Thank you!
Split in half and have two weak sessions?
Brew all at once, hoping it will be fine?
Decided for the latter, with long steeps… 20/40/60 seconds, a few uncounted, and one roughly 45 minutes long one, as I have added the water to the gaiwan and forgot about it as I was called for a dinner. The longest one was the last one; I think that the tea doesn’t have any qualities to steep anymore, haha. But drank that one too.
Well, definitely higher amount of tea helped this tea — with more stronger flavours; but didn’t reveal anything else that I haven’t noticed. It is nice and fine shu, but honestly I don’t notice anything in particular. It’s pretty “generic” shu, with excepted flavour profile, woody and mushroomy, the last one was a bit earthy and coffee-bitterness was there a bit.
Whatever, but sipdown is a sipdown, so another tea removed from cupboards.
