525 Tasting Notes
I got my free sample from Tea Forte and decided to try this one first. The dry leaves smell very coconutty and slightly fruity. The tea itself tastes much more like coconut than lychee. There is a slightly fruity taste in the background which, when mixed with the creamy coconut flavor, reminded me slightly of yogurt.
The actually flavor of the white tea is hay-ish. There’s an unpleasant astringency, but that may be because I brewed it too long.
Overall, it was a pleasant cup of tea after dinner. :)
Preparation
This is basically a pickled flower. It is lovely once the petals unfurl. It makes me feel like a princess. Everyone knows that flowers are a princess’ favorite food.
The tea itself it a little salty and winey tasting. I’m guessing the wine flavor is actually the vinegar. Mostly it tastes lightly a cherry with a floral character underneath.
It is a pleasant drink but it takes getting used to. I imagine fresh cherry blossoms to taste much better since they won’t need to be preserved in salt and vinegar. I’m guessing you’ll need to be in Japan during springtime for a treat like that.
Actually, it’s the salt/vinegar pickling that brings out this traditional flavor…this is the flavor that is used in traditional sakura mochi etc. It can also be achieved through the leaf as well as the flower. This flavor is popular in Japan during the blooming of the sakura in April, but actually, it takes two-three months to produce so all the sakura-flavored items that you get in Japan in April was actually produced the year before.
By the way, this is one of the best comments I’ve ever read…“Everyone knows that flowers are a princess’ favorite food.” Great!!!
So fresh Sakura don’t taste like cherries? :( thanks for the info. I’ve had Sakura Mochi with the leaves wrapped around them. They are pretty good too. They probably would be great with this tea but I had it with green tea at the time.
Glad I’m at least somewhat entertaining. :)
Sakura are actually a different species of tree from cherry fruit bearing trees. But the cherry blossoms themselves in any case taste nothing like cherry fruit. In fact, I’m not sure eating raw cherry blossoms will generate much flavor…the pickling tends to strengthen the flavor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom
Sometimes you see “Cherry Blossom Green Tea”…look at the ingredients. Some companies make blends with rose petals, artificial cherry fruit flavoring and green tea…i.e. “cherry” + “(rose) blossoms”. Which is not to say that this combination tastes bad…actually can be very yummy.
Well, I thought I tasted a cherry-ish flavor in this tea, which is why I assumed the fresh blossoms would have that flavor as well. As I recall, the sakura mochi also had this cherry-ish flavor. I was surprised that the leaves and flowers would taste like cherries. Or maybe the flavor I’m describing as cherry-ish is actually something else and I’m crazy.
hmmm…maybe I’ll go to the Sakura Festival at the botanical garden this spring and snag a few flowers to try. :)
These things are strong. You only need 2 pieces per mug. You can probably make 2 infusions with this. It does taste a lot like ginseng.
I generally don’t add sugar to my teas, but on occasion, I like to add honey or rock sugar to this.
Preparation
Ginsing oolongs are usually more medicinal in use than enjoyment so they’re usually quite strong. I might suggest a brand coated in licorice powder or mixing it with ginger. Much more palatable to me.
Well this isnt an oolong. its just pure ginseng flower, but you have good advice nonetheless. I actually really dislike licorice but ginger might be good. I could just simmer some fresh ginger and use the resulting liquid to brew these flowers. Then add rock sugar. :D
The scent of the dry leaves is very strawberry and yummy smelling. However, upon brewing, the strawberry takes a backseat to the strong grassy floral flavor of white tea. It took me a few brews to realize how much leaf, how long to steep and what temp of water to use. Ideally, you want less leaf than you’d expect and only steep for 2 minutes max. Fortunately, it’s good for multiple infusions but it’s really not my favorite. I treat it like a slightly fruity plain white. I don’t drink this when I’m looking for strawberry flavor.
Preparation
grassy medicinal flavor with some bright lemon overtones. I think I could get a hint of creaminess as well. I totally wanted to love this tea. Alas, rooibus and I are simply not good friends.
This is a lovely green tea made from the fuzzy young tips of the tea plant. I always get my fingers all fuzzy when I reach in the bag to add the leaves to my tea pot. Tea fuzz! somehow cute and tasty!
anywho, the tea is light, vegetal and smooth. There’s some grassy and floral notes. I love it cold brewed. Cold brewing eliminates the chance of overbrewing and producing a bitter drink. Put the leaves in a pitcher of water in the fridge overnight. Great for summer!
It kinda reminds me a bit of matcha as well. This is probably my favorite green tea in terms of quality and flavor.
ah SpecialTeas, I will always mourn your passing. :(
Why oh why did they put black tea in this? Unlike some of the reviewers here, I wanted the mint and didn’t read the package closely enough to realize that there was black tea in this. so sad! :( I bought the box to share with my friends while on a vacation since I didn’t bring my own teas.
I didn’t know what to do with this. I always drink my blacks teas with milk and sugar, especially those of lesser quality, like the supermarket bagged kind. But I like my mint pure and strong with no additives. This tea suffers from split personality disorder. You should be either robust, dark and earthy or cool, light and refreshing. Pick one, dang it!
Moral of the story? Always read the labels clearly! or Bring your own tea!
