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I was curious to see if I could do another cold brew using the same tea leaves. I also think that I’m getting a little too miserly with my tea because of my self-imposed ban on buying any more tea until June. But I’ll say that I’m glad that I tried this. It’s just a shadow of its former self. Still pleasant, but I wouldn’t serve it to friends. I’ll probably do it again during May with the iced teas that I love, but it’s not a practice that I see as being common for me.

Chrysanthemum! ::shakes fist in the air::

I actually didn’t read the sample packet on this one until I’d poured the leaves into the pot and noticed a single white flower. I was somewhat confused since I thought that something called “White Tea” would contain just white tea. Then I read the packet. I’m not a big chrysanthemum fan.

I won’t go into details because I’m having a horrible time figuring out how on earth to describe it. I just feel like a perfectly good white tea was spoiled by one singular flower. It just sort of added an unpleasant taste for me. I think that what it reminds me of is when I was a child I loved dandelions so much that I tried eating one. I’m not gonna try that again to compare, but I just remember that bitter plant taste and being so disappointed.

I must admit that I did do two steeps. I don’t hate it, but it’s something I’d never purchase. M

Be sure to read Cinoi’s tasting note on this one – it has some great details and I agree with a lot of it! She also has had other Yunans, and this is my first. I also want to echo that these tins are packed full – I heeded Cinoi’s warning the first time I opened the tins and was grateful. I sorta forgot about it this morning and had some spillage. D’oh! I also love the packaging, the Select deal, and the good service. I’m already getting a sense of loyalty toward LeafSpa.

Both dry and steeped there’s a black tea smell, but it’s different than others I’ve smelled. It’s more subtle and…I just don’t know. Super-subtle maltiness. And it took me reading the note to understand this other taste was pepper (and I don’t think it’s power of suggestion on this one). I just haven’t had many dishes with good pepper in my life so it wasn’t on my mind. This truly is one of the more complex black teas that I’ve had.

Second steep I had the water at 200 and added a minute. I think 200 shall be my set temp on this one. The first steep was supposed to be 195, but I’m still figuring out my newfangled kettle, so it was closer to 191. There’s still pepper, but the complexity just went to a new level for me. This is getting beyond my descriptive powers. It’s like a very shy carmelized sugar came along and keeps peeking out from behind a curtain of peppery black tea.

I never would have tried this tea without the amazingly generous Steepster Select deal – so thank you to all who made that possible! I still cringe at the price a bit, but after having experienced this tea I am willing to pay full amount. There wasn’t a teagasm with this one, but I think I was so lost in trying to peg down the tastes. It was more like a courtship that lead to love. More than NE.

Well, at least I have one of the coolest sample tins out there. This tea is nasty. I feel bad that they’re marketing this for new-to-loose-leaf tea drinkers. There are no instructions on time or temp, so I really had to guess on what to do. It looks like there are green leaves mixed in with a ton of dried chunky fruit. But they say it’s herbal. What are the leaves? Do I treat this like a tisane or a decaf? I get the blood orange. But beyond that it’s a tangy sour mess. It’s a bit like what I’d imagine an orangey dish detergent would taste like. Cup is tossed. I’ll try again next time with different steep temp/time and treat it like a decaf and see what that does. GA

Dear Peach Blossom,

I love you. I’ve only had you as a cold brewed iced tea but your nummy light tea fruity taste has won my heart. I’m almost scared to try you hot because you’re divine cold. You will always have a place in my cupboard.

Love,
Rabs TG

Aha! So my cup was clean when I tried this and it still reminded me of Lapsang Souchong, but in a weird way – and then it hit me: I’m tasting woodsiness! This tea continues to intrigue me. I have enough for one more pot and I’m looking forward to it. It’s one of the most “masculine” teas that I’ve had so far. It’s like one of those rough looking biker dudes that has a teddy bear collection at home. Rugged, yet sweet! NE

Oh floral joy! I have found my “Ultimate Cup of Fou-Fou!” It’s like I went through a beautiful garden, picked a bouquet of fragrant flowers, and then made a tea out of it. Oh, I must have this on hand forever and ever!

The dry leaves had me worried. It really smelled potpouri-ish. I actually wrinkled my nose and had to hope that steeping would mellow things out a lot (and it did – maybe not a lot, but it did enough).

The aroma smelled wonderful: a heady mix of earl grey, rose, and something else I couldn’t put my finger on – but I knew it was floral. Um, yeah, turns out it was jasmine ::blushes::

The first four sips were actually horrifying. The first sip I recoiled slightly – it was like a little salty/citrus bomb went off in my mouth. Second sip the icky lemon/lime taste/sensation started near the back of the roof of my mouth and traveled in a straight line partway down my throat. It did that for two more sips. It really was a bad sensation that that I’ve never experienced before. I set the cup aside and hoped that cooling it a bit would help. I waited maybe a minute and tried again. The “citrus yuck” was gone and all the yummy sweet florals came out ::Hallelujah Chorus starts to play:: TG

I am getting a slight dryness to the back of my throat which started near the end of the first steep, but I love this tea’s taste so much that I don’t care. I’ll live with it. The only thing I adjusted on steep #2 was that I added a minute. No weird citrus sensations with this cup. I’m dying to try this iced!

And you see that Preperation Detail right below here? The one that says 205 degrees? Well, for the first time I can attest to the truth of that statement: my Pino Pro electric kettle came last evening and from now on I’ll be within a few degrees of accurate temperatures! ::does happy dance::

Not a huge coconut fan. Not a huge rooibos fan. Not a big fan of this tea. I’ll keep experimenting with temp/time to see if my mind gets changed. I just got an initial smell and taste of barley and that was it. A coconut barley. Maybe this is what the outside husk of the coconut would taste like if I gave it a lick? It’s just not doin’ it for me (and I really wish that it did!). M