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Well, I wanted to try something new. And since I’m running out of new tea, I figured I’d try one of these sample packs that a certain Mad Tea Artist sent me!

Quick pre-brew notes: The package smells like berries. Very sweet berries. I’m getting a little bit of green smell too, but not much.

Since it was a sample package, there was no brewing perameters on the bag. So I tried to go for a happy medium between Green Tea and Green Rooibos. So Western Style, at 175F/3Min/16oz/however much the sample was.

For starters, the brewed smell is definitely green tea. It’s very noticibly that. Taste is— Wow that is different. I’m getting the berries, they are providing a bit of tart sweetness. The green tea/green rooibos however, is really not grassy at all. Actually, it’s kind of… meaty? Kinda like a Bi Luo Chun? Which is weird because I didn’t see any of that listed in the ingredients. Besides those two flavors, nothing else really jumps out at me, but it’s more because the tea is so balanced rather than it being bland.

As it cools, I’m getting some floral and fruity notes (besides the berries). It also tastes like there is a background bitterness that is trying to break through, but the rest of the flavor profile is keeping it in check. This was a surprisingly tasty tea. I didn’t think I’d like it this much, but now I am considering getting a pouch or two. Solid Rec, guys. Give this one a shot. It’s different, but in a good way.

Flavors: Berry, Bitter, Floral, Fruity, Meat, Sweet, Tart

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 3 min, 0 sec 16 OZ / 473 ML
Kittenna

Ooh, sounds interesting. I also got a sample pouch of this one, but haven’t tried it yet. Now I’m more intrigued, though!

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Kittenna

Ooh, sounds interesting. I also got a sample pouch of this one, but haven’t tried it yet. Now I’m more intrigued, though!

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Bio

HELLO! My name is Shanie and I love tea!

While I have always loved various types of tea, for a very long time it came exclusively from a grocery store. It’s only been a year or so now that I’ve gotten into loose leaf. As such, there will likely be tasting notes I do for bagged tea as well as good quality (and not so good quality) loose leaf teas. I’m still learning as I go so have patience please!

Right now, I am on a massive Earl Grey kick. So if a ton of my notes are just various varieties of EG, that’s why!

Some of my favorite flavors include: Cocoa, Malt, Bread, Honey, Earthy, Sweet Citrus, Caramel, Apple, Spices, and Cinnamon.

Some flavors I don’t like: Licorice, Coconut, Bitey Citrus (like Citric Acid), Licorice, Sour, Smoke, Overpowering Fake Vanilla, Stevia, and did I mention Licorice?

NOTE: I am Type 2 Diabetic. As such, I can really not have sugar added to tea without suffering problems. This prohibits me from using either plain sugar or honey. Instead, I use Splenda as I found my system can handle it well and I like the flavor. I try to avoid stevia as I’ve found it often ruins the flavor of tea. However, not all teas require sweetener, and some are better without. Because of this, if I add sweetener to a tea, I will mention it in the tasting note and say what kind and how much. Usually, I sweeten flavored and herbal teas but leave true teas unsweetened. There are exceptions, but this is a general rule of thumb to go by.

Almost all of the tea I brew is western style. I occasionally do grandpa, but pretty much never Gong-fu. I do own a Gaiwan, but it never gets used. Considering I don’t have a “sip setting” when it comes to beverages, it’s really hard for me to get into any sized amount less than 8oz at a time. I know that probably makes me a tea-heathen, but so be it. I like my mugs.

I have decided to try and make a scale for my ratings. So here goes.

As of January 2020.

100-91: These are my go-to favorites. I will likely go out of my way to always keep these on hand, including going on third party websites to obtain out of season.
90-81: This is a tea I really did enjoy, and I will likely purchase again. However, I wouldn’t go to the ends of the earth for it, and it isn’t my all-time favorite.
80-71 This is a tea that, while I may have somewhat enjoyed, something is holding me back from making it a mainstay. Maybe the flavor profile isn’t the best. Maybe there is an offputting aftertaste. It varies. But while I did like it and will continue to drink it, I don’t absolutely need it in my life, and while I will likely finish what I have, I may or may not get more.
70-61: This is a tea which I drank, but I didn’t like it. However, I didn’t hate it either. It wasn’t bad enough to dump, and if it is the only thing available to drink, I would likely drink it instead of plain water. But in the end, this is just not my literal cup of tea and I will likely not get this again.
60-51: This is something that I didn’t like much at all, but for one reason or another, refused to dump. If I squint hard enough and use my imagination, I can almost BS myself into thinking they are decent, and I suppose I can choke it down and not waste it. These are teas that I will not be buying again, and may not even finish what I have.
50-41: Yeah, whatever this is, I there’s a good chance I dumped it. At this level, it’s pretty bad stuff with either weak flavor, nasty flavor, or all the wrong flavors, It has few redeeming qualities, and I likely won’t reach for this one again. On the bright side, it isn’t sewage water, so there’s that.
40-31. On it’s best day this tea has no redeeming qualities. This not only got dumped but the package it came in either got thrown away, traded, or shoved to the back of the cupboard to never be touched again. Not the worst thing I’ve ever tasted, but darn sure close.
30-Under: The worst thing I’ve ever tasted. This not only has no redeeming qualities, but it is gag-inducing. “Teas” in this range are so bad I not only will never drink them again, I really don’t feel like offloading them onto anyone else because they are just that bad. Actual sewage water.

Location

Pennsylvania, US

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