111 Tasting Notes

91

I was really lookiing forward to tasting this tea. Upon opening this sample, I see multi- hued, tippy leaves that smelled oh so naturally sweet, with a chocolatey, maltiness. Steeped using info below the wet leaves smelled of woods— like acorns & fresh autumn leaves, with a light earthiness….just amazing! Even wet, I could see different brown hues in the leaves.The cup color was a lighter honey brown, and the aroma was honey sweet, with a mild earthiness in the background. I let the cup cool before tasting, and was rewarded with amazing honey sweetness on the tongue. After swirling the tea in my mouth, I tasted mild earth notes with oak like woods on the back of the tongue and aftertaste. Such a delicious and tasteful cup!

Steeping a second cup for 5 minutes resulted in a slightly darker cup, with more earthy aromatics in the leaves and cup, while still smelling honey sweet to lesser degree. The taste was more earthy, with the honeyed sweetness more in the background. The wood notes noted in the first cup were now slightly noticeable (if at all).

As you can see, this is a visually stunning tea consisting of the full leaf and buds. Aromatics and flavors are great…changing with different steep times! A fantastic tea all around!! With one more cup in my sample, I’ll enjoy it later today, with plans of a bigger purchase in the near future. :))

Cupped & Reviewed: Friday, December 16, 2011.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec
TeaBrat

It sounds delicious!

ScottTeaMan

It really is….It is sorta malty and sweet like The Nahorhabi Assam, but with an earthiness typical of many Yunnans. I may up the rating today.

teaNsympathy

Wow you were right, this sounds absolutely amazing!! My mouth is watering; I’ll be trying and most likely buying this on Saturday!!! Thanks for the tip, I’m excited!!

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77
drank Original Blend by Red Rose
111 tasting notes

As a kid, I used to drink Lipton only when I was sick, or on rare occasions doused with sugar. My Grandpap reintroduced me to tea many years later, drinking Lipton, and occasionally bringing out Canadian Red Rose tea he would get when visiting his cousin in Toronto. He claimed that the Canadian Red Rose tea was better than the Red Rose sold in the US. So we would drink it, and I must admit that it really is better. So we would talk about almost everything, and he would play his Big Band music, watch British comedies and mysteries, and we would drink this tea. Paps is no longer with us, but I will always cherish the memories, and his influence on my life—and the tea!! :))

I usually drink this tea plain and steeped at 3:00-3:30, it is rather smooth, but bland when compared to better grades of tea. As an off the shelf supermarket tea, it is my favorite. If I steep it longer, sometimes I’ll add a dash of milk to soften it a little. I still drink this tea on occasion-once or twice a week sometimes-and remember Paps. Tonight I added a little bit of sugar like I used to years ago.

Tea drinking is an experience that should be fun and relaxing. If I rate this tea based on that and all the great memories, I’d have to give it 100. Based on flavor, it is about 61 to 64.

During the Holidays, however you celebrate them, remember to have a special cup of tea with loved ones, and create new memories; but, also try to remember all the positive people and memories that have influenced your life! :))

Cupped: Wed, December 14, 2011. Reviewed: Thu, December 15. 2011.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 30 sec
Dorothy

Wonderful story, thanks for sharing it with us on Steepster.

ScottTeaMan

Your welcome.

Indigobloom

powerful memory! x

Ellyn

What a great memory.

quietcreation

This might be my favorite review on here. Love hearing about good tea and memories.

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84

The third in a trifecta of Christmas teas I’ve ordered from Stash Tea over the past several years (along with White Christmas & Holiday Chai). First cup steeped as stated below. At different points I sniffed the wet tea bag, and thought I smelled each tea. On the teabag wrapper the teas listed are Assam, Darjeeling, Ceylon, Keemun, Sumatra, & Jasmine. So it is possible the teabag blend is different.

The cup was rather dark and immediately I smelled the Jasmine. I also smelled Darjeeling & Ceylon notes, and possibly the Assam. It’s hard to detect everything—sometimes I feel like my nose is playing tricks on me. :// I did notice quite a bit of sweetness in the nose and thought it was the Keemun, but according to the description, “the Jasmine imparts a lingering, sweet fragrance”.

The Ceylon adds a smoothness to the flavor profile. The other noticeable flavors are Darjeeling (not too astringent), Jasmine & Assam. The Jasmine & Darjeeling especially linger on my tongue. A very smooth, and enjoyable cup, that exhibited no bitterness.

My second cup was steeped as below, but at 5:30. The cup was darker, and the aromas were still there, but to a lesser extent. I feel that some of the flavor nuances were lost with the longer steep, while it was still an enjoyable cup that showed no bitterness.

Teabags are sometimes more convenient for me during the Holidays, although the great majority of my tea drinking is enjoyed loose leaf style. I really look forward to this blend during the Holidays, and it is very well balanced and delicious! :))

Cupped: Sunday/Monday, December 11/12, 2011.

Reviewed: Monday, December 12, 2011.

ADDITIONAL NOTE*** 12/13/2011: I thought I’d add a little milk (very little), and I let the tea steep for 7 minutes. Honestly, the subtleties were lost. I could taste the tea with the milk, but it tasted only slightly better than regular tea. Sometimes I think I do things like this to my tea just to remind myself not to do it again! At some point in the future, I’m sure I’ll gently remind myself…again. :))

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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95
drank Zhen Qu Tea by Stash Tea
111 tasting notes

Look at this gorgeous tea! That’s right…….I said it. Beautiful black tea with curly, furry leaves. It reminds me of a Black Bi Lo Chun. Not only does it look great it smells great yo! Chocolate notes abound & fill my senses. I was all intent for a fun, yet serious review. Sometimes things don’t work out as planned.

My niece is here from Oregon, and it is great to have here visiting. So, here I was with my tea and ready to get everything right, when she decides to throw trail mix in my Zhen Qu. I said, “NO Brie, don’t!”…….“Stop Brie, you’re ruining my tea!” Of course she continued to fill my tea with various nuts, cranberries, chocolate bits, etc. In the end, I gave up my protest, and eventually laughter filled the air. So I will call this Brie’s Nut Blend tea!

Black tea base was very noticeable….a good quality China black with tremendous nut flavor…actually a pretty good blend. Oddly the liqour transformed from black to milky brown right before my eyes. This blend is alot like Brie…….Fantastic and one of a kind! Like her this blend encompasses lots of spirit. It deserves a very special rating of 86.

Tea drinking can be serious and contemplative. At times, like today, it should also evoke fun and laughter! :)) I’m glad for Brie’s visit here, and the times we’ve shared. She’s leaving soon (Wed), and I’ll miss her dearly, but I’m thankful for the memories!

To be continued…….

Cupped & reviewed: Friday, December 9, 2011.

Off to have another cup of Zhen Qu this late Saturday morning.

OK….lots of chocoloate aromatics in the dry leaf….wet leaf smells of deeper & darker chocolate notes. Nice small, steeped whole leaf. Medium to dark brown in color, the liqour smells so sweet. Mouth feel is full and sweet, with yes, chocolate notes! I really like this tea. It has lots of sweetness with no bitterness…….so delicious!!

Cupped & Reviewed: Saturday, December 10, 2011.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 45 sec
ashmanra

I have only had the one from Southern Season, but it is fabulous tea. It is the first fine tea at Sandy and I drank together, and one of the first I learned to love with no additions. Sadly, I have run out. Gladly, my son now lives minutes away from Southern Season and is willing to pick up tea for me!

ScottTeaMan

You mean they have Zhen Qu there? Is this the Southern Season you are talking about? :

http://www.southernseason.com/default.asp

Looks like such a great place to shop. Can you sample tea there?! I’ve only seen it a couple places, and here is where I bought mine.:

http://www.stashtea.com/Stash-Tea-Zhen-Qu-Black/dp/B005WKZG7U

It is really a great tea, and I think it is worth the price.

ashmanra

That’s the place! I love it. There is also a fantastic shop, very eclectic, a few stores down that we love called Night Gallery/Branching Out. A trip to Chapel Hill is a big date day for hubby and me, and we get to go soon because we are almost out of wheat! Hooray! We buy that in Wake Forest, but close enough!

I think the Zhen Qu at Stash costs less. Next time I get some I will send you a bit so you can compare the two.

ashmanra

You can see what they sell by clicking on Daily Tea and Fine Tea at the bottom of the list on the left on their home page. It will pull up the PDF of the price lists. Also, if you click on Coffee and Tea about halfway down that first list on the home page, you can find the monthly specials. They always have a special on a fine tea and a daily tea.

ScottTeaMan

Oh, Thank you! It looks like a really great place. I could get lost for hours in that place! :))

E Alexander Gerster

Amazing! I used to go to A Southern Season in the 1980’s when I lived in Raleigh and worked in Carrboro. They had the best selection of coffee and teas in the Triangle area, and I am so glad to see that they are still around.
The Zhen Qu sounds great, and reminds me of the Morning Sun black tea I have on my wishlist from Mandala Tea. So many teas, too little time! :)

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97
drank Masala Chai by Rishi Tea
111 tasting notes

AWESOME! When I smelled this tea…..It is the best smelling Chai! Cardamon and clove are up front with the black pepper and ginger following in toe. A perfect mixture to stir the senses. It looks delicious too. The wet leaves smell phenomenal!! That’s all I can say….sensory overload…in a good way. :))

In the cup I get mainly cardamon and clove, but the black pepper is quite noticeable….the ginger less so. The base tea was noticeable, which I like, even in a Chai, with the other flavors not completely overwhelming the tea. Delicious! I love the way the flavors dance on my tongue, and let me know they’ve been there even after the tea is gone. Three solid cups, just at or below boiling-for 3.5, 3.5 and 5 minutes. My last cup had the most cinnamon aroma and flavor, as it migrated to the bottom of the sample bag.

Overall, this is my favorite Chai, with a good balance of tea, aroma, and taste. A little more black pepper in the cup, and I’d have given it a perfect score. Many thanks Amy! :))

Cupped:Tue/Wed, 12-06 & 07, 2011. Reviewed: Wednesday, December 7, 2011.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 30 sec
TeaBrat

I like it too… hee hee!

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86

This past Saturday I made this my afternoon tea. It had been years since I had Tou Cha, and for some reason I thought the “teabowl” stayed intact. So I put it in a porcelain cup without a strainer, added nearly boiling water and POOF the tea leaves scattered. What were they afraid of?? Surely not hot water!

I had wanted to brew shorter steeps, but after rescuing my tea leaves with my glass press, the first steep was around 1.5 minutes. Dark color & a muddy, earthy, mushroom aroma greeted me. There was also a sweetness in the aroma. Full mouth feel, full of earthy mushroom sweetness I really enjoyed. At 1.5 minutes the 2nd cup was dark and deeper in flavor. Flavors and aromas waned in the 3rd cup (5 min), but it was still sweet, dark, earthy, and quite enjoyable. Always a smooth cup, and one more Tuo Cha for a future brew.

For lunch today I decided to steep my last Tuo Cha longer to intensify more of the flavors. My first steep was 3 min at 205 degrees. Cup was extremely dark, almost black; in fact, around the edges where the tea meets the cup, the tea seemed to have a purple hue. All aromas & flavors were intensified with the longer steep. More earth, mushrooms, and sweetness with no bitterness!

I forgot my second cup and let it steep for 7 minutes at 212 degrees. Flavors were still intensified-although less so than the previous cup. The sweetness in the second cup surprised me. I knew it would be there, but I said, “WOAH”, and couldn’t believe the sweetness that hit my tongue. This was the sweetest of all the cups I drank!

I find this Tuo Cha extremely drinkable, smooth, yet full flavored, sweet and delicious! Its unique qualities make it special. I’m going to experiment with more Tuo Cha teas in the future. Thank you kind Amy for this great sample. :))

Cupped: Saturday & Tuesday, 12-03 & 06-2011. Reviewed: Tue, 12-06-2011.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 1 min, 30 sec
TeaBrat

I am glad you liked it. It is very mushroomy and earthy…

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92
drank Holiday Chai by Stash Tea
111 tasting notes

One week ago I began drinking this tea, as I have done for several years after Thanksgiving. I do have the teabag version, and occasionally I order teabags for their simplicity and convenience.

This is a delicious Holiday blend, even though I can’t taste the black tea. Normally I would mind, but I consider this an exception and a good dessert tea. Predominant aromas and flavors are cinnamon, allspice, clove, and nutmeg. I don’t really smell or taste the ginger root or the rum flavoring, but that doesn’t mean the don’t have an influence in the aroma and flavor. I just can’t detect them and rather than over focussing on details, the enjoyment of tea is important.

Drinking this tea is like drinking pumpkin pie gingerbread cookies. Good, solid tastes on the tongue that linger. I like to add a drop of skim milk once in a while, just to mix it up a little…….sounds dangerous huh?! :)) Anywho, there you have it…oh, I brew it 5 to 8+ minutes. A very satisfying Holiday Chai.

Cupped & reviewed Monday, December 5, 2011.

Preparation
Boiling 7 min, 0 sec

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80
drank White Christmas by Stash Tea
111 tasting notes

My morning cup today. I’ve been drinking this tea the last three to four years between Thanksgiving and New Year. I am finishing last years supply, and it is surprisingly still fresh, thanks to foil wrapped teabags. It’s a good Holiday tea.

In the past, it was hard to detect the Ginger-I usually never noticed it. Today I was focussed on the teas qualities, intent on noticing the Ginger if it was there. The white tea is subtle, but noticeable, while the dominant flavor is the peppermint. The description is accurate regarding the ginger. When I swirl the tea in my mouth I detect a hint of ginger. Upon swallowing the ginger hits the back of my throat. The tea-ginger included-stays nicely on my tongue. I guess in the past, I was expecting more kick and intensity from the ginger and it eluded me. The subtlety of the ginger is perfect here. I’m sure the longer steep time brings it out. Overall a really good, satisfying blend I’ve come to enjoy during the Holidays!

Cupped and reviewed: Thursday, December 1, 2011.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 8 min or more

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91
drank Mei Li by The Tao of Tea
111 tasting notes

My lunchtime tea today. Awesome!! Full review to come later. Thank You Amy!!

Have you ever lost contact with a friend and years later, you pick up right where you left off, the reconnection almost seemless. It has happened to me a few times. It’s funny because I’ve realized that even though people reconnect, they tend to be the same (in some ways), yet they are different, still a friend after all the years. Mei Li is one beatiful tea, that sent me down memory lane, reminding me of good friends, and of a tea I purchased from Upton Tea 6 years 11 months ago.

This tea was called Sword of the Emperor, a China Tea with tea leaves that were long and shaped like swords (of course)! Such a beautiful & delicious tea, I reordered it a couple more times. After it sold out, I came to the realization that I may never see this tea again {SIGHHH}.

Then I received this sample from Amy, and I gave it a try. When I opened the sample bag of Mei Li, I was literally transported back in time, upon smelling the tea leaves! Sword of the Emperor…….my dear friend. No, this was not SOTE, but Mei Li, perhaps a sister, as the characteristics of the teas are strikingly similar and familiar.

Heavenly fresh, with delightful smokey, woody notes fill the air as I inhale. Dry leaves are truly beautiful-swordlike and dark green, with white edges and tips. The wet leaves have a wonderful spinich/asparagus, smokey, woody nose (think grilled asparagus). All of those aromas come across in the cup, and on the palate and tongue, with a full mouth feel. The first two cups are most vegetal, while the last two are less so, exhibiting more of the smokey/woody notes. The fourth cup was still very good with fading flavors. The third & fourth cups were steeped at 2 and 4 minutes at higher temps with no bitterness. Truly a special tea for me, I will reorder this one without a doubt.

Like that special friend you reconnect with from your past, very familiar yet different. Glad to see you Sword….er…Mei Li. We’ll keep in touch! Thank you again Amy, mon ami. :))

Cupped: Thursday, December 1, 2011 Reviewed: 12-01 & 12-05-2011.

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 1 min, 0 sec

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86

I have been drinking Cranberry teas for years around Thanksgiving, and of course it is perfect with Turkey Day dinner, and with pumpkin pie. I first purchased Harney & Sons Cranberry Autumn Tea several years ago and didn’t like it. I couldn’t taste any Cranberry at all! The next year I ordered Cranberry Tea from Specialteas and loved it. I think Upton Tea uses the same supplier as Specialteas, because it looks and tastes similar, or the same-delicious!

It smells so good upon opening the bag, sweet and fruity, and there are huge dried cranberries in the blend. I just wish there were more Cranberries, but if that were the case, there would be less tea. The wet leaves smell do good ’n fruity. PattiM says it tastes medicinal & artificial, but I disagree completely. The liquer is a solid reddish brown. The cup has a good aroma. I really enjoy the flavors on my palate, with the base tea coming through really well (I think it is a Ceylon).

There is a good fruity taste, with the cranberry tartness coming through. Last year I remember more cranberry tartness. My tea is a couple years old so I think some of the tartness has dissipated. Perhaps a longer steep with boiling water will bring out more tartness. Still, this is a really good cranberry tea with that tart “bite” of cranberries I love. This tea is the best Cranberry tea I’ve tasted yet, with fruitiness mixed in to enhance the flavor. The tea base is smooth yet strong enough to make this a well balanced Cranberry tea. Bring on the turkey-actually, my dad and I are having pheasant-and the pumpkin pie! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! :))

Cupped: Wed, 11-23-2011. Reviewed: Wed, 11-23-2011.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 30 sec

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