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Geeze. I’ve had this for awhile and not even tried it. It was still heat sealed and everything and I wanted to get through the stuff that wasn’t first, so I guess that’s a good reason to keep passing over it. But no longer. Mainly because I just grabbed this first and put the container back before I could change my mind. Lol!
I was a bit hesitant about the amount suggested to use, which was 2 heaping tsp for 8 oz, but I went with it anyway, though my tsp were only mildly heaping. Though I did 3 tsp for 12oz instead.
Honestly, it turned out pretty good, though my infuser was almost exploding with leaves. It has a honey-like aroma though I don’t really detect any sort of peach notes that scream ‘peach’. Taste wise it’s slightly roasty, maybe a bit green and has a hint of honey/fruity lurking in the background. There’s little to no astringency and it’s a very mellow/mild tea. My brain seems kinda broke on trying to think up exactly what I’m tasting, so apologies. But I’m on vacation, so I’m allowed a little brain-not-in-service moment. Lol!
I added just a bit of Truvia since I like my tea sweet usually no matter what, but I can’t really tell I even added any. And to be honest, this tea was pretty nice without the sweetner, I just had to add it to see what it would do.
I’m not sure I’ll reorder it, mostly because I’m not sure I can reorder it what with Tazo being absorbed into Starbucks since I ordered this last. But I’ll definitely drink through the bag eventually.

Since the Nutmeg Cream wasn’t a big hit, and I didn’t really feel like something unflavored, I grabbed this out to try. I’ve had it long enough, so to speak, so I figured I’d better get to it eventually.
The dry is cute little Zhen Qu curls with chunks of carrot. I shook it slightly in the bag to mix everything up and got a puff of golden dust in thanks. Lol!
The brew definitely smells of carrot, with a faint hint of vanilla. Sipping at it I get some spice and a perfume-y taste/sensation, but I don’t get carrot cake. The perfume isn’t heavy or cloying. It’s like breathing a mellow, spicy blended potpourri, but in liquid form. (Alright, so maybe not the best description. Lol). It’s not unpleasant to drink, but it’s certainly not what I would expect from something that’s supposed to be modeled after/inspired by carrot cake.
Overall, it’s surprising that this wasn’t spot on like most of Stacy’s blends usually are. Maybe I have a skewed idea of what carrot cake should be? Dunno.
It’s still good and I’d drink it, but it’s not something I’d reach for often.

So Cavocorax had sent me a sample of this and I was pretty jazzed about being able to try it. Especially considering that I very nearly ordered it when it went up for sale on Butiki’s website, but resisted in the end.
There was alot of dust/particles in the bottom of the package. Maybe it was flavoring or something, but I made sure to shake it up so I didn’t miss some possibly vital part of the tea. In hindsight, I should’ve left it alone. XD
For some reason, I had gotten it in my head that this was Hazelnut Cream, so not getting hazelnut in the first sip was a bit of a start. Lol!
I haven’t really had nutmeg much (or really at all if I’m being honest) so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It has a strange sharp/spicy/nutty sort of smell that’s present in the taste. Along with an almost powdery sort of taste sensation. Hard to describe. I do get a sort of cream taste in the background that’s like a smooth undercurrent. Not sweet and adding a bit of Truvia didn’t really do much at all for the tea. There was also alot of particles in the bottom of my cup that I’m pretty sure added extra bitterness, so I guess I should’ve left it settled.
I’m pretty sure that I don’t much care for it, so I’m glad that I didn’t end up buying it, but still glad to try it. Apparently nutmeg is one of the flavors I just don’t care for. Lol!

So this is the second sample I got from Whispering Pines. The last one I had I kinda messed up on the measure so I figured I’d actually measure 1 1/2 tsp (1/2 tbsp) out so then I can have two regular mugs. Well, unfortunately the sample I got had barely 2 tsp in it so I just ended up making the whole sample again anyway. /sigh/ Oh well.
Taste wise I get fruity and kinda smoky, which is very nice. I also get a edge of bitterness which is probly from me using 2 ish tsp for my 12oz mug, but who knows.
I definitely like it better after adding a bit of truvia which tones down the bitterness.
In the end I might order some of this one day or if it’s on sale and I’m putting in an order anyway, but I don’t really feel the need to place an immediate order and hoard all. XD

Still good. This was the tea I should’ve had instead of the Hattialli Golden Paw Assam I made last night. That was more astringent than I was wanting. This is sweet and malty and just a hint roasty/woody. And no astringency.

Originally I wanted to make Golden Orchid but I wanted to save that for after work tomorrow since it’s bound to be a stressful day. But North Winds was supposed to be smiliar-ish and since I had gotten that in the three tea sample pack that I had bought, I figured what the heck.
So I was kinda confused on how to make this. The package said use a 1/2 tbsp for an 8oz cup but everyone here seems to say use a full tbsp for their 8-12oz cups. And since there was just the tbsp in the package and I usually make 12oz-ish cups I just dumped the whole thing into the infuser. Kinda bummed that I can’t make another cup, but I guess I should’ve just done the 1/2 tsp for an 8oz cup. Oh well. Hindsight right? Lol.
The brew reminds me strongly of Laoshan Black to be honest. It’s got that same sort of roasty, chocolaty sort of scent that I remember from the Laoshan Black.
Taste wise I get a very heavily roasty sip, with a bit of sweetness in the sip. I don’t really get fruit when I get that sweetness though. Mild-ish astringency. I could see if I drank alot of it that the astringency might get a bit much after awhile. It’s mostly just a roasty sort of brew to drink for me.
After adding a bit of Truvia, the roastyness has backed off a bit and a more chocolaty sort of note has come up. Very nice actually.
Since I used my whole sample for this cup, I’m going to give resteeping this a second try at least. Just to see if that makes a different brew.
But I’m not sure if this is a reorder for me. I’m honestly not too enamored of teas that are so roasty tasting. But it’s certainly still a nice cup of tea to sip at.

Tea #3 from Another Traveling Tea Box R2
This tea kinda almost makes up for the rest of the box being a flop for me. It’s pretty dang good. (Which surprised me really)
When I popped open the package I was like ‘Cantaloupe? Really?’ /intent stare/ It actually reminded me strongly of Butiki’s Cantaloupe & Cream with the smell. I hadn’t been too thrilled with that one since it was early on in my tea experimenting stage, so I passed it on fairly quickly.
Since I’m still not too big on white teas, I figured I might as well give this a shot since it’s here and all.
Kinda faked it on brewing parameters since there’s nothing official that I could find. But I think I managed to get a decent brew from it.
The scent of the brew was strongly juicy cantaloupe, though I didn’t find much watermelon in it.
Taste wise, the unsweetened brew is very cantaloupe, but with some truvia this tea really hits the mark. Sweet, juicy and divine. I swear it’s like drinking just straight cantaloupe juice. I still am not getting much of any sort of watermelon, but maybe that’s just how the measure of the leaves turned out. It’s a definite departure from my usual malty’/heavy’ sort of teas that I’ve been drinking lately, but in a good way.
I wonder if this would be as good iced as it is hot. /ponders/ I wish 52Teas still had this for sale. Lol.

Tea #2 from Another Traveling Tea Box R2
So when I make a lychee tea, I expect to smell something at least vaguely fruity. The only smell I’m getting from this tea is pepper. Very strong pepper tinged with something kinda green in the background.
Taste wise it’s not too bad. Kinda perfume-y. But I still get that pepper taste. Maybe from the fact that I have to smell the tea as I’m drinking. Or maybe it’s prevalent in the tea itself. Not sure. But I know this is something I’d never want to buy myself. Though I’m pretty sure it’s not available anymore. So I guess I don’t have to worry about that. Lol!

First tea from Another Traveling Tea Box
All I can taste in this one is bergamot honestly. Maybe something vaguely vanilla, but mostly just bergamot. Which I dislike, though not as much as I was originally thinking.
This was better with some truvia, but didn’t really enhance the tea in general. Just made it drinkable. Lol!