361 Tasting Notes

Terri packed her teas for the BBB in tins this time and I couldn’t find my card that told me which was which. I made this one because the other one was clearly a yunnan and I wasn’t sure that’s what i wanted. So dumped some of this one in my gaiwan and hoped for the best. I was SHOCKED to find out this is a yunnan. I couldn’t place what it was, but it isn’t like most yunnans. Not that I don’t like yunnans, I just don’t love yunnans. I’m really enjoying this. Slightly chocolatey, slightly fruity, a slight pepperiness to it. Very enjoyable!

Thanks Terri!

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drank La Naissance by Fauchon
361 tasting notes

This one smells amazing and i thought I’d love it. Unfortunately, the rose petal won out. I am soooooo not a floral/rose tea fan. This is going in my daughters’ drawer. She loves the rose teas.

Thanks Sil!

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In case anyone out there doesn’t know already, Sil and Terri are the best. I just got the BBB box in the mail and it is filled to the brim with not only an amazing amount of awesome teas, Terri put in her Christmas CD so I can actually hear the Harp Lady in action! Sil, in typical Sil mode, put in an insane amount of tea. Her generosity is seriously enormous. Loving my tea ladies today!

To the tea!!! So I’m not a fruity tea gal, but lately my tastes have been changing. Not sure why. Maybe it was spending so much time in the dark roasty corners of laoshan and fujian teas that the pendulum has now swung the opposite way. I’m actually really enjoying this! Not gonna lie, I put a tiny dash of whipped cream on it and it’s super good. Like a berries & cream dessert. Thanks Sil!

Sil

Go go trying French teas heh

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99

My computer is back to life!!! Woo hoo! I’ve been scanning the posts from my phone, but I haven’t felt motivated enough to write any notes from my phone. Especially as more time passed, the less motivated I was. But my computer is fixed and this tea needs a review.

It is sooooooooooooo good. It tastes very similar to Wild Mountain Black, but more cinnamon and pumpkin, but with a deepness of an Assam. Seriously delicious. On its own or with a touch of cream and honey to turn it into pumpkin pie. I just ordered an obscene amount of this, but I’m going to share it with the BBB ladies, so I don’t feel too bad about it!

Terri HarpLady

Yay!!! You’re back, I was starting to wonder where you’d gotten off to! Regarding the tea, I wanted to try that one, but I’m not allowed to buy anything else right now, so YAY again! :)

Fjellrev

This sounds amazeballs, and I’m glad you got your computer fixed! It’s crazy how you don’t realize how much you depend on it until something happens to it.

Sil

Ditto what Terri said haha

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93
drank Special Dark by Mandala Tea
361 tasting notes

Oh Special Dark. I really owe you today. I must be older than I thought because I had a few beers last night and am really hurting today. You, Special Dark, have brought be back to life. Somehow I knew you would help, and you really did. In appreciation of your awesomeness, I will break my post black friday resolution and purchase some more of you right now. I have a feeling over the course of the next 2 weeks I’ll be relying on you a lot. Thanks for being strong and reliable. Cheers- Amy

Garret

This is excellent! I read your review after packaging and shipping your order. The shipping software showed a predicted arrival of 12/21 for your teas!

Special dark rules! I’m so happy that you are digging it. Next time you imbibe in the alcohol, do what I do and tea it up while you drink. Works every time and I’m 47, far older than you :) The hydrating effects of the tea will really help counter the dehydrating effects of zee booze. Hopefully, you aren’t gluten sensitive as that would make beer a bigger culprit! Wishing you great joy and perfect health, Garret

Bonnie

We do have gluten free beer here in COLORADO! (Just sayin…look for rice or sorghum based beer in specialty stores)

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100
drank The Black Lotus by Butiki Teas
361 tasting notes

I have a million new teas to try, but all I could think of this morning is that I needed to have a cup of this. It’s soooooo good. I’m almost out of my little bag already. I’ll be picking up a bigger bag this time! Love the flavors that meld in this cup. So well done. This is a for sure staple. Perfect for a typical morning. It’s not super bold, which I need sometimes to slap me in the face, but for a regular morning when I want to wake up gently while making breakfast for the kids, perfection. Ahhh…

TheTeaFairy

awww, so regret not ordering that blend…oh well, there will be a next time, right?

TastyBrew

Yeah, definitely, with Butiki there is ALWAYS a next time :-)

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drank Cider Guayusa by Butiki Teas
361 tasting notes

I love all Stacy’s Guayusa blends, but this one may be my new favorite. It’s seriously delicious. Tastes just like apple cider. I think I’ll play with it a bit… mix it with the super spicy one and then throw in some fresh ginger. I love ginger apple cider. Yum.

tea-sipper

I ALMOST steeped this up tonight!

TastyBrew

I love the guayusa blends, but I learned the hard way to not drink them at night. The caffeine doesn’t jack me up or anything, but definitely keeps me way too alert to fall asleep. I’ve read it’s good for drinking at night to be more in control of your dreams, but it just made me wide awake.

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drank Yi Mei Ren by Yunnan Sourcing
361 tasting notes

This is another good one from YS courtesy of Terri Harplady and the BBB. This tastes of roasted nuts and is incredibly smooth. I’m using my gaiwan and accidentally forgot it during the 20 second steep and it went for about 2 minutes. Not at all bitter. Just extra roasty and nutty. I don’t taste anything sweet or chocolatey, just a nice roasted tea. I like it!

Terri HarpLady

I’ve really enjoyed this one. Not much left, I think this will be a re-order.

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drank Irish Breakfast by Butiki Teas
361 tasting notes

Yum. This is a good breakfast blend. Super smooth and not overly bitter, just the right amount. I would definitely reorder this if it wasn’t sold out! Glad I have an ounce!

Terri HarpLady

What? It’s sold out?
Oh well, I have plenty for now. As long as Stacy makes more, I’ll be ok.

Butiki Teas

Terri-I can’t make more until next harvest of the Hattialli unfortunately. I’m working on a new Irish Breakfast that utilizes the Dinjoye.

Terri HarpLady

Bummer! I wanted to use the Irish breakfast as the base for my “Birthday Present” tea…or maybe we’ll call it “My Precious”

Butiki Teas

Terri-Sorry about that. I have high expectations for the new Irish Breakfast though. Haahaha, “My Precious” should at least be the working title. I love it! :)

Terri HarpLady

Make it so! :)

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drank Crimson Horizon by Butiki Teas
361 tasting notes

Woah. This tea doesn’t taste like what I expected it to. It looks like a CTC Assam, but does not taste like it. Definitely bold. Needed some cream and honey. I like it, but I don’t think it will be a reorder. I think I over steeped it, though, and CTCs are kind of whiny about over steeping. I’ll add another note once I do the parameters as Stacy suggested.

Sil

wonder if i picked this one up haha

TastyBrew

If you didn’t, I can send you some next go round.

Sil

looks like i didn’t in checking my invoice, so i’d love a cup or two to try

TastyBrew

Cool. I’l remember what it is this time :-)

Terri HarpLady

I’ve never seen this one…

Butiki Teas

TastyBrew-I’ve played around with the steeping parameters on this one and I find 1 level tsp around 190F or slightly less for no more than a minute produces an amazing complex cup with no astringency. If you have a chance, try reducing the temperature. Its really lovely.

TastyBrew

Thanks Stacy! I’ll try that tomorrow for my morning cup. I think I’ve reached my saturation point for caffeine this morning :-)

Butiki Teas

TastyBrew-Haha. I definitely know that feeling. :)

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Profile

Bio

I love tea. And I love beer. I spent my twenties thoroughly enjoying all that beer has to offer but now that I’m into my thirties and a stay at home mom of 2 little kids and 1 big kid, I spend more time enjoying tea.

I joined steepster in Feb 2013 and it’s crazy how much my tastes have changed since joining. Before, I liked cream and honey in all teas and loved mostly dessert blacks. Now I almost rarely drink them, but enjoy them from time to time. What I love more than anything are straight rich black teas, Fujian, Laoshan, Rizhao, etc… I also love pretty much any black tea that the little leaf hoppers have gotten their teeth on.

I’m still not too into the green/white/oolong varieties. I keep trying to but my tastes are evolving pretty slowly on that front.

Overall, I just enjoy tea. Something about it that just settles me.

Location

Portland, OR

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