13 Tasting Notes
Upon opening the tin, the unmistakeable scent of jasmine wafted through the air. This worried me at first, because I generally associate strong scents to artificial flavor, and artificial jasmine flavors come off as chemical-like to me. I was pleasantly surprised, however. The jasmine taste is very smooth and pleasant without covering up the oolong. This tea is very relaxing to me, and has proved to be one of the only jasmine teas I have actually liked. I have to thank adagio on this one for the new maestro collection. It’s an exciting experience to try higher quality teas at affordable prices.
Preparation
I love everything about this tea. The silver fuzz on the leaves, the sweet smell of dew-laden grass in the morning, and the golden yellow liquor. The flavor is subtle, delicate, but complex. It reminds me of burnt sugar with a slight vegital taste. I try to only drink this when I have time to just sit and enjoy the complexities of the tea while enjoying the moment. I also find that silver needle is good for at least three steeps, which makes the price tag not seem as bad. Highly recommended.
Preparation
I was on the RoT website and saw their new line of hibiscus tea so I decided I’d give it a try. I’ve never had hibiscus tea before, so I really have nothing to compare this with. The color of the tea comes out as a nice crimson and the smell is tangy with acidic undertones from the lime. I really enjoyed this one, and I think it would make a great iced tea, although I haven’t tried it yet. The taste is like a lime cider and it is very refreshing. One of my friends tried this as well and enjoyed it as well.
Preparation
It was Christmastime and as I strolled down the tea aisle in the local grocery store, I saw this festive tea. It is certainly an interesting idea for a tea so I decided to give it a try. This was my first tea from Celestial Seasonings and I have to say that I’m looking forward to trying more from them. The initial scent of the tea is exactly like a candy cane. The tea also tastes remarkably like a minty candy cane, and it’s very enjoyable. The package says that this comes on a green tea base but it tasted more herbal to me than anything. Nevertheless, this is a great tea to try if you are fortunate enough to find it.
Preparation
I have to agree with Mitch. I initially tried this tea because of the interesting blend of lemon, peach, and roobios, but it actually makes me feel happier when I drink it. It has a very fruity and cheerful taste as well as smell to it. I’ve shared this tea with five other people so far and they have all enjoyed it as well. This is definitely a staple for me to wind down my day with.
Preparation
Upon opening the tin I did not like the smell of the tea all that much but I was pleasantly surprised when I brewed a cup and tasted it. The tea has a vegetal flavor but it is sweet and pleasant. The taste is fairly mild so I recommend brewing the tea longer than the suggested time on the tin.
Preparation
I finally made my way to teavana and decided to spring for their ultimate oolong. The flavor and scent is a sweet mix between vegetal and flowery. After drinking a couple cups of this I felt very relaxed and soothed. It is rather expensive tea ($12.50/ounce) but it can be infused up to 3 times. It is hard to go wrong with this oolong.
Preparation
This was my first Rooibos tea and still is my favorite. The vanilla flavor is not as pronounced as I would have hoped but it is enough to be noticed and compliment the earthy rooibos flavor. This one is a staple for me. I’ve read that rooibos soothes the central nervous system and I certainly believe it. After a couple cups of it at night, I’m relaxed and ready for bed.
Preparation
I’m not a huge black tea fan but I loved this tea regardless. The ginger and peach blend well together and give a subtle boost for those tough mornings. I find that the ginger tastes is more pronounced than the peach flavor but it still works well. The ginger helps settle an upset stomach.
Preparation
I will have to give it a try. I’ve only recently gotten into tea in the last few months when I started college. I’m still experimenting.