788 Tasting Notes
Typing this on my work iPad so you’ll have to check my blog later for full detail and pictures
1 teabag
6 ounces filtered boiling water
5 minutes
Dry leaf smell – berry tart lime
Tea smell – tart, berry, lime, sweet
Tea – tart berry (hibiscus) lime
Full body
After taste is sweet
Good enough I’ll enjoy the rest, but it seems like it would be better as not a tea, perhaps a pie or jello?
Served hot
Thanks for the sample Meghann M
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 3 heaping teaspoons
Water: 750 milliliters filtered, 212°
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (Black, Strong, Auto start)
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Strong vanilla, hints sweet cherry not fake but real fruity scent
Steeped Tea Smell: Sweet vanilla black tea
Flavor: Astringent, slightly bitter black tea a hint of vanilla
Body: Full
Aftertaste: Astringent, slightly bitter
Liquor: Mostly opaque dark brown with slight reddish orange hints
Post-Steep Additives:
+German Rock Sugar – no more bitterness, brings out the vanilla, still not getting the cherry
+Lactose-free milk – less astringency much better
This is from LENA in the wonderful little Tupperware containers! Yes another one I have been hiding away and am finally getting to.
This tea is a good strong wake you up black with a bad astringency problem. I am very glad I didn’t order a whole tin! Thank you again LENA for helping me satisfy my curiosity and not end up drowning in ‘Meh’ tea.
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/republic-of-tea-loose-leaf-black-tea.html
Preparation
Steep Information: Prepared as part of the Steepster meetup and tea tasting
This was a 2009 dragon well tea
The older the dragon well the more yellow the liquor
2010 would appear mostly clear as it would be so fresh and new
The tea appeared cloudy with particulate
It smelled nutty, it has a light body, The flavor was sweet
The tea should always have a bud and one to two leaves
To me the leaves appeared as if rolled into little toothpicks
The steeped leaves should always appear very green
Sorry my notes are so short and cryptic but it was a whirlwind tasting of so much information and flavor!
I am intentionally not rating these teas as I didn’t really have a chance to sit there and sip on them and think whether I would by them again, like to play with them more, although none were awful (1 leaf) or fabulous (4 leaves)
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/radiance-tea-house-and-books-loose-leaf_05.html
I know you stated reasons why you didn’t rate these teas, but being such a flippin type A person when it comes to my steeping parameters, I’m always interested in the ratings of teas that you didn’t have control over a single parameter.
it was like 2-3 sips of each, and they were all enjoyable, but not OMG WANT – so i’d say between 50 and 75
so in order of like, least to best, lapsang souchong, dragonwell, keemun, sencha, silver needle, apricot rooibos, golden lilly, pheonix
Thanks, I think ratings on these teas are actually more important cuz you have to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into where as if you make it yourself you can always change something.
I would agree if I had been in Radiance getting a full little pot to myself or to share, and I usually do rate those – but multi-tasking (pictures, notes, conversation) with only a few sips leaves me barely remembering the tea before i’m sipping the next one…so it would be unfair to the teas to rely on my memory in that state IMO
Haha true. If I’m going to a place like that I take a small notebook w/ me. That way I can capture 1st impressions.
Steep Information:
Amount: 4 or 5 heaping tsp
Water: 750 ml filtered water brought to 212°
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, spice, nutty
Steeped Tea Smell: spice, nut
Flavor: apple, wood, almond, cinnamon
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet, then a bit of spice
Liquor: translucent orange-red
Gift from SoccerMom, a while ago, and I am just getting to it! (One would find it hard to believe but I am behind on tea drinking!)
Disappointed I wasn’t getting more coconut or ginger flavor as I enjoy both flavors. I am pleased it is reminiscent of amaretto (I adore Disaronno) – which is why it ended up on my shopping list to try in the first place.
I think it would need to be steeped longer to get more of a kick from it.
Overall a very enjoyable and only slightly rooibossy tea, but not one I think I will keep in stock, but I might pick up occasionally.
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/teavana-loose-leaf-rooibos-tea-zingiber.html
Preparation
The 4th line alone makes me love this tasting note:)
Ohhhhhh… you have your Breville… please post to my new thread about the differences between the Breville and Zarafina! I want to know so that I can make an informed decision for my birthday/mother’s day!!! I don’t want to choose one, and then wished I chose the other a month or so down the road…
haha! I just saw your post in the other Breville thread… I’m off to read your review of the Breville now! Thanks!
i haven’t compared them yet officially but the breville rocks the socks off the zarafina:
it’s easier to clean
it allows you more control over what it is doing
it BEEPS when it’s done
it has a keep warm function
it has an auto-on timer function to wake up to fresh tea
you had me at easier to clean!
Oh my. The posting on your blog with all the photos? It was like tea porn. The slow unwrapping of the box… Again: Oh my. ;)
Seriously, I’m so excited for you!
@Rabs thanks! I love unboxing things! Moo.com is total win on enjoyable unboxing :)
Now what you all have been waiting for…
Zarafina versus Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/update-breville-one-touch-tea-maker.html
W-A-N-T!
One touch versus Zojirushi (instant hot water @ a temp)? Any comments? How well does Breville filter out something like rooibos?
@Ricky it depends on how fine the rooibos is chopped, this one had s bit sneak into the kettle and nothing noticeable into my cup
@JacquelineM blame your trees for not having one? silly trees :(
@Ricky I have never used a Zojirushi so not sure :(
Prepared as part of the Steepster meetup and tea tasting
There was a rinsing steep, about 2 seconds
Then it was steeped approximately 2 minutes
It smelled vegetal, it has a light body, the flavor was milky
We learned that higher temperatures (and shorter steeps) lead to sweeter flavor with this brew.
Over all we reviewed that you can come up with whatever method works for you to do temperatures, just be consistent so it’s repeatable (boil the water but pour from arm height if this bring it down to 195 for example)
With a good silver needle there is supposed to be buds, and the leaves should not turn black after brewing. If they turn black then it is old or poor quality / not first pick
We did a second steep that was sweet and milky
For the larger pot we had we could have gotten away with about 3 quality steeps
You should be using 2-3grams per 6-8 ounces
Milky teas should never have been soaked in milk, or contain condensed milk, as this is a mark of fake or low quality.
Sorry my notes are so short and cryptic but it was a whirlwind tasting of so much information and flavor!
I am intentionally not rating these teas as I didn’t really have a chance to sit there and sip on them and think whether I would by them again, like to play with them more, although none were awful (1 leaf) or fabulous (4 leaves)
Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/05/radiance-tea-house-and-books-loose-leaf.html
This note was very informative—thank you I never knew white tea can taste sweet and milky! Sounds yummy! I guess it really is all in the steeping.
the person running the tasting said if you go really hot, do shorter steeps – I have never managed to make it happen but now i have a goal!
I too enjoyed the note – it makes me really want to attend a future meetup even if it means moving heaven and earth! Or buying a plane ticket and stuff. ;)
Iced Tea – cold brew
took spent leaves from hot brew iced tea, poured in 3 cups cold water and stuck in fridge overnight
drank with a splash of mango torani syrup – needed a bit more mango but it was a nice smooth iced black tea with a hint of natural sweetness
I’ve never thought of using spent leaves to make iced tea ::strokes chin thoughtfully:: Yes, I shall have to try that soon. :)
i planned a hot / cold sequence – so i used more leaves than i usually would have and also did a fast steep of the first batch (like 2 minutes on the 4tsp leaf – 3 cup hot water) i think if you don’t over leaf by a little it ends up kind of weak on the second go round
normally 3 cups would have been 3 tsp not 4 and 3-4 minutes not 2 (for me)
Cool – thank you so much for the info. I’ll let you know when I try it!
Iced Tea!
4 tsp leaf, 3 cup boiling water
poured over ice
added 2 tablespoons bacon torani syrup
a bit too much bacon (who would have thought!)
next time i’ll try 2 teaspoons
Bacon iced tea… blech! hehe;) How many stars in this serving?
i purposely left them all out so i could save them for when i am brewing a cup up hot, nudged a few out
and we put bacon in everything – we’ve made chocolate covered bacon, bacon chocolate chip cookies, BLTs, bacon covered asparagus….i can’t wait to make candied bacon when i have time
Tonight I made bacon wrapped chicken and thought of you :) Baaaacon.
NOMNOMNOM
Mmmm Yum bacon wrapped chicken!
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Water: hot spigot water, 8 oz
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: ginger, peach, delicious!
Steeped Tea Smell: peachy, vegetal
Flavor: lightly vegetal, slightly bitter, astringent
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: ginger bite
Liquor: translucent yellow-green
I got this as a sample with the Republic of Tea catalog this month.
I am not finding the peach in the taste, only the smell.
It’s an OK green, I don’t really love greens anyway. I don’t plan to buy it.
Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/republic-of-tea-teabag-green-tea-ginger.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 bag
Water: 8 ounces hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chocolate mint girl scout cookies
Steeped Tea Smell: mint, lightly chocolate
Flavor: rooibos, mint
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: mint
Liquor: Translucent dark reddish-brown
I got this as one of the free samples with my last order. I had such high hopes for it, and the smell only strengthened my hopes. Alas it’s a mint rooibos and not a chocolate-mint rooibos.
Post-Steep Additives: +1 packet white sugar, sweeter mint, but still only a hint of chocolate
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/mighty-leaf-tea-teabag-rooibos-tea.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Prepared in store by staff
Tool: Make your own tea bag
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: Vanilla, caramel, sweet black tea
Flavor: Black tea, smooth with no bitterness, but slight astringency. The caramel is a hint as you swallow
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringency
Liquor: deep dark brown
I had this tea with my fig and turkey panini for lunch. I wanted a caffeinated punch to keep me going through the afternoon, so I stuck to the black tea section of the menu. I decided to give the caramel a whirl as I found only subtle caramel flavors in teas so far. This was no exception, it was subtlety sweet and caramel. This was an excellent paring with the sweet fig.
The search continues for a bold caramel flavored tea, however if you appreciate subtle or are having something sweet there I recommend this tea.
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/tbar-loose-leaf-black-tea-caramel.html
Oooh, iPad! Nice!
i am not loving it so far, it’s kinda meh
Your work got iPads? I’m kinda jealous. I only want one for the kindle/ibook store and tv streaming use of it. Tempted to just get a kindle.
It could work as a jello-key lime hibiscus jello shots? J/k. I like the pineapple way better, but this is alright for hibiscus tea.
the pineapple is amazing! we got 1pad for all of us to share, i just grabbed it first
the ebook reader on it so far doesn’t impress me – i ordered a personal sony reader so we’ll see how that goes (i know people with nooks and kindles as well)
youtube does come through well….but overall it just isn’t worth the $$$ (so far)
we were toying with the idea of adding coconut rum
The nook looked nice as well, I like that the Nook and iPad are color screens. Although, I don’t know why I’d need a color screen when reading a book, but it’s a nice option. I just need to find out if the kindle/nook/sony version are usable in the dark (are they backlit)? Because I don’t have a light by my bed, and it would be handy on a plane or in the car without having to turn on a light.
nook has a color panel but is not all color, ipad is the only backlit one the kindle and sony reader and nook and kobo are e-ink and not backlit but are readable in full sun
thanks for the info. I think I find myself in dark situations more than full sun. Made me curious when I saw a kindle light accessory attachment thing.