3049 Tasting Notes
Steepster 2025 TTB Tea
Unfortunately the bag of this had a hole in it and most of the tea had falled out, leaving me with only about 1/2 tsp of leaf. But it was a smooth milk hcocolate creamy tea because I brewed it very hot and added a touch of vanilla soy milk. I did not get any hazelnut or nutty notes, but got a creamy chocolate that I was happy with.
Flavors: Chocolate, Creamy
Preparation
Steepster 2025 TTB Tea
This teabag was a nice evening coldbrew. The cinnamon is sweet (a bit much for me, honestly), but it counter balances the hibiscus and rose hips. The berry flavour is pretty strong, but more bumbleberry or general berry but not distinctly raspberry and blackberry.
Flavors: Berry, Cinnamon, Fruity, Hibiscus, Sour, Tart
Preparation
I too have recently been overwhelmed by cinnamon in a hibiscus-rose blend. I wish the blending masters would learn to use true Ceylon cinnamon instead of Cassia, which I think would solve the problem! Ceylon is far gentler with a more complex flavor profile (and only 1/10th the toxic coumarin content!)
I just find cinnamon is quite strong in general. I use Ceylon cinnamon in baking now and have found it much nicer than cassia.
This has a lovely darjeeling base with some other green and black teas thrown in. I purchased this because I thought it would be a nice addition to the TTB for folks who want to try some Canadian teas.
Light bergamot with floral citrus notes and a hint of perfumy floral but more honeysuckle than distinctly jasmine unless you look for it. There is a nice balance of tannins and it is not overly bitter but has enough flavour. It is not your typical heavy hitter all tannin CT black tea. This has a more well rounded profile with multiple notes adding to its complexity.
It’s like how 50/50 iced tea and lemonade creates its own better-than-the-ingredients drink. This is a nice darjeeling mixed with Lady Grey and its a great union of flavour but distinct in its own right.
Flavors: Bergamot, Citrus, Floral, Honeysuckle, Tannin
Preparation
I really enjoy their green-black blends! I think in the end, the No. 10 won out over this one for me, but I still need to try Government Street Blend in loose leaf…
I bought teabag versions of this. I find their teabags are the same as looseleaf except looseleaf obviously you can add more tea than suggested if you make a large pot.
The ones I tried were very different, with the teabag having much more finely chopped tea.
This is a very nice looking leaf – flat and a bright sage green colour
The brew is light yellow if you brew it fairly strong with a nutty, chestnut aroma and a little bit of astringency (in a good way) with some seaweedy mineral notes. Overall it’s mostly nutty and smooth with a little sweetness like a steamed soybean (edamame).
Flavors: Edamame, Mineral, Nutty, Sweet
Preparation
Once again restocked and back in rotation. I adore this tea. I prefer the decaf one and enjoy it in the evening. Brew ~3 minutes for optimal balance between bitter and flavourful. Add milk and you get something super creamy, malty, sweet, with a strong maple flavour. It reminds me of those maple leaf cookies with the buttery cookie and maple filling.
Flavors: Creamy, Malt, Maple, Sweet, Tannin, Vanilla
Preparation
I’m enjoying this tea brewed quite hot but not boiling, a longer steep than usual (4-5 minutes? Lost track of time)
It’s got a nice deep cocoa note but only at the first part of the sip. Then, as you search for sweetness, it turns almost a bit fruity. It is a little bit astringent, but not in a bad way. It smells a bit like apricot or stone fruit and toasted barley.
Flavors: Apricot, Cocoa, Fruity, Stonefruit, Toasty
Preparation
I drink this tea all the time, but I guess I never made a listing. It’s a nice floral herbal blend heavy on the lavender, mint, and lemongrass. It’s fairly well balanced, except the orange blossoms and heather, which I cannot taste.
Flavors: Floral, Lavender, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Rose
Preparation
Gosh, this tea is fantastic. With flavourful, especially when brewed strong. I had this iced, brewed strong (500 mL cold water, 25 minutes, 2 tsp leaf).
Strong floral, fruity lychee and some lovely creamy coconut. The milk oolong is a nice base (I would have liked more oolong and less black tea, personally) with a complex tea flavour under the obvious notes. The after taste is even better than the initial.
Flavors: Coconut, Creamy, Fruity, Lychee, Vegetal
Preparation
I considered this in my recent order, but I’m not a coconut lover and I don’t like flavored milk oolong either ha ha. But glad to hear you loved it!
It wouldn’t be enjoyable if you do not enjoy coconut. The coconut is very noticable.
I neglected to check the ingredients, so this actually has traces of milk in it (something I do not knowingly buy). I was thrown off by the coconut milk and assumed they used coconut milk as a non-dairy alternative until I read the ingredients. I think the coconut is mostly natural flavouring added (and thus, not subtle at all). So, I will not purchase this again. However it is very tasty and I hope they reblend it without the dairy in the future.I’m glad I didn’t succumb to ill-advised temptation this time ha ha!
I was a bit confused by the description for their milk oolong tbh, they made it sound like adding milk during the processing is the norm for a milk oolong, which it’s not? I was out at “infused and rolled in milky essences” lmao.
Milk oolong here is often flavoured lower grade oolong because it is cheaper and nobody knows differently when they are marketing to the average flavoured tea buyer. Most people don’t know about real milk oolong around here and don’t know the wonders of a high quality milk oolong. Now, they do sell some high grade oolongs at Murchie’s, but I’m not sure how they compare to other stores. I stick to cheaper options directly from China like YS or direct-from-the-grower like Whatcha.
Steepster 2025 TTB Tea
I brewed this strong with hot water and drank it plain, but I think it would make a really good bubble tea base (brewed extra strong and then poured over ice with added milk). Plain it is fine, although quite soapy. The coconut isn’t bad, because it is lightly toasty and flavourful but I still get that soapy taste. I may have overbrewed it. The tea base is lightly vegetal like how bai mu dan has that fresh cut grass smell to it, some tannins but not too bitter.
Will report back after I try it iced with milk
Flavors: Coconut, Soap, Sweet, Warm Grass, Tannic
Preparation
Steepster 2025 TTB Tea
I REALLY enjoyed this sample. There is no way it woiuld be enough for 2 cups, but I used the whole thing (2.5g) and brewed it twice. The honeybush in the blend gave it a super honey-rich flavour with some oaty notes as well. It is very caramel-heavy with lots of sweetness. I get some nuttiness, but I would have expected this to be caramel vanilla instead of chestnut based on the flavour. I will be making a plum deluxe order next time this is in stock so that I can get more.
Flavors: Caramel, Honey, Nutty, Oatmeal, Sweet, Vanilla
