545 Tasting Notes
Backlogging — the day after the previous tealog early this past week.
Super icky throat, painful ears. I’m sure I’m getting a cold. I sooth myself by using the last of the Tupelo honey in a cup of Napal. I think I am not able to enjoy the taste of this combo as much as I usually do. No resteep.
Since there will be no more tealogs until yesterday, I should mention that I never got a cold. I woke up the next morning feeling completely fine. It was super odd.
Preparation
It has been A-While since I’ve had Jackee. I woke up this morning and didn’t want the Tiger or Caravan. I went through my teas in my head and decided on Jackee. I refreshed myself with my tea notes on Steepster to get the delicious caramel.
I sip. Whaaa?! There’s a little caramel but more briskness than I remember. I keep sipping as it cools. Midway down the cup, the caramel comes out. There is relief. I will have to remember to let this one cool a bit before drinking. The second steep was light but caramelly good.
2nd steep: 5 min 30 sec.
Preparation
The breakfast mug of tea backlog. Today.
I wanted teh smokiness. In my large pale blue drippy-glazed pottery mug. Good!
This one I did a second steep of, but I realized once I had it at my desk that I’d need to get ready to meet a friend before I could finish the mug so I stuck in the fridge. Drinkable and good, I did not like it cold as much as I like it hot. The flavors aren’t as strong and the mouth feel is totally different. I could taste teh smokiness but it wasn’t quite the same. I would not ice this one on purpose.
2nd steep: 6 min 30 sec.
Preparation
The breakfast mug of tea backlog. Three days ago.
Yum Yum! I’ve started using slightly more leaf than I used to for my standard sized mugs. It makes for a stronger and more flavorful mug of tea. I don’t think I’m going back to less. Again, no resteep.
Preparation
The breakfast mug of tea backlog. Four days ago.
I did a heaping 1/2 tsp of EG with a level 1/2 tsp of the Tiger. This made for a yummy mug. This is also the start of no resteeps for the breakfast mug of tea. It just feels to hot here to drink tea really, yet I wish to drink more tea, until I actually drink some tea, that is.
Preparation
Earl Grey and the Tiger, take three. Yesterday morning, I tried 1 tsp EG to 1/4 tsp Tiger. The first steep blended very very well. It tasted like the EG with more black tea to it. I could not pick out that the black tea was the Tiger. The second steep tasted like just the EG. Honestly, I think I might prefer the slightly Tiger heavy first steep and delicious combo second steep of take two.
The question is will I try a repeat of take two next or move on to trying a different black tea with this EG? I think I definitely like this EG with a black tea better than on it’s own. Certainly the quest for a good combo and amounts is making me want to drink EG in the mornings.
2nd steep: 5 min 30 sec.
Preparation
I was planning on 52 Tea’s Black Current Bai Mu Dan as my mid-day tea today. I’ve been wanting it for a few days but it and I keep missing each other.
I ended up having a late lunch of Indian leftovers from last night and wanted something that could stand up to their spiciness and be tasty with them. I’m finding the Tiger to be a great all purpose tea. Good with food, good without. Good in the morning, good at in the middle of the day. It’s pretty much all Tiger all the time, sometimes. =)
2nd steep: 5 min.
Preparation
Take two of the Earl Grey and Tiger blending. This morning I steeped a heaping 1/2 tsp of EG with a shallow 1/2 tsp of Tiger. I also used my steeping time for the Tiger instead of a steeping time in between the two. The first steep was still mostly Tiger with more EG than last time. The second steep was once again a great blend of the two. Either I need mostly EG with just a bit of the Tiger, which will be take three, or the Tiger is not a good first steep match for EG.
2nd steep: 5 min.
Feel better!