August Uncommon Tea

Pretty good, definitely unique. It’s a mild black tea with some floral notes from the flowers within.

I have tried both western and Gongfu brewing. The flavors are consistent throughout and it will resteep 2 or 3 times like it says on the bag.

The nose is bright and sweet like a candy, it does have some marshmallow body to it with a lovely black tea malt in the liquor, no astringency. I’m more a fan of straight teas but this is a fun blend for those who like flavored teas every once and a while.

It’s a dessert tea for sure, but I had it for breakfast as a nice little treat.

Edit: With the right patience, leaf ratio, and Gongfu brewing time, this yielded 6 flavor-filled steeps which took me on a journey!

In some sips, the chocolate flavoring tastes too much like alcohol for me. This tea is pretty straightforward. It’s rooibos and artificial chocolate. I expect fancier flavor profiles from August Uncommon, so I’m a bit disappointed. It was okay with sugar and milk, but nothing special. I never tasted the nutmeg.

Grandpa. I liked it this way — didn’t feel like I was missing out on too much versus a full gong fu. No bitter. Nice classic oolong note, which I was craving after green/black/puer experiments this week.

I had tried a sample of this AU oolong a few months ago, and didn’t order more. I’ve since started hard down the single-origin road, learned they were discontinuing it, watched my damn panic button light up, and slapped a big-ass bag into my cart. It’s fine — it’s technically groceries, right?

Anyway. Nope, it’s not my favorite oolong, but this is good tea and I’m glad I grabbed it.

To be perfectly honest, the only place I got lemon (one of AU’s few tasting notes) was coming off the leaves as they sat in my pre-heated pot. Frosting, lemon, spinach, floral, and… roast? Hm.

The nose on the first steep was nearly empty, but flavors of spinach, umami, and that milk oolong creaminess came through. Still not much on the nose off the second — I could coax rice if I really tried. Some toast, vegetal flavors, and elusive florals as it cooled. Finally smelled grass on the third steep, with light florals and astringency, spinach, umami, and toast.

This tea leaves room for exploration and discovery, and can also be a nice easy session. Maybe I’ll find that lemon in one of these, uh… 70 cups…

A well done vanilla rich smokey black breakfast tea. August Uncommon does strong and unusual tea blends. I had this with 8 ounces and a tea bag of 1 tsp put together for five minute steep hot with one cube of sugar. I ate with some toast, and still slightly hungry.

Good if you like Vanilla. I will drink down. Do I like enough to reorder? No. The vanilla blends well with smoke and is not artificial, but I am not a major vanilla fan in my tea and it almost makes me think slightly of bananas for some reason.

Geez, I am so confused by this tea.

First, have to say I was so excited to try it based on it being Library themed, the back description, the lovely fruit smell that erupts from the bag, the company, the ratings.

But this is so ODD to me. The cocoa is very strong. I figured it would be a back layer but it’s strong and predominate. They did the cocoa well and not artificial at all, but I think mixed with something with rye or a liquor type makes it taste very strange to me. The description said toast - but I am not a rye fan. Caraway / Rye – didn’t make the connection lol.

It is drying and not sweet even with some sugar added. Suggests adding a touch of milk but I don’t see that making much difference. Will finish out the sample but couldn’t finish this cup at the current steep. Steeped 3, then 4.

Ashmanra’s Sipdown Challenge | May 2023 | A flavored black tea

I reorganized my tea stash yesterday and realized that things are… getting out of hand, especially after the TTB came through. It doesn’t help that my sipdown pace has really slowed over the past few months. I did set aside a bunch of packets that are sipdown-ready, so hopefully that will help!

Anyway, it’s a cool, grey, rainy day and chocolate-hazelnut sounded like a winning combination. This blend smells so amazing, but the mouthfeel is disappointingly thin. I am enjoying it more than when I first rated/reviewed it, so I’ll bump my rating up a smidge, but in general I’m fine saying a permanent goodbye to Passage.

2023 sipdown count: 33

Huh, I could’ve sworn I’d reviewed this one in the past, but I guess not. I bought a small bag last year and it was calling to me today, so I brewed a cuppa for an afternoon pick-me-up. I’m underwhelmed! I remember enjoying it in the past, but today it’s tasting pretty thin even though I over-leafed it to make it extra flavorful. I even added oat milk and — gasp — a pinch of sugar to my second cup!

It’s not bad, but it’s not as rich or creamy as I’d like, and the chocolate flavoring is only OK. I’m also getting some minerality at the back of the sip that clashes with the dessert profile. Meh.

Anyone else have ‘We don’t talk about Bruno’ stuck in their head? Ai, well, anyway this one sounds interesting so here we go. The dry aroma starts off chocolate-like chocolate milk and then switches to Irish Cream and then if you leave your wiffer in there too long you end up with a spicy nose. Also reminds me of chocolate rum balls that my mom makes. The flavor begins with chocolate, mainly. Not very spicy, a hint here and there but you could add some true Masala chai and that would spice it up nicely. To be honest I don’t taste the pineapple unless I really think about it. The Assam makes a nice base. Slightly woody and earthy. It was interesting to try but not one I would buy.

Advent Tea!
Hmmm this tastes neither black not metallic in my opinion. Not sure about the name, and at first sip I really like this tea. I like Pukka’s berry/echinacea blend so this reminds me of the berry flavor and then a smoky finish. But the aftertaste is too lavender? floral? elderberry? not really sure what it is that is unappealing at the end. The second steep was more berry than aftertaste and I liked it much better! Thanks Lexie for letting me try it!

Backlogging from the weekend

Company says,
Tastes Like: candied orange peel, caramel cake, rosemary
Feels Like: dappled autumn sunshine

Well, I have no idea what autumn sunshine would taste like , I would think more of a cinnamon or pumpkin flavor, but this one is sure good. The smell dry with the orange and sweetness was tempting in itself. This one is different. I’m used to plenty of orange in black teas, but there is a special extra in here. The black tea staple part is good, then I have the nice orange with a small smidge of caramel. I don’t get the rosemary much with my one sipping, but look forward to scoping out all the layers of this one as I work my way through the bag.

A definite Autumn Sunshine keeper

I steeped for longer this evening and this is much better. The orange is actually standing out now. Its also increased the sweetness as well.

I’m really liking the orange, but wow, its pretty sweet. I likely won’t drink this frequently, but I can see wanting it now and then.

I’m curious how this will be as cold brew. If I have some of this left come warm weather, I may give it a try.

The smell when I opened the packet was delightful. The smell of orange peel was so lovely. Its something I enjoy so much.

After steeped its not so much. The smell is much less and I’m just not getting much flavor. Maybe i needed to steep this for longer.

Not rating until I have a chance to try it again after giving it more time.

This turned out to be uneventful. I could taste a little roasty toasty, but it was rather mild. Otherwise it seemed to be nothing special but also nothing bad either.

I’ll definitely finish the sample I got, but I’m not currently interested in getting more.

Company States:
Tastes Like: sticky rice, steamed banana leaf, orchid
Feels Like: a beach bonfire at sunset

Um. I brewed this one for a full five minutes and am not getting the flavors above at all.

What it does taste like is a pleasant and smooth Oolong tea.

I am going through my samples for a Black Friday order. To me it doesn’t stand out enough for a full order but it is not a bad cup.

Company states:
Tastes Like: peach, crème fraîche, iris, lime blossom
Feels Like: georgia o’keeffe flowers

I feel like if you are a fan of peach teas, you may enjoy this one more than I did. There is an almost tobacco undertaste for some reason. A very small almost bitterness that may be the pistachio?

Not horrible but not to my tastes.

I’m so happy I ordered a tin of this when it was on sale for the holidays. I have drank twice in a row. It’s funny but i used to despise florals in teas. They got the violet and the touches of this one completely right. I steep at five minutes and add a cube of sugar, it’s perfect.

Today is #selfcaresunday. About to listen to an audiobook while browsing on the computer and playing a game of Clue on steam. Have an ambience video on TV, sipping this tea as a follow up to morning lattes. About to eat with some crackers and almond cheese spreads picked up at store yesterday, with some blueberries. Bliss!

I do like this tea, although not enough for a big tin order, I don’t think.

It is VERY floral as it cools slightly with that nice burst of elderberry on the back of the tongue with a smooth black tea that stands out without bitterness to carry it all over. It almost reminds me of a perfume type, although it doesnt have an artificial or perfume flavor fortunately.

I go back and forth between feeling like flowers, and sweet candy, mixed with tea for this one. I do like it. Hm may order a semi larger order

I had sampled some of my August Uncommon before but wasn’t logging, so now they are a bit confused in my brain.

As other reviews have stated, each cup of this one seems unique. I remember more of a chili “bite” in the throat from my first sampler, but little else. I’m going through these now for the Black Friday deals.

August Uncommon typically has some pretty strong teas, but I went ahead and did a boil and 5 minute steep with this one with 1 Tea spoon to 4 ounces of water. Surprisingly this one is milder than many of their others. I get a small note of chocolate and chili but it has mellowed in my cupboard.

It is drinkable, but not just right for a full order.

The taste does get stronger as it cools

I knew from the outset that this would be chancy. I’m not a fan of floral flavors, but I’ve never tried violet before so I thought what the heck.

The smell of the dried leaf reminds me of cool-aid packets with a tinge of soap maybe? Steeped, its not so much cool-aid though there is still a hint of a generic fruity scent/flavor.

What gets me the most however, is usually what happens with floral teas. Its very reminiscent of what i refer to as old lady perfume. You know, those ones that say they are of some floral scent, but the scent smells more like it came out of a chemistry lab than a flower. Even just smelling it leaves that chemical like taste in your mouth. Black Metallic reminds me very much of that, including that odd taste in the mouth.

I may try this again later, as I have found its always best to try things twice. You never know. But I don’t have high expectations.

As soon as I opened the packet, my first thought was, WOW! ameretto! Its really there in the flavor as well. I can detect a little anise, though its not overpowering, just nice and subtle.

Not sure if I can detect any of the other ingredients, but wow, I am liking this tisane. Actually the description mentions flavors of muddled cherries and I can see that as well.

There is a nice subtle sweetness to the flavor that is not a dominating and I think I am enjoying that as well.

This seems perfect to curl up with on a cold night. I’m sure I will be buying more.

Went through the entire sample packet before I ever managed to write a review.

The idea of this sounded interesting. Cocoa husks, nutmeg, sounds really good. However steeped up, neither of those flavors really stand out. which was disappointing.

Its good enough that I drank the entire sample, but not so much that I think I’ll be buying anymore.

Well, there’s a name to raise eyebrows and either pique some interest or completely drive it away. XD. With all the deep notes of cherry and cacao, malt and wood. The alcohol notes are stronger than any other tea I’ve tried before. It highly reminds me of whiskey.

I love this tea it is delicious. The first time I made it I made a concentrate and mixed it with hot milk as a latte. It was good. It tastes so much better slow cooked on the stovetop with almond milk and brown sugar. It is amazing. My favorite coffee inspired tea. I have a sample one serving left. I will definitely buy a larger bag by the end of the month. August Uncommon has amazing teas. It is my favorite website for flavored teas.