Random Steepings

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83

White2 Tea tea club – Emerald Buds (might be 2020?, unopened until recently)
Dry leaf – no smell that I can determine.
Cooler water, 1-2min, western.
Subtle, very light, little sweetness, thick, I’m getting a chocolate??? except not chocolate vibe off this. It’s weird. Creamy. Sort of dessert-y.

Flavors: Chocolate, Creamy, Sweet, Thick

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My booster appointment was on the edge of Chinatown: fortuitous planning, I’d say.

After my shot, I thought I’d walk over to pick up my favourite Hong Kong-style milk tea and a few delicious things to eat on recovery day, just in case.

My usual HK tea place was a bit of a distance. My bag was heavy. By the time I had walked a few blocks, my arm was hurting.

We’re still in lockdown here. Still? Again? Our numbers are going up, so amongst other things, restaurants are closed— takeout and delivery only.

I wouldn’t be able to have my tea and breakfast inside anyway. Favourite HK style was still quite a hike. #2 favourite place was closed. #3 milk tea place was still a ways away.

Decided to stop into a bubble tea shop I’d been to before. Not HK-style but mainland China-style.

I ordered a milk tea hot. Would you like cheese? Huh?

The last time I was there they asked if I’d like the cheese topping on my tea and I had declined. It must be a thing. This time I thought well, why not.

It turns out the that the cheese is whipped cream with the slightest tang—maybe a bit of cream cheese added?

The milk tea was milky and mellow. More creamy now with the hint of whipped cream on top. No punch of strong black tea base. The surprise was the addition of a thinnish jelly that kind of slimed itself into sips through the fat straw. Not boba, but something like the gentle almond jelly you can sometimes have in Cantonese dim sum restaurants, usually accompanied with fruit cocktail.

Yeah, it was good. Unexpected composition but good. I’d have it again, more as a dessert rather than a caffeinated beverage.

Oh, and my tea was served to me in a lovely paper bag with a trio of what looked like white chocolate truffles. It turned out that they were sweet chewy rice balls. Not as chewy as mochi, but along the same lines.

Crowkettle

Oh, yeah – the tangy dessert “cheese” used in Bubble Tea and other stuff interesting, eh? I think it’s most like cream cheese too.

Congrats on your booster! :)

Evol Ving Ness

Thanks! It was good to get out in the world (except for the people who wear their masks at half-mast or less).

it is interesting. I prefer my HK-style bakery milk tea with that punchy black base, but this is a tasty diversion.

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100
drank Orange Pekoe by Random Steepings
304 tasting notes

Calling this random as I heard from eastkyteaguy. He said they are fine and most of the damage was away from where he was located. Having a cuppa now to celebrate his well being.
Figured this was the fastest way to spread the news about him.

Preparation
10 g 100 OZ / 2957 ML
Leafhopper

Glad Eastkyteaguy is okay. :)

ashmanra

Thank you, cuz! I have been wondering about him.

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you, mrmopar! Delighted that he and his have been out of harm’s way.

Martin Bednář

Thank you for this message!

Dustin

Glad to hear he is fine. Did his tea cupboard made it undamaged as well? ;)

Michelle

Thanks for letting us know!!

mrmopar

I think all is well. It missed him completely.

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Do you remember that conversation I had with the owner of the Thai restaurant I like about maybe serving hot tea since winter is coming?

My thinking was based on the fact that everything I’ve had in the small place has been excellent. Including their strong exquisite Thai iced tea. I was thinking that they might serve an equally excellent hot tea in the colder months.

Yeah, well, I’m beginning to regret that conversation.

Last week’s Orange Pekoe was truly underwhelming. It was hot, I’ll give it that.

I had already had two super strong super wonderful Hong Kong style milk teas with my breakfast by the time I stopped in to pick up the chef’s special. I had no intention of having any more tea until I got home.

Placed my order, paid, sat down to wait. The owner came over.

I’d like to treat you to a cup of tea. What would you like?

We went through the options. So far, I knew that the Orange Pekoe was hopeless. Ok, jasmine green. And what brand is it? The kind in a big yellow box with red Chinese characters.

The sweet man brought over the steeped tea. I thanked him.

The tea— so lacklustre. The jasmine had a false note. The leaf tasted dusty and dull.

Such a sad cup.

These teabags were likely the cheapest option. I get that. But how much more of an investment would it have been to buy teabags that were just a bit more bearable? Delicious even?

I’m trying to come up with a diplomatic way of saying that the tea is not great. Maybe some things are better left unsaid.

My food came and off I went for the long long long cold wait for the bus. A good percentage of the drivers had been let go because they refused to get vaccinated against COVId-19. The transit commission had not anticipated the driver shortage.

Ugh. Just ugh.

derk

Find out if they brew their iced-tea tea or if it’s from concentrate. Anytime of the year, I used to get Thai tea hot without condensed milk from the restaurant on my corner in San Francisco. They always had a freshly brewed pot.

Evol Ving Ness

Good idea. Thanks for the suggestion. Also, that’s exactly what I was hoping for.

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The last time I visited my favourite Thai restaurant, I asked the owner about hot tea. They make a really good Thai iced tea with strong black tea, some sort of sweetener, and cream, but it’s getting cold now. I was thinking that it wouldn’t be that much of a bother to turn that wonder brew into a tasty hot tea. Maybe they’d need to invest in a large thermos or brewing vat or some such thing. The owner said he’d think about it.

So I stopped in yesterday for the daily special and there it was, a sweet little folded sign announcing hot tea. We have hot tea now, the owner said. I was already well caffeinated from the extra strong HK style milk tea I had just had, I told him I’ll get some next time. He looked disappointed.

As I was waiting for my takeaway order, I thought ok, let me try this new tea.

Of course, I did not need or want a cup of tea just then. I ended up with a round teabag covered in hot water in a paper cup with some cream and a bit of sugar. Very so-so it was. Maybe tetley’s, maybe president’s choice. I’ll ask him next time. Kind of weak and thin. And I cursed myself because I have mountains of good tea at home. Why am I paying for a so-so cup of tea in the world?

Got my order. The bus came and I scrambled to collect myself—bag, takeaway food, bus pass, mask, and this tea that I struggled to close. Don’t rush, the bus driver yelled through the opened doors. Don’t want you to spill your coffee—It’s not worth it.

Funny how one unexpected kindness can make the day so very much better.

gmathis

I may not have this old proverb word for word, but One kind word can warm three winter months.

Evol Ving Ness

Beautiful. I’m writing that down.

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Yesterday again I trundled down to Chinatown for my milk tea and dim sum after acupuncture.

This place is always an experience. I’m getting to know the regulars by sight.

Clusters of male pensioners huddling over the paper. I wonder if they are selecting their horses for the races. Is horse-racing even on now these days?

An elderly man with a tray of tarts and buns and siu mai and tea in one hand, supporting himself on his cane with his other. He secures his table and trundles off to get some chili sauce for dipping.

Another man, middle-agesd, in scuffed clothes with dirty torn fingernails rants aloud in Cantonese to no one, perhaps to everyone.

A university-agedcouple settle at the table next to him during one of his pauses. They move next to me when he begins again.

We compare our dishes. My wonton noodle soup is not very good. ( I should know better than to get wonton noodle soup at a bakery.) Their cream cheese filled buns are tasty. The har gow is delicious. My tea is excellent.

We discuss food, the evolving city, popular culture, racism, mainland China, and how the Cantonese speaking Chinese built our Chinatowns and established a Chinese presence in Canada.

We part: they to their workshop and me to purchase a day book for the new year.

gmathis

Thanks for bringing us along!

Evol Ving Ness

You are welcome. Thank you for being interested in my milk tea excursions. <3

Crowkettle

Your milk tea excursions are a joy :)

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you, CrowKettle. They really are a joyful part of my week, especially in these times. <3

Leafhopper

I also enjoy reading about your milk tea excursions and am craving har gow now. :)

Tiffany :)

I too enjoy reading these weekly adventures, please continue to share :)

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Every Friday after acupuncture, I ask myself if I should go to Chinatown for a Hong Kong style milk tea and the answer always seems to be yes. I am guessing that this pattern will continue for the next two weeks or so until my usual schedule is upended by the holiday season.

My trip is always full of small adventures.

It was a frigid Friday with the first wee bit of snow and a wicked wind. Still, the guy on the sidewalk at the main intersection of Chinatown was out there with his red drum kit pounding out mesmerizing rhythms to the shoppers, walkers, and vendors.

I stopped into a mall to take a look at a dim sum restaurant and its menu. Not my usual dim sum place, but maybe a change would be good when and if I am ready to dine in. This place is on the top floor overlooking the street action below: maybe that would be a nice view to enjoy with a meal.

A stranger engaged me as I was waiting for the lift. Why you no bring your husband for dim sum? Eat. EAT. My explanation got swallowed up by the wind as we reached street level.

My usual seat at the bakery was taken, so I sat near the matcha cake display case with my most excellent Hong Kong style milk tea and rice bowl. The tea was so good that I ended up having another. That one was a winner too.

Ah, I so look forward to my Fridays.

gmathis

I’m starting to look forward to your Fridays, too!

Evol Ving Ness

I’m happy to hear that, gmathis. Thank you.

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Yesterday morning, I had an acupuncture appointment early in the day. Awesome, as usual. Awesome, but always different.

Being out in the world already encourages me to do something else before I go home. Our public transit has a two-hour thing in any direction for one fare. I try to pack in whatever I can in that two-hour window (but inevitably, go over time and pay an extra fare). A Thai restaurant I like has fresh delicious chef’s specials every day and tofu vegetable rice rolls on Fridays. Off I went.

The sun was golden glorious, so I decided to stop off in Chinatown for my beloved HK style milk tea and, rather than taking the underground subway, take the long slow streetcar ride across town to the Thai place.

Tea was superb. gah!—this is becoming such a habit.

The streetcar took me through a small growing patch of Brazilian shops, bars, and markets. Interesting how the city is morphing.

I thought of former Brazilian students who always complained how cold it was here. I remembered one student from Brazil who one October, when everyone was wearing jean jackets or hoodies, came to school in a metallic silver snow suit, stiff padded jacket and pants, and his every movement down the hall was a squeak-swish-squeak- swish as the plastic-like metallic fabric gripped itself with every step. I giggled to myself at this memory in the streetcar for several stops.
Leafhopper

I wonder what that student wore in December! :P

Evol Ving Ness

Hahaha! That program was short term, so students were only here for under a month. The real challenge might have been the winds and snow squalls of February. :)

Leafhopper

Yes, February is worse. :) I’m glad he didn’t have to experience the full force of Canadian winter!

Evol Ving Ness

So am I. I wonder what became of that outfit. The only thing missing was the ski helmet and googles, boots, poles, and skis.

Leafhopper

LOL, there’s not much use for it in Brazil!

tea-sipper

Ah, I like hearing about your adventures about town! It always takes me a while to get used to the cold in autumn.. it usually starts with me thinking I should just get a full body snowsuit to wear indoors everywhere… but I get used to the cold eventually…

Martin Bednář

Well, well, that reminds me being in Finland. -20°C (-4°F), snow suit pants, heavy sweatshirt, winter coat (and other necessary winter clothes, of course) and riding the bike to school 2.8 mi.

Wonderful times! And better than paying 3 EUR for each bus trip.

Evol Ving Ness

Thanks, tea-sipper. Not getting out all that much these days. Authorities are still emphasizing caution—we’re not there quite yet. I do love my city though.

For me, the autumn challenge is the quick transition to losing light in the day. Other than that, tracking down my warmer gear is always chaotic.

Finland! I’ve always wanted to go there. (I admire the Finns for having gotten the Soviets out of their country when so many countries suffered so much for so long.)

Do you speak Finnish? How were you able to communicate? What did you study there? And why did you choose Finland? Sorry if I am being too nosy.

I tried riding my bicycle during our winters and it is just too much, even with all the right winter gear. Also, I found it dangerous with the black ice, not just uncomfortable.

Martin Bednář

Evol Ving Ness: apparently, you are following me for short time — but that’s okay. No, you aren’t nosy, just curious. I do speak Finnish, but now it is limited for two words — kiitos (thanks) and moi (hello). However, I spent there 4 months (5 years ago) studying logistics (and I had 90 minutes/week Finnish course). I was able to speak very basic sentences about me and my family, but not anymore.

Why I chose Finland? Well, my older course-mate was there and she was speaking how beautiful it was and I tend to love those Nordic countries, so I have picked Finland as it was only one possible for my faculty. However, it was an awesome experience, not only because of Finland, but mostly because Finnish school system. The return caused big troubles at home university, which I won’t describe here.

Riding a bicycle with all winter gear is naturally a bit too much even for me. Luckily, I haven’t got much experience with black ice there, as mostly it snowed and there was enough snow or it has melted.

Evol Ving Ness

Thanks, Martin, for indulging me :)

No, I haven’t been following you for very long. Also, the past few years, my health, my sleep, and my internet/ computer access have been unreliable—not a great combination—so my activity here has been unpredictable.

Your experience in Finland sounds quite wonderful. Perhaps one day, you’ll explain the difference btwn the two school systems. I’d love to hear about it.

tea-sipper

Oh no! Riding a bike below zero is another story! Whoa. haha

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I have developed quite a fondness for HK style milk tea. I’ve had it from several places in town: extremely strong black tea and either evaporated milk or cream and brown sugar or some sort of sweetener. Apparently, some places use egg shells in the steeping or simmering of the tea.

Anyway, whatever the secret is, it is a feisty cup. That perfect balance of flavours—that’s key.

So I found myself again not too far away from Chinatown, or rather one of our Chinatowns, and decided to pay a visit to the HK style bakery where I had an amazing HK style milk tea a couple of weeks ago.

The ambiance is typical Chinatown bakery. Bright fluorescent lights flooding both the seating area and the glass covered sliding shelves with baked and steamed buns— savoury or sweet, spongey, flaky or slightly chewy. You take your tray and yellow plastic tongs and help yourself to the pastries, go to the counter and pay. While there, you can order steamed or fried dim sum or various rice bowls. Or an egg bacon sausage plate with toast. And your HK style milk tea.

I was there around noon, so I joined the retirees at the seating area. Every table was occupied: some with a gaggle of elderly men animatedly engaging with each other, some with elderly couples putting up with each other, and some with lone individuals, like me. Young people flitted in from work to get their lunch.

I sat with my tea and soaked up the moment. My tea was hot, milky, sweet. Strong. Borderline harsh. But delicious.

And me, I’m going to be up till Tuesday.

gmathis

That sounds like such a fun outing! All of it—the tea, the treats, and the people-watching!

Evol Ving Ness

It was, it really was. I love Chinatown here. It is constantly evolving. The base and beginnings of it are Cantonese-speakers from southern China and HK who have been here for many many decades. Mainland Chinese have arrived more recently and added to the mix. Still, in my view, it is the Cantonese-speakers who are the core, and the identity of this Chinatown is theirs.

One of my favourite things is going for dim sum brunch in one of the places where teams of women manoeuvre trolleys of various delights around the tables. You get to peek in pots and steamer trays and select the things that tempt you. COVId has made this difficult because tables are now surrounded with plastic and plexiglass stretched on wooden frames. And I don’t know what the trolley situation is in these troubled times.

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95

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100

INCREDIBLE tea. The perfect mixture of sweet, hot, and refreshing, this tea will add a perk to your step. Perfect for sipping in the mall during the winter, although it’s just as good in any season. A personal favorite of mine.

Flavors: Grenadine, Guava, Herbs, Hibiscus, Honey

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I drank this last year during Christmas time and never wrote about it… dang, I really messed up there. Someone put time and effort into providing a gift for me and I didn’t even respond :(
I’m sorry, I was probably really busy that week…. thanks though, I always appreciate when people put in effort to put a smile on others face; which you did for me an others :)

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Sipdown (134)!

Thank you Stephanie for sharing this tea with me!

I finished off the last bit of it hot, and I have to say that while I had originally thought this would perform better cold I did ultimately enjoy the hot cuppa much better. I just found the flavours all balanced a little more nicely, and I could taste the mint substantially more than in the cold brew. It was smooth, velvety and creamy and definitely delivered a rich chocolate mint flavour so that’s a win in my book! As well, the earthy pu’erh is the perfect grounding base flavour.

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TASTING NOTE 3500!!!

This tea comes from the uber thoughtful Stephanie who sent it out around Christmas time. I feel a little bad that I didn’t drink it around the holidays, but I did make sure it was drank in a form that was at least semi monumental!

While I still have enough of Steph’s sample to try this hot, I used the majority of it for my first tasting as a cold brew. Personally, I adore cold brewed chocolate and mint combos so I was pretty sure I’d like this cold brewed. I’ve never actually had grasshopper pie, but it looks and sounds delicious. My experience with the cold brew was that it was a largely earthy and chocolate flavour highlighted by a much lighter, refreshing mint finish that created a nice refreshing end sip.

Thanks Steph!

Sil

god that sounds delicious!

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92

A long, long time ago… in a tea mug far away. I got this while on snowy planet with fellow Resistance member Stephanie. It smells so nicely like chocolate and mint. When, I first brewed, there was more of cocoa scent. There are only mild notes of mint in the flavour. As it cools, I get more of a puer taste. Not sure how it compares to a grasshopper pie (hard to come by on this planet), but it’s pretty good.

May the Force be with you.

Flavors: Cacao, Chocolate, Cocoa, Dark Chocolate, Mint

Stephanie

:D :D :D

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I really loved the sample of jasmine green tea at the local bubble tea shop but at the time I needed something fortifying so I got a Taiwan Milk Tea. I decided to try making a homemade version, and I remembered this economical beauty from Teavivre and thought it would be the perfect base. I was right.

I made the tea strong, about double strength, added sugar, and let it cool. I added too much milk but we live and learn. Even with too much milk it was good, and when I get my proportions right it is going to be phenomenal.

I think I may reorder more of the base just for this purpose.

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drank Vanilla Gold by Random Steepings
15019 tasting notes

thank you stephanie and terri for sharing this one with me! Seriously, this is a great tea so total props on your first blending experiement. I’d say it was a total success! I really enjoyed this one..jsut a delicious malty, vanilla, sweet cup of YUM! of course now it’s gone and that’s sad…. so sad.

Stephanie

Yay! Super glad you liked it :)

ohfancythat

Heyyyyyyyy jealous!! ;)

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95
drank Vanilla Gold by Random Steepings
518 tasting notes

I’m lucky to have gotten some of this tea.

rich and delicious. The vanilla and saffron blend in perfectly with the golden monkey ad the keemun.

And I know you’re all jealous.

The aroma is amazing. The tea is outstanding.

http://instagram.com/p/wzL-i-AyfC/
http://instagram.com/p/wzMI4CgyfS/

I love the color, and the way the little threads of saffron just pop right out. Saffron adds an amazing little touch to it.

Fjellrev

Nice, where did you even get this? The sneaky smiley face brand name is sneaky.

Cheri

I got it from a special tea friend who loves me. It’s a custom blend.

Kittenna

Sounds delicious!

Marzipan

You left out “neener neener”

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drank Vanilla Gold by Random Steepings
424 tasting notes

This was an exclusive, rare, small batch tea and it was great. I feel sorry for anyone who didn’t get to try it. Neener neener.

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75

SO, lemon water isn’t tea, obviously, but doesn’t it have to be noted somehow or other wherever tea is revered? Like the sherbet served between the courses of a fine dinner, lemon water cleanses the palette in preparation for the next gourmet delight. Also, it keeps the dreaded caffeine eye twitch at bay.

Flavors: Lemon

Cameron B.

Hah, I love the “by Lemon” part. I don’t get caffeine eye twitches, I get caffeine headaches. :(

Tamarindel

Geez, and I get lack-of-caffeine headaches whenever I don’t stick to my tea-drinking routine. The human body is a strange organism. You have my sympathies, fellow headache sufferer.

Cameron B.

Luckily, it takes a lot to give me a headache. Generally it only happens if I drink a lot of black tea.

Tamarindel

That’s good :) Know what triggers it and avoid the brain pain.

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drank Iced tea by Random Steepings
114 tasting notes

This batch of iced tea is made with the apricot steepster select, mixed with some qilan from teavana, and the last of my Wild Picked Yunnan Black. Cold steeping in the fridge overnight. I can’t wait to try it tomorrow!

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more 30 g 64 OZ / 1892 ML

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95

I think this one from the teabox labeled ’Kim’s Homemade Chai’ is from KimLovesTea? Please correct me if I’m wrong! So I ‘added a tea’ for this one.

’Here’s Hoping’ traveling teabox Round #2 // Tea #19
Oh wow, nice job on this one, Kim! And thanks for including it in the teabox! This is very high up there on the nicest chais I have tried. The base is a CTC, but it isn’t as strong as I’d expect, maybe because there are a ton of spices here (and maybe also the two minute steep). Everything here is perfectly balanced! Very nice! The first couple of sips were surprisingly sweet. It’s up to my standards for spiciness, which is rare. I wouldn’t change anything about this one. Kim has proved with this blend: Why buy chai when you can make your own blend exactly how you want it to be? I’ve noticed JeweledThumb (next for the teabox) likes chai, so make sure you try this one!
Steep #1 // couple minutes after boiling // 2 1/2 min steep
Steep #2 // half mug – just boiled // 2-3 min steep

Veronica

I think I reviewed this under random steeps. It was really good!

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75
drank #memtea by Random Steepings
1024 tasting notes

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