Teapigs

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Recent Tasting Notes

65
drank Super Fruit by Teapigs
2238 tasting notes

I’m drinking the remainder of Monday’s cold-brew of this at work today. I usually have hot tea at work, but it’s so hot in my reception area that I knew last night I’d need a cold drink today. This tea actually belongs to my mum, so it’s not in my cupboard. I drank it iced once or twice when I had my own box, but I’ve never tried it cold-brewed before. I actually think this is the best way to drink this tea. The berry flavours come out really well, and it doesn’t taste over much of hibiscus, which it’s certainly guilty of when brewed hot. A light, refreshing berry delight! Just the thing!

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more

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65
drank Super Fruit by Teapigs
2238 tasting notes

I’ve been drinking this tea pretty steadily over the last couple of weeks, and have never once managed to write a tasting note. An oversight that needs redress. This has actually been one of my favourite fruit teas for a long time, probably because it’s not too sweet or artificial tasting. It’s also one of the few where the taste of the hibiscus is, thankfully, more or less drowned in the flavours of the other berries. Dry, this tea smells like a dried forest fruits mix. The pieces of fruit aren’t very big, but I can more or less identify everything that’s supposed to be there. From small elderberries and currants, to pieces of blackcurrant, blueberry and cranberry – they’re all more or less represented. The telltale colour and shape of hibiscus is also noticeable, but the less said about that the better.

I’m struggling to identify the dominant flavour in this tea. I think it’s blackcurrant, but it’s a difficult call. The elderberry and currant come through quite well, but the other fruits are pretty lost. I think the whole reason I like this tea so much is because it’s slightly sour tasting, and very dark. After 3 or 4 minutes, the liquor is a very dark burgundy, almost black. Despite this, it’s still a very pleasant fruit tea – and, on re-acquaintance – still one of the best I’ve tried so far. I drank it iced most of last summer, which it takes too well because it’s easy to brew strongly and it doesn’t get watered down. At the moment, though, I’m drinking it hot at least a couple of times a day. With all the snow we’ve been having, it’s one of the nicer things I’ve had to look forward to upon arriving at work. Just like hot Ribena, only far less sweet and with added health benefits. I feel like I should be saying far more about a tea I love so much, but I guess it’s something I’m going to have to come back to. In the meantime, suffice to say that there’s nothing more I could really want from a drink, and this will definitely make my repurchase list once again!

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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85

When I wrote the tasting note for 52Teas Lemon Cardamom Chun Mee, I was absolutely convinced that I’d never tried Chun Mee before. It turns out, though, that maybe I have. The base of this tea is referred to as Chun Mee on the reverse of my new packet, although I’m sure it wasn’t previously. Anyway – it’ll be interesting to try this tea again knowing what I now know.

I brewed this tea for three minutes, which is about as long as I can stand to brew green tea before I start to find it undrinkable. Looking at the leaves, it looks like this is a pretty even mix of green tea and peppermint. The scent would also seem to confirm this, as neither really dominates. The skill with which Teapigs blend their teas is, I think, one of the reasons I like them so much. It doesn’t matter which one I choose, I always finish it in the belief that someone took care over the quantities and proportions of the ingredients. This one is no exception.

To taste, this actually turns out a pretty complex tea. There’s a slightly dank note contributed by the green tea. Something in me wants to call it swampy, but that’s a rather unflattering way of describing it. It’s not bitter, though, or astringent. In fact, this is one of the smoothest green teas I’ve tried, if I’m not counting those from 52Teas, which are always perfect in this respect. Vegetal is probably a better descriptor, although overused. Either way, the green tea is the first thing I taste. After this comes the peppermint. Initially cutting through the taste of the green tea as a distinctive coolness, and eventually transforming into a mellow sweetness that lingers on the tongue.

I’m pretty impressed with this. As it cools, the sweetness from the mint becomes more prominent, which is very pleasant. I can see this being another one I’d like iced in the summer (can you tell how much I want the cold to stop??), but I doubt my current packet will last that long. Another Teapigs triumph!

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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52

I’m in the mood for something sweet and also pre bagged for ease as my newly tattoo’d arm is absolutely killing me. Plus I’m rather engrossed into the FA cup football matches as I have placed a cheeky bet for the wholesome sum of £2 and I’m sat here in anticipation with my fingers crossed.

This tea was part of a sampler box I received for Christmas with lots of different flavours, each in a tiny box with two samples per flavour.

The bag looks like normal rooibos and other than a slightly sweeter than average smell it pretty much is the same as original rooibos. Not sure why I wanted to try this since I dislike rooibos at the best of times but I just got the craving for it.

I will be adding a touch of milk (which I don’t usually do). It was nice to see the milk slowly mixing into the red tea :)

Once brewed the tea smells like normal rooibos, the sweetness has vanished. :(

The taste is like your average rooibos too. There is maybe a smidgen of sweetness but I would certainly not say it was sweet enough to be categorised as caramel. I would have to add sweetener into it before it became as sweet as it’s name sake and that would feel like a waste because I shouldn’t have to manually turn something into what it should have been in the first place. Alright I need to calm down it would seem :/

So to sum things up this was rooibos and nothing more. As far as rooibos teas are concerned this was as fresh and tasty as expected but it did not over exceed anything above average. Such a shame… I will just have to pick something sweeter for my next drink to make up for it.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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85

Sipdown! Another sample from the Teapigs box I was given when I left my last job. I’ve had this one before and really enjoyed it, but it works better in a smaller cup than the one I had to hand. Relatively sweet, caramel flavoured loveliness. The rooibos is quite woody, but tones down well with some milk. I can’t believe this weekend is almost over, but there you go! Sherlock tonight!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
TheTeaFairy

You Steepsterites makes me want to get into Sherlock…hummmm, it is on Netflix, is it not? Something to think about :-)

Sil

Tea fairy- it is WELL worth the time spent watching. And each season only has 3 episodes of 1.5 hours. So they’re like mini movies :)

TheTeaFairy

Ok, you sold me…I think I will start tonight :-)

Sil

yay!!! let us know if you like it or not haha

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85

Backlogging from Thursday

I’ve had an upsetting week so far. Work has been trying; multiple system failures have meant that we’ve had a lot of complaints, and as receptionists we’re supposed to put up with all of the angry/ranty people that come our way, be nice to them, and attempt to placate them. It’s hard. I’ve not been getting home until 7.00pm, so the days feel long and my evenings short.

I needed cheering up, so I dug out this old friend of a tea. I haven’t had one of these in an absolute age. I guess new, shiny teas kept jumping to the head of the queue, but sometimes it’s good just to have something familiar and comforting.

The dry leaves smell just like a creme caramel. Sweet, smooth, with a fudgey note from the cubes of caramel. I can’t actually smell the rooibos all that strongly, just decadent, creamy caramel. Blindfolded, you’d think it was the real deal.

I brewed this for three minutes, just long enough to melt the caramel but not so long that the rooibos overpowers it completely. I added milk, because I think it complements the creamy sweetness of this tea, and tones down the earthiness of the rooibos. I love the suggestion on the packet that you add creme fraiche to this instead of milk. I can see that working really well, and it’s something I’ll definetly have to try one day.

To taste, this is much as you’d expect. The rooibos is quite prominent, and adds a woody, robust depth to the flavour. I’m not overkeen on rooibos alone, but it combines well with the caramel, which contributes a rich creaminess. Together, they taste wonderful. This truly is like a creme caramel in a cup. Sweet, divine, smooth.

I love trying new tea, but sometimes an old favourite is the best thing there is. I’ve fallen in love with this tea all over again. It brought a smile to my face, and reminded me that there’s more to life than worrying about work. Finally, I feel like I’m starting to relax.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
Sil

I hope things get better!

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92

a brilliant blend, the mint works very well with the liquorice to bring out the sweetness. maybe you need to be slightly fond of liquorice, i’m not sure. for me, i absolutely loved this, the only downside being the price of teapigs teabags!

i’m not sure why some reviewers weren’t massively impressed by this, but for me, this is a brilliant flavour combination and my favourite of the teapigs teabags (this and the darjeeling earl grey).

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 30 sec

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65
drank Spiced Winter by Teapigs
2238 tasting notes

One of my leaving presents from my last job was a box of Teapigs, and I’ve just got around to starting them now. The first one I chose was Spiced Winter — it’s seasonally appropriate, after all. It’s one I pretty much always enjoy, too. The red base is slightly woody, but the orange, cinnamon, and clove spicing more or less covers most of that up. The flavours work together in any case, so it’s actually a pretty successful rooibos to my tastes. It’s probably not one I’d look to keep around other than at Christmas, but it’s a nice caffeine free Christmas tea, and beautifully spiced to boot. An enduring Teapigs winter favourite!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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65
drank Spiced Winter by Teapigs
2238 tasting notes

Another remnant found lurking at the bottom of my stash. I really thought I’d finished all of these — it must have been almost a year ago, too. Still, shows what I know! It’s probably a bit early to be drinking Christmas tea (although that hasn’t stopped me guzzling Yumchaa Red Christmas), and this is a seriously Christmassy one. It’s heavy on the cinnamon, but there’s also a blend of other spices that are almost reminiscent of mulled wine.

I gave this about 3 minutes, and added a splash of milk. The spices come through clearly, and the rooibos adds a woody undertone to the whole thing. I don’t mind this one, although it’s fairly season specific. I might buy it again in the future, although it’s not quite the thing for right now. Maybe on Christmas Eve :)

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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65
drank Spiced Winter by Teapigs
2238 tasting notes

I’ve been drinking this at work today, trying to hang on to the last vestiges of Christmas spirit before they’re gone for good. Unlike last time, when I was at home, I’ve been adding milk to this. It makes a pleasant change. For some reason, I just didn’t think of adding milk until I got to work. Maybe because that’s what I usually do here.

Anyway, with the addition of milk, this is perhaps even nicer than before. It’s creamy, and the earthiness of the rooibos is toned down a little. The spices are slightly less harsh. I don’t usually add milk to rooibos, but I could get used to drinking it like this. Maybe because it’s spiced, but it’s reminding me of chai more than anything right now. Ah, winter! A successful experiment. I can’t wait to try this with the box of Rooibos Creme Caramel I’ve got stashed away now. I think that could turn out realllly nice! All I’m left to wonder is why this has never occured to me before. Still, better late than never.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 30 sec

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65
drank Spiced Winter by Teapigs
2238 tasting notes

From one extreme to the other. This is another tea I’ve tried before, although not for a couple of years now. Dry, it does indeed smell like Christmas. I can pick out cinnamon, ginger, orange, maybe a hint of clove. It’s warming and spicy.

This one has a rooibos base, so I gave it about 4 minutes. I want to taste the spices, rather than have the rooibos overpower everything else. Brewed, this is a deep red-brown and smells strongly spicy. I suppose it’s a little like mulled wine, only sadly without the alcohol. I’m actually tempted to add a bit of brandy, but I’ll refrain for now. It also reminds me, interestingly enough, of the Lush shower gel I’m using at the moment — Glogg. I think it’s because it’s almost the same colour, and shares the same cinnamon scent. Thankfully, they don’t have soap in common.

Anyway, this tea doesn’t taste as “heavy” as I thought it was going to. The colour of the liquor is deceptive in that way. The rooibos really complements the spices — it’s earthy and slightly muddy tasting under the cinnamon and clove, which seem to come out most strongly of all once infused.

This is certainly a pleasant, hearty tea for this time of year, and a little different too, in not having a black tea base. I don’t usually go for gimmicky Christmas team because they’re generally spice-based, and they’re not flavours I particularly feel like drinking at any other time of year. This one is probably much the same in that respect, but I can be Christmassy when called upon. And when I am, this isn’t a tea I’d mind drinking.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
Angrboda

Ah glögg! You don’t get much more Christmas-y than that! It’s THE Christmas drink around these parts. Sort of like a mulled wine with raisins and almond bits in.

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85
drank Pure Lemongrass by Teapigs
2238 tasting notes

I’ve had this tea many times prior to joining Steepster, and a couple of times since. It was actually my drink of choice last summer, when I was working in a relatively small, almost windowless office. For all that, I’ve never got around to writing a tasting note. I feel like something fresh to drink this morning, though, so I decided to grab the opportunity.

The dry leaves are one of the things I like most about this tea. Large, flat pieces of dried lemongrass, and nothing else. They range from a gorgeous grassy green, through shades of brown and cream. The scent is almost undescribably fresh — lightly lemony, slightly grassy and hay-like. Opening a new packet, the scent immediately reminds me of summer. It’s just that kind of smell.

I usuaully leave the bag in this one, until it’s a medium yellow-green. The infused leaves smell strongly citrussym with more of a lime note than they posessed dry. The lemon is still detectable, although slightly less so. The overarching note is a delicate sweetness, contributing a wonderful hay-like aroma. I love this tea. It makes the sun seem that much closer, even on a grey, miserable day like today.

To taste, this is just as you’d expect. Citrussy, sweet, and very mellow. It tastes very rounded, very smooth, and it’s so easy to drink. There’s a very slight tang from the citrus in the aftertaste, but it’s more than welcome after the sweetness of the initial sip.

If it were possible to bottle summer, you couldn’t get much closer than this.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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84
drank Darjeeling Earl Grey by Teapigs
60 tasting notes

It’s good! and It lasts a long time. my cousins from England brought it when they came to visit. It’ll steep two cups which is nice.

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65

Last time I drank one of these, I wasn’t in a fit state to taste anything. I opened a fresh packet today, though, so it’s time for a fresh tasting note — this time with tastebuds intact.

As soon as I open the box, I can smell the sweetness of the liquorice. I’m not sure why this surprises me every time, but it does. I breathed in a little too close to the packet — entirely by accident — and was rewarded with a mouthful of residual dust. It tastes a little like artificial sweetner. Not my favourite thing.

I can’t remember whether I’ve said it before, but I like this tea iced. It’s somehow more palatable cold — maybe because it complements the peppermint more. Hot, this is odd to say the least. The sweetness really lingers at the back of the mouth. It’s an acquired taste, I think, but one I’m in the process of acquiring. I don’t know how — I couldn’t finish my first cup of this all that time ago — but it is. Each time I drink it the extreme sweetness seems a little less repulsive, and I’m starting to taste something underneath the initial hit that I actually rather like. I’m going to need to try a few more cups before I can identify it with any certainty, but I’m kind of pleased this is no longer on my “ick” list. It’s a tea I’ve always wanted to like — despite myself — and maybe now I can finally say I’m getting there!

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 30 sec

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65

The first time I tried this tea, I actually didn’t like it. I wasn’t, in fact, sure that I could even finish the cup. Since then, I tried it again this summer, iced, and found it palatable. This morning, struck down by a cold at the beginning of the busiest week of the year for me at work, I found another bag of this in my desk drawer. Since I’d neglected to buy milk this morning, and a hot drink – any hot drink – sounded like a good idea to me, I gave this another try.

Actually, it’s not that bad. It’s very sweet, which is what took me by surprise the first time I tried it. I was expecting the liquorice to taste dark and sort of bitter (in my head, liquorice is black and sticky), but it absolutely doesn’t. Strangely enough, when I tried a tea with a dark, sticky, bitter liquiorce flavour (hello, Twinings Liquorice Allsorts Earl Grey), I didn’t like it at all. Clearly, when it comes to liquorice, I’m really hard to please. Anyway – on second acquaintance, I’m finding that the liquorice in the tea adds a pleasing sweetness which works really well with the peppermint. I still don’t like it steeped for an overly long time, but a couple of minutes provides a drink that’s both refreshing and comforting all at once. It’s cosy, and warm, and summery, and, as such, perfect for a dark, cold day when I’m feeling terrible.

It’s probably best if I don’t comment on the nuances of this while I’m feeling so awful. I have a whole box of this in my stash, so I’m going to save the reflection for future tastings. All I know at the moment is that this made me feel better, and that I was surprised to actually like it after all.

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 30 sec
LiberTEAS

I’ve only had this tea once, and I could not drink it. I could not finish the cup. I was really disappointed too, because I love licorice, and I’m not opposed to mint, either.

TeaEqualsBliss

Ditto what Liberteas said…I’m a mint freak and couldn’t take more than 2 sips!

TeaEqualsBliss

Having said that…I DO LOVE their straight-up Peppermint, tho! One of the best I have ever had!

Martyn Jenkins

Try Peppermint & Rosemary from Time Out Teas Cornwall U.K
www.timeout-tea.co.uk

Scheherazade

Thank you for the recommendation — I’ll check it out :)

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59
drank Spiced Winter by Teapigs
1379 tasting notes

I cleared this off my shelf just before Christmas only to receive more for Christmas. Luckily it’s only a small pack of around 6 teabags.

The snow stopped last night but the ground is covered with a few inches of pure ice so work phoned to say I don’t need to come in today. Just as well because I know I would fall over like a penguin.

If you have snow where you are and you need to venture out then I wish you all safety and protection. The snow is beautiful but dangerous. Have a good day everyone.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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59
drank Spiced Winter by Teapigs
1379 tasting notes

My second cup with a naughty splash of whisky (it says brandy but I don’t have any) and I could do with it as it’s freezing today.

The tea tastes very much like mulled wine now and it’s much more palatable. :)

Star Trek TNG + Whiskey Tea = happiness.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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59
drank Spiced Winter by Teapigs
1379 tasting notes

Over the last couple of days I have been experiencing an unnatural burst of energy and willingness to clean. I’m not saying I live in a pig sty but my house is clean yet untidy but with method to my madness I know where my things are. Perhaps it’s Christmas on the horizon that is boosting me to make it special this year, last year my husband was undergoing chemotherapy for testicular cancer and he finished just in time for Christmas (which I see as a miracle) but he was still left feeling nauseous and unwell. :(
So this year I am going to try my very best to give him a Christmas that he deserves.

I tell this story because it will hopefully show you all how I am slowly feeling the Christmas spirit. First it started with the winter frost tea and now with this spiced winter tea. I have two teabags left and could do with drinking as much as I can to clear my already overfull cupboards.

This one is noticeably rooibos based in look, smell and brewed appearance. It smells of cinnamon and clove.

Taste wise this is like a rooibos chai, it’s very rooibos heavy with cinnamon, clove and subtle almost herbal orange. I have a drop of milk to to ease some of the sweetness from rooibos and it worked well.

It’s too rooibos and too chai for my liking, I’m not a fan of either. :( Plus it doesn’t make me feel Christmassy. I will finish this one off and it leaves a small space on my tea shelves so at least there is a positive side.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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89

A perfect accompanier to an English style breakfast, or in this case an English style breakfast but for dinner.

Add one demerara sugar and a dollop of milk to create perfection.

The tea itself is strong, malty and very much full bodied. It’s one of the stronger breakfast tea’s I have found which is why I love it.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 45 sec

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86

Sorry for my lack of posts over the weekend. As some of you may have read I attended my cousins wedding on Saturday and it was an all day event, the ceremony was beautiful and it was nice having the family together. Unfortunately as occurs at most weddings there were a few drunken incidents…embarrassingly my husband came off the worst. He ran face first into a tree which resulted with a bad black eye, cut up nose and fat lip. Worst of all I didn’t even get to see it :/ Would have been a sight!

Long story short my weekend was recovery for both of us, I do love my red wine. This Darjeeling Earl Grey tea is the only thing I can stomach right now and we’ve had copious amounts over the last few days. A splash of milk and sprinkle of sugar really brings out the bergamot in this blend and smooths it nicely into a silky liquid easily gulp-able.

Oh well, at least my cousin and family will have some amusing stories from the wedding…albeit this one at the expense of my very silly husband.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 30 sec 8 OZ / 250 ML
Christina / BooksandTea

How did he manage that?!

KittyLovesTea

The after party was outside in a large marquee and all around were fields and beautiful gardens. I told my husband to get some fresh air while I get him some water and he ran off saying he’s fine, well my mum and uncle followed him to bring him back and it’s then that he ran into the tree. I asked him once he sobered up the next day why he ran and he said it was to prove that he was sober enough to keep drinking. Evidently not the case. At least it’s a wedding we will never forget.

Terri HarpLady

This sort of thing explains why I quit drinking 30 years ago, LOL

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86

I have a lot of work to do today and when I get stuck in there are only a few things that I crave.
1 – Crisps (chips)
2 – Something good to watch (in this case I’m watching numb3rs)
3 – Earl Grey tea.

I’m working from home to gather and make 35 jewellery orders which will take me around 5 hours to finish since I pack them myself as well. I do get enjoyment from making jewellery and the fact that people love what I make gives me a huge smile :D but 35 orders is enough for me to stress.

No idea why I go for Earl Grey when I’m stressed but I do and I recently bought this brand after not having it for quite a while. Steeped for 4 minutes with fresh boiling water, one sugar (which is natural stevia extract zero calories) and a good splash of soy milk.

My creation is a beautifully sweet and fragrant drink that is perfect for gulping down to create an instant boost. Yummyness.

Now to get back to work, not to mention watching numb3rs. I have a thing for genius’s and geeks :D

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
TheTeaFairy

Also love geeks, but ONLY if they are genius! ( they usually are, right?) That show is so clever :-)

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52

This time I used almost a whole (level) teaspoonful for one mug and what do you know, the taste is stronger! 1/4 of a teaspoon my foot. The water I used was slightly too hot but it’s made the tea react like just a normal green tea, slightly scalded and slightly astringent/acidic, but in this case it doesn’t spoil the matcha too much. Nicely dry on the tongue and deeply vegetal and fresh.

Not a matcha I think I’ll be coming back to for personal use, but an interesting forage!

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C

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52

While matcha lattes have started to catch on in the cafés of Canterbury and London, I don’t have any matcha of my own to try. At least, I didn’t until the Teapigs twitter account started giving away sample packs of this, so I opted in. After all, their matcha lattes (which, incidentially, I always order without the latte) seemed pretty good! Let’s give this a whirl!

And… uh… hm. Naturally, having tried a proper, tea-ceremony style matcha before my hopes for this were already quite high… But having used the 1/4 teaspoon amount of tea as recommended, the flavour is rather weak. There’s the slight dryness and some of the vegetal earthiness in the scent has made its way into the taste, but not by much.

I imagine this needs to have more matcha powder, or maybe it’s just tasteless…

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C

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