Tee Handelskontor Bremen

Last from their Probier-Kollektion Nr.1 I bought during my German trip in July! And it’s November now. Just how? And moreover slightly over its half! My life slips through my fingers somehow.

Anyway, to the tea. Well, it is Jasmine tea, which isn’t anything I adore, but sometimes I drink that with pleasure. This tea is though one of those mediocre jasmine teas, without much from green tea base and somehow strongly flavoured with the jasmine — almost to the soapy quantity in the brew.

As I mentioned before, the base was somehow “basic”. Somehow hay, instead of grassy, flat, and overall quite boring.

It was fine, but nothing I would seek out for order.

Silky-Oolong
Next-to-last from their Probier Kollektion Nr. 1. An oolong with added almonds. Interesting idea, so let’s see how is it. Brewed western, around 80°C water.

Dry leaves have strong almond aroma, as well some floral notes, seems very nice. On the back-side of the sample bag, there is written it is an Green oolong from China and it was harvested in summer, but no vintage year.

Even brewed it has got nice almond note. The florals are though way more hidden. The aroma of the almonds overpower them. Afterall, there are some Aromen in the ingredients list as well.

Sadly, flavour isn’t good. It has got nice almond note, with somehow basic green oolong flavours, florals, vegetals, nothing impressive. And really wrong and weird soap aftertaste.

I have also tried the second steep, with a hope that almond note will be weaker. Sadly, it isn’t and the base oolong get strong vegetable notes. Almond level is still same and combined it is just bad.

The only one caffeine-free opinion in Probier-Kollektion Nr. 1 and not bad one. I had very similar tea from Jaf Tea, see here: http://steepster.com/teas/jaf-tea/99911 but this is with extra peppery twist.

In flavour, it is mostly lemongrass and then ginger spicy notes appear. Luckily, they aren’t much strong, but certainly, they are there. Also the pepper makes their note there. Honestyl, not sure if that tingling back in mouth is from pepper or ginger, but either way, it is somehow expected and pleasant.

It’s certainly a good quality, but I prefer the other one for mellower taste.

Though they claim this blend is FTGFOP and Darjeeling, I would say on blind taste it is maybe some kind of Assam and not so good quality.

It wasn’t having any flaws, but it was somehow mediocre in taste. Wild honey, malt, tannic notes are what I have noticed in taste. Aroma was as well quite bold and strong, but nothing from the flowery darjeelings I am used to drink.

I wonder, if it is because of drinking second flush while I am more experienced with FF, or it is just another “type” of Darjeeling with darker tastes and aromas.

This tea is a surprise for me from their Probier-Kollektion.

It’s uniquely complex. The maté base is quite mineral and herbal. The green tea is grassy, fresh and on the other hand it’s quite light. Refreshing and nice menthol notes from peppermint. Not muddy at all as I have been afraid! And in the end of sip, there are wonderful sweet and a little bit tangy pineapple. The fruity line is adding the cherry on the top.

It’s one of the teas I have tried and I would consider a purchase in bigger amount than this sample of 4 g.

Decided to gongfu my 3.9 g sample from their Probier-Kollektion and it was quite a good idea.

However, because my sore left leg (seems like tendons under the knee) I was in pain and thus can’t enjoy it fully. I wonder if it is weather-caused or something else.

Anyway, the tea. I do not know how hot water I have used, but it was “first bubbles” sound on my stove-top kettle; and based on this experience it was a bit under 80°C

I got lightly flavoured green tea with dry grass notes, sometimes hay, sometimes a bolder flavours as cabbage, bok choy and some other vegetables I can’t put my finger on.

As I do not recall having Yun Wu before, I do not know how it is supposed to taste like. But it was quite fine, though maybe a bit too simple green. I would call it daily-drinker green tea for most people out there; for us, enthusiasts, it is a bit a dismal.

Of the flavoured teas, I was looking forward to this tea the most from Probier-Kollektion Nr. 1

Sadly, it doesn’t deliver much and I mostly blame the Chinese sencha used. It was smelling nice, again hoppy citrusy note as in their Earl Grey. Their bergamot flavouring I really enjoy. It was also nicely floral based on the flowers in the blend. And then some tropical notes — mostly mango as they say it is mango-citrusy tea.

But when brewed, and yes, I have used around 80°C water as suggested, and steeped just in half of both minutes written on the bag (2-3 minutes), it does brought me quite a mediocre tea. The sencha was dry, hay like, somehow buttery and overall I haven’t been impressed by base. On the other hand, the bergamot was great as in Himalaya Earl Grey. And tropicals and florals? They were there. But I imagine it is super hard to recreate mango flavour as I haven’t got a proper one yet I think. And yes, overall it was floral. But nothing impressive.

This tea sample is the one I was mostly looking forward. Bremer mix.

As I have found out, it is TGFOP from India, Dooars region (or should I use terroir? :) )

I do not recall having tea from there. Another Google research showed me it should be something between Assam and Darjeeling in taste and even as of the location. The plants are probably Camellia assamica.
This sample of 3.9 grams should be for two or three cups, however I did, as usual, one 300 ml glass mug.

It is indeed something between Darjeelings and Assams. Based on dry aroma I noticed mostly baked bread, chocolaty notes and floral as well.

When steeped, it was smooth and again something between florals and bold malty notes. Also again the baked bread notes appeared here as well. It was quite nicely mouth-coating, with very light astringency. Also, the tea seems to me very fresh to me and there were many diffrent colours in steeped leaves. They were from dark brown through light brown to green — Darjeeling like.

Not really exceptional-super-high-grade tea, but perfectly fine for afternoon drinking with biscuits.

I have arrived home somehow tired from work again! And thus I have decided for bold, strong black tea. And this tea seems like a good fit. Translation of name is “globetrotter”, which I am not certainly. Though it seems I have visited most countries in my family. At least based on that I always start when we are playing Ticket to Ride with my nieces and other family members. They have been there last week and although they arre panic attack triggers, I really enjoyed playing this board game with them.

But back to the tea from Bremen. The grade is GFOP, which is, not that great; but “mischung” of Chinese, Ceylon and Indian tea sounded good in theory. Actually, in practice, it isn’t bad either. But it tastes somehow flat. There is mediocre level of malt, citrusy and sweet potatoes (maybe?) taste. But in the very same intensity, there is something like metallic taste — a bit coppery. It doesn’t mean I am eating copper on daily basis, but you know that feel I think?

As a daily drinker — why not, afterall it’s not so expensive. But I am somehow glad I had only a sample of this :)

Another “could not help myself, but buy more tea” tea. At least I bought “Probier-Kollektion” and not their 100 gr pouches, though some teas sound great. So, I had 10 packets, each 4 grams; to try from their, quite big, selection.

And what I was supposed to do, when I had nothing to do at the train station and there was this little shop?

Anyway, tea bought in Bremen, called it’s from Bremen, seems to be fresh.

Also, it is first time I see Nepalese tea (seems to me) base for Earl Grey. Have anyone seen it before?

Now to the tea. The base is great. Very mellow and round, as I am used to with Nepalese, with hints of honey and stone-fruits. Now to the citrus part. Yes, it is citrusy, mellow as well and natural. And now the weird part. It tastes like a Citra hops in hoppy IPA beer. Yes, I notice hops in that. A little bit of bitterness is there too. But it is certainly one of the better EGs I ever had. Maybe because it is that hoppy flavour? I do not know…

Sipdown! (40 | 244)

Another swap sample. I admit, I was not expecting to like this one given the description of “apple and marzipan flavor”.

But to me, this tastes more like a lightly spiced apple cake, which I am so on board for. It’s very smooth and mellow, with some subtle spicing and a sweet cooked apple flavor. It has a nice cakey taste to it. The black base is very light and smooth, so overall it’s quite a soft tea.

I really enjoyed it! But I don’t think it’s worth the effort of trying to find a way to order it, ha ha…

Liquid sunshine. Fresh and uplifting, without any bitterness at all. The orange really sings, and you can feel the tingle of the citrus oil on your tongue after each sip.

Decaf Vanilla Rose – I won’t deny that decaffeinated tea has less flavor than regular tea, but decaf flavored blends can work just fine – and having an unflavoured one is useful because I can use it as a base for making my own decaf blends.