The Spice & Tea Exchange

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Recent Tasting Notes

48

This one brews so pretty. Which is so sad since it is so bitterly full of hibiscus. I tried adding twice the sugar I usually do, and still all I could taste was hibiscus with ever so slightly a hint of raspberry. Thank you for the chance to try this one Indigobloom!

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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77

Mmm this one brewed up perfectly tonight. Sweet and orangey and just what I’d been hoping for. Yum.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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77

I have a love hate relationship with this tea. Love because it does taste like what it is called. There are definitive blood orange notes in with a smooth rooibos tea flavour. But I wanted more. I wanted more smoothie and less rooibos. The rooibos is definitely strong here and if you aren’t a fan of it, you aren’t going to like this tea at all. I’m curious what it would taste like if I mixed it with some of my other orange flavoured teas. I may have to try next time since I can’t add milk or cream to this one.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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87

Tea of the afternoon…..

This one came to me from Indigobloom. I have really been wanting to try this to see if another one of my favorites is close…..

Light green/yellow liquor, lovely coconut smell and taste. Very slightly buttery. Yum!

I am, of course, comparing to Golden Moon’s Coconut Pouchong. Honestly, though, I like them both. This one is a little more roasted tasting and maybe not quite as buttery. I really don’t see a need for both of them in my cupboard, but it is great to know that there is another source for really good Coconut Oolong/Pouchong out there, and it really just depends on where I am shopping at the time. I just know I am always in need of this kind of tea in my cupboard.

Thank you so much for the sample!

Mug method, 3 minutes, about 180 water. No additions.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec
Indigobloom

I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! I think between the two, I’d go for this one. The other has more of a vanilla hint to it, whereas this one is a tad more grassy somehow. Esp in later steepings

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78

This tea tried to fool me! I got it as a sample from the lovely and awesome Indigobloom and when I labelled it I wrote black instead of pu’erh. So when I went to brew it, half asleep this morning, I was started to smell pu’erh as I lifted it for my first sip. Tricky tea, I figured you out anyway!

Dry this tea smells lovely, like a chocolate filled with strawberry nougat waiting in the tray calling to you. Brewed, the tea definitely has notes of pu’erh, but I didn’t detect any fishiness. There were hints of strawberry in the smell but I didn’t really get much chocolate. Leery now since I’m not a fan of pu’erhs yet, I hesitantly took my first sips.

Okay, this is now the second pu’erh that I’ve enjoyed. The strawberry is a fake strawberry, like those candies I mentioned above. The chocolate and pu’erh balance really nicely, however, to make it a lovely cup.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
Indigobloom

hehe too funny :P
See, no fishy fishness! yay!!

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80

I got this one in a mail exchange recently, and so gave it another look. The first time I tried it was before I had a variable temperature kettle, so I felt it definitely deserved another look. I’m glad I did, because tonight it was an enjoyable cup to sip as I talked with friends. The flavour was dominated by pineapple, but not enough to turn me off since it is far from my favourite fruit. I definitely don’t see this becoming a favourite tea for me, or even a restock, but I’m not going to be trading it out of my collection, either.

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

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80

Sipping off the last of this one tonight. Definitely a nice tea, but as Indigobloom stated in her review, it is dupeable. Lovely but not memorable.

Indigobloom

gah, quick, try it iced!! SOOoooooo much better that way

TeaBrat

memorable teas… i’ve only had a few. Most are very easily duplicated.

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80

Got this one as a sample from Indigobloom with whom I had a GREAT tea-addictive Saturday. The tea is lovely, I had it with dinner and the flavour was strong enough to power over the extreme garlic in my meal and still allow me to taste the fruity notes. I had it hot and loved it, and now I’m really curious how it would taste iced since both notes state they prefer it that way!

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 0 sec
Indigobloom

I find eating food with my tea changes it… so annoying! haha
but yah, I think it’d be amazing iced. and I am not an iced tea girl!!

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89

It’s funny, but having tea less often somehow makes it taste so much better. My cup of this today wasn’t half bad!
Also, I’ve had a series of Tim Horton’s teas foisted on me, so I have something truly lacklustre for comparison.
Anyhow. I am hoping this will all change because a) we are working out the kinks in my work schedule/load, and b) roll up the rim will soon be over!
Oh and I won’t have the constant temptation of endless apple or strawberry strudel paraded over my head. Ha!!

Now the cup? Sure it could have been dark chocolate, but I doubt I would have picked that out as a flavour if I hadn’t known. Meh.

SimpliciTEA

What a great word, “foisted”!

Indigobloom

LOL it is a fun word to say isn’t it SimpliciTea :P

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89

I’m not sure if my tastes have changed, or perhaps the tea. But this, well it just tastes different. Certainly not like cake. Highly astringent, to the point of being downright sour. In fact, I could be convinced that this was some kind of lame attempt at lemon flavouring.
I’ll leave the rating as is, in honour of how spectacular my last batch was… but this one? well it’d get around 55.

Fjellrev

Pity that the batches aren’t consistent.

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89

Mmmmmm. If I’m ever craving a chocolate fix, this is the place to go!!
It’s like drinking cocoa tea! So yummy. Trouble is, I so badly wanted to try this with a spot o’ milk… except when I opened the fridge, someone drank the last of it this morning! oh well, something to look forward to next time. I’m sure it will be worth the wait :)
I’m surprised that with this being a black and all, I am really enjoying my cup. When I had intended to sample this with milk, I had divided it into two cups… one of them with some agave in it just to see if it made any difference. I think it did, but not in a good way. In fact, I prefer it without. Nonetheless, when the missing dairy incident occurred, I combined the two samples and so now I have agave in it. Maybe the trick is to just use less.
Somehow, I can actually taste the maltiness and the astringency!! Once in awhile I get blessed with a “good” tea day and well it seems this is one of ‘em! hallelujah!!!!!
Only my friends here on Steepster will understand how happy this makes me :):):)
Maybe it’s the cocoa? or the fact that I had a cat-scan yesterday (I dunno ‘bout anyone else but whenever I go get tested/to the doc for some medical issue or other, the problem seems to miraculously clear up on it’s own! ha. Am I a hypochondriac? it’s possible!!)
In any case, the chocolate is nice and deep. Rich, like I’m eating cake. It’s better when piping hot, but then I find most teas like that. The astringency comes out more as it cools. Heck, I don’t mind. I can taste the astringency!! :P

SimpliciTEA

Yes, I am glad you can taste all of those things in the tea! Woo, hoo!!

Indigobloom

Thanks SimpliciTea!! it’s days like today that give me hope it will return for good one day *sighs

Tina S.

Yay for awesome tea days on amazingly tea-ful days! :D

Ninavampi

Yay for tasting! And yes… Sometimes my problems disappear in the docs waiting room… Odd…

Indigobloom

Tina: YAY indeed! :P I’m so grateful for amazing tea days…

Ninavampi: It really is strange isn’t it?! So many yays for tasting! :P

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97

First, I am thankful to Indigobloom for sending some of this my way. I LOVE the subtle flavor of coconut in this tea. Sometimes coconut teas can make you feel like you just drank your suntan lotion by mistake but not this one. It is a perfect balance of oolong and coconut. I have been waiting for a chance to try this. To me, it is silky like a milk oolong with the added extra deliciousness of the tropics. I bet this would be good iced, but I doubt my sample will make it to warm weather. :) Thanks again Indigobloom!!!

Indigobloom

Yay! so glad you like it :)
I’m craving some now… mmm

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93

Looooove! such love for this tea.
It’s not harsh or biting at all, like so many other versions I’ve tried. The smokiness in a Lapsang tends to give it a scratchy sensation but not here, thankfully!
I added a bit of agave(maybe 1/2 tspn) this time around and it’s really picked up on the sweet note. I’m getting alot more marshmallow now.
Too bad I have a headache blooming. Maybe time for a chammy after this!

Bonnie

I LOVE a good Lapsang Souchong and my local tea house has a good one too. My grandkids call it The Memory Tea because it reminds them of when they lived in California in the Redwoods…the smell of woodfires in the morning…and camping. I love to drink it and look outside in the Winter at the snow. (I like it anytime really) I have a version called Lion and Lamb that has popped Jasmine Flowers…like popcorn and this mellows the smokiness a little. Glad you like this brand!!! I love some of The Spice and Tea Exchange tea blends!

Indigobloom

the memory tea, ahhh what a great name!! I usually call it campfire tea, since I very rarely get to go camping, and I didn’t go as a child haha.
Your grandchildren are lucky to have those memories :)
Sounds like you got a shipment from STE, what else was in your package?

Indigobloom

and popping jasmine tea, I’ve never heard of that, neato!!!!

Bonnie

Coconut Oolong, Strawberry Chocolate Puerh!!! Dessert at my house!!!! Actually my son is coming for Pascha (Easter) and lives by a STE in San Francisco (Pier 39) so I’m having him bring me STUFF and things from Chinatown (Gaiwan) which are inexpensive there.

Bonnie

Oh the Jasmine…Yep dry and fluffy like popcorn…really good! I was in Happy Luckys yesterday sharing some Puerh with the guys there and they gave me some (4oz sample) of this Lion and Lamb Lapsang Souchong with the Jasmine in it…I keep picking out the dry bits…not good…but it’s so delicious dry!

Indigobloom

Exciting!! to think you are so near an STE, I am just a tad jealous :P
I can imagine they would be quite tasty. Mmmm, reminds me of our popcorn supply downstairs!

Bonnie

SO NEAR …San Francisco is near to Fort Collins Colorado?!

Indigobloom

oh right my head is not here! lol
I have a headache… the only reason I can think my fingers would type such silliness :P

Bonnie

You’re still a cool chick! Hope you feel betah! Caffeine helps my migraines.

Indigobloom

heh thanks Bonnie <3
I do feel loads better after taking some meds… and a nap!

Scott B

I’m looking for a new Lapsang this year-maybe I’ll check this one out.

Indigobloom

I recommend it highly! my favourite is the second and fourth steeping. I’ve yet to make it to five.

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93

warm campfire in a cup. with marshmallows, alot of them!
I love this tea. Love it!! when I am done with this packet I will be going to buy more.
Like with the STE Darjeeling, I had my doubts but I really should have more faith because both of them are amazing!!
I forgot my notes at work again but will update this with my next review.
or not… since I got through three steeps and they were all lovely but more or less the same if not a tad weaker as it went, and maybe a bit sweeter/less smoky. I just mean that I didn’t see any extra layers of flavour come out!
Oh and one day I’ll try it with milk. I think that would make it caramel-like. Mmmm

Plunkybug

No actual marshmallows, right? You mean just sweet?

Indigobloom

hehe yes it’s just sweet!! I’ve never had a lapsang so naturally sweet before

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82

I had this iced today. The first time I tried it that way, I used the cold brew method… ie dumping the leaves in cold water and then leaving it in the fridge.
Well, I was highly disappointed. That plastic taste I get in greens came popping right out.
If I hadn’t been out n about I would have ditched it, but I was thirsty and needed a drink.
This time though, I made it hot and then let it cool. Better. But I let it sit for a bit too long thinking that because it was to be iced, it might be better that way. Boy was I wrong.
Next time, I make it my normal way (90 seconds) and ice it. Hopefully that will turn out better. I might even go with icing the second steep instead.
Oh and I’m lowering the rating a few points. To me, this is pretty similar to Long Life Oolong in the fruity aspect. It goes so much deeper in the flavour. With every sip, I kept thinking… not terrible, but LLO was so much better. Yeah, they are different species and all… green vs oolong, and I’m not typically a green girl so perhaps this is my bias coming out? or maybe I just had one of those randomly “bad” cups!
Methinks I just need to steep it again with my usual method. shrugs
Who knows.

gmathis

I’ve never had much luck cold-steeping or sun-tea-ing green tea without it getting nasty and bitter.

Indigobloom

same here! but then I rarely if ever enjoy greens cold or hot…

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82

I don’t feel qualified to review this tea. It smells SO good but somehow, it tastes just like every other fruity green tea I’ve sampled, albeit very smooth. The fruit does blend well together as well so I can tell it’s a well executed blend… I just don’t know how to describe it properly, other than the few notes I’ve given!
Well, there is that astringent sour note I keep getting in other teas.
I’ll leave it unrated, for now. Maybe I’ll try it iced, as recommended in the other review here.

EDIT: First time ever folks!! I like a tea better cold than hot!!! the flavour profile completely changes that way. It’s much sweeter and brighter. A tad bitter but I kinda like it. Yay!! I have a tea to cold brew and love now xx
(also, I’ve now rated it… based on the cold tea)

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78

Backlog #8 – my last for today. I drank more tea than I thought!
Yay, a hibiscus tea that isn’t overtaken by sour notes! :)
Except instead, it’s all about the cinnamon. No plum… just spice. I’m still undecided. Well, it does seem to be a mood tea. and I do appreciate a spot of cinnamon now and again. and it’s loads better than the Kampai :)
Bah, Toronto water will save it. yes it will!!

SimpliciTEA

Your description of your rating system cracks me up!

Indigobloom

hehe thanks SimpliciTea :P

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95

Dear Toronto Water:
YOU SUCK!!!… all the goodness out of Darjeeling tea. You leeched out the lovely deep fruity round and delicate notes and left me with soggy flowers and mulch.
Please leave my innocent Darjeelings alone. I offer you my White teas in lieu. Deal?

Sincerely,
your neighbourhood tea lover IndigoBloom

Bonnie

Unfortunately we are all left to buy spring water…ah well…

Daniel Scott

Hmm. The water in south Calgary is…gross…and has floaty things in it. We’ve had a water dispenser/mini fridge in our kitchen since we moved in, basically, and instead of bottled water, we have a charcoal filter on top. Seems to work pretty well. Maybe you could get a small charcoal filter for inside your fridge?

Indigobloom

we have a water filter in the fridge but use it mostly for drinking. It flows so slowly that we usually use tap water. Maybe I’ll experiment one day and try it with filtered. or distilled :)

Bonnie

Honestly, my daughter and I both buy Spring Water especially for the non highly flavored tea’s and another thing that helps tap water is to let it run for a minute to decrease the icky taste that I seem to find especially in the Winter. Rocky Mountain water is way better than the Silicon Valley water I used to drink (Morgan Hill,California had awful water). I should get a Brita water filter I guess to save money.

Indigobloom

Funny, I actually quite enjoy it for drinking, and Toronto is known for having decent tap watero. I wonder if it has to do with soft/hot water… I’ll try this one with filtered water and see if it makes a difference!!

Tina S.

kidnaps all your white teas to save them from this horrible fate

Indigobloom

LOL But they can’t be kidnapped if they follow you home!

Tina S.

grin I am the Pied Piper of White Teas!

TeaBrat

I have a Brita filter but oddly enough I never use the filtered water to make tea. I’ve heard our water comes from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in Yosemite National Park and it’s supposed to be pretty good.

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95

Backlog!! #9- because I don’t feel like renaming all of them and I missed this one :P
Oh sweet heavenly Darjeeling!! So delicate, so deep, so sweet… so perfect!
This is indeed a bit fruity, but I almost mistook that for a honey flavour. My palate isn’t strong enough to determine anything more distinct, but if I had to guess I would say it’s in the melon or cantaloupe range. This comes out more in the later steepings. The first one was less sugary, and more roundish, kindof like an oolong if that makes any sense?
Also, I must remember to let this cool before tasting. When piping hot, the first two steeps were VERY floral- overwhelmingly so.
I think I’ll reserve this one for reading books. It’s perfect for curling up on the couch and getting lost in a tea/plot-line.
NB: the last time I tried teas with Florida water, they brewed up somewhat differently at home. I’m curious to see what happens with my next cup now that I am back!

SimpliciTEA

It’s funny that you are backlogging. So am I! I like that you are noting the number of each backlog. I may do the same!

Indigobloom

lol it’s fun remembering all the good tea times I’ve had. Numbering them just makes sense to me… what number did you get up to?

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91

This tea creates a great deep purple color with many flavors with the berries adding to the greatness.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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89

Thanks so much to Indigobloom for sending me a generous sample of this tea.

I like cinnamon and almonds so I was pretty sure I’d like this too. It smells incredibly like a cookie! It’s sweet and nutty and even a little bit fruity, not sure where that’s coming from but I like it. I’m having this as my after lunch treat with a bit of soymilk and it’s yummy for a dessert tea. It looks like this was discontinued, too bad it is kinda tasty. Like I need more tea! Well of course I do!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
ScottTeaMan

hehehehe….More tea is always nice. Computer’s been slow….pages not even loading sometimes. Might post my Zhen Qu review later….after my Steelers wipe the Browns! :))

Indigobloom

hehe I’m so glad you like it! and that it found a good home :P
funny, I thought it was a bit fruity too!!! but I thought I was imagining that…

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81

Popped Rice is nice! I love the toasted and roasted base. The description says brothy…and THAT it is! This isn’t overly “fried” or “roasted” or “toasted” as some Genmaicha can be. I think that is just fine. This is a goodie!!!

Calochortus

This sounds perfect! I like a toasted taste to my genmaicha, but not too much.

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88

Unique is RIGHT!
This is a nice surprise!

My parents picked this (and two others) up for me while their were in Annapolis last week…I have tried very few of their offerings but remember liking the ones I have tried so far! I can add this one to my LIKE list!

This has lovely citrus notes throughout and the citrus flavors are most memorable for me in this blend of flavors. I’m thinking this flavor is because of the grapefruit and apple combo! Paired with the Mate – this works well in itself. BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE! The fruity notes and spices work well too! And they aren’t over done. I like that. There are hints of floral here and there, too! And I really like the tiny bits of mint that are more into the aftertaste than anything. The mint is barely there but when all together it all works here!

One thing I noticed is they pointed out this is GREEN Anise they are using. I don’t see that too often. Usually it’s just “regular anise”. I will have to google how GREEN differs but I will say…I like what I am sipping on that is for sure!

This is a great flavored mate!

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91

This is seriously the Mango Flavored Green tea I have been craving for YEARS! True Mango – juicy and topical with a sweet green tea and a slight floral hint within. NICE!

silvermage2000

Nice review that sounds really great I love mango.

TeaEqualsBliss

I added a little to your box that I will send!

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