The Tea Table

I was having internet issues yesterday and almost forgot to log/back log this. Rachel sent me a nice little sample and I must say I enjoyed it! The Melon Cubes did it for me, I have to admit! All of the flavors were mellow to mellow-medium in taste. I could taste them all individually but they all meshed well too! nice, pretty flavored sencha!

I am trying to finish up about an ounce of this that I have left. It is not on my reorder list. However, it is not too bad if I add a tsp of Diet Hot Cocolate mix and a touch of sweetener.

This is the second tea I have tried with this method. And up next is a decaf strawberry. I get about three jumbo mugs of cocoa tea with one pouch of Diet Hot Cocoa mix that is 25 calories. Each jumbo mug is under 10 calories. I like the option for cocoa tea in the evenings, but like the option for just tea, too. This works for me.

My evening cuppa. Yummy with milk and sweetener.

From the journal:
After the first cup, I was not sure it was necessary to order more. It seemed like a watered down cup of hot cocoa. I probably did not know what to expect as it was one of the first things I tried from The Tea Table very early on in my tea adventure. After the second cup, I decided it was not too bad. Tastes like tea and hot cocoa together. Third time is a charm? We shall see….

Since I do like this one iced, I tried it as a cold brew. It was a dump out. I think I like black tea brewed traditionally for iced tea. I miss that strong black tea malteyness. As a cold brew, this one just tasted like the lychees the tea was scented with, and not in a good way. Ick..kind of like drinking perfume. I even upped the tsp to 8 in 40 oz. water.

This one definitely tastes better as iced tea. I can drink this one sans additions if it is iced, because the scent was a little strong in hot tea. It is not, however, on the repurchase list. I plan to purchase my lychee tea elsewhere for a much better price. Otherwise, it makes a cool, refreshing iced tea, and the lychee scent rounds the tea out very well.

Additional parameters, I made a 40 oz teapot and allowed it to mosly cool to room temp, and then served over ice. I put the remaining tea in my fancy glass pitcher in the fridge.

Having second thoughts about the perfume level in this tea. You would think the perfume would dissipate a little once the tea is brewed and the leaves removed from the cup (or premisis?). Not the case with this one. I think I am going to blend it with something else to cut the flavor a little. I do see this making fabulous iced tea when blended a little.

This was my afternoon cup for the day. It is a little more perfumed than I remember from the sample (I just opened this larger size today.) It brewed up to a pretty pleasing slightly sweet-tart cup. Overall, I am pleased.

Maybe immortality is not a real side effect of osmanthus but smiling certainly is. Usually I find it in oolongs so a green with the famed flower made me happy. Given how dark and brittle the osmanthus look in this blend, I was worried it wouldn’t have any taste but it’s exactly the opposite. The osmanthus flavor is fresh and strong (well, strong for osmanthus) like it was just harvested. I think the floral citrusy taste works much better with the light buttery grassiness of green tea than the plum and peach of most of the green oolongs osmanthus is usually used to scent. It makes me wonder how well it would do with white tea or lemon verbena. Definately picking up a bit more of this.

This one is pretty good in the evening, but it always makes me wonder why it is hard to find a good decaf chocolate tea…. I have no problems finding good fruit flavors, and a great vanilla. Why is decaf chocolate so hard?

For this one I have to slightly heap the spoon, and I take it with milk and sweetener. I only wish the chocolate was more intense. Maybe I will have to toss in some mini chips, or some cocoa powder next time……

Second steep, I added a little more tea and a few shakes of Dutch process cocoa powder. Yum. More chocolately goodness!

As far as decaf goes, this one is very good. Because of the bulk the peppermint adds, I recommend adding a little more tea to your brew for a more satisfying cup. It is lightly mint and a hint of chocolate. I started with a sample, and then requested it as part of my Valentine tea. I can see it being a staple, as it tastes like a creamy chocolate mint candy with sweetener and milk added. I do prefer Tea Table’s regular version of this as the coconut in the Chocolate Mint blend adds another interesting layer of taste.

This will likely be my last tasting note on this one, even though I have several ounces left in my stash. It is one of my absolute favorites, but I have found a replacement that is just as good for much less. I did lower the ratings because overall, it is hard for me to justify recommending this tea to others when there is an alternative out there at a considerable savings. If I could find a redeeming quality about the company’s tiered shipping practices (shipping goes up as you purchase more tea by dollar amount not by ounce weight…this sucks for purchasing more expensive teas) with no set point for free shipping to help offset the cost a little, I would recommend this one, too. Ah, I did think of one perk…they do offer three free samples per order, but once you have sampled all that you are interested in trying, the shipping becomes annoying. The company offers great service, but so do other vendors. I would rather spend my money on more tea than excessive shipping. Practices like theirs just make me look for ways to buy elsewhere.

Onto the tea…good and reliable as always, even on a resteep. The rose is in perfect balance with the black china tea base. Second steep at 5 minutes.

I needed a cup at the mere mention of this tea. Yum. I think a version of this tea will always be in my cupboard…..and I will start to panic once I see the bottom of the tin. Nah. It’ll never happen…that I see the bottom of the tin, that is. I have the stock up gene, and will always have extra!

Good. Relaxing. Reliable. Need to brew another cup ASAP. ’Nuff said.

I am breaking with tradition and drinking this one in the morning. Still a very good, relaxing tea. I do catch the slightest scent of rose as I drink, but it is the perfect amount to go along with this base. If there were too much rose, and I think it would remind me of soap. And I finally ordered more. I am curious to try some other versions of this tea.

My afternoon cuppa. I just drained it…need to brew another, immediately! This tea really surprised me. I am not a lover of rose scents in general, but this tea is wonderful and relaxing. You do catch the rose scent when opening the bag, but brewed up, it perfectly complements this particular black base. I am bummed I only bought 2 oz…….

I keep needing to bump the rating down on this one. It is good, but I seem to always want a shot of cocoa powder added. It is like this tea has a personality complex….it does not know if it wants to be tea, hot chocolate, or an herbal infusion. Anyway, with the cocoa, milk, and sweetener added it is pretty pleasing, but on its own it is just good. I think it will be easy to move on to my own version after all.

My cuppa for an after-walk reward this morning. It really tastes like I am cheating. I love that you can taste the chocolate and mint with light hints of the coconut. I will miss this one when it is gone.

Had this for my afternoon cup. This one has the perfect ratio of mint to black tea, and the chocolate and coconut notes really play well together. I love this one with milk and sweetener.

I am planning to try to come close with a blend of peppermint and chocolate black, as the price is a little in the high range for a staple flavored black. Per pound, this one is up there…..and I like to buy my favorites by the pound.

My morning tea of the day. Good solid tea that is slightly sweet. Nice balance with the grenadine and vanilla with the black tea, but be careful not to oversteep. The back story on how this blend kept the monks awake for long periods of meditation……I am hoping for a little of that kind of energy today. Yes, I am going to be the optimist today and accomplish much.

I made a large teapot of this today. It is a good basic tea. If it gets oversteeped, it can get a little bitter. The grenadine and vanilla are light, but they balance well with the black. I take mine with a little sweetener.

I have noticed this comes from several online vendors; perhaps it is a Metropolitan variety?….I am on my third source. The first came from The Tea Table, the second from Culinary Teas, the third from The Whistling Kettle. I have not noticed a real difference in any of them.

This one is actually really good. I haven’t found a chocolate tea yet that doesn’t have that fake chocolate flavor. . . Until now. This is delish. The chocolate is very light and it mixes very well with the coconut, carmel, and vanilla. Almost tastes like a candy bar.

Yummy! Another cup please!

Too much mint, too little chocolate and weak withal.

This tea didn’t knock my socks off, but it was good. It did not have a flavor that lingered for a long period of time, nor did it have quite as round and beautiful flavor as many other I have had. The tea though get extra points for being so inexpensive($1.75 for an ounce).

For More on this tea, please visit.
http://tyrosoftea.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/the-tea-table-fine-ti-kuan-yin/