Daylon R Thomas Send Message

Interesting. I get the expected notes of both a regular silver needle with the Ceylon black tea. Honeydew, hay, some malt, and a little bit of cocoa. Three solid steeps western. First time was at three minutes and thirty seconds. It is darker than a normal white; I see why this was nearly named as an oolong.

I like it, but am a little bit underwhelmed compared to the other good teas I’ve had from Beautiful Taiwan. Wish there was more going on with it. Probably would be great Grandpa Style. I also think I’d have to be in the mood for it or traveling.

Christmas sampler! I hesitated with Tea Forte at first, but then low and behold, a loose leaf individual set with a little bit of each flavor. Each serving is the perfect size for my tumbler. Lucky for me.

I liked this tea quite a bit for the following reasons.

1. Incredibly easy to steep, and does not over steep at all-it actually gets better as it soaks.
2. I like the blend picked. I’ve had pear flavored white teas before and they typically work really well for me. The ginger is an added spicy bonus. I also really like these individual flavors, so totally narrow appeal.
3. Though it took long steeps, I got five out of it-each amount of water was different. 12 ounces at first, then 8 towards the end.

I’m a little surprised that Tea Forte offered a combo like this, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. At the same time, I’m rating this tea by the standards of: can I drink it and not worry about over-steeping across campus? Yes, I can, so this tea is narrowly tailored for my purposes. I otherwise have different standards for other teas, which is subjective. But this is a gift. All tea are meant to be enjoyed, and each tea is to be enjoyed at its moment of calling.

The leaves were actually quite pretty, though by no means the highest quality tea at all. I think the allure lies in preference for this type of flavor; tea purists might think this is artificial. It wasn’t too artificial for me. I the Bai Mu Tan actually blended naturally and creamy with the sweet pear. I’d introduce a newer drinker to it, though my mom and my grandmother loved it and they are fairly experienced. Again, down to preference and someone searching for a unique, spicy, but calming tea.

Tried to Gong Fu it, but messed up. Oh well. I got one 30 second sip and it was fairly peachy with brown sugar. I’m getting Amanda’s notes now plus some pecan. Definitely tastes like peach cobbler. I like it more this time. I need to finish Gong-fuing it next time.

Gong fu brings out so many hidden notes. First steep at 15 seconds boiling, then another 15, 25, 10 to try it , 45, one minute and thirty, and finally at four minutes. Honey, fruit, and malt. The fruit notes kept changing. At first, it was like black grape juice. Then apple juice. Or cherry? Raisins. Cocoa. Malt again. What?! Again, Assam at it’s best. Totally upping rating.

More experienced drinkers, please comment on whether I’m just imagining these tastes or if they are plausible.

I’ve wanted this one for a while, especially in the sachet from for between class travel. Now, I have a tumbler.

I tried it first in the Urban Tumbler. Nutty, grassy, toasty, coconut, sweet, green and creamy. Not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, but I know this tea has more to offer.

Second time in the Xiang Fu pot. Same notes, but way more balanced. The toastiness was stronger in the first steep which was at about a minute and forty five seconds. Like a piece of toast with coconut oil slathered on it for butter. I got six solid, really long steeps out of it. The later steeps were smoother, sweeter, and more like regular coconut. But these steeps were long steeps: closer to twelve minutes at boiling.

This oolong was actually a little bit darker than I expected, but got greener in the later steeps. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, though not the best coconut blend I’ve had. This is more for drinkers looking for darker coconut teas or something closer to an Almond Joy.

Accurate name. I feel like I’m drinking a Klondike bar. Mint dominates followed by a smooth chocolate taste from the flavored black tea (which I think might be a Keemum). The black chocolate tea was the best part of it. I kinda wish that I tasted more of it. Otherwise, mint almost overwhelms it. It’s so minty that the vapors rising from the tumbler made my mom’s throat seize a little bit. It also reminded her of her massage lotions.

Bottom line: a little bit more chocolate is needed. The mint is too powerful. Good, yes. Guiltless desert tea, yes. Tempted to get Andrew’s Peppermint Nom Nom? Yes.

Early Christmas present! Lord, I’m spoiled.

The chai spices are great, nice and bold headed by cardamom and cinnamon. Gold old Masala. I got bare hints of the vanilla, but more of the rooibos in the back ground. The rooibos they used in this had a bit of the weird citrus taste I get from red rooibos on occasion. I know that rooibos are normally described as woody, but with the spices, there is a weird citrus note. Maybe I’m crazy, oh well. My mom liked it and she is not a chai fan. Red Hot is a good description because it tastes like a watered down fireball. I think that it might serve better as a latte, and go incredibly well with sweetened condensed milk.

This did pretty well in the Urban Tea tumbler, and it can handle a lot of water. Only problem was the flecks of leaves sneaking through the strainer. I have that issue with rooibos anyway, which is why you don’t need to worry about it being bagged.

The container it came in is also a pretty nice size. I think it’s closer to an ounce. Fairly sturdy, too.

I could drink this tea straight, just not often. I think it would be better with compliments like honey, cream, condensed milk, and or sugar. The spices are so strong that it gives me a little bit of a headache, and suppresses my appetite…if that makes sense. If I’m walking in snow, this would be great. Now, not my favorite. I’m also being picky because I prefer the Climber’s High.

A few more leaves, and more really nice florals. It’s so floral that it tastes closer to a greener oolong than a darker one. Still juicy, but I get even more walnut with the orange blossom. I’m actually getting a little bit of jasmine note. And it’s so much sweeter this time, too. The water was boiling, the steeping time for the first one was around a minute, the second a little bit less than two. I wish I wrote them down. I was brewing by smell and color than by actual timing. When it peaked at a sweet floral, that’s when I stopped. When it smelled more like walnut, that’s when I oversteeped which I learned last time I brewed this. This tea has officially become one of my favorites.

This tea was meant for Gong Fu. So much better at a 10 second rinse, followed by 15 second steep, then 30, then minute. Tobacco, leather, and caramel notes play together in a nice balanced way. Malty with a little bit of cocoa and some definite pollen like tastes. This tea is for cigar and hookah smokers. If you add vanilla or cherry, you get those flavored tobacco. Adding those ingredients would make an awesome tea.