1749 Tasting Notes

85

Wanted to try out of experimentation and yearning. I’ve actually had mixed feelings about some darker oolongs, and wanted to see if this one dispelled any of them.

I get the notes already on here like wet rocks, grass, salt, sweetness, and roast. I also get sesame, salt, seaweed, butter, and highly cooked pastry crust. It got sweeter in later steeps, but saltier at first. The sweetness actually goes well with the odd marine and fire qualities. Memories of Makapuu beach and the mountains on Oahu come to me. For those memories, I like this tea. I would not buy this one in higher amounts and I’m personally not sure if I would buy it again, but I’d certainly be willing to try this varietal another time. This is also more for tasters than those who prefer a classic green or Earl Grey.

Flavors: Butter, Mineral, Nuts, Ocean Air, Roasted, Salt, Seaweed, Sweet, Wet Rocks

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 7 OZ / 207 ML
Fjellrev

Wow, that’s amazing that you can taste of all of that.

Daylon R Thomas

Lol, not really. More of a result of hypersensitivity and an overactive imagination. Besides: all of the notes are related to each other. Mineral and wet rocks are almost the same. The saltiness and seaweed could be tasted by anyone, but together, they are the kinds of scents smelled when you’re near the beach.

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80

Got it for cheap at the Chinese market to try it and gift it to someone. I considered giving to Andrew though he would prefer a higher graded leaf version. I also considered giving it to my dear friend Rachel since rose black is her favorite, she has gone through some crap, and this totally appeals to her tastes. Anyone could use a good cuppa tea. Lychee and rose is what I get with no to little astringency. Also mega smooth and sweet. Probably one of the better teas meant for a tea ball.

Flavors: Lychee, Malt, Smooth, Sweet

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100

Okay, like the misty mountain, this one turned into one of my absolute favorites. I get the same tasting notes but full on this time. I was craving this tea, and I am now satisfied for the night. I won’t be when I’m finished. I’ll probably buy this one in greater bulk in the future. Currently, I’m also perusing the J-Tea’s selection and there are so many I want to try. I’m going to talk to Andrew soon about his recommendations and which ones to sample or get in full.

My methods have fully changed. Thanks to Andrew single suggestion for the Misty Mountain, how I steeped tea has been better ever since. I only need a few leaves, and then I let them sit at the bottom and sip away as the flavors change. Isn’t this technically Grandpa Style? Anyway, using this method, my other teas have tasted much better and I’ve gotten so much more out of green oolongs this way. Green high mountains are starting to be my preferred even over certain Tie Guan Yin’s…which is a pretty bold statement for me.

Andrew, I owe you a lot. I still owe you $15 (which makes me a hypocrite because I wanted to get it to you as quickly as possible, but it would have been quicker to send it than to think about the quickest way to get it to you). Thank you, Sensei.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 2 min, 45 sec 2 g 8 OZ / 236 ML
Liquid Proust

Told you this one was awesome.

I need to shoot you info for a tea I found better than Red Buffalo too.

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45

Loose leaf smells like boozed up cherry cough syrup. After 30 seconds and delicate teaspoons, it tastes like an overly astringent Irish Breakfast soaked in cough syrup. With cream and sugar, it tastes like a cherry tea latte from a high end cafe.

In short: only a dessert tea that requires condiments. Without them, impossible for me to drink. My mom loves it with cream and sugar, but for a type one diabetic whose diet consists half of leaf water, this is a bad idea.

Flavors: Alcohol, Astringent, Cherry, Malt, Medicinal, Tar

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80

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.

Flavors: Cocoa, Hay, Honeydew, Malt, Smooth

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 3 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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85

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.

Flavors: Creamy, Ginger, Pear, Smooth, Spicy, Sweet

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 15 sec 2 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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80

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.

Flavors: Brown Sugar, Caramel, Nuts, Pastries, Peach, Pecan, Roasted

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 0 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 6 OZ / 177 ML

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90

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.

Flavors: Apple, Berry, Burnt Sugar, Cherry, Cocoa, Grapes, Honey, Malt, Tea

Preparation
Boiling 0 min, 15 sec 3 g 6 OZ / 177 ML
tea-sipper

They are plausible. I think you’re just becoming a “more experienced tea drinker”. :D

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85

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.

Flavors: Almond, Butter, Coconut, Creamy, Grass, Green, Nutty, Smooth, Sweet, Toasty, Vegetal

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 1 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 5 OZ / 147 ML

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70

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.

Flavors: Chocolate, Peppermint, Smooth

Liquid Proust

Send me the address to ship to come next week and I’ll send some to try :)

Daylon R Thomas

Just did. Let me know if there’s anything of mine you want to try.

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Bio

First Off, Current Targets:

Whispering Pines Alice
Good Luxurious Work Teas
Wang Family’s Jasmine Shanlinxi
Spring, Winter Taiwan High Mountain Oolongs

Dislikes: Heavy Tannin, Astringency, Bitterness, or Fake Flavor, Overly herby herbal or aged teas

Picky with: Higher Oxidation Oolongs, Red Oolongs (Some I love, others give me headaches or are almost too sweet), Mint Teas

Currently, my stash is overflowing. Among my favorites are What-Cha’s Lishan Black, Amber Gaba Oolong, Lishan Oolong, Qilan Oolong, White Rhino, Kenya Silver Needle, Tong Mu Lapsang Black (Unsmoked); Whispering Pines Alice, Taiwanese Assam, Wang’s Shanlinxi, Cuifeng, Dayuling, Jasmine Shan Lin Xi; Beautiful Taiwan Tea Co.“Old Style” Dong Ding, Mandala Milk Oolong; Paru’s Milk Oolong

Me:

I am an MSU graduate, and current alternative ed. high school social studies and history teacher. I formerly minored in anthropology, and I love Egyptian and classical history. I love to read, write, draw, paint, sculpt, fence(with a sword), practice calisthenics on rings, lift weights, workout, relax, and drink a cuppa tea…or twenty.

I’ve been drinking green and black teas ever since I was little living in Hawaii. Eastern Asian influence was prominent with my friends and where I grew up, so I’ve been exposed to some tea culture at a young age. I’ve come a long way since I began on steepster and now drink most teas gong fu, especially oolong. Any tea that is naturally creamy, fruity, or sweet without a lot of added flavoring ranks as a must have for me. I also love black teas and dark oolongs with the elusive “cocoa” note. My favorites are lighter Earl Greys, some white teas like What-Cha’s Kenyan offerings, most Hong-Cha’s, darker Darjeelings, almost anything from Nepal, Green Shan Lin Xi’s, and Greener Dong Dings. I’m in the process of trying Alishan’s. I also tend to really enjoy Yunnan Black or Red teas and white teas. I’m pickier with other teas like chamomile, green teas, and Masalas among several.

I used to give ratings, but now I only rate teas that have a strong impression on me. If I really like it, I’ll write it down.

I’ll enjoy a tea almost no matter what, even if the purpose is more medicinal, for it is my truest vice and addiction.

Location

Michigan, USA

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