1725 Tasting Notes
I ordered some of this through Chroma, about $15 in total with shipping, but I haven’t received a receipt from Chroma’s website. I have the paypal receipt that’s addressed as Verdant, but no sign of shipping, and it still hasn’t showed up since I ordered February 2. Is this normal for Chroma Tea? If not, I’m definitely going to contact them. I’m usually not that particular about shipping, but I’ve usually had a lot shorter times, even with Verdant.
Sipdown! Plopped all my remaining sample as a tea for two. I got honey, herbs, malt, chamomile in the flavor. Not as strong as it used to be, but I hope I didn’t waste a quality tea. I’m still not a huge fan, but I do think it’s excellent for quality. Maybe I’m being unfair to judge an old tea. I’m happy I was able to finish it.
Flavors: Chamomile
I am doing some sipdowns to clear my stash. Since the invention of collagen creamer, I’ve given myself a justification for cream in sugar in my tea again. I still have the Earl Greys Evolvingness gave me, and begun with Davids Teas Organic Earl Grey. Standard with the right amount of earth, but it was a bit old and faded, so I combined it with the Earl of the Garden blend. I couldn’t find it on the database, but it’s the strawberry heavy one. Either way, great with cream and sugar. Definitely closer to 6 grams, 2 and a half min almost 3, cream, collagen powder, and teaspoon of organic sugar. Just the right of malt, heavy strawberry, light bergamot, lightly floral, syrupy sweet, lovely.
I went back on forth with this one. It’s either one of my top 10s right now, or one I only drink on occasion, but when I do, I treat it like a fueling tea rather than a luxurious one despite it’s hefty price tag. Because of it’s mix of Gaba and Reishi with green tea, it’s actually a good morning tea for me. The energy is brighter without spazzing me out or giving me a headache like a black tea would. The flavor profile of the rose, bergamot, and blackberry also feels great on my throat. Despite having a jar, I don’t think I’ve drank this as often as I expected because of it’s headiness, bordering on oily from the roses and bergamot.
So in terms of rating, it’s between an 87-93 for me. It can either be a little overpowering, or exactly what I need and my absolute favorite. Sagittarius is the only other one that I like over this one.
Sipdown, and still good after 4 years. I threw the rest of the sample in my tumbler, brewed about 20 seconds, splashed it into my mug, then savored it…nectarine, rose, tannin, brown sugar, straw, malt, peanut, and dryness with a little astringency. I did another cup and downed it because it was a bit too malty, but good. I didn’t drink more and feel kinda bad about it, but I know how the tea tastes. Solid cup overall.
I’m a moron. I used the same parameters in my Kyusu as I did with my first Nepal tea this morning, going more for less than 2 minutes with a very generous serving of leaves. It was over a heaping tablespoon, and I timed it by aroma and color. I poured some at 20 sec, sipped, waited about 40 ish seconds longer, than poured it. So I guess between 1 minute to 1 min 35 at most.
This time, I got the beer and hoppy flavors, but I got more tippy chocolate malt than I usually do. This is the first time I used my Kyusu for the leaves. Before, I’ve mostly used a metal strainer for a mug, or one of my gaiwans. The weather was also significantly different last winter. It’s been relatively warm in the 40s so far, being just cool enough to sweeten the tannins without taking them away.
Second steep closer to three minutes, and its still sweet and malty. Not too much chocolate or cocoa now, but more grapey. The Guinness and sweet potato vibes are still here.
It’ll be interesting to see if how much I change my mind on this one. I intended to swap it out because it sat around for too long, but now there’s a chance I’ll finish it quicker by using more leaves. I’ll still keep some around for sharing because I do think it stands out as a Nepal chinese style tea, but I might have to finish it while the weather is on this lukewarm border of cold. Otherwise, it’s been a generic malty black tea with some viscousness. Does anyone else notice a huge change of flavor due to climate for their black teas?
Flavors: Cocoa, Grapes, Honey, Hops, Malt, Smooth, Sweet Potatoes
I’ve had this tea for years, and am now just reviewing it. I had to remind myself I really don’t need more tea, and since I’m buying house, I have to actually go through my horde and manage my resources. I will still buy new tea, but I’m only going to pick teas that I know I really like as pure teas and some flavored ones from now on.
This tea is one of the ones I really liked from What-Cha, but I only drank it during warmer winter days or early spring. It would get pretty astringent during the summer months, so I would only have it every once in a while. I’m impressed it’s held up this well despite my neglect.It’s a fruitier black tea that had a lot of similarities to white tea for me. It’s almost muscatel, but it’s more grapey and floral. I kept tasting apricot and geranium, with more herbal qualities that sometimes reminded me of sage. I guess that’s how the astringency of it hits me with the dry qualities that come up here and there. I’ve mostly done western and gong fu, but I slightly prefer a shorter western session of 2 minutes with a generous 2 teaspoons or less. I got more fruity qualities western than gong fu-gong fu was more herbaceous and floral. Sometimes, the astringency and bitterness would overwhelm me, so I’d have to take breaks from it. I think I could finish it off western easier, and might tumbler fuel it for work this week to sip it down.
Maybe I can save some for Leafhopper if she wants some.
Flavors: Apricot, Astringent, Citrus, Dry Leaves, Drying, Floral, Fruity, Geranium, Muscatel, Orange Blossom, Rose, Sage, Straw, White Grapes
I hope you meant “go THROUGH your horde” of tea and not THROWING tea away! If you need to rehome any tea, I’m open to trying anything, no matter how old it is…
I tumblered it on a rainy, foggy day after seeing some of Van Gogh’s original art at the Detroit Institute of arts. The silky incense and soothing chocolate malt of the oolong was insanely soothing, improving as it got some licorice flavor still sitting in the tumbler. I’m upping the rating. I’m determined to finish my other Derk teas since I now have the time to enjoy them before the break.
Flavors: Butter, Chocolate, Floral, Incense, Licorice, Malt, Sandalwood
I’ve only ordered from them once, but I did get a confirmation email immediately, and then my order shipped two days later. However, I did not pay with PayPal so not sure if that matters?
I’ve ordered twice – my first order I never got any kind of shipping confirmation and it took a while for samples to arrive. The second time was a little faster (but only slightly) and did come with shipping confirmation. Paypal both times.
I wonder if it does. Thank you both! Thank you Roswell!