Daylon R Thomas Send Message

Adding cream and sugar makes this tea more Marzipan-like, bordering a little on macaroon. I’d note almonds, SUGA!, pistachio, and fruity hints from the cranberry. It’s something that would pair really well with cookies as a dessert tea. Still interesting and unique, but depends on cream and sugar to cut through bitterness and astringency. I like it and am happy I have some.

I had it while watching the 2nd season of Bridgerton. Kate Sharma’s need for chai gave me a craving, so I had this one with more water than last time cutting on the astringency so I can drink the tea without cream or sugar, but amping up the coconut and ginger. Smooth and buttery, but still has the coconut naturally complement the cardamom, ginger, pepper, and sweetening lemongrass. It does work well with cream and sugar, but I might not need it. So far, it looks like I may rate it between 83-87. Either way, I’m digging this particular chai because it’s on the lighter side.

This one is still not striking out as much as I’d like. The smell is incredible as it sneaks a silky citrus like citronella and floral papaya, but the flavor only has the complex profiles in hints. Still a work in progress I see.

I finished this one rather quickly after pushing it off for a bit. The supreme quality surprised, given it’s only 12 bucks for 50 grams, nevermind it tastes like a high quality Taiwanese Honey Black. Super, super good. All the notes are above, and now I just have to rate it. I will say if you check this company out and looking for good budget teas that punch well above their weight, I’d recommend this one. The hawthorne berries and baked peach flavor profile contrasted with the teas light malt make it super appealing. I might buy some more of this next time.

Sweeter one at last! Though again, super, super malty from a rushed western session. It had some dimension from stonefruit, and it was a more floral black tea overall. It’s really in a middle ground between the profiles of a 2nd Flush Darjeeling and a Chinese black. I’m personally getting a lot of the marigolds, and then the stone fruits in light touches and hints at the end of each sip.

I’m looking forward to seeing how this one goes. It’s malty, but more subdued than the other two I got so far.

2nd Backlog from the same day

This one had a bit more dimension than the needles. Malt forward again, accented by nice oak wood notes. Mint and honeysuckle are distinguishable too, though there’s not a lot of the honey qualities I expected. Trident’s description is on point, and it’s a quality tea. I was hoping for a naturally sweeter tea personally, but yet again, adjustments are likely necessary.

Backlog:

I had to sub every other monday and Friday during my prep, so I splurged the 30 bucks a lost prep on tea. I was curious about three of them on Trident’s website, and they are all very malt forward. My inner libertine craved chocolatey black malt tea, yet I got some unique terroir teas instead.

This one was close to description and definitely closer to a Jin Jun Mei, but more grapish and hoppy. Malt obscured finer qualities, so while not two dimensional, it was dominant and drying.

I am going to have to brew it again. I was a tad bit disappointed the first time, but I think my parameters western were at fault.

Thank you Derk! I was really into this one!

This tea is incense, but in tea form. I can see some people being a little bit off put, but the tea could have been more overwhelming easily. I’m impressed with how the sandalwood actually smoothens out the rougher edges of the anise. I also tasted the honeysuckle in hints in the body and texture. I think the cardamom might make it soapy for some; I think it enhances the Sandalwood. The oolong actually borders more on the cocoa side, but overall, it’s roasty/toasty and minerally.

I actually would have paired this one with Dune as a geek pairing because it has a mystical and contemplative vibe, and azure is the color of the Fremen’s eyes. Only problem is the lacking of cinnamon, since Melange is described as being like cinnamon.

I will likely finish this one as winter melts into spring. The spice must flow…

Thank you so much, Derk!

This is one of the teas I hesitate with whenever I want to try it. Opening it up, and using about half of the sample to maybe 3-5 grams, smoke and pine qualities come from the bag. Reminds me of a Lapsang as expected, but softer.

Brewing it up gong fu and in shorter 20 second incremented brews, smoke was prominent in the first one. Cedar came to mind in every brew for me, and the leading floral that contrasted with the autumn qualities was honeysuckle and usual white tea peony. Later steeps got sweeter and more floral.

I enjoyed the complexity of this one. I wouldn’t want to have it as a staple, but my inner tea nerd is happy. Funny enough, my mom is going to Ohio and my girlfriend is coming back from Ohio, so it’s serendipitous I drank this one.