60

I love the sound of this. Truly, truly. And this morning, it was just the thing my heart desired to try for the first time.

If memory serves, this was one of the Chocolate Collection I purchased around Black Friday. The ribbon sticker is sparkly, so it is definitely from my most recent purchase.

The smell of the dry leaf was chocolatey nice. Steeped it up, not too long, not too short. And now, I am disappoint. The scent of the chocolate has completely disappeared. Ok, maybe a vague vague whiff.

I am not getting any smokiness: where oh where are you, Lapsang Souchong? I am not getting any chocolatiness. I am not getting any spice. I am not getting any thick custard puddling-like cream. Or any cream, really.

Pretty much straight black tea. A nice straight black tea, but that’s all it is.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML
Fjellrev

Aww, that’s too bad. I find QTT’s chocolate notes to be rather faint.

Evol Ving Ness

I haven’t concluded that yet. I am more concerned that my most recent order had my teas sealed up in a box for longer than is good for them. I had asked Lauren to delay shipping after my purchase as I was going away. So that time plus the shipping time may have been fatal, to at least some of them. So far, from that order, I have tried only three others. Two were fine and flavourful, but Spumoni, which had received such rave reviews, tasted like nothing but green tea. I thought that I would try again, steeping parameters and such, though I usually steep briefly and follow guidelines for tea types. I haven’t reviewed any of those from the most recent batch. Anyway, arrrrrrgh. I am really really hoping that this has to do with the blend rather than what I’ve noted above.

Indigobloom

Did you try it with milk? I used dairy but I imagine other types would do well

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Fjellrev

Aww, that’s too bad. I find QTT’s chocolate notes to be rather faint.

Evol Ving Ness

I haven’t concluded that yet. I am more concerned that my most recent order had my teas sealed up in a box for longer than is good for them. I had asked Lauren to delay shipping after my purchase as I was going away. So that time plus the shipping time may have been fatal, to at least some of them. So far, from that order, I have tried only three others. Two were fine and flavourful, but Spumoni, which had received such rave reviews, tasted like nothing but green tea. I thought that I would try again, steeping parameters and such, though I usually steep briefly and follow guidelines for tea types. I haven’t reviewed any of those from the most recent batch. Anyway, arrrrrrgh. I am really really hoping that this has to do with the blend rather than what I’ve noted above.

Indigobloom

Did you try it with milk? I used dairy but I imagine other types would do well

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A monk sips morning tea

A monk sips morning tea,
it’s quiet,
the chrysanthemum’s flowering.

- Basho

(1644-1694)

Note to self—-you do not actually need any more tea.

My real tea obsession began in February 2015.

Not, sadly, when I had been living and working in China, though I very much enjoyed sampling a variety of teas during my travels there as well. No, no, that would have been far too sensible.

I am a reformed coffee drinker. I still enjoy a long double espresso with a good quantity or milk or cream from time to time, but for now, tea is my thing. All day.

*note—this is way out of date, so if we are doing a swap and you are checking to see what I like and dislike, mostly never mind what you find below. One of these days, I will update this. In the meantime, check what I’ve been drinking and use your own judgement. I like all the teas. Well, I am open to trying all the teas.

I tend to drink black, green, or oolong tea in the morning to early afternoon. Rooibos or
Honeybush or herbal in the evening. And perhaps some sort of sleepy-type tea in the wee hours.

This year, I’ve been discovering flavoured teas, so it may look like that is all I drink although that would provide a false impression.

Not a big fan of chocolate or mint in teas, but I will try them and, from time to time, have been pleasantly surprised. Also, usually I dislike a prominent cinnamon flavour, if untempered with other things, in teas. Again, I say usually, because there are exceptions.

Also, please note that haven’t quite gotten into the habit of updating my tea cupboard on Steepster, and it is unlikely that I will do this on any kind of regular basis.

I drink my tea black and unsweetened. If there comes a rare moment that I add something to it, I will mention it.

Finally, while I thank large and successful tea companies for tantalizing and beckoning me to the world of tea, I prefer to support independent ventures with real people, real enthusiasm and commitment, and real dreams.

Currently, I am researching monthly tea subscriptions. Perhaps it will keep me out of tea shops.

And here is Shae’s rating scale— which I am using with permission, of course— which more or less describes the way I have been rating teas. I am going to make more of an effort to stay very close to these parameters now.

Rating Scale

1-20: By far, one of the worst teas I’ve tasted. I most certainly will not finish my cup and will likely “gift” the rest to my sweet husband who almost always enjoys the teas I dislike (and vice versa).

21-40: This tea is not good but if I mix it with another tea or find another steeping method I might be able to finish it.

41-60: This one is just okay. I might drink it again if someone were to give it to me, but I probably won’t be buying more for myself.

61-75: This is a consistently good tea. It’s reliable but not necessarily special.

76-90: This one is a notch above the rest and I would gladly enjoy a cup of it any day of the week. I’ll likely be keeping this in my cupboard, but it isn’t one of my all-time favorites.

91-95: One small change and this tea would be perfect. I’ll definitely have a stash of this in my kitchen if you come over for tea.

96-100: No words can describe this tea. It’s an experience, an aha moment. Closed eyes, wide smile, encompassing warmth. Absolutely incredible. Perfect.

Location

Mostly, but not always, Toronto, Canada.

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