drank Pear Chai by 52teas
1403 tasting notes

The heat and humidity are aspiring to kill me. Over 40 C humidex in the past week or two. And no air-conditioning. Kill me now. Gah!

This tea very happily reminds me of two eggnoggy-type green teas Anne masterminded a while ago. Both brilliant!

The pear is here, present. The spice mix is subtle. Really lovely.

ashmanra

No air conditioning? I am so so sorry. That is TOO hot to be without ac!

Leafhopper

Ugh, yes, it’s the heat wave that never ends! And it’s going to be hot again next week. I also don’t have air conditioning and am not happy.

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you! True enough. every year I think of getting ac and then I consider the expense and talk myself out of it. But honestly, the suffering is not worth it. And certainly now with COVID and the worry of being indoors with others.

Evol Ving Ness

We have a bit of respite today, but tomorrow and after that, it will be ridiculous again.

Evol Ving Ness

Before COVID, at least it was possible to escape to ac at work, movies, or cafes.

Leafhopper

Yes, though they say it’ll be cooler near the end of next week (though I’m starting to believe that’s just wishful thinking). I also miss escaping the heat at the library or a cafe. These places are open; I just don’t feel comfortable sitting indoors.

52Teas

Sorry about no A/C! The two heat waves we had here in the Pacific Northwest were way too hot but at least we had A/C – I would have been a very unhappy girl if we had no A/C! I’m sorry you’re suffering through it! :(

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you, Anne. There are moments that things dip a wee bit, but sheesh.

Leafhopper, like you, I have my doubts about a bit of relief. Our expectations were dashed repeatedly with promising forecasts that turned into soupy steamy heat-strokes days and uncomfortable nights.

I also avoid spending time indoors among people. Scary days, still.

mrmopar

Heat has been rough. My 34th Summer working in it..

Leafhopper

Yes, I’ll believe cooler days are here when I feel them!

Martin Bednář

Happens way too often here in the Czech Republic as well. We were considering getting A/C as well, but the expense would be enormous and always decided against. It’s a few weeks in the summer only. But this summer was rather typical, after a few really hot ones.

Evol Ving Ness

The expense IS enormous and then continues to be. But honestly, after only a few days and nights of this relentless nonsense, I think most of us would pay any price.

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Comments

ashmanra

No air conditioning? I am so so sorry. That is TOO hot to be without ac!

Leafhopper

Ugh, yes, it’s the heat wave that never ends! And it’s going to be hot again next week. I also don’t have air conditioning and am not happy.

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you! True enough. every year I think of getting ac and then I consider the expense and talk myself out of it. But honestly, the suffering is not worth it. And certainly now with COVID and the worry of being indoors with others.

Evol Ving Ness

We have a bit of respite today, but tomorrow and after that, it will be ridiculous again.

Evol Ving Ness

Before COVID, at least it was possible to escape to ac at work, movies, or cafes.

Leafhopper

Yes, though they say it’ll be cooler near the end of next week (though I’m starting to believe that’s just wishful thinking). I also miss escaping the heat at the library or a cafe. These places are open; I just don’t feel comfortable sitting indoors.

52Teas

Sorry about no A/C! The two heat waves we had here in the Pacific Northwest were way too hot but at least we had A/C – I would have been a very unhappy girl if we had no A/C! I’m sorry you’re suffering through it! :(

Evol Ving Ness

Thank you, Anne. There are moments that things dip a wee bit, but sheesh.

Leafhopper, like you, I have my doubts about a bit of relief. Our expectations were dashed repeatedly with promising forecasts that turned into soupy steamy heat-strokes days and uncomfortable nights.

I also avoid spending time indoors among people. Scary days, still.

mrmopar

Heat has been rough. My 34th Summer working in it..

Leafhopper

Yes, I’ll believe cooler days are here when I feel them!

Martin Bednář

Happens way too often here in the Czech Republic as well. We were considering getting A/C as well, but the expense would be enormous and always decided against. It’s a few weeks in the summer only. But this summer was rather typical, after a few really hot ones.

Evol Ving Ness

The expense IS enormous and then continues to be. But honestly, after only a few days and nights of this relentless nonsense, I think most of us would pay any price.

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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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