84 Tasting Notes

92
drank Da Hong Pao Red Robe by Steepster
84 tasting notes

Yummy!

I’m always afraid to try the Steepster teas because there’s no way to get more of them if I fall in love. Just a small teaser and hah! no more for you!".

Luckily this isn’t a fall in love tea but I’m still drinking it with a bit of distance, not wanting to become attached.

When I first poured the water over it the tobacco smell was super strong and I started to get turned off from it. But then after I let it cool to drinking temperature. I found it delightfully rich and caramel. Burnt flavors but in a good way, not charred. It reminds me of these amazing gelato bars, they’re like popsicles but made from gelato, and there’s a burnt caramel flavor that just knocks my socks off every time. That’s what this tea tastes like. The mouth feel is thick enough to be reminiscent of gelato too.

I feel weird comparing tea to gelato. The whole hot/cold thing seems a bit of an odd contrast but as I’m stream of conscious typing that’s exactly what this tea is.

Ok maybe I do like it enough to want more of it. Damn you steepster select!

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87

I finally got around to drinking this lovely sample.

I was nervous once again because the baggy had that icky smell I’ve been bitching about with the Just Organic Teas samples I received. The teas have been good but that smell! Even after a month of airing out the baggies it’s still there.

I couldn’t put my finger on many specific notes when I drank this. I wasn’t trying to really. Sometimes it’s nice to just drink tea and not think too much.

It wasn’t an OMG amazing tea but it left me content and pleased. I could definitely see restocking this one as I don’t have many straight black teas I enjoy. The mishmash of notes blended together into something smooth and pleasant. I

I feel like this would also make a good cold brew.

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65
drank Special Dark by Mandala Tea
84 tasting notes

Ok I think I figured out how to brew this tea. Lots of it and for a long time. It tasted rich and smooth and…

Like raisons!

EWWWW!!!!!!!!

I don’t think we are meant to be special dark. Not every tea is for every person.

Stephanie

I’m sure you can find someone around here to take it off your hands, LOL. Sorry you didn’t like it! :/

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Ok,ok, stop trying, it’s obvious that you two are not meant for each other! The good news is that there are tons of more compatible teas for you out there :-)

Frolic

Yes I’m lucky to have many lovely teas who get along with me quite well. I just wanted to understand what the fuss was all about.

I’m drinking some 52teas flavored tea now to get the ickyness out of my mouth and then I think I’ll treat myself to some of Mandala’s milk oolong.

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90

I can’t believe I haven’t rated this yet. I don’t know if I’ve had any other grapefruit teas but I find it pleasant. It’s the brown sugar note that stands out.

Well not so much stands out but melds with the grapefruit. It’s very authentic tasting to me. The white base is present but sits in the background as a comforting solidness that wraps up the fruitiness and pulls the tea together. Slightly sweet but not artificially so.

This is definitely comforting. A cuddle up in bed with blankets and read a good book tea.

I too am surprised more people haven’t reviewed this lovely tea.

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65
drank Special Dark by Mandala Tea
84 tasting notes

Oh Special Dark, I had such high expectations from you. Maybe I read too many reviews, maybe I just put you on a pedestal before even drinking you.

But you taste thin :( and dare I say almost weak? Now don’t go feeling bad, compared to a regular black tea you are a fine specimen. I just…expected more from you. I wanted you to work so badly. I did short gong fu steeps and long western steeps but you never lived up to my expectations.

I think the next time we work together it might be best to gasp add some milk and sugar but there’s only so many times I can stand the disappointment, It’s not your fault , I know there are plenty of others that love you and I may have to pass you along to one of them.

I cringe as I rate you but I must be truthful. I’m sure you are a good tea, we just aren’t soul mates.

TheTeaFairy

Lol, to each their own. I really like it but I overleaf a little, have you tried that?

Stephanie

How long did you steep? I like 1 tbs per 8oz boiled water for 5 minutes. It is all cocoalicious then! :(

Frolic

I’ve done quite a few steeping parameters but haven’t found any that work. I do tend to underleaf in general but with this tea I’m trying not to.

How much do you overleaf by TeaFairy? I might give it another go. I really really want to like this tea!

It doesn’t ever taste bad. It’s just kinda meh.

TheTeaFairy

That’s why I think you may be under-leafing it, cause to me it’s so flavourful, tastes like chocolate covered raisins! I weigh it, and use 7g for a 6oz Gaiwan. I brew for just a few seconds the first steeps.

If I do it western style, it’s the same as Stephanie, a full tablespoon for about 5 min.

Frolic

Do you prefer the western or the gaiwan?

TheTeaFairy

Honestly, I’d always prefer Gongfu over Western if it wasn’t for the time consuming issue. But I have to say this one works really well both ways, IMHO.

Dexter

LOL LOVE this one – two big tsp/8oz steep forever – 9 minutes is not too long – IMHO it just keeps getting darker and richer the longer you steep it…

Frolic

Ok I’m going to do a really long steep with tons of leaf tonight and see how it turns out.

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95

I just adore Stacy’s cream notes. So lovely and not overbearing.

This was a pseudo sipdown, I finished the package but I already had bought another…

I’m not a addict. Nope not me.

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91
drank Jin Shuan by Teance
84 tasting notes

Nooooo!

I wrote a long review of this and steepster ate it!

The sort version—a lovely fruity light oolong with notes of stone fruit and melon. With a definite touch of cream.

I think once I finally move into a house and get all my stuff unpacked and have access to my iced tea pitcher I’ll definitely be making this cold brewed.

It resteeps amazingly well. The problem with teas like this is they’re imposible to sipdown! I have almost 2 oz of this and it’s over a year old eeep. I better get drinking! I’m very grateful to have this one on the boat with me.

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91
drank Jin Shuan by Teance
84 tasting notes

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100

What? I haven’t reviewed this? I’m at the end of my second pouch. That’s how lazy I’ve gotten about reviewing.

It’s getting close to being a sip down so I’m resteeping like crazy, avoiding the inevitable. I really suck at sipdowns being a bit of a hoarder. I don’t know how you all do it!

I think most of the other reviews speak to the amazingness of this tea. It is truly a thing of beauty. I love genmaicha and this takes it to a whole new level. Turning a nice staple tea into a delicious dessert. It doesn’t need any additions. It’s sweet all my itself.

Most of Frank’s teas don’t stand up to resteeping but I’m on my third right now and it’s still amazing. Less sweet but I can still taste the marshmallow.

Ugh I’m dreading my last cuppa coming up soon.

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95

So I’m finally getting back in the habit of writing reviews and I’m a little rusty. Today is a tea drinking day. I just want to drink gallons of it. If I didn’t have to go up the stairs each time to make it I probably would.

This is the second time I’ve tried this tea from my last Butiki order. I know people say guayusa is hard to oversteep but I wish I had remembered I was steeping it and it didn’t go quite that long. I have no idea how long it was steeping for. 8 minutes?

Anyways the longer steep time made the guayusa much stronger than the first time I tried the tea. Luckily I’m starting to to take a liking for it.

The thing I like the most about this tea is that it is definitely tangerine. Not orange. Not vague citrus. Real tangerine. There’s just the right amount of cream flavor to make it unique and desserty. Butiki has a way with cream notes. I wish there was such a thing as a tangerine creamsicle. Maybe there is but I’ve only ever seen orange.

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Profile

Bio

I’m a long time tea addict since my british grandma started me on english breakfast tea as a toddler.

Since then I’ve branched out substantially. Right now I’m a big oolong fan. I love high mountain oolongs most but any high quality oolong is a treat.

Flavor wise I love vanilla and chocolate as well as stone fruits, whether they occur naturally or as flavorings. My tea stash is pretty much split 50/50 flavored and unflavored.

Oh and coconut! I’m constantly in search of the perfect coconut tea. If you have one or know one shoot me a message cause I’d love to know.

I love reading and knitting. They are my two other addictions besides tea. I think one can never really have too much tea, yarn, or books.

Location

Bay Area.

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