612 Tasting Notes

drank The Malt Shop by Della Terra Teas
612 tasting notes

Husband was feeling peckish post-dinner ‘cause I’ve been lightening meals up to account for our afternoon tea snacking and the fact he’s been lamenting his pants getting tighter (I don’t know why; I’m the same as always and we eat about the same except he eats breakfast cereal, and it’s always been like this). He was standing in front of the fridge like “I shouldn’t eat anything but (grump)” so I offered him some tea, maybe it’d help curb his craving. Today was a weird day anyway—he got a letter from the IRS disputing our tax return from 2 years ago (!) and so that hasn’t been fun quickly trying to figure out what went wrong if anything (he called them and it sounds like there’s a chance the school he was taking classes from at the time made an error and didn’t send the IRS a form even though we have ours from them). If it is a true mistake we owe a bunch of taxes plus interest, which is maddening given nobody notified us and it’s been years. We’ll see I guess. We’re lucky—we can afford them, it’s definitely a stretch but it’s doable—but obviously this afternoon could’ve gone better.

Dry this smelled like straight up milk chocolate, that divisive Della Terra chocolate smell, but steeped the malted milk ball thing comes out a little more. Not bad but not a knock-my-socks-off treat either…I think it just takes a ridiculous level to impress me anymore flavored black tea-wise. I can never get over how rarely the taste lives up to the food aromas. Been drinking a lot more flavored greens and oolongs lately because they don’t disappoint me in that regard.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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This smells better than it tastes, but it’s not bad. I think it definitely needs milk of some kind to highlight the chocolate and nut and toffee crunch flavor.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec

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Mmmm it was an Assam kinda morning for me. I stayed up late reliving my adolescence watching all of the “Monster of the Week” X-Files eps I could remember on Netflix. Fun times. I love that looking back I discover almost all of my faves were Vince Gilligan-written, surprise surprise. And it made me smile that “Pusher”, which he wrote and has stuck with me for over a decade, actually feels very proto-BBish in ways (the opening scene, Pusher’s speeches).

This smells so good steeping! That satisfying “TEA!” aroma (legacy teas, for me primordial ironically enough), but with a citrusy freshness too. And yeah, I must admit it smells quite a bit like the Dunhill International Superior Milds, the ones in the gorgeous blue box that Elizabeth David pointed to to indicate the color she wanted her enameled cookware to be, back when they still made those. That might sound gross but it’s a high compliment—there was never a more deliciously fresh, grassy-in-a-good-way tobacco. So yes, tobacco, but really really good tobacco, not the musty old man library stuff. I appreciate that this is real Assam, strong tasting, but completely lacks the harshness many Assams have. There’s a wonderful bitterness at the end of each sip, but it’s relatively soft for an Assam and complements the clean mild astringency at the front, with its vague fruit and flowers thing.

I could be wrong but in a way I think I like this more than Andrews and Dunham Tiger Assam. This seems more complex to me, as if it’s perfumed without actually smelling of perfume, if that makes any sense. To me, Tiger Assam is kinda like Double Knit Blend (only not quite as smooth and comforting), something when you just want to taste old skool TEA without puckering and not think much about it but be rewarded anyway. This is more like, sit undistracted and fall down the rabbit hole of your tea cup with all the senses you’re stimulating. Really gorgeous and not the sort of experience I tend to associate with Assams.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec

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drank Swedish Delight by sTEAp Shoppe
612 tasting notes

Had this last night but it was so late (early!) I forgot to log it and don’t remember the details, oops. Will have to give it another go…I do recall being pleased you could taste the lingonberry (love lingonberry preserves!); it’s not strong but it lingers at the end of the sip.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec
Anna

Swedish Delight?! I feel so… appropriated.

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drank Yu Lu Yan Cha Black by Verdant Tea
612 tasting notes

Loving the way this one smells, agreed it’s vaguely similar to Laoshan Black but not at all identical or on the same metric really. The sweet cinnamon chocolate aroma is awesome, deep and so enticing but not powerfully, obviously “stinky”, similarly authentic and mysterious like the first batch of LB I ever tried. No barley, not the same kind of maltiness (there is some sweet potato—often feels unavoidable with black Chinese teas, ha). And there’s honey, which wasn’t in LB (and is a note I love in Chinese black teas!). I like that this is a “warmly flavored” type of tea, but the body isn’t super thick, just right, a nice light silkiness. There’s a lightly roasty, ever-so-slightly-bitter-in-a-good way note at the end; it seems to mix with a cooling, not exactly minty but similarly numbing aspect—almost citrusy but not astringent in the least—that is unexpected but sort of neat.

This was a fun one to watch dancing around in my glass teapot. I really do enjoy that thing.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 1 min, 0 sec

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drank Earl Grey Classic by Tao Tea Leaf
612 tasting notes

A nice basic Earl, not flowery like a lot of the ones most loved here, a bit astringent and rather clean-tasting, more like what I remember growing up and hence what I cherish. I’d say that like the Upton Imports Original Earl Grey it’s an agreeable “don’t think about it” tea choice for, say, travel or some other situation you want your tea to be at least a certain level of good but don’t want to be carrying overly precious cargo lest it get lost or steeped under iffy conditions or had while distracted. Tried this over afternoon tea with the husband (I am seriously in love with this ritual we’ve got going now, especially now that it’s dark so early), went nicely with ricotta marmalade ladyfingers and turkey cream cheese blackberry jam triangles, cut the sweetness so you could appreciate both the tea and the treats more. My husband’s cup of Adagio Tiger Eye meant chocolate and caramel aromas wafted around as a bonus.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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This was a nice sweet, smooth, vaguely chocolatey cup! Had a little floral thing going on in the front too, always lovely when it’s light like that. It’s also fun to watch the balls unfurl and fall to the bottom of my glass teapot (also from Teavivre). Good morning treat. Resteeps ok for the most part too.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 1 min, 0 sec

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I really love that this smells of tangerines, not oranges. That’s a smell that induces Proustian level nostalgia of childhood for me as my mom used to feed me the tinned ones all the time in the dead of winter in Rochester.

(I was assuming some sort of take on that orange sherbet-y creamsicle sort of thing, not paying attention to the entire name of the tea, and this is better. And I say that as someone who’s a total sucker for the candy sweet creamy artificial flavor of a creamsicle…I just figure that’s something that’s probably easier to find. This was quite a surprise in a good way.)

Someone else said it’s like sunshine in a cup, and I agree, perhaps because of said memory. Perfect for when it’s cold and dark out all winter.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 6 min, 0 sec
Sil

I really like this one :) I should picksom e up again…it’s been a while heh

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This was pretty good, but when placed among the pantheon of great similar long-leaved beautiful teas from China with malt and chocolate and smoothness, I don’t think it stands out particularly (we are so spoiled these days!). There are nice subtle floral and clean things going on at the front, but its body isn’t quite as thick and silky smooth as some of those others. Gonna stick with my golden teas from Teavivre and Verdant I think.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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drank Black Beauty by Mandala Tea
612 tasting notes

This is sweet and mellow as straight black teas go, with that trademark Chinese smoothness and caramelized sweet potato thing going on. Something like chocolate and the smallest tinge of smoke too. Very pleasant and easy-going. I can see the resemblance to keemun and how people might prefer this as it’s a little sweeter and smoother than the keemuns I’ve tried so far but still has hints of those smoky intense chocolate notes. It’s a nice tea that doesn’t kick you awake rudely but does the job in a friendly, kinder sort of manner.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec
Stephanie

I got a sample of this with my order- I need to try it! :D

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Bio

“…you can never know everything about anything, especially something you love.”
-Julia Child on food and cooking, and I think it applies to tea as well!

note: i am currently taking a break from swapping/mail of any kind as money is rather tight. i apologize! i do love to swap but i can’t afford to right now. hopefully in a month things will change.

my cupboard includes any tea i’ve ever owned, including things i’ve sipped down, in order to facilitate swaps with people and keep a record—this way i don’t get redundant samples/order duplicates to try. if you are interested in swapping, i have a separate ever-updated list of teas i actually have on hand i can PM.

i like strong, rich blacks (including some choice old skool CTCs); juicy-fruity flavored green blends; buttery chinese greens; light floral oolongs; flavored oolongs (how sacrilegious!); earl greys; smoky blends; second flush muscatel darjeelings; verdant’s straight oolongs steeped in a gaiwan (mind altering!); anything from laoshan village it seems.

favorite notes include lavender, bergamot, violet, fennel, cardamom, melon, honey, sandalwood, smoke, nuts, roasty/toasty stuff, malt, wood, leather, creamy lemon, steamed rice, artichoke, garden-sweet snap veggies, earth/soil, forest and wet bark, and mushroom.

notes i generally can’t stand (at least in tea) include jasmine, rose (ok in small doses but i often find it overpowering and then everything just smells like musty old lady perfume), astringent apple (and general fruitiness really unless it’s with green tea), and chamomile (unless i’m congested or tired).

my current favorite tea vendors are butiki and harney and sons. i’ve also found some delicious teas and/or had good customer service experiences with the following companies: capital tea ltd., the devotea, verdant, mandala, golden moon, teavivre, lupicia, taiwan tea crafts, yezi tea, den’s tea, the tea merchant, norbu, fauchon paris, tao tea leaf, zen tea, fortnum and mason, townshend’s tea, joy’s teaspoon, new mexico tea company, persimmon tree, teajo teas, whispering pines, della terra, upton imports, mariage freres, samovar, justea, teabox, american tea room, steven smith, steap shoppe, utopia tea, and andrews and dunham damn fine tea. when i’m at the grocery store my “you could do worse” brands include stash, bigelow, tazo, taylors of harrogate, whittard of chelsea, and pg tips. and it’s a fact: you can’t make classic southern sweet tea without luzianne.

top picks, fall 2013

black:
verdant zhu rong yunnan black
verdant laoshan black
thepuriTea hong jing luo (no longer available :( )
thepuriTea red dragon pearl (no longer available :( )
mandala morning sun
golden moon honey orchid
verdant golden fleece
taiwan tea crafts red jade
yezi tea zheng shan xiao zhong “scotch” tea
capital tea borsapori estate assam tgfop1 (spl)
butiki khongea golden tippy assam
butiki giddahapar darjeeling extra special
upton imports fikkal estate
golden moon sinharaja
harney and sons new vithanakande
persimmon tree vintage black
teajo teas black manas
justea kenyan black
harney and sons kangaita op

morning blends:
butiki the black lotus
harney and sons queen catherine
harney and sons eight at the fort
harney and sons big red sun
harney and sons scottish morn
golden moon irish breakfast
harney and sons irish breakfast
utopia tea english breakfast
fortnum and mason breakfast blend (needs milk!)
andrews and dunham double knit blend
steven smith no. 25 morning light
butiki irish cream cheesecake

earl greys and scented afternoon blends:
teajo teas silky earl grey
harney and sons viennese earl grey
upton imports lavender earl grey
american tea room victoria
lupicia earl grey grand classic
harney and sons tower of london
tao tea leaf cream earl grey
zen tea earl grey cream
della terra earl grey creme
upton imports season’s pick earl grey creme vanilla
upton imports baker street afternoon blend
harney and sons russian country
della terra professor grey
verdant earl of anxi

flavored black:
herbal infusions moose tracks
american tea room brioche
steap shoppe cinnamon swirl bread
della terra oatmeal raisin cookie
butiki nutmeg cream
kusmi caramel
david’s tea brazillionaire
lupicia banane chocolat
butiki hello sweetie
fauchon paris raspberry macaron
butiki blueberry purple tea
herbal infusions marshmallow snowflake earl grey
herbal infusions creme brulee chai

pu erh:
mandala loose and luscious lincang 2007 shu/ripe pu erh
mandala special dark 2006 shu/ripe pu erh

oolong:
verdant shui jin gui wuyi oolong
verdant hand-picked early spring tieguanyin
butiki 2003 reserve four season oolong
harney and sons formosa oolong
tea merchant silk dragon
golden moon coconut pouchong
zen tea coconut oolong
american tea room coconut oolong
teavivre taiwan jin xuan milk oolong
butiki flowery pineapple oolong
butiki lychee oolong
lupicia momo oolong supergrade
butiki strawberry oolong
butiki pumpkin milkshake darjeeling oolong
52teas tiramisu oolong

green:
verdant laoshan bilochun green
verdant autumn harvest laoshan green
tao tea leaf hou kui
harney and sons tencha
harney and sons gyokuro
new mexico casablanca
butiki with open eyes
american tea room nirvana
joy’s teaspoon mahalo
den’s tea pineapple sencha
harney and sons tokyo
butiki potato pancakes and applesauce
butiki holiday eggnog and pralines
den’s tea organic genmaicha with matcha
golden moon hojicha

white:
butiki cantaloupe and cream
butiki champagne and rose cream

no caf:
harney and sons soba buckwheat
butiki birthday cake
della terra lemon chiffon
52teas strawberry pie honeybush
butiki mango lassi
joy’s teaspoon italian dream
butiki coconut cream pie rooibos
butiki peppermint patty
persimmon tree mint chocolate chip rooibos
art of tea velvet tea
fusion teas chocolate cake honeybush
american tea room choco-late
steven smith no. 40 bon bon
townshend’s tea dark forest chai
utopia tea decaffeinated earl grey cream

sleep aid/medicinal/therapeutic:
new mexico extra sleepy bear
stash white christmas
verdant ginger sage winter spa blend
samovar turmeric spice
butiki the killer’s vanilla guayusa

coldsteeped wonders:
whispering pines manistee moonrise
harney and sons fruits d’alsace
utopia tea berkshire apple and fig
culinary teas peaches and cream
butiki peach hoppiTea
butiki ruby pie
whispering pines gingerade

besides tea

born in seoul, raised in new england and upstate new york, went to college in pittsburgh, currently in memphis with an eye toward philadelphia, portland, or asheville eventually.

i like cats, most beverages really (i also like good freshly roasted coffee, craft beer, wine, whiskey and gin-based cocktails, and soda/soft drinks like agua fresca), art (mainly writing but also visual and music) and critical theory, feminism/genderqueer politics, historiography, statistics, children’s literature and librarianship, travel, and food/cooking. also have recently gotten into weightlifting (mark rippetoe and stumptuous!) and sprint training (HIIT, plyometrics) and i love it.

Location

Memphis, TN

Website

http://facebook.com/ifjuly

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