218 Tasting Notes
Thursday. Third barre class of the week. For some unknown reason, my three different instructors all brought it evil this week, so it only took 10 seconds into the first thigh set and I was shaking like a jackhammer. At least that means I’ve earned my birthday cake this weekend!
After a hard week of barre, and a sleep day after seeing the delightful Clare Bowditch last night, I needed something warming and comforting tonight. And apple crumble in pink tea form does the trick!
Made this from my T2 Society sign-up sample to go with breakfast today. It has a very strong fresh strawberry smell, but like many flavoured teas, the actual taste doesn’t live up to it (if it had tasted as strawberry-y as it smelled, this would’ve got a 95-ish rating. It smells that good!). IT tastes really nice though. Beautiful soft sencha with strawberry notes. Even the other half liked it, and I’ve not yet given him a green tea he’s liked.
So really nice, but a stronger strawberry taste would’ve blown this into “must have this all the time” territory. Will experiment as summer comes around with adding strawberries (and champagne, thinking it would go well in a cocktail..)
Preparation
This is my first ever Gen Mai Cha, so T2, please take criticism with a grain of salt (or rice?).
This was interesting. I could taste the sencha, it was soft and a bit sweet, but not overly powerful. I could also clearly identify the rice, it tasted roasted, almost like slightly overcooked popcorn kernals. I didn’t get a popcorny taste.
I’m unsure about this one, it was pleasant enough to drink, but didn’t wow me. Again, unsure if its gen mai cha, or T2’s gen mai cha. Definitely warrants further testing! (Which I’ll be able to do very shortly, as I type staff are unpacking stock in the soon to be opened store in my city. Just in time for my birthday! I think my brain might explode – a real, proper tea store without having to fly anywhere!!!)
Preparation
I really like this one (though oddly, I don’t drink it all the time.. Hmmm). Soft, orangy with a hint of bergamot, and fully approved by my doctor as its green tea! I’ve never tried icing it, that will be my next challenge.
As with many greens, this one is a bit tricky to get right, the green can go bitter easily, so getting it right can be hard, but totally worth it.
Preparation
Decided to re-visit this one after buying ‘the History of tea’ by the heiss’ today, doing some short multiple steeps. 80oC steeps. Not overly scientific timings, mostly me counting in my head.
1st step 90 seconds – light, sweet. Getting hints of the nectarine as described above. A very pale green colour. Smells soft and sweet, hints of the vegetal taste I got before, but it comes out sweet instead of grassy.
2nd steep 100 seconds – a light green colour again. Slightly softer smell this time. And it’s a very sweet steep! Definitely getting the fruit sweetness. Lovely!
3rd steep – 120 seconds – a paler green again. A lighter taste than the previous steeps (won’t bother with a 4th), but still light and sweet.
I’ve really enjoyed this method of steeping with this tea, it’s brought out nicer flavours than a standard western steep. Upping my rating accordingly. It’s a lovely white, a real treat.