343 Tasting Notes

drank Rooibos Chai by Teavana
343 tasting notes

Sipdown!

So the very first time I used the Starbucks Rewards at a Teavana location, I felt extremely guilty and felt compelled (by Jewish mother’s guilt, clearly) to purchase something else. This was maybe a year ago or so and all the chai teas were 30% off, so I bought just over 2 ounces of the cheapest one and finally finished it off tonight. It’s not bad by any means, but I rarely drink it alone. I mostly mix it (forewarning, broken record) with the Spiced Apple Cider tea (2 parts apple cider: 1 part rooibos chai) which I still love and have been drinking pretty much everyday since I discovered that what I thought I was drinking previously wasn’t actually rooibos and totally explained why I was having unexplained stomach issues again when usually I’m pretty “good to go” (Random TMI tangent – I have IBS and if I drink at least a cup of rooibos a day, it has a tremendous impact on my symptoms, in a very good way – end random TMI tangent). PS the tea was The Republic of Teas Chocolate Coconut, which I’ll do a tasting note for eventually…

Anyway, this wasn’t bad, but I have quite a bit of chai rooibos hanging around, so I don’t think I’d restock anytime soon, though it is pretty darned cheap at $4.98 for 2oz, so even an over-pour won’t kill your wallet!

Preparation
Boiling
caile

That’s interesting and good to know about the helpful rooibos effects. Do you usually drink a cup in the evening, or just anytime throughout the day?

TeaTiff

I have never heard this about rooibos and IBS. That is really interesting. Is this something you read somewhere or just cause and effect discovery for you?

TeaTiff

I have never heard this about rooibos and IBS. That is really interesting. Is this something you read somewhere or just cause and effect discovery for you?

ohfancythat

Very interesting! Too bad I hate rooibos so much :(

jeweledthumb

(Disclaimer: not a doctor)
Rooibos is supposed to help with digestive issues and drinking tea generally helps with hydration (both related to my own IBS) so the combination works for me. I usually drink it during the day and have at least 32oz total (I typically have it as an after dinner drink and then whenever I’m cold which is often).

caile

Thanks! I haven’t been fond of rooibos so much but have had the odd blend that was ok I think, so I may try it again sometime – I seem to have gotten away from drinking more herbal things so should change it up. :)

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drank Blueberry White by Argo Tea
343 tasting notes

So my husband’s coworker and I are tea pen-pals. We send each other tea to try out. This is one that she didn’t like but hoped I would have better lucky with. Well, the leaves are so small and don’t seem to be great quality that the first steep is actually pretty disgusting and has to be dumped. The 2nd steep a little less so and the third, it actually starts tasting good (though I did add honey), but that’s really too much effort for a tea (also the instructions to steep for 4-5 minutes is ludicrous – not unless you want a sour taste in your mouth for the rest of the day). I mean, even Adagio does white tea better, and it’s not really seen as high brow (or high priced for that matter). I think the small “leaves” have something to do with the taste and maybe also the clear glass jar.

Usually I love Argo, so this has put me off trying any other whites from them. It’s almost like the tea shavings you’d get in low quality bags. Sadness.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 1 min, 30 sec

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drank Eggnog by DAVIDsTEA
343 tasting notes

I know not everyone enjoys sweet blends, but this one is just really satisfying, even though it doesn’t taste quite like eggnog, it’s sweet enough and a rooibos blend at that. Sure, you get a bit of oily film at the top, but that doesn’t bother me. It lasts through multiple steepings, it’s very hard to ruin. It’s sweet on its own but I add a touch of sweetener for when I’m feeling a major sugar need. In case you were wondering how much I have enjoyed this, I managed to go through 25 grams in 4 days. That, my friends, shows how much I love this “tea”. I have a few small tins, a the ‘big daddy’ tin and I can’t imagine it’s going to be hard for me to get through it rather quickly. If the 250 grams goes on sale beyond the 40% it’s on now, I would definitely pick more up (but since the smaller tins are actually more cost effective, that’s what I’ll do for now).

Preparation
Boiling

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Eh. I finished this one over the last few weeks when I was ill. It was ok. It wasn’t too pepperminty (since I really don’t like super strong peppermint) but there was no real real chocolate to speak of. I had bought it on sale so it wasn’t a major loss, but it was only ‘ok’.

Sipdown!

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drank Pina Colada by ESP Emporium
343 tasting notes

Teeny Tiny TTB Rd2

This wasn’t bad, per say, but when I think of Pina Colada tea, my love is Davidstea Tropicalia and this, while not bad, doesn’t even compare. I sweetened it, because without sweetener it was just ho-hum, but even sweetened, there is a bit of a sour taste in the back of my mouth and I can’t figure out what it is. It’s a little bit creamy, but not as creamy as Tropicalia. There’s a bit of pineapple and coconut taste, but not as much as Tropicalia – sorry I guess this review is a bit of a broken record. Not bad, by any means, but eh, I wouldn’t purchase.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 3 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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Teeny Tiny TTB Rd2

Oh goodness, two tea boxes right in a row is probably not the best idea ever. Anyway, I had the last (only?) sachet of this last evening. I needed something a bit spicy since my sinuses have been bothering me which is strange since all it’s been doing is raining; almost seems like there has been no sunlight (well that’s a bit depressing). Anyway, this is actually pretty darn good. A fairly basic rooibos chai. Nothing fancy, not too gingery (which is sometimes a problem) and rooibos to boot. I added sweetener to mine. I would totally consider picking this up in a future H&S order.

Preparation
Boiling

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Sipdown

Kind of a sad sip-down though, as I really enjoyed this one. Celestial Seasonings has something similar but it doesn’t have rooibos, which I like to drink daily. This says it’s “Sold Out and Discontinued” on the Republic of Tea site. My only complaint with teas from this brand is they are quite pricey as they only produce 6oz of tea. And for some reason, some of the blends, while still the same price, only come with 36 bags, while others come with 50. In any case, I’ll miss this blend. It’s not too gingery and has notes of cinnamon and vanilla. I add sweetener and use 2 bags per mug (though I can usually get another steep out of them). Bye Gingerbread Cuppa Cake, it was nice knowing you!

Preparation
Boiling

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Overboard Traveling tea box

This is the last tea I’m trying in this tea box before packing it all up and sending it off to the next recipient (which I think will be tomorrow – but I want to add a couple more things first). I wasn’t expecting that much from this, to be honest. First, it’s a decaf and sometimes decaf black tea can taste a bit funky and 2nd, I’m always worried about astringency in black teas. This doesn’t taste like decaf. The first sip unsweetened, I tasted a bit of something bready and a tiny bit of raspberry, but no real chocolate to speak of. Sweetened is another story! Really tasty, mostly raspberry, but then the chocolate comes in and it’s creamy without adding milk or cream. I feel a bit greedy keeping 2 of the Butiki blends in this box, but I love that it’s a black dessert blend I can have at night and there’s really not much left. Also, the whole company going away – thing.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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Overboard Traveling tea box

After having Assam “Black Beauty” #8, this just doesn’t even compare, even though it’s a different type of tea. It smells sweet and almost fruity in the bag, but unlike the Black Beauty, nothing translates to the actual tea. I added sweetener just because otherwise it just wasn’t special enough? I mean, why drink something ho-hum when you can have sweet potato in a mug?

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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Overboard Traveling tea box

Hmm, I’m not really getting any notes with this one. It almost reminds me of the tea that you get at a Chinese restaurant. Light, unoffensive, not especially memorable. It smells sweet, it’s a tiny bit creamy at the front of the sip but not enough to remember. Not bad, but not something I’d likely stock.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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Profile

Bio

I recently discovered loose leaf tea and am already addicted (much to my husband’s dismay)! I prefer fruity teas iced and savory teas hot. Looking forward to drinking and chatting.

Some likes/dislikes I’ve been noticing:

Likes:
Pineapple
Jasmine
Fruity White Teas
lighters Blacks
Most Oolongs (especially greener varieties)
dessert teas
tisanes iced that don’t require added sweetener

Dislikes:
Spicy flavors unless in chai
astringent black teas
heavy ginger teas
teas with licorice (as primary ingredients – somehow I like some where the licorice is in the back drop)
heavily oxidized oolongs

For my own reference, I’m only placing “full size” teas in my cupboard.

Location

DC/Metro

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