553 Tasting Notes
I think I need to switch up the teas I had planned to drink today. (They were all Friday Afternoon blends)
This is another Friday Afternoon purchase from Black Friday and while I like it, the caramel is really throwing me for a loop. Again not a bad tea by any means-just the peppermint and caramel flavoring which are both pronounced are fighting a bit. This is where the chocolate flavoring that I’m seeing in the other blends from Friday Afternoon might have worked better. Applaud the creativeness though and dig the black tea base a lot in this one.Flavors: Caramel, Peppermint
Continuing my Friday Afternoon black tea journey. . .
Apparently either Friday Afternoon uses a lot of chocolate flavoring in their blends or that is just what I grabbed when I ordered from them. Last night I had an herbal blend from them that had sage, cocoa nibs, and a few other herbs that you would consider to be those sleepytime ones. (will add a note about that one shortly-part of my mystery sampler pack).
This one is a blend of black tea, chocolate flavoring, lemon verbena, and blackberry leaves. The few first sips were really nice- just pops of malt and chocolate. But sadly, I am not wowed. This could totally be my taste buds off too.
I tried the tea in my tea press for some ice tea and that did not work so I’m hoping a cold brew will work since I have an oz of this one or another go later on will bring this tea to life for me.Flavors: Chocolate, Malt
Sipdown #6 (Backlog from earlier this week )
This was a pretty decent flavored tea. You get all of the flavors and it tastes exactly like the name- spiced black tea with caramel apple flavoring. Can’t say I was wowed by the blend but I could see this one being amazing as a latte and enjoyed when the leaves start to turn and there is that crisp fall breeze whirling around.
Flavors: Apple, Caramel, Spices
Sipdown #5
I have been having a love affair with Verdant’s black teas lately and this one is another sad sipdown but December’s Verdant Tea Club was all black teas which made me quite happy.
This tea tastes like straight up honey . As the tea cools there are other hints of bread, cocoa, and floral but the major spotlight flavor is honey. Soooo good.
Flavors: Bread, Cocoa, Honey
Somehow last week or so, I found myself in a Facebook Group called The Loose Leaf Lounge and everybody in this group raves about the teas from Evil Tea Co so I thought I would give check them out. Their artwork is awesome and the name of the tea company itself intrigued me so I picked up this one and a couple of other blends to enjoy.
Brewed hot, this blend has strong notes of vanilla and not much else. I was hoping for a bit more with the candied fennel seeds and creme brulee flavoring. I’m starting to think my tea preferences have really changed since starting to drink more puerhs and unflavored teas. Going to try this one again as a cold brew later and possibly as a latte too.
Flavors: Vanilla
went to look at their site…dear god have a type of tea filter people! lol may have to go on my list as a company to try for when the border opens up..if it ever does.
If you want, I would happily share what I picked up from them. One I’m still really not sure about like this one but one I for sure know I need to rehome. (too much cinnamon)
Iid be interested in trying as well.
@nichole – if you need to rehome things are are sending things variaTEA’s way, you could add to that vs a separate mailing. Obviously no rush or anything like that – her and i are close so we share and swap off tea all the time. Extra trips to the post office during covid and the insanity in the US isn’t worth it.
That’s true. I have a box of teas I am collecting for Sil as we speak and once she picks it up, it doesn’t take long for me to start a new one for her :P
Sad Sad Sad Sipdown! I loved loved loved this blend. A little spice, a little sweet, a little sass- this tea really was one of my ultimate 52Teas favs. The black tea notes were noticeable but really the orange, ginger, and dates were the main star. Might not taste 100% like a cake but regardless, this tea was delicious and I’m sad to see it go.
sipdown 2021Flavors: Orange, Spices, Sweet
Ooh…dates in tea! When I was little and I had depleted all the secret cookie and candy stashes that Mom thought she had hidden from me, I’d go for the dates next.
You are a doll! I love your stories! I don’t think I ever had real date until earlier this year when I grabbed some at Costco. We now buy them in bulk :)
Wanted to love this tea but this first go is not what I had hoped. The puerh is really overpowering all of the other flavors which is disappointing because this tea literally smells like cherry coke and I was really hoping those aromas would translate over into the flavor profile or at least the cherry notes would punch a bit more. Will give it another go later.
Flavors: Earth
I think this is the third time I’ve tried this tea and alas, I don’t believe this one is for me. Oolong, cinnamon, clove, natural vanilla flavoring. . . all of the flavors are there but they seem incredibly muted and it isn’t until the very last sip can I even detect the flavor. The smells coming from my teapot as the tea steeps smell amazing- clove, cinnamon, vanilla – but I don’t think the delightful notes my nose is picking up are translating into the same flavor profile. I’ve over leafed and over steeped and the results are the same. If the volume on the flavors was turned up just a touch, I think this tea would be amazing.
Another tea from my recent Friday Afternoon Black Friday order.
I wanted a tea to go with my PB & J for lunch and this one sounded like it would work. Black tea, ginger, sugar, natural vanilla flavoring. Sadly, I think this blend is just too sweet for me. I really dig the pops of ginger and vanilla I’m getting but this has almost a southern sweet tea vibe going on. I have a feeling this might be one to keep until spring and enjoy as a cold brew.
Flavors: Ginger, Sugar, Vanilla
Happy New Year All! Hope everyone had a lovely holiday. I actually took a step back away from my computer to enjoy some solid R & R to get myself back on track.
My Friday Afternoon Black Friday order arrived yesterday and I was a bit giddy. First tea I grabbed to steep up was my sample of I’m No Prize- black tea with ginger, jasmine, cardamom and cinnamon flavoring.
I wasn’t sure about the jasmine and ginger combo but this tea was really good and I ended up enjoying a few (large) tea pots full. You could literally taste each and every ingredient in the blend and no one ingredient stole the spotlight from the other. The black tea flavor was probably the least apparent but still you could pick up a malty touch here and there. Really well balanced and one that I would happily pick up in larger quantities once the poor post office has a chance to catch their breath after the holidays and I’ve sipped down a few goodies.First Sipdown of 2021 :)
Flavors: Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger, Jasmine, Rose
Woo, that sounds interesting. Putting to wishlist; we will see later if they even deliver outside US. They certainly have a few interesting blends :)
Welcome back!
Get thee behind me, temptation! Their selection looks like more fun than my bulging cabinets can handle ;)
Good to see ya!
