75
drank Combray by August Uncommon Tea
316 tasting notes

Ashmanra’s Sipdown Challenge | February 2023 | It’s Groundhog Day! Drink the same tea (or type) twice!

Yay, a new month and a new sipdown challenge! Thanks, Ashmanra! This is part one of today’s sipdown; later, I’ll finish a different August Uncommon green tea.

I am probably not doing this one justice by drinking it alongside a very aggressively flavored snack: Medjool dates with peanut butter and chocolate chips. Even an AU blend doesn’t stand a chance against those flavors! Not great planning on my part.

Anyway, I’m leaving my rating the same. This is still a very pleasant cuppa, even if there is a certain something in the scent of the brewed cup that’s just a tiny bit off-putting to me. I’m not getting much cardamom at all today; it’s just eggy vanilla custard all the way down. (Of course, I say that having not had eggs for over a decade, haha!) Actually, what I am noticing is a very mild numbing effect. Hmm!

2023 sipdown count: 17/75

Flavors: Custard, Drying, Egg, Vanilla

ashmanra

You’re welcome! :D
Numbing is a little disturbing? Do you have allergies?

Kelmishka

No allergies… and it was only a TINY bit numbing!

ashmanra

I have read some tasting notes where people describe the camphor or menthol effects of some green puerh as a little numbing. Maybe it was a similar sensation!

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ashmanra

You’re welcome! :D
Numbing is a little disturbing? Do you have allergies?

Kelmishka

No allergies… and it was only a TINY bit numbing!

ashmanra

I have read some tasting notes where people describe the camphor or menthol effects of some green puerh as a little numbing. Maybe it was a similar sensation!

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Bio

I was an anxious child who didn’t like change, so when my parents flew across the country for my grandfather’s wedding and left us kids with my aunt and uncle, I was a nervous wreck. Our first night at their house was tough. I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and padded into the kitchen, where my aunt was puttering around. She could tell I was distressed and offered to make me a cup of tea. It was just Celestial Seasonings’ peppermint tea, but it was exactly what I needed. The tea itself, the comfort it represented, the ritual of making it… I was enchanted. I’ve loved tea ever since.

I’m partial to strong, intense flavors and prefer loose-leaf to bagged, but I also appreciate the convenience of bags and sachets. I mostly drink my tea straight but once in a blue moon I’ll add a little plant-based milk, generally oat.

I live in Maryland, USA, with my partner, three dogs, and one cat, and I’m an editor at an animal welfare nonprofit. I use she/her pronouns. I’ve actually been a Steepster reader for years and years, but only started posting in late 2021. :)

When I’m not drinking tea (or sometimes WHILE I’m drinking tea!) I’m reading, rewatching comfort shows on Netflix, going for a run, knitting, embroidering, hiking, or puttering in the garden. You can find me on Instagram at @kelmishka. (My account is private, but feel free to send a request!)

Favorite ingredients, flavors, etc.

Maple (all-time fave flavor!), vanilla, caramel, and all things dessert-y

Jasmine, lavender, violet, and most floral flavors

Most spices, although I go through phases and sometimes get bored of generic-feeling winter spice blends

Most fruity flavors

Matcha and other vegetal flavors

Not-so-favorite ingredients, flavors, etc.

Bergamot (I tolerate it, but it just doesn’t do it for me)

Hibiscus

Overly artificial flavors (banana, coconut, mango)

Overly herbacious blends, although this varies!

Stevia, monkfruit, and other sugar-alternative sweeteners — blech

Chocolate — it’s hard to get it right in tea, though I love real chocolate!

Animal products, including honey (long-time vegan checking in!)

My ratings

90-100: The best! Will almost definitely repurchase.

75-90: Really good, and potentially worthy of a restock.

60-75: Decent, if not terribly memorable.

50-60: In the “meh” range, but possibly for personal taste reasons.

35-50: I’m not a fan, and this is not very good tea.

20-35: Varying degrees of bad.

1-20: Actively bad. Like really bad. I can’t imagine anyone disagreeing.

Location

Maryland, USA

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