513 Tasting Notes
I had the most ridiculous day at work today. Got to work, and not an hour into the day, my computer just decided to up and stop talking. Everyone who knows anything about blind people knows that our world really does come to a grinding halt when the computer stops talking: we just sit there staring dumbly at the screen, jabbing uselessly at various keystrokes in a fruitless attempt at bringing the speech software back to life. Restart and repeat, and same problem. Got on the phone with technical support, and bless her heart, the person helping me stayed on the phone with me for literally two hours trying to solve my problem before escalating it to a senior technician who will hopefully get back to me within a day or so. But the problem still remained that I was at work without a talking computer. So I talked to my boss about it, and then went home because Mr. Keychange has a desktop computer that is thankfully in tact so I used that instead. What an ordeal, eh? And how funny it is that technology can be so helpful but simultaneously render us so dependent on it.
But this matcha. Whipped it up with some milk and chickened out again (ugh why do I always do that?) and let Mr. Keychange have the first sip.
“Mmmm.”
That was all I needed to hear. Grabbing the glass back, I set to work and began my own chugging. The likeness to a butter cookie is spot on. It tastes thick and baked, and only manages to make the milk taste more creamy and milk-like than it already does. I think it’s incredibly delicious, and this is at the delicate flavouring level! And, most importantly, no grass taste! I imagine that it is very likely this will feature in my matcha order, although I have more to try here and Roswell strange is very kindly sending along more for me to try! But honestly, I’m on a roll with this stuff. Thanks so much, Courtney! You’re wonderful. You led me into the world of matcha, yo!
This sample came to me from Stephanie, who was very generous to include it in our swap!
Given that it actually purports to feel somewhat like spring out today, I’m glad I started off the day with such a fresh tea. I added a bit of rock sugar, and this helped subdue the ginger notes, which I must admit I was a little afraid of (tasting the ginger, I mean). I could definitely taste the strawberry, which instantly reminded me of Ruby Pie. Unfortunately, because ruby pie is my gold standard for strawberry in tea, I just kept comparing these two teas in my head, even though I know they’re not even all that similar. I could taste a bit of the toffee, and actually liked the fresh green base on which the sip ended. I have enough left to have another cup, and will gladly drink that down, but this likely won’t be stocked (again, thank heavens, as I’m in the process of building my Butiki order, and it’s already nuts haha).
Thanks again, Stephanie! I’d been wanting to try this tea for a while now!
I am so incredibly sleep-deprived that I can barely orient my fingers around the keyboard. I’m doing my best to hang in there until about 8:00 or 9:00 tonight, but I’m already starting to list to one side. My ear hurts for some inexplicable reason, and I feel bloated. I just want to trade my body in for one that knows what it’s doing.
Anyway, my complaining aside, I tried this tea with breakfast this morning. Thank you Courtney!
I must say, however, that it felt as though I was drinking a completely different tea from the one everyone is raving about on here, because I got a very basic savoury green, with no hint of caramel (or even sesame) whatsoever. It may be the bits of tea that made up my tsp of it, who knows. Courtney was generous enough to give me enough to have this again, and so I plan on doing just that. Not an offensive tea at all, although so far isn’t calling to me. Just as well though, since it’s not like I need an excuse to buy even more tea! haha.
Oh Courtney, oh Courtney, what a monster you have created. If I didn’t still have other matcha to try, I’d be on red leaf’s site right now placing an order for this.
I used this matcha as an opportunity to test out the magic bullet (you know, of the food processing variety, just to be clear) Mr. keychange got me for Christmas. What a handy and powerful little machine it is! Anyway, I used about 8 oz of milk, one matcha scoop of matcha, and set to work. When all was done, I had that familiar hesitation: what if I didn’t like it? what if it tasted like grass and everyone loved matcha except me and my underdeveloped palate? I turned to Mr. Keychange, resolver of many things.
“Here,” I encouraged, thrusting the glass towards him, “why don’t you take the first sip?”
“No way! First of all it smells like that nasty banana medicine from when we were kids, and secondly, this is your deal, not mine.”
“Please? Just let me know if it tastes weird.” I begged.
But he wouldn’t budge. So, and not without a wee bit of trepidation, I took my first sip.
Creamy banana milk. No grass to be found anywhere. No vegetation. No vegetables or foliage or underbrush. Just wonderful banana milk. Courtney is off soaking up the son at the moment, but I do wish I knew what the flavouring level of the matcha is, because hooooly shit it’s amazing.
I have been wavering back and forth on getting this one on my next matcha order!!! Now I am definitely intrigued!!
Oh, if you liked the taste of the banana medicine, and if you like banana flavouring at all, I think this one is a must-try. It’s just that delicious. And no grass!
I am glad Courtney shared this with you. It is certainly a matcha I thought you would enjoy so I am happy you got a chance to taste it.
I’m going to do the buy 3 get 1 free deal when I get paid again I think and that one might be in the line up!! It seems like we like some of the same teas, so maybe I will get lucky. I went to thier site to look around again after reading your review and they have caramel matcha on sale for $4.99! I ordered some, I couldn’t help myself! Lol! I love the taste of anything tropical, such as coconut, bananas etc so this one is probably going to be in my big order! I’m glad u posted this tasting note :)
Well, I’m really glad it nudged you in the direction of getting some! I’ve never ordered from RLT before, but think I may follow suit and do the buy three get one free deal also! I can’t wait to try more matcha. The caramel sounds wonderful-I think I have a sample of that to try soon too! and mmm coconut!
I like the coconut mixed with coconut milk! I think it would be even better with some of the banana mixed in! I have placed one order so far and it was just one small bag of coconut matcha, and so far I like it, but I can’t wait to try more variety!
I totally agree! Hmmm, so I still have a sample of french vanilla, french butter cookie, cheesecake, and caramel to try. Aside from those, I’m thinking of: wintergreen (best mint flavor ever!), strawberries and cream, raspberries and cream, ameretto, orange and vanilla (I’m kind of looking for a creamcicle flavor, although I have my reservations), bubble gum, coconut, maybe pineapple, and cotton candy. haha obviously I’m going to narrow it down, but those are possibilities. How about you?
@Keychange – I’m mailing your matcha samples to you after payday this Thursday (likely on Friday), before then let me know which ones you have tried from what’s in my cupboard :)
I’m having this as a cold brew at work. About 4 tsp of leaf in my mason jar, steeped over night. and mostly I like it. Sometimes it feels a bit cloying, or sickly sweet or something, but there are sips I find refreshing as well. I don’t know if I’m ever really going to get on the cold brew bandwagon, but this is only the second tea I’ve cold-brewed, so I needn’t give up this quickly. It might also be the fact that it’s no longer cold, as I took it out of the fridge this morning and it’s now warmed to room temperature. I’ll keep sipping it for the rest of the afternoon, and if there’s anything left in the jar, I might stick it back in the fridge when I get home and have the rest (as a truly cold brew and not a luke warm one) with dinner tonight.
Oh, let me go home already!
I brewed this up to take with me to work so that I can get my butt in gear to sip this tea down before it’s exceedingly inappropriate to drink this tea. I’m finding that it’s lost some of its flavour, and I attribute that to the fact that I’ve had it since the fall. It’s ok, though. Still a creamy cup, and although I won’t struggle to finish it or anything, I think I’ll be forcing some of what’s left in the tin on Mr. keychange to help me finish it. I’ll probably crave it again come fall, but for now it’s time to make way for spring teas.
I really don’t know why I don’t reach for this delicious tea more often. It might actually be a good thing, as I’ve heard that Stacy can run out of it and it won’t be back again for a few months. Its creamy natural honeyed sweetness hit all sorts of spots this morning. I may even try taking it to work in my fancy shmancy carry mug one of these days!
And what a relief that it’s Friday. It seems a few of us here have had a rather trying week, and I’m glad it’s winding down. For what it’s worth, I really do enjoy reading personalized tasting notes, getting a glimpse into your lives, learning about the people and things that are important to you—it all makes for such a better steepster experience.
Teaspoons for everyone!! lots of tea, good jobs, wealth and beauty and wonderful immaterial thins for all! and yes, horde this tea I do.
I agree with everything you said!
Regarding teas such as this, that I don’t drink every day but want to always have the option of drinking, hahaha, I do tend to hoard them a little, just in case Stacy (Garret, etc) runs out.
AND I love Steepster!!! As far as I’m concerned, this is the only social network worth any amount of my time. I skim through FB. I occasionally visit the Harp Column (social net for harpists, lol, yes, it really exists, & I probably should get more involved). I really want to be more involved on Indaba (musicians network), although I’ve heard there are better sites for collaboration. I’m on a few others that I rarely visit for lack of time, or just don’t really know how to use:
linkedin: do you really serve any purpose?
google groups: Can I just go back to FB?
Twitter: Please, I don’t get this at all…
Pinterest: More time wasting…why did I join anyway?
yadayadayadawhateverthatotherphotothingis…..I don’t have time for all this crap!
But I do have time for Steepster! At least I try to!
Cuz I love you guys, I love tea, & there’s a certain level of intimacy that we all share, & I love that. So Yay!!
I love getting to know the people on Steepster. It is such a friendly supportive group. There aren’t many groups that would just offer to send people things just trusting they will reciprocate. The sharing is wonderful. There is no right or wrong in a tasting note since everyone has different tastes. Everyone is supportive and not coming in and saying “You’re wrong!” and acting like they are the ultimate expert. I admire the people who can write such detailed observations with such expertise but I also enjoy the social aspect just as much. It is a wonderful community! :D And yes, I waste way too much time here ;0 Oh and this tea sounds good. I’ll have to try it sometime.
Everything about this tea is wrong today. I was going to try it without additions, which was a stupid idea ultimately because it just tasted nasty. A bit of cream thickened it up slightly, but it was still just gross. Added some sugar and it’s still gross. It doesn’t seem to matter what I do with this tea-it just tastes terrible. And what a shame, because when I made it keychange style a while back it was lovely. Oh well, lesson learned. I think that in my experiment to find tea I can enjoy without additions, I’m going to stay away from blacks—I think I’ll just always like them with stuff in them, and so be it. Maybe oolongs and greens and tisanes are the way to go re no additions.
Uggh eww uggh no eww gross. And my poor carry mug has to deal with all this crap. Poor mug.
Preparation
I used to take at least a little sugar in all my teas….slowly weaned myself off it and now am mostly drinking everything straight. To each her own though! :)
I think black teas will always beg me to put sugar and milk in them, but that’s also the way I drank it growing up, so that’s also an influence. I just want to have a few teas I enjoy straight ot add to my rotation. Haha this clearly isn’t one of them.
I’m the opposite. I never drank tea with milk or sugar. It still feels funny to me to add anything, but there are certain teas that just beg for additions.
Ok, so I’m reading the Elizabeth Smart memoir, and although it’s certainly a fascinating (if horrifying) story, the writing in the book is absolutely terrible. It isn’t terribly often that I feel I could have done a better job. It’s just such a shame that such an interesting story that could have been delivered so much better was so poorly conveyed. The book was co-authored, so I’m assuming she had access to more resources. Oh well. I should stop being so rude.
Given my general level of discombobulation this week, I opted for a long-standing favourite. Unfortunately, and much to my dismay, this cup fell kind of flat, although I can’t exactly say why. I’d guzzled down a glass of cold water before drinking this, so that might explain my mouth’s lack of preparedness for this cup, but still: I wasn’t getting the nuances and complexities i’m used to getting with the Queen. Perhaps she’s had a bad week, too? LOL. It’s ok though—you can’t win ’em all, can you? I also had it with a muffin, which may not have been the best choice. Either way, decent cup, just not the soul hug i was seeking.
You know, I think you might be onto something. I always find the first few cups out of the tin to be delicious, and then it kind of falls flatter as time goes on. That’s so sad.
I hate when I find a book I want to read and the writing is terrible like that. Shouldn’t someone have caught that and fixed it??
Chances are that behind the scenes, the editors for the book did try to implement some quality control. I can see there being 2 reasons behind the bad writing: a recalcitrant author/co-author, and rushed production. This book probably has a mix of both. Since the Elizabeth Smart story was so sensational, I’m guessing that there was a big premium on getting the book to print as quickly as possible before public interest faded.
Interesting, Christina. I’m also reading this after having read some significantly better written memoirs: A house in the sky, as well as “Waiting to be Heard” (by Amanda Nox), and so perhaps I (unfairly) expected writing of a similar quality. This all happned in 2002, and the book was only released in 2013. It’s possible that smart also just isn’t a writer (as compared with Nox and Lindout), but you’d think whoever wrote it might actually be better than if she just wrote the whole thing herself when she was, like, 13, which is how this comes off.
So I survived the day. And tomorrow is Friday eve, and then it’s Friday proper, and that means I get to hide and sleep and just disappear over the weekend, and if only I could disappear every other week for an entire week my life would feel so much more manageable. Best place ever: in bed. best. Place. ever.
Somehow, this tea was a bit disappointing tonight. I read sil’s tasting note on it and she said that this tea was good, although it likely wouldn’t brew consistent cups, and she may be right (that’s right, I said you’re right, haha!). Perhaps not—I’ve enjoyed all my cups of it thus far, it’s just that tonight’s cup left something to be desired. In the past, I didn’t have quite the same level of temptation to start keychanging the cup up with milk and/or sugar, but this cup was kind of watery and a bit sad. Still not bad though, and it only got better as it cooled. Perhaps I’ll cold-brew it next.
Oh, and I forgot to mention this, but in my state of anxiety at work yesterday, I managed to leave my carry mug behind at my desk, and because I was still all wound up this morning, didn’t take tea into work at all. And I felt this immediate rush of affection for my carry mug as soon as I saw it on my desk because, like, it (and the tea it contained, obviously) saw me through such a rough day yesterday, and omg the drinking experience is just amazing. The mesh lid! just get one, guys!
Preparation
hahaha it sounds so much better than Thursday! and sil, just pray they get it in colours I like ;) hahaha
Terry, it can be found here:
http://www.davidstea.com/ice-blue-carry-mug?&TF=ADA13E5CAE3F&DEID=
There’s also a steepster page for it:
http://steepster.com/teaware/davidstea/44909-carry-travel-mug
I like the depth of the steeping basket! So many of them are really shallow, so your tea doesn’t really get completely under water. That’s nice!
Oh no!! I hope they get it working quickly for you in the morning. I used to work with a gentleman who had severe arthritis in one of his hands and could not type. (We’re software engineers, so lots of typing.) His dictation software stopped working after an antivirus update and he could not work. It took them three weeks to get it all resolved in the end, but they did. Perseverance is the key. I’m sure yours is a much simpler problem than that.
And wow, that matcha sounds like the perfect comfort at the end of a cruddy day. I’m starting to really like the flavored matchas, too.
How I hate when technology fails.. Bummer of a thing to happen at work! Good you had another computer to use and a good tea to make it better :)
So did you get it working this morning? I hope so!
Thanks so much for asking. Still no call from the technician, so I’m working from home today. If I don’t hear from them within the next hour or two, I’m going to just call and start bugging them until someone pays attention to me LOL. And I’m about to go make myself another glass of matcha milk to help things run smoothly!
Good luck. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you (just don’t expect my typing to be any good.)
Haha cherry, I was like why won’t your typing be any good? did you hurt yourself? and then I realized that I was overthinking it—you can’t type with your fingers crossed!
I can so type with my fingers crossed, just not very well. Lots of backspacing to fix mistakes.