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Found it! It was right where I said. The reason I overlooked it, besides it was 6:30 AM was the Teavivre bag I stored the baggie in originally held Golden Tips, and I just recently opened a new bag of Golden Tips so… Anyway, the loose version of this tea is actually a green tea with the addition of a tiny amount of bergamot. It smells much stronger than it tastes. Why do I like it so much besides it is so cheap? When Earl Grey was destroying my stomach years ago I switched to Twinings Earl Green. It did not hurt me but they stopped selling it right after I became addicted. I discovered the bagged version of Ahmad Earl Green online. It is very close to the Twinings version but better in my opinion. I originally bought a bx of the loose leaf thinking it was the same but it is altogether different. It is not Earl Grey but it spoke to me. Yes I hear voices and they tell me to drink more tea. I must obey.

After my morning smoothie I still had plenty of time before I needed to leave to set up at 8:30 (that happens when you get up at 5:00), so I thought perfect time for some much neglected Green Tea with Earl Grey…. except I can’t find it. I know it is here. I double baggied it and put it inside an empty Teavivre pouch. I was certain it was on the desk. Came to the conclusion someone has too much tea and needs to go through it and organize. I plead momentary insanity for the first half of that statement and laziness for the need to organize. Chose the Earl Grey black instead because it sits out in the open in plain sight on top of the four foot high tea cabinet. Very satisfying for the EG cravings. So now this afternoon I either start going through my pile(s!) or launch Kerbals into space… who am I kidding, I’ll organize later :) I do hope to start boxing up some of the stuff I have been promising to send out in the next couple days. Things are becoming much less rushed now, so yeah for slowing down.

After having a mug of Bailin Gongfu black tea early this morning, we did our usual Saturday breakfast out. I hated to leave the only steeped once leaf at home so I put it the infuser basket of this mug. When asked if I wanted my usual hot tea, I told them I just wanted hot water. They are so used to me they didn’t care. Poured the water into the mug and placed the lid on top the infuser. Worked pretty well. The lid then served as a tray to set the infuser on while I sipped. I do have a few complaints. The lid doesn’t fit securely, so don’t expect it to stay put in the car – it won’t. The handle is thin and oddly shaped. I think it was most noticeable next to the regular very heavy mug in the restaurant. Final complaint is it is normally $15. I only paid $10 so I guess I shouldn’t care. I was looking for a Finum basket and bought this instead for the same price. I’m content. The infuser mesh is fine enough to suit my needs.

After downing 3 mugs, I told our server to go ahead and bring my usual tea – Mother Parker’s Orange Pekoe in a bag. She actually brought me two. Score! Had one cup of it. Put the unused bag in my pocket. Then after a quick stop at Walmart, and another at Lowes, we went country cruising. By the time we got home I was very happy to see indoor plumbing!

This was one of the early teas I experienced when Teavivre first introduced me to fine loose leaf tea. I remember being blown away. I added some to my recent order as it has been a long time since I last had Bailin Gongfu and I wanted to see if it stood up to my earlier experience and my memories. The first thing I’ll note is looking back through my notes, this was usually accompanied with food – and almost always food that is bad for the waste line but good for the soul. I don’t currently have any good junk food, so sad as that sounds I’ll proceed. Opening the package fills my nose with cocoa. Brewed this is cocoa, malt, and honey. Man this stuff is almost like junk food all on its own without the bad stuff. It really is as good as I remember.

The last couple weeks have been so hectic and stressful. Been at the doctor’s office more than we have been home. My wife has been in severe pain with acid reflux. They eliminated everything else before treating her. Thankful, but that was crazy. Then we have the building projects underway. Reroofing the mobile home should be done Monday then they start the porch on my house.

Point is, neither of us have been sleeping well. Last night we each had a mug of this at bed time. The next thing we know the puppy is fussing to be let out at 7:00 AM. Yeah Sleep!

Every review I have read on this one has been positive. This is another one. The leaf smells of fall leaves to me. It looks like bark flakes rather than white tea. The brew is dark honey almost ale. The taste is like sweet hay with grassy notes. Crisp and clean with a mineral fresh spring water taste under the hay. Fruity late in the sip. The taste is definite white tea though everything else about it keeps you guessing. Where silver needle and white peony to some extent are subtle and lean towards cucumber/melon, this one is bigger flavored and leans toward leaf and fruit. A nice peaceful treat on this hectic day.

Found this in the drawer in a baggie. I didn’t even remember it. Read my tasting note from two years ago. Apparently it didn’t impress me back then. Today, the base tea is a really nice black with some good malt notes. The fruit smells tropical but light. Tastes even lighter which I am OK with as I’m not much on tropical flavors. The real problem is it leaves a taste in your mouth. Maybe because its old. Maybe because I just don’t like it. Two years ago when it was fresher I gave it an 80. Today, it wouldn’t be fair to give it a number.

I was talked into this one by my wife and son. They loved it. Me not so much. I could not taste tea at all. The mint didn’t jump out but that was fine with me. The lemonade was the strongest flavor and it is tart. To me the other ingredients just reinforce the tart and it comes off as almost hibiscus like. Makes sense though as my wife likes hibiscus flavored herbals. Not for me.

The first cup is so intensely malt I was inclined to think the second was nearly malt free. Turns out there is still plenty. The secret is to put some distance between the first and second. The second does have a slight edge and tastes a little mineral, but the malt is still quite good in this one.

I am wondering if Teavivre found a new supplier for this. This is a brighter green and has a lighter flavor than my last batch. I like this better.

Today the hammers and saws are supposed to start on my property. Reroofing our mobile home next door first, then I finally get my porch. May get loud around here for a while so I am enjoying the quiet peaceful morning with green tea powder and milk.