1186 Tasting Notes

83

Getting to another free sample from the lovely Angel at Teavivre! I am enjoying trying all these new teas this weekend :)

This one is so cute, my first mini tuocha! A small pressed cake, individually wrapped in paper, aweee I didn’t want to steep it even it was so cute lol. But I had to find out what it tasted like. I put it, the single tuocha, in my small teapot, who’s volume I’m guessing is around 10-14 oz or something, and steeped it with boiling water for 4 minutes. Oh, the dry smell was a slightly honeyed sheng smell, a bit woody and grassy.

The tuocha broke apart nicely with the 4 minute steep, and the liquor is quite light with barely any scent to it, a slight honey smell. Nothing like the grassy tobacco that was yesterdays sheng haha! This one is very light, much more to my tastes.

The flavor is also very light, but I am very much enjoying it. A slight woodiness, some mild grass, and a definite honey aftertaste. There is some grain-like, or hay notes in this one, but it’s very smooth and mellow. It hopefully is helping my poor lungs and throat, I was picking apples outside today and cleaning all weekend and stirring up every possible allergen, I broke down and had an allergy pill and am still not quite up to par, my throat is icky but improving due to the new air filter upstairs and a dehumidifier downstairs lol. Hurray for tea and air cleaners! Anyways, back to the tea haha…I am quite enjoying this. Smooth and mellow, a good end to a good day!

Overall, a very tasty and light sheng. This is much more my speed in the way of shengs, not sharp and not too green. I will have no trouble getting through my few more samples of this, and it definitely might be a reorder :D thanks again Teavivre for the opportunity to try this lovely tea!

Flavors: Grain, Grass, Hay, Honey, Wood

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85

I don’t think I’ve reviewed this tea yet! It was a free sample from the lovely Angel at Teavivre from a while back, I think in my second round of free samples. Thank you for all the lovely teas!!

Onto the review! This one smells very chocolatey in dry form. I steeped it with ~194 degree water for 2 minutes. This may have been too light for my tastes, as the steeped smell is a faint floral aroma but very light and fresh, almost a fruit note in there as well.

As for the flavor, wow this is such a light tea for a black tea! It is super mellow, with the only really discernible notes being something floral and something sweet, almost like a marshmallow, in the aftertaste. As it cools, the marshmallow flavor takes on more honey notes. The middle notes are definitely floral, and to my palate there is a slight linen note at the first sip. It is quite bizarre, as it’s a light tea but there definitely is caffeine in here, I feel a warming buzz coming over me.

Overall, this is a different type of black tea than I’m used to, but I am really enjoying it because it’s so light and sweet. I may try brewing it a bit stronger next time, or if I resteep these leaves, to see if I get a bit more prominent flavor. But this is a nice light tea on this sunny morning. It feels more like an afternoon tea, one to have with light pastries in a flower garden. I wish it was still summer now :( haha, but a very tasty tea! Thanks again Teavivre for the free samples!

ETA – as it cools, the texture becomes a bit maltier, and notes of milk chocolate are coming out in the middle of the sip. Strong linen like notes to milky cocoa to marshmallow/honey – this tea is confusing, but it all works. I am enjoying this!

Flavors: Floral, Honey, Marshmallow

Terri HarpLady

You just reminded me that I also have a sample this that I need to get around to. :)

mrs.stenhouse12

It’S a very yummy tea! Try it soon :)

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81

A huge thanks to Angel at Teavivre for this free sample! Sorry it has taken me so long to get to reviewing it – the weather got cold and I haven’t been in the mood for sheng lately with the weather, but today is warm and sunny, and I was reading sheng is good for allergies on a review somewhere so I will give it a shot, as mine are bad right now (well, lungs anyways).

Anyways, onto the tea review! The dry smell of the pieces of the cake (nice large ones I might add, perfect for a few brews) smells strongly of hay with some honey and crystallized sugar notes. I am going to try this first cup for 3 mins with boiling water, no rinse. As it steeps the cake piece breaks apart into lovely leaves.

Hmmm, the steeped smell to me is quite weird lol, almost a tobacco note in there! Strong almost grassy tones, and yes, that is definitely a tobacco note, at least to my messed up nose from allergies it is lol. I have never got that in a pu’erh before! We will see how it tastes!

Ah, the taste is much more pleasing :) very grassy, a strong green note, some green hay, and a tiny bit of honey. Also there is a smoky flavor kicking around in there too, maybe that’s where the tobacco smell was coming from. The flavors kind of go together but I am also finding it a bit tough to wrap my head around a green yet slightly smoky flavor. It actually reminds me of the days back in high school when I worked at a greenhouse/vegetable garden, on the days it rained – a lot of the ladies smoked there, so there was a hint of smoke in the air usually, mixed with that wet dirt and vegetables smell, along with wet hay from the nearby fields. I can actually picture it just like when I was there from this tea! Crazy, I love how teas can evoke good memories :) Oh and a sense of a tea buzz is definitely coming on, I will go slow with this cup lol.

Overall, this is a heck of an interesting tea! I have never had a sheng or any variety of tea for that matter that is like this. I’m also at a loss for how to rate this, I can’t decide if I like it or if it’s too weird for my tastes lol. But I am happy I got to try it as always!! I love broadening my tea tastes :)

Flavors: Grass, Green, Hay, Smoke, Tobacco

Cheri

So did it help with your allergies? Mine are awful right now.

mrs.stenhouse12

Haha it actually didn’t too much unfortunately :( but I was cleaning all day stirring up every allergen in the house, so that didn’t help. My new air filter is helping more though however!

ashmanra

I need to start drinking more sheng if it will help! I cleaned out our very dusty storage room yesterday and was worried about aggravating a sinus headache but I got out of it. I did use some essential oils immediately after that are supposed to help with allergies,s o maybe they did.

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89

I am finally having a cup of this tea after craving it for a few days! :D so bready, malty, fruity, with mild honey notes. A perfect after-breakfast tea haha I love having this tea as an actual second breakfast! Enjoying this on this sunny autumn day while listening to a 60’s French Pop playlist on Songza :)

I plan to try a few of my Teavivre samples today and hopefully get the reviews up, and clean, and maybe read my book. But I’m off to a slow start after a night of going to sushi with friends then having them all over for tea and listening to classical music lol. Ah, I remember the days we would actually party on Fridays..last night 3 people fell asleep on the couch before midnight due to tea drinking and the soothing music LOL. I guess that’s what happens when you get older. :P anyways, see previous notes on this tea!

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83

I’m going through this tea at an alarming rate lol. Might definitely have to keep this in stock throughout the year. Best part is that it’s herbal! :) I love that it tastes so similar to the powdered cider I used to drink when I was little. Tasty and sweet! See previous notes :) upping rating.

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95

Having a beautifully silky cup of this to unwind before bed..looks like Steepster is still frozen so that is all I will say haha. Still my favorite pu. See previous notes on this amazing tea! Upped rating.

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83

Maybe because it’s cold in the office, or maybe because I’m craving caramel..whatever it is, I found a bag of this in the cupboard at work since I forgot all my teas at home today except my travel mug, and it is AMAZING. Yes, so good today. It’s caramelly and spicy and just yummy. I didn’t time it either, just put the bag in until it looked sufficiently dark. And it turned out! Happy I found some of this, I needed some hot tea to warm up. See previous notes! Oh and I definitely might have to buy some of this sometime now lol. Increased rating as well!

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82

Brrrr good morning Steepster..it has stopped snowing/raining here, unlike in the southern part of the province (I don’t envy those Calgarians lol) but it’s still icy cool out here and chilly in the office as usual. I wanted a chai today but am trying to cut back my caffeine again, I started a different inhaler for whatever is up with my lungs and I’m worried it interacts strangely with caffeine lol. So this tea was the one, decaf, so a teensy bit of caffeine, but not bad. It seems to get more perfumey tasting with age though :( might have to whip it into a coconut latte tonight to enjoy it more lol. I’m actually really craving Second Breakfast due to Cameron B.’s note haha but that is definitely not low in the caffeine side of things. Le sigh. Ah well, I have a few herbals for now at least. See previous notes on this tea!

Cameron B.

Sorry! :P

mrs.stenhouse12

Haha I might break down and have it tonight anyways :P I’m not sure if it’s caffeine + inhaler or the crazy weather changes making my ears do weird things lol so I might end up having caffeine anyways :P. It’s such a good tea, don’t be sorry about your awesome review of it! :)

Roswell Strange

I’m very thankful I’m not in Alberta right now; though we’ve been dropping in temp. so quickly this week – snow is not entirely outside the realm of possibilities for us :/

mj

I had some 2nd breakfast yesterday and it was so good (sorry I’m not helping!). I hope your inhaler issues improve!

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83

Sooo…if you are having a bad Monday, just picture waking up to find it SNOWING outside. Haha September 8 and it’s SNOWING! Ughh! It was +25 C on Saturday and snowing today. Like, I wore shorts on Saturday, got a slight sunburn, had to guzzle water to stay hydrated…and then today, total opposite. Only in Alberta…I guess I need to go buy some new boots and put my snow brush/scraper back in my car for the season LOL, hopefully I never took it out cuz there is definitely a bit of accumulation.

So on this fine cold Monday, I am appropriately drinking Yuletide Spice. Because, why not, it’s spicy, vanilla-y, and definitely fits the season. Merry Christmas! (too soon? haha) But seriously, this tea is tasty, and I’m happy it is keeping me company at work today. And also, it’s supposed to be like +20 C on the weekend, so this should be short-lived weather. We can only hope. Haha, see previous notes on this tea!

CHAroma

Wow, crazy weather indeed. I am not ready for snow!

mrs.stenhouse12

Neither am I lol, I still am in my summer wardrobe haha need to break out the sweaters and cozy clothes now I guess. My brain is also in fall tea mode not winter yet!

Cheri

That is crazy, MissLena. How far North are you?

mrs.stenhouse12

Not that far lol, most of Alberta has seen snow today, I’m near Edmonton but it’s snowing in Calgary too, haha not the most fun

Cheri

It just seems wrong.

mrs.stenhouse12

Most definitely, I don’t remember snow this early in quite a long time..it’s usually in November that it shows up

Cheri

When I went to school in Michigan’s UP, we had that nasty cross between snow and sleet and ice on the first day of classes. It was not a good sign for the weather yet to come. Superior froze over that winter, and they actually cancelled classes because it was so cold.

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83

Hey steepster..it’s been a while, with the site down, no service this weekend and a full house the past week, I have been drinking tea but not logging any haha. Well last night on a trip to my local DavidsTea to restock my favorites I decided to try a few of the fall teas, this one and Cinnaberry lol. I had some Yes We Cran iced in the store as a sample, but was not a fan, it feels like more of a warm tea lol.

Anyways, this one I was excited for, as I love apple cider, that sugary powdered stuff, it has many fond memories attached to it of rainy days at the lake with my grandparents, a steaming mug of cider in front of me while we discussed fishing and waited for the rain to pass. The smell of this tea when steeped is very reminiscent of that cider – tangy and juicy, with an artificial sugar sweetness. I don’t mind the smell :D

As for the flavor, yes, it closely matches that apple cider I have had in the past, but actually with more of that tart apple taste, the mild astringency from biting into the skin (that must be the pomace). There is a thick mouthfeel as well, a bit chalky, that may be from the pomace as well as the flavorings. It starts out with a lovely sweet apple taste and fades to the mildy chalky tartness.

Hmmmm. I’m undecided on my overall impression of this tea. On one hand I am pleased it is quite similar to that powdered cider I used to enjoy, but at the same time I don’t know if I’m a fan of the differences lol. I feel like there’s a slight oily sheen left on my lips after drinking it too..must be from the flavoring. It tastes pretty good, but the mouthfeel is making me not such a big fan. Hmm indeed lol. I will need time to form an opinion on this one. It’s certainly drinkable, but not sure if I adore it yet.

Rating around a 75 for now, but subject to change.

Flavors: Apple, Apple Skins, Thick, Vanilla

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Profile

Bio

Hello all, I am an electrical engineer (read:NERD :D), who is a bit obsessed with tea! I discovered loose tea in 2011, DAVIDsTEA in 2012 and it took off from there. I really started drinking/enjoying tea because it was excellent to take to class in the morning and because I can’t handle coffee! (unless it’s a really good cappuccino or latte, or decent decaf haha)

I enjoy a variety of teas – current favorites being ripe and raw pu’erhs, chinese black teas and herbal/green rooibos blends. I also enjoy white, green, and oolong teas, although I tend to drink them more in the warmer months. I have also tried matcha and guayusa, but I don’t drink them too often as I am a bit sensitive to caffeine. As a result I don’t drink black teas as often as I used to, but in moderation I can still enjoy a wide variety of teas.

Oh, and I have a severe peanut allergy and try to avoid most other nuts, just to be safe. Limits my tea choices a bit, but that’s ok. However I have tried almonds and found out I can eat them, so I have been trying a few teas with them in them.

mrs.stenhouse12’s rating system
(as of 04/19/13)

95+: Absolute favorite, will try to always have it in stock, and when I don’t I pine over it!
90-94: Awesome teas, will probably purchase again a few times
80-89: Very good tea, may restock at some point
70-79: happy to have tried and will gladly finish, but not restock
60-69: not horrible, but not the best, will finish if I have some though
50-59: not a favorite, probably will have a tough time finishing the bag
-50: yuck. I don’t want to have it ever again.

Location

Canada

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