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I’m way too picky. This one is a bit soapy. I can’t put my finger on it – the rosebuds maybe? The green tea base is also not very present, and I have come to realize I like a strong tea base with subtle additions. The smell is enticing, though…so it may be good for aromatherapy.

I may have to seriously narrow where I shop from. I was in the mall tonight and thought I’d pick up a “treat”. Really, not so much. I might have over steeped it, so I will give it a try again tomorrow.

This was actually a nice tea. I wasn’t expecting it to be – teavana just doesn’t do tea the way I like (or I have chosen poorly).

The green tea was barely present, but the citrus and ginger was vibrantly so. Although the smell was almost too citrusy, the taste was quite acceptable. If you are looking for a strongly flavored cup, this one’s for you.

I was boiling water for black tea, then changed my mind. I have to write the methods of a systematic review…and Oriental Beauty caught my eye.

So, steeped in an atypical teapot in somewhat too hot water.

This is a nice, light floral bai hao oolong. The liquor is amber brown and enticing. While floral dominates the smell, on tasting there are layers as well of something slightly smokey or nutty, I can’t figure out which one (and I just had an oatmeal cookie, which doesn’t help). Overall, a nice solid tea, not a top favorite but I think that is me, and not the tea.

Backlogging.

Ugh. There is something in this tea that is unnatural. I was hoping that it might be okay as a black for iced tea, but no, no it’s not.

The black tea is unremarkable and barely present. The lemon tastes fake and leaves a cleaner aftertaste in my mouth.

At least it didn’t cost much!

Working at home this aft, and Earl Grey was just right for this rainy afternoon.

This lovely black has a very bold bergamot kick. The base of organic Keemun and Yunnan blacks carries the flavour well while still standing up on its own. A perfect accompaniment to an afternoon of working from home.

This was nice considering I have no idea what it is. It’s been sitting in my husband’s office for a few years. Still a good tea, surprisingly. Which is nice, as I don’t like to waste!

Got this in a swap recently, and threw it into a travel mug before heading out to run errands.

Smells like coconut. Tastes coconutty and like a milk oolong a little, although not at all as complex. The fruit didn’t come out at all for me. Weird!

Back logging.

If all chamomile was like this, I might have not stopped drinking it. I mad a cup of this skeptically the other night, since I don’t really like chamomile. Well now. I guess that’s what you get for drinking celestial seasonings as a teenager!

This chamomile is a nice, soothing cup of bedtime tea. It actually smells really good while steeping, and there are a few layers of subtle flavor underneath the primary chamomile note. While it’s not clearly citrus or spice (and I’m glad of that, I don’t tend to like spiced teas too much), it is very enjoyable and not just a boring old cup of chamomile.

I steeped this up with some long jing, as I got the last 20 grams at the store which was mostly nuts, apple, and green tea powder and bits.

The long jingo base was definitely present, and the Geisha Plum added a subtle sweetness to the overall tea. It made for a very green, grassy cup with fruity top notes, which was rather pleasant for sipping over morning duties (including the dreaded referencing!). I would have liked a touch more almond, although I was pleased that the almond was very natural and not at all a cloying baking essence type flavor.

Probably not a regular tea, but nice on occasion..