1113 Tasting Notes
I got a really nice Secret Pumpkin package from BrewTEAlly Sweet yesterday, even though I hadn’t signed up because I’m so busy right now! She’s the sweetest!!!
Anyway, this is one of the tea samples she included. Sounds right up my alley as I love coconut AND almond! Oddly enough, I’m finding this one a little fakey, and the flavoring a tad too strong. I think it might be the chocolate flavoring? Anyway, it is drinkable for sure, just not my favorite. Might be nice as a latte :)
I’m going camping this weekend! YAY! Last night I packed up a couple of gallons of purified water and a bunch of teas to drink and share with my friends. (I love sharing tea with friends!) I chose teas that won’t mind boiling water, and teas that are nice and rich and highly caffeinated. It is going to get down to 30 degrees Saturday night, BRR! Hot rich tea will be perfect. Anyway- I packed…
Butiki Caramel Vanilla Assam
Butiki Organic Guayusa
Verdant Laoshan Black
Mandala Special Dark
Oh, and a little Butiki Citrus Dream for the evenings, though we’ll likely all be drinking beer and wine at night time. (OR hot cocoa with bourbon, HA!)
:)
I’m not rating this tea because I have a special rolling thunder oolong version
Wow. This tea has an amazing carrot flavor! I’m impressed. It actually reminds me more of my friends delicious carrot souffle rather than carrot cake! Strong carrot flavor with more subtle soft vanilla and spices. I love that I can taste the base tea. And it is a GOOD base tea! I’m getting some richness and a mild but pleasant astringency from it for sure. :D
This is a very comforting tea for a rainy dreary Halloween morning! Happy Halloween Steepster buddies :)
I made mine today and got carrot everything taste :( I was also in a rush to get to the post office before they closed :( I’ll have to try again. How long did u steep yours?
No vanilla in yours? Hmm. I can’t remember how long I steeped…knowing me and that I did it at work it was under normal temp and 4-6 minute steep.
Hmm okay I’ll try again tomorrow! It’s my Friday tomorrow so I can drink all the tea I want till whatever time I want! I don’t have to worry about cutting the caffeine off at a certain time so I can fall asleep at 8
Oh sweet! Good luck, I hope you enjoy! I think tomorrow I’m going to mix half pumpkin milkshake and pumpkin crime brûlée! :)
Ooooooohhh intriguing! I can’t wait to see the review!!!
Ohhhh! Sweet sweet pumpkiny goodness! I LOVE the darjeeling base. The pumpkin is assertive enough, and the strong vanilla and cream flavors make it SUPER milkshakey! I really want to taste this side by side with Pumpkin Creme Brulee. I think I prefer this one just because of the base tea. I guess I find the Ceylon in the Brulee a tad astringent…Everyone looking for a great pumpkin tea needs to try this one. Very, very nicely done Stacy :D
Are the ground vanilla beans your standard madagascar/bourbon variety? I’m pretty sure they are. I’ve been experimenting with different vanillas in my cooking. I find the Tahitian variety very floral and compelling. I bet it would be a really neat addition to a tea blend some day. This pumpkin tea is perfect with the more classic madagascar/bourbon flavor :)
Yes I enjoy Pumpkin Brulee, but I also think I prefer this one. It’s amazing!
want! he he he
Stephanie-Have you also tried the Zhen Qu (black tea) version? I would be curious to know which one you like better if you have.
This is the one we use (pure ground): http://www.amadeusvanillabeans.com/store/vanilla-beans-ground.php They have a few different vanilla beans available too but just the bourbon already powdered.
Yay! I must order this when I get money
I did not know there was a black version Stacy! Thanks for the vanilla bean link :)
I’m sending you some samples tomorrow BrewTEAlly Sweet!!!
Oops, I just realized that this wasn’t the Carrot Cake. Never mind, there is only an oolong version. You’re welcome for the link! :)
Courtney-Nope, sorry my mistake. There is only an oolong version. For some reason I got mixed up and and was thinking about the Carrot Cake.
Ohhhh ok! I’m going to taste the oolong carrot cake tomorrow! :)
Nice! :)
Yay yay yay!!! Then I’ll know what to order for sure!!
My new Butiki teas arrived! I’ve been quivering with excitement ever since, and waiting till this morning to try them :D
I brewed a cup of this, and patiently waited for it to cool down a bit before tasting it. Whoa, the white tea really does have a champagne characteristic about it! It is sweet with a delicate faint hay like flavor. The rose is not at all obnoxious like some rose flavors can be, and the cream! OH THE CREAM! This tea is super creamy. I really want to figure out a way to make this flavor into some kind of mousse dessert. Can you imagine a champagne and rose cream mousse? OMG! I’ve got some rosewater in the cabinet…maybe some day I’ll have time to experiment :)
I’ll be hanging out with my new friend Sheng for the rest of the afternoon. We’ll be whispering and telling secrets in the corner and pretty much ignoring everyone else…don’t mind us! ;)
Seriously though, now I want to try more sheng pu-erhs darnit! I already have too many teas on my “want” list :/
Yep… just how it started out for me all those years ago. So happy you are enjoying this tea! I think I already shared with you that I’m a little obsessed with this one currently.
I can also recommend a 2007 purple leaf cake that we have from Haiwan. Very nice, it sells very well here and many repeat buys. Also Gifting Raw, 2007. Only 4 or 5 of those left.
Will have 4 or 5 new sheng pressings made in the next month or so for us. All material is super cleanly grown and we had it tested for sprays/chemicals and it all came through with flying colours! Expensive to test, but gives us peace of mind for us and for our customers/friends (one and the same, really) – so very worth it.
These cakes are a dangerous thing for me. Tea that is OK even encouraged to hoard because it gets even better with time! Thank you so much for the recommendations, I’ll definitely be putting a few on my Christmas list, and I LOVE that you test for chemicals!
Do please post on your Facebook or here on Steepster if you start to get low on the Wild Monk cake. I will need at least one more I think! :)
We are doing pretty well with our stash of the Wild Monk. I had alot of them pressed and just secured a whole bunch more of the mao cha to sell as loose leaf. The new mao cha will be 2013, though, and not 2012 because I bought all of that from the producer last year. Next year, will likely do another pressing of their mao cha. We’ll see what the tea names itself this next time :)
Here’s Hoping Traveling Tea Box
When I saw this in the traveling tea box, I had to try it! Artichoke? So weird!
I’m not sure if this suffered from tea box contamination, but I’m getting some citrus flavor from it. Also butter greens, but no distinct vegetable or artichoke flavor is detectable. Pretty tasty, but probably not how it is really supposed to taste? Some other reviewers of this tea did mention a vinegary or meyer lemony taste, so MAYBE its really supposed to taste this way. Anyway, I like it! It is weird :)
Yay my first Sheng! I’m really glad I ended up liking this cute little cake. The first few steeps were very smokey and woodsy, but still somewhat light tasting compared with shu. The later steeps became less smokey and started to have this CRAZY sweet dried apricot aftertaste that lasts for several minutes after each sip! I get a flavor similar to this from certain oolongs. Anyway, there is also a difficult to describe creamy or nutty element. I look forward to exploring this tea further :)
My PLEASURE! :D