62
drank Winter Grey by Three 6 Tea
6444 tasting notes

Matcha Latte Sipdown (316)

This was another tea I picked to watch the Game of Thrones episode of Geek Steep. When I first started the episode, I knew I was going to pull out Highgarden but I also have gotten used to having my matcha each morning and I wondered if I had a fitting matcha for the show. I actually was looking to see if I had a rose matcha (I guess I had florals in my mind) but this caught my eye and seemed perfect. For one, it was a gift from one of the Geek Steep creators, Roswell Strange (thank you!! – I am loving exploring these matcha bursts!!), and also, “Winter is Coming” is probably one of the most famous lines ever uttered on the show.

For the matcha itself, it is a combination of chai and earl grey and honestly why? Both are pretty polarizing flavors and for me, I am quite picky with each separately, that the two combined on a potentially grassy matcha base does not seem like the best plan. Watching the episode it seemed more right though since Game of Thrones seemed to be pretty polarizing for Marika and Roswell Strange (i.e. right now they are specifically talking about their views of sexual violence on the show and both have interesting but different opinions on the matter).

So, is this matcha any good? The short answer is not really. It is better than I expected but sweeter than I expected too, which seems out of place. My first sip was a lot of chai spice with a sweeter and more floral bergamot flavor in the end. My next sip had more earl grey flavor, with the spices taking a back seat. Honestly both flavors aren’t bad as far as they go. The bergamot is pretty smooth and the chai spices are nicely balanced – I just don’t know if they should be in the same cup. Somehow the two components + the sweetness are sort of making me think of cinnamon gum and that’s not a flavor that should be coming from a matcha latte in my opinion. So this is better than expected and not necessarily bad but also doesn’t quite work in a way that I would want this again.

Is the Geek Steep episode good? Yes! This is one fandom I am familiar with and it is one that I know well. It’s interesting to hear the different opinions, especially on one of the most crucial moments of the show – The Red Wedding.

Roswell Strange

Glad you enjoyed the episode even if you didn’t love the matcha – I was really worried about doing Game of Thrones because I know how passionate its fans often are and my views are, uh, less kind…

VariaTEA

Less kind but not without merit and not just shitting on it for the sake of shitting on it.

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Roswell Strange

Glad you enjoyed the episode even if you didn’t love the matcha – I was really worried about doing Game of Thrones because I know how passionate its fans often are and my views are, uh, less kind…

VariaTEA

Less kind but not without merit and not just shitting on it for the sake of shitting on it.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

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My cupboard has grown exponentially since joining this site and I have a lot to share. Feel free to snoop through my cupboard and message me if anything interests you – I am always happy to swap!

For me, flavored teas are definitely my sweet spot. I will most often reach for black teas and rooibos or honeybush blends but I do keep some flavored whites and greens around for when the mood strikes. I have a few herbals/tisanes but most of the time I find myself disappointed by them as they often smell deliciously sweet and then end up tasting tart/sour. I have a little bit of an aversion to pu’erh and oolong teas. I am also wary of florals, earl greys, and chai teas. I do not like overpowering citrus flavors nor do I usually like hibiscus, licorice or chamomile. I love dessert teas – caramel, vanilla, toffee, cookie, cream, and other sweet flavors make me smile. Fruits like strawberry, peach, mango, and pineapples will often catch my attention as well.

I have also realized that although I really enjoy adding frothed milk to some of my teas, if I do not like the tea with zero additives (just in plain water without milk or sugar), I probably won’t drink it. The one exception is flavored matchas which I will happily drink in cold milk if I do not like it mixed with hot water. My theory is if the tea can’t stand on its own then it is not for me and I will more than likely try to swap it out for something else.

Tea Ratings Guide (as of December 10, 2017)
90-100 Teas I NEED on hand at all times
80-89 Teas I want to keep around for a cup every now and then
70-79 Teas I am glad I have around and can experiment with but probably don’t need more than what’s in my cupboard
60-69 Teas I would not turn down a cup of from a friend but that would probably be enough
50-59 Teas I can see why someone would enjoy but are not for me
Under 50 Teas I really did not like and most likely got dumped

Location

Waterdown, Ontario

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