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Gongfu Sipdown (705)!

A freebie, in coin form, from my last W2T order. It looks like most people got Dangerfield coins, but I’m guessing I received this one instead since I had actually ordered a Dangerfield sample. I’m glad it wasn’t another Turtle Dove coin – definitely don’t need more of those in my life. This is an interesting one; probably not something I’d have picked for myself – which makes it the perfect thing to sample/explore.

Soft to start, evolving into something with a smooth, silky top note and slight sweetness and more of a herbaceous and green body & finish w/ a pleasant astringency and mild bitter note. Hard to describe this one; it’s different than what I usually lean towards in a raw pu’erh but still enjoyable…

Side note – I’ve seen my review style go through a lot of changes over the last seven years, and it definitely feels like I’ve hit a place, especially w/ Gongfu tea, where I’m just REALLY casual/vague in describing them!? I’ve been thinking about that a lot this week, and I think it’s because I’m drinking something Gongfu practically every day now but, even a year and a half ago, I only had the time to have a proper Gongfu session MAYBE once a week – if I was lucky. So I don’t want to say that Gongfu has become ‘less special’ to me because that’s not true – but with it being more of normal occurance I feel less of a need hyper document everything like I used to…

Photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/B2zSz_-gzRq/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_gN3HgjxYo

derk

I’m down to 1 or 2 gongfu sessions a week compared to the 1 or 2 a day when I first signed up for Steepster a year ago. I say we’re flip-flopped the flippie the flippie to the flip flip flop and we don’t stop. Needless to say, I’m not moving through teas as quickly as I used to. I feel like my reviews are changing, too, though how, I’m not sure. Like most things, the evolution will become apparent with time.

Martin Bednář

Same. Back then I was describing colours, but now? Sometimes. Maybe we are more busy, more bored with describing the tea? I do not know. But it is certainly different. As well gong-fu"ing" teas. Back then I was hyped to do it. Now, it is rather too time consuming and I am not really in mood writing them.

I hope I will return to my “standards”, because last few reviews were really meh. Boring. Nothing well described. Just it itastes like this. Maybe that. That is all. BOOO!

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derk

I’m down to 1 or 2 gongfu sessions a week compared to the 1 or 2 a day when I first signed up for Steepster a year ago. I say we’re flip-flopped the flippie the flippie to the flip flip flop and we don’t stop. Needless to say, I’m not moving through teas as quickly as I used to. I feel like my reviews are changing, too, though how, I’m not sure. Like most things, the evolution will become apparent with time.

Martin Bednář

Same. Back then I was describing colours, but now? Sometimes. Maybe we are more busy, more bored with describing the tea? I do not know. But it is certainly different. As well gong-fu"ing" teas. Back then I was hyped to do it. Now, it is rather too time consuming and I am not really in mood writing them.

I hope I will return to my “standards”, because last few reviews were really meh. Boring. Nothing well described. Just it itastes like this. Maybe that. That is all. BOOO!

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Hello! My name is Kelly, though many people in the tea community call me Ros or Roswell.

I am a mid-twenties tea addict, blogger, and all around nerd. I grew up in the Prairies, but a few years ago I relocated to Quebec to pursue a career with DAVIDsTEA in the tea industry! I’m still working on getting my French language skills down…

My first introduction to tea, in any form outside of instant and bottled iced tea, was about seven years ago when I happened to stumble upon DAVIDsTEA while looking for a birthday present for a friend! I tried their Birthday Cake rooibos blend, and I’ve been hooked on tea ever since! In those seven years; I was introduced to the online tea community, expanded my interest in flavoured teas to include a deep love and appreciation for straight teas and traditional brewing methods, got a tea themed tattoo, started reviewing teas, amassed a sizable tea and teaware collection, became a TAC certified Tea Sommelier, & even came full circle by beginning a career in the tea industry with DAVIDsTEA!

I consider myself a Jack of all Teas, and strive to have a knowledge and appreciation of all tea types, formats, and styles of drinking. I don’t like to feel boxed in to just being a “flavoured tea” or “straight tea” drinker – my expectations may vary depending on the type of tea or how it’s been processed/prepared but if it’s good tea, it’s good tea no matter how it’s been made!

You name it, I probably drink it- and I’ll absolutely try anything at least once.

My default method of preparation is hot, Western style, and straight – but I’m not opposed to additions if I’m in the right mood. If I ever add something to a tea or use a different method of preparation I will ALWAYS call it out in the tasting note though.

I like to listen to music when drinking tea, especially when I’m brewing a large pot at a time or steeping Gongfu. Often I curate very intentional tea and music pairings, and sometimes I share them here in my tasting reviews. Music is something that I find can deeply affect the experience of having tea.

I’m also one half of the “tea and fandom” podcast GeekSteep where, weekly, we discuss newly explored fandoms over tea as well as try to figure out the perfect tea to pair with each fandom. You can find us on Spotify and Apple & Google podcasts.

Favourite flavour notes/ingredients: Pear, lychee, cranberry, cream, melon, pineapple, malt, roasty, petrichor, sweet potato, heady florals like rose, hazelnut or walnut, sesame, honey (in moderation), and very woody shou.

Least favourite flavour notes/ingredients:
Lemongrass, ginger, strongly spiced profiles (and most Chai in general), mushrooms, seaweed, chamomile, stevia, saltiness or anything that reminds me too much of meat that isn’t supposed to taste like meat…

Currently exploring/obsessed with: Sheng from Yiwu, Yancha (Qilan in particular), anything with a strong sweet potato note. Also, I need to try ALL the root beer teas! Searching for a really good caramel flavoured blend, ideally with a black tea base.

Please contact me at the instagram account listed below if you would like me to review your teas.

Currently I’m employed in the tea department of the DAVIDsTEA head office. While I’m still sharing my own personal thoughts on new & existing DAVIDsTEA blends, I am no longer numerically rating them due to the obvious conflict of interest. Any comments expressed are a reflection of my own thoughts and opinions, and do not reflect the thoughts and opinions of the company. Any DAVIDsTEA blends you currently see with a numeric score were reviewed prior to my being hired there and have not been adjusted since becoming a DAVIDsTEA employee.

Location

Montreal, QC, CA

Website

https://www.instagram.com/ros...

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