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Holy Spice!

I received this as a sample from Lala and decided to make myself a small teacup worth to test out. I picked this one first out of the 52Teas samples she generously gave me because my Mom kept bugging me to see what it smelled like. I guess the name really drew her in. To be fair, it drew me in too.

And holy balls, does this smell spicy! Like, you really, really get the presence of cayenne and cinnamon from the dry leaf – and then a sweeter banana undertone (but not before you get a ton of tickle in your nose and sneeze several times). I’m really hoping the banana counter balances all the spice. Like – I’m not a green tea fan, but just preparing this the green tea taste is really the least of my concerns. I fully expect this to be a memorable tea drinking experience.

So, preparation was just barely 1 1/2 tsp. (closer to 1 1/4 tsp.) in 6 oz. of approx. 80 degree Celsius water – steeped for 2 min. 30 seconds. The liquor is a non-threatening pale yellow, and it smells like peppery spices and banana medicine – but not too strongly.

First few sips…

Ok, to be perfectly honest my first thought was “ABORT!” – but I managed to down a few more slips slowly while I made my mind up, to give the tea a fair chance and to be honest it’s really not as bad as I thought it would be. I mean, you do get a pretty strong taste of sweet banana and I appreciate that (I quite enjoy banana) – however, the spices and the cayenne in particular are super strong for a person who does not typically like or enjoy spiced tea. I really don’t own many Chai blends, and the ones I do have err on a sweeter side.

This just sort of burns. Like, you get “Sweet banana and mild cinnamon” that sort of quickly explodes to “Holy fucking shit, my tongue is on fire! Why is the tea so spicey!”, and the spiciness holds on for dear life in the aftertaste. Seriously, it took forever for it to fade away. It did get more bearable as the tea cooled down; basically the sweet banana flavor lasted longer before transitioning to ungodly spice attack.

So yeah – I’m not sure I get the “Ferret”, but I totally get the “Napalm”.

Anyway – I have at least one, maybe two more cups left of this, and it really isn’t so bad I wouldn’t drink it again. In fact, next time I’m really craving a sweet, spicy treat I may pull this out over Tea Desire’s Chai Apricot (which is another gunpowder based chai with sweet fruit in it).

And hey, I totally didn’t notice the green base at all. So that counts for something, right? ;)

So close to making this a sipdown. There’s enough leaf for a small pitcher or possibly two(ish) mugs worth. I’d love to use this up, but at the same time it feels like I’ve been drinking this pretty frequently as of late, so I’ll likely wait a while.

My brother picked this out to cold brew and then set everything up all on his own after getting instructions from me. It was a really big step for him. That being said, I feel like he must have got the proportion of leaf all wrong because this is insanely sour and even a little bitter: it’s like a hibiscus puree – which is not what it tasted like the last time I cold brewed it.

Long story short, no one wants to drink it. We basically all had like a shot glass worth and then couldn’t finish the cups we’d strained; likely the rest of the pitcher is getting dumped.

It does feel like a little bit of a waste…

Sipdown (178)!

Made in my timolino with the rest of RiverTea’s sample. The single sample they sent was enough for two timolinos (12 oz.) full of tea, and an 8 oz. mug which was definitely enough to get a good taste and feel for the tea. I’m pointing this out because RiverTea will be offering three samples with each tea order placed on their site, and my opinion based on the samples I received from their contest is that their samples are a great way to try the teas since they’re relatively large and include clear labeling/steeping directions and a full ingredients list, just like any larger amount purchased would.

Bonus: They’re resealable.

I am a little sad to see this tea be all finished up: it was a relatively nice, sweet dessert type tea with yummy sweet (and just a little sour) cherry, and fudgey milk chocolate. That said, it’s similar to some other things in my cupboard which I also enjoy, so I’m not too rushed to immediately attain more until I’ve used the other blends I currently have.

This timolino full in particular was not the best one I’ve made – but then again I wasn’t being incredibly precise or detail oriented in my steeping parameters. The result here is that the base tea itself tastes a little astringent and borders on bitter, with more rose notes than normal.

It got better as it cooled, however and was still drinkable and relatively enjoyable regardless. This is decent with milk, as well. If I had more I’d be tempted to try this as an iced latte.

Sipdown (179)!

I can’t place what about this I specifically dislike. I think it’s just the overall combination of flavours…

Anyway, thanks for the sample VariaTEA – I’m glad I tried it, but this is an easy sipdown for me: I wont miss having this blend in my cupboard.

WOOT!!! Guess who just got hired by Tea Desire! That’s right, me! I’m absolutely freaking out from the excitement! And of course, what was my first (ok, maybe not my first – but top five for sure) thought? How is this going to affect my Steepster reviews? Because, well, I drink Tea Desire’s blends quite often and I already have a ton of reviews up for their blends.

So – what is the most fair/reasonable thing to do? I want to be absolutely transparent in that I have no intention of high scoring anything just to raise the ratings of the blends and if that means not actually giving a rating to the teas I try, then I’m ok with that. However, I would like to keep reviewing and logging the teas – so is that ok if I’m not actually scoring them?

And then – what about the blends I’ve already tried and scored? Would it be better if I removed the ratings on them or is it ok to leave them up since I reviewed/rated them prior to being hired by Tea Desire?

Thoughts and Opinions of others very much welcomed.

I made a Tea Desire blend in “celebration”, and also because I needed the little extra energy. The taste of the cup is no different than what I’ve stated in previous reviews.

Anyway, I start on Thursday the day after I get back from my vacation…

Excited and nervous sigh/squeal combo??

Made a timolino full of this! I’ve been dying to try it since buying it earlier in the week; dry it smells like sweet, flaky glazed pastry and fresh, juicy apples with the sweet nuttiness of pistachio and a heavily present creaminess as well.

My steeping parameters were 2 tsp. of leaf in my 12 oz. timolino steeped for about five minutes, possibly a little less than that. Steeped the smell was very rich, buttery apple pastry; tons of creaminess in the smell. A little nutty pistachio.

Taste wise and hot, there was a light metallic “tang” and a slightly woody rooibos taste present completely throughout the sip. The apple is lighter than you would expect, and just a little bit taste. It reminds me of green apples. There’s a subtle creaminess present throughout the sip, and a buttery semi-pastry like taste. Just a little pistachio taste – though it is a distinct pistachio taste, and not just a generic nuttiness. I was expecting this to be a little more flavourful; despite what I’ve described this does feel a little muted, like it’s not living up the the full flavour potential it could have.

I also left a cup to sit for a while, which is now stone cold. This way, there’s a much more intense pistachio and cream flavour, with the same light, buttery pastry/apple taste. Medium rooibos flavour with a little bit less of that metallic tang.

So overall, pretty good but I feel like maybe I could have got more out of this taste wise. Next cup I may increased the leaf and see if that brings more flavour out.

Made as per package directions, except 6 oz. teacup instead of 8 oz. mug. This time, I actually was able to taste most of the elements that I feel like I’m supposed to be tasting. I got notes of rum soaked bread(y)ness, plum, orange, and some heavier spice notes.

Ultimately, best cup I’m been able to make of this yet. Maybe it just has to be overleafed for me to really enjoy it?

Stressful afternoon. At least I finished tidying up all the junk in my old bedroom. It’s so dusty and gross in there; cobwebs everywhere. Honestly, I don’t think it’s been properly cleaned in years! Definitely long before I moved out: I can’t believe I used to sleep there. I just feel all gross and itchy and just bleck from cleaning it…

So, some tea to calm my head after an awful afternoon, and then a nice hot shower to wash all the dirt off.

Parameter for the cup: 6 oz. of boiling water, 1 1/2 tsp. of leaf steeped for three(ish) minutes. Despite being overleafed, I didn’t taste a whole lot of the normal rich, caramel flavour. Mostly, I got a semi generic sweetness, strong mint taste, and slightly woody rooibos base. It was still pretty good overall.

We cold brewed this basically not even an hour after I arrived at my Mom’s – as per my brother’s request to try something else cold brewed – and it was ready to be strained out this morning.

So far the ones I’ve got my brother to drink and enjoy are:

- White Chocolate Frost
- Mother’s Little Helper
- Baboozled (Cold Brewed)

His verdict was that this one was just “ok”. Personally, I found it to have a strong Guava/Mango flavour and slight perfumey taste that I don’t remember being present hot. I guess I too would call it “ok”.

My rat Eloise has made a home in the hood of my sweatshirt and she hasn’t really moved from it in a few hours. It’s cute but kind of preventing me from being mobile at all. My brother says she hasn’t slept so soundly in months (since getting sick), though. Not sure if this is a good or a bad sign.

Steeped up a timolino full of this, which leaves about a cup worth of the leaf I brought on vacation with me.

Parameters were 3 tsp. of leaf in boiling water (12 oz.) for somewhere over six minutes and under ten. I lost track a little bit. Well, maybe a lot bit.

It’s maybe a little weak, but pretty good overall. A good night time/sweet relaxation tea. Delicious! I can really taste the nuttiness tonight.