80

For some reason, I could not muster up the motivation to go out today, so instead I stayed home and decided to give the sachet form of Tazo Joy a try. The last time I made some of this tea, I believe that I used a filter bag, and the result was a bit disappointing. It did not really match my positive memory of the blend from a few years back.

Today, however, I was very happy with the full-leaf sachet brewed cups. To avoid the unpleasant bitterness, I was meticulous about steep time, and I also used a bit cooler water than I had used before. The same sachet was infused in rapid succession for the two steeps, each for only about two minutes, and both were very good. The first infusion was a bit darker brown, and the second a bit more orange in color, but the flavor of both brews was very good.

From now on, I’ll make sure to follow this short-steep method. Two minutes is long enough to get a nice taste of all of the various teas in this blend, Assam, Darjeeling, Green, and Oolong! The only thing missing is pu-ehr! I feel that the darjeeling is the most dominant, but the blend is definitely enhanced by all of the teas included.

I have to say that the Tazo sachets are generously filled and should be viewed as the tea equivalent to two filterbags. The green tea sachets and this one of Joy are both perfectly adequate for two large cups of tea—today I used 11 ounce double-walled Bodum glasses.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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I have fallen off the “tea log boat”, as I am now in New Zealand and was really flailing about for a while, having depleted all of my Chinese and Japanese green tea supply! Fortunately, my first order of 2015 has now arrived! I should begin writing very soon about tea at my new blog, sherapop’s tea leaves. Please stop by and contribute your ideas—all viewpoints are welcome!

A long-time tea and perfume lover, I have recently begun to explore the intersections between the two at my blog: http://salondeparfum-sherapop.blogspot.com//

The scent of tea can be just as appealing as—sometimes more than—its taste! Tea also offers boundless visual beauty in its various forms and states of preparation.

A few words about my ratings. In assessing both teas and perfumes, my evaluation is “all things considered.” Teas do not differ very much in price (relative to perfumes or any luxury items), so I do not usually consider the price when rating a tea.

What I do consider is how the particular tea compares to teas of its own type. So I might give a high rating to a fine herbal infusion even though I would never say that it is my favorite TEA. But if it’s good for what it is, then it deserves a high rating. There is no point in wishing that a chamomile blend was an Assam or a sencha tea!

Any rating below 50 means that I find the liquid less desirable to drink than plain water. I may or may not finish the cup, depending upon how thirsty I am and whether there is another hot beverage or (in summertime) a source of fresh water available.

From 50 to 60 indicates that, while potable, the tea is not one which I would buy or repurchase, if I already made the mistake (I have learned) of purchasing it.

From 60 to 70 means that the tea is drinkable but I have criticisms of some sort, and I probably would not purchase or repurchase the tea as I can think of obvious alternatives which would be better.

From 70 to 80 is a solid brew which I would purchase again.

From 80 to 90 is good stuff, and I probably need to have some ready at hand in my humble abode.

From 90 to 100 is a tea (or infusion) which I have come to depend on and look forward to imbibing again and again—if possible!

If you are interested in perfume, you might like my 2400+ perfume reviews, most of which have been archived at sherapop’s sillage (essentially my perfumelog):

http://sherapop.blogspot.com/

Finally, please note that after a great deal of debate with myself, I have decided to use the cupboard here at Steepster as a “museum” of sorts—to commemorate all of the various teas which I have purchased and truly enjoyed since December 2013.

I do not currently possess all of the teas listed in this cupboard, but am using the function as a way of recording how many times I drank every tea which I did own at some point and wish not to forget. Teas found both in my “cupboard” and on my “wishlist” are those which I did own and intend to restock. Teas best forgotten have been removed from the cupboard once depleted (in some cases tossed…).

I have also decided (beginning in 2015) to use the tasting note function to maintain a chronological record of the teas I’ve consumed since December 15, 2013. Most new reviews will now be posted directly at my blog, sherapop’s tea leaves.

Location

Curio Bay, South Island, New Zealand

Website

http://salondeparfum-sherapop...

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