73

This seems to be the place where most people have entered tasting notes for The Tea Centre of Stockholm’s Söderblandning. There are at least two other places at Steepster, one of which includes the umlaut in the name (would it be obnoxious for me to add one to this entry? would it make the tea impossible for others to find using the Steepster search function?), but which is devoid of any reviews, and another which qualifies Söderblandning as Söderblandning Black. Well, my can, discovered in the process of excavating my humble residence of ten years, as I attempt to prepare for The Historic Move, definitely contains a blend of black teas—both China and Ceylon—scented with dried flower petals and fruits.

I cannot actually figure out what the fruits here are. They are supposed to be “tropical”, but I’m not sure whether mango and papaya are implicated or not. It’s possible that they change the recipe from year to year, as The Centre of Stockholm seems a bit evasive as to the ingredients. The fruit flavor is definitely detectable, but it’s that same somewhat vague “fruitiness” which often characterizes fruity black blends—at least to my palate. During my www fact-finding mission, I was happy to learn that this emporium uses only natural flavors, so that’s good news. No scary lab experiments here!

On a further positive note, the black tea base (both China and Ceylon) is quite good as the amber-colored liquor does taste nice with nothing added to it. I’ll definitely be trying this fruity blend many more times in the future, as I have now cracked upon a brand new, formerly sealed can brim with 125 grams—less about 3 from this pot! I suspect that Söderblandning will make an excellent iced tea. We shall see, since summer is just around the bend…

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 6 min, 15 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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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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