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Additional notes: Steepster is being slow today. I’m just thankful it’s still with us! Thank you wizards behind the curtain!
This tea was weaker at 1 1/2 teaspoons but it’s a little better at two teaspoons. I think I’d prefer to steep it like this in the future. It’s more chocolatey and deeper. A perfectly calming hot chocolate type tea this way. OR I should have saved this for Easter… it tastes more like a chocolate cream egg candy. At least it doesn’t taste like alcohol! So uping the rating from 74.
My sore throat seemed to go away after about a week. It was the mildest sore throat.. could barely tell it was any different than usual, and I wasn’t coughing or sneezing, so not sure if I had Covid19 or not. But I’m in the NY state crazy zone so it’s a possibility right after going to the store/post office. I was/am isolating myself anyway. I found a new calming band today: Dreams We’ve Had. I hope everyone is doing okay out there! Please stay safe in these crazy times.

Additional notes: This is a good candidate for sore throat drinking. It’s got BIG pieces of ginger. It’s got lemon. It’s still very tasty! Raising the rating from 78 because it’s such a nice tea to have around at the moment. Maybe Anne should do a reblend for these times. It’s just very scary if this sore throat is from the one time I left the house and went to the store. I also went to the post office two days before that. Immediately using hand sanitizer when I got in the car both times. Otherwise, I’ve been distancing… so be careful everyone. I guess the virus can stay in the air for three hours, so this leaves many many places very unsafe if anyone with it is coughing sneezing.
Also, my tea kettle broke a couple days ago, so it’s back to stove steeping in a pot for me for a couple days. I thought I had JUST bought this tea kettle but a quick search of my e-mail orders says it was mid 2014. Cripe, time flies.

I bought this during David’s sale and I’m very glad I did!  This is pretty much how I imagined it would be.  A trifecta of balanced flavors with a hint of honey, ginseng, and gojiberry.  It’s very straightforward and a unique blend to have around, I think.  It’s what it says it is, so not much else to report! 
In these trying times, I’m trying to watch comedies to make me feel better.  MOSS from the IT Crowd is especially helpful.  Or you can watch Travel Man which also has Richard being so much like Moss anyway.  Also rewatching The Guild from what is almost a decade ago now!  And catching up on the last season of Arrested Development.  If anyone also is looking for good comedies, I recommend my all time favorite COMMUNITY, but there are so many I have loved: Raising Hope, Great News,  Malcolm in the Middle, South Side, Dirk Gently (really anything that wasn’t a comedy from CBS.) I guess comedies usually help me, even without pandemics.
Steep #1  // 1 1/2 teaspoons for full mug // 16 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep
Steep #2  // 14 minutes after boiling //  2 min
Steep #3 // 10 minutes after boiling // 4-5 min

Additional notes: Sipdown of this one. I kind of wanted to finish it just so I could forget it was INSTEAD of my beloved Peachy Keen blend in the vote or something, if I’m remembering correctly. This one doesn’t hold a candle, IMO. Nothing special about it while Peachy Keen is amazing stuff. I guess I talk about it too much!
Edited to add: And I’m noticing now I rated this blend 85. But NOPE. I guess I love PEACHY KEEN too much!
2020 Sipdowns: 22 (AprTea – Zhang Ping Shui Xian Oolong Tea Fragrant Orchid Grade One + TeaRevv – Golden Turmeric)

Here is a new special earworm that seems fitting for these times… I had given up on anything Weezer since the Green album, BUT this is The Avalanches with River and this song is lovely: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsjQ3Gblzys

Thanks so much for this one a while ago, Mastress Alita!  I’ve had it a few times, so next steep session it will be a sipdown.  This is a lovely concept and a unique one I haven’t really seen around anywhere else.  The flavor is quite light even with 1 1/2 teaspoons.  The lightest touches of lavender and what should be raspberry in the ingredients seems more like strawberry to me (which is mentioned in the description).  The rooibos even adds the complementary base for these flavors.  I could swear one of the sips was even creamy.  This is lovely but I wanted those flavors to POP even more! 
Steep #1  // 1 1/2 teaspoons for full mug // 12 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep
Steep #2  // just boiled //  4-5 minute steep
2020 Sipdowns: 20 (52Teas – Raspberry Almond Cookie)

SO this one wasn’t even in my cupboard because I had no idea Frank even created TWO BOOBERRY blends – one green, one black. This was an unopened sample so the flavor is still there! I love the combo of marshmallow root and blueberry on this black base, so it’s a fun surprise that it’s a new-to-me tea. The green blend didn’t even have any marshmallow root, so bonus points here! But then the cupboard increases by one more tea. Oh but then just got the teas from Teakruthi.

Thanks again for the samples, Teakruthi!   A fantastic robust black tea here.  The leaves look unique to me — they remind me of the pelt of some feral wood creature for some reason.  Dark, wiry, short leaves with touches of gold.  It somehow just appears slightly different than a usual black tea! (Maybe I’ve been watching The Witcher and it is AMAZING.) The flavor is like the image.  Robust, tough, strong, wild, but also malty with touches of sweetness and a bit of starch.  Reminds me of leather somehow, in the best way and dark dried fruits.  It’s so mysterious yet the flavor notes really meld together well.  So drinkable and comforting. A black tea I’d give an award to.  Tough to describe the details, but simply perfection on that first steep today.  I did start drinking this in the morning and it makes a great morning OR afternoon tea.  The second steep wasn’t as special with either steep session.  The first session, I didn’t brew it at boiling like I normally would for the second steep of a black tea.  But the second session was more like how I’d brew a second steep and it was a little bit brisk, with the characteristics mostly like a drying coppery assam.  Both first steeps were FANTASTIC though.  With adjustments, I can probably make the second steeps just as good. This is exactly what I look for a strong black tea and I will certainly stock up.
With much embarrassment, I’m finally finished reviewing the teas from Teakruthi, since they were so kind sending samples a while ago. Most of the teas that I tried, I would definitely buy! ANNNNDDDD… I already went ahead and placed a smallish order since I already had rewards points to use anyway. I usually like to order from a shop if they send samples. It hooks me every time…. wish I had ordered a bit of this though. Next time! But Teakruthi is a new favorite tea shop, that’s for sure.
Steep #1  // 1 1/2 teaspoons for full mug // 14 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep
Steep #2  // 10 minutes after boiling //  3 min
Second steep session:
Steep #1  // 1 1/3 teaspoons for full mug // 23 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep*favorite steep
Steep #2  // 7 minutes after boiling //  4 min

I’m hoping everyone stays safe and healthy! Scary times.
Thanks for the samples, Teakruthi!  These leaves must be the largest that I’ve seen even in a white tea!  Impossible to measure with a teaspoon so I just threw a ton of leaves in the infuser.  Probably a small handful in my smallish hand.    I’ve tried this a couple times using different parameters.  The scent of the dry leaves is like the sweetest pile of hay in sunshine. The flavor is very light, so light it is tough to describe: light, full of minerals, smooth.  It’s like a blank slate of a tea, more than most teas I’ve tried, which can be a good thing or not depending what you’re in the mood to drink.  If you are simply craving a lovely white tea, this is a good one to try.  I had to steep it the way Teakruthi recommended, and really this is impossible to oversteep.  I will dock some points due to the comparisons between price & simpleness of flavor, however.
Steep #1   // 39 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep
Steep #2  // 16 minutes after boiling //  1 1/2 min
Second steep session:
Steep #1   // 28 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep
Steep #2  // 16 minutes after boiling //  5 minute steep
2020 sipdowns: 19 (David’s Glitter & Gold)

Thanks so much for the swap, AJRimmer!   I honestly didn’t think I’d like this very much, but as usual, S&V surprises. I expected a deep red cup, but not at all, the mug is light green somehow.  There are rosehips in the blend, so I’m surprised.  It’s very true to black currants but not overpowering (or an explosion really).  I was hoping for more raspberry flavor but didn’t see too many in my teaspoon anyway.  I was worried the blackberry leaves would overpower, but I don’t notice them.  The flavor is simply black currant.  So A+ in being very accurate!   I’m not a big fan of black currant, but this is the blend I’d keep in stock if I were craving it.
Steep #1  // 1 1/2 teaspoons for full mug // 12 minutes after boiling  // 3 minute steep
Steep #2  // 4 minutes after boiling //  4 min

Additional notes: I really like this one and now it’s gone. It’s cozy on a rainy day. More spicy/sweet than apricot. I’d love more apricot! But I wouldn’t mind having this unique blend around again at some point. Raising the rating from 82.
2020 Sipdowns: 18