I bought some of this in Ost’s sale. (Thank you Ost!) It’s one of those teas I’ve always wanted to try. And I am keeping aware that these teas that Ost is selling aren’t brand new fresh teas, but whoa, the vanilla is really lacking in this one. I can’t taste any. At all. I’ve always wondered at the name… ‘not so vanilla’? So maybe the trick is that vanilla isn’t in this tea at all. Haha. But the ingredients actually list actual vanilla beans, which I love when it’s included in a blend. I thought the black tea itself would be this very chocolate flavor, but the flavor was really just a middle of the road golden monkey. I wish I could try it fresh. I thought it would remind me of the French Breakfast blend from Octavia I wanted to buy for Black Friday this year. I didn’t expect magic from an older blend, but I did expect more than this… It’s almost like this is a completely different tea than most of the tasting notes mention. Sadly, it looks like Tippy’s is long gone so I suppose I’ll never try this tea fresh.
Steep #1 // 1 1/4 teaspoon // 18 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 3-4 minute steep
My rating of 67 actually made the Steepster rating go down a point, so I will raise it until it was the same. Eh, actually I had to make the rating too high to change it back. So I will remain at a neutral 71.
People who liked this
Comments
This tea was sooooo flavorful when it was fresh but it quickly lost the delicious vanilla. Given this tea is likely 2+ years old, I’m not surprised the vanilla is completely gone.
But if there is actual vanilla beans, there should be SOME vanilla beans.
I would expect real vanilla to lose its flavor much faster than vanilla flavoring.
Hmm, well I did not know that. I wish teas didn’t age. haha
This tea was sooooo flavorful when it was fresh but it quickly lost the delicious vanilla. Given this tea is likely 2+ years old, I’m not surprised the vanilla is completely gone.
But if there is actual vanilla beans, there should be SOME vanilla beans.
I would expect real vanilla to lose its flavor much faster than vanilla flavoring.
Hmm, well I did not know that. I wish teas didn’t age. haha