George Daddy

Travel mug tea from… last weekend. It was quite nice; this is a pretty tasty banana black tea, and it did well in a mug. Lots left; should remember this. I wonder if it’s any good iced?

Sipdown (594)!

Finishing this one off literally right now; I’m about halfway through a large Western sized pot of it. With some milk, of course. It’s a good way to spend the first part of the day on a day off work; snuggled up in bed, writing tasting notes and drinking tea.

In the past, I’ve been disappointed by the intensity of the banana and chocolate notes in this blend – they’re present, but sort of watered down and weak. I want more! A richer, denser flavour. For once, I’m finally getting that! It’s splendid, and makes for an excellent note to finish this tea off on. More banana that anything else; and as I’ve hit on before it’s more of a banana candy kind of banana than a natural banana flavour. Think those marshmallow banana candies you used to be able to find at convenience stores or banana flavoured penicillin. That banana flavour certainly isn’t for everyone, but I’ve always really liked it. With the milk and chocolate added into the pot, it adds this almost “hot fudge”/banana split kind of element!? Like eating a melted down banana split; complete with sugary syrups, creamy vanilla ice cream, and chocolate.

I do wish that the oolong itself was stronger; but I realize that if it peaked out more than I’d probably also go back to wishing that the banana/chocolate notes were stronger. So, it’s a bit of a catch 22. Best to just enjoy this pot of tea for what it is; sweet and delicious!

Sipdown (316)

As per AQ2T’s recommendation, I iced this sample of tea despite me thinking it would make an awesome hot tea. Drinking it now I think I’m probably right but the iced tea is nothing to turn up your nose at either. This is really an awesome banana oolong and it’s making me really sad this is just a sample. This is like a summery take on 52 Tea’s Winter Treat and I think I prefer this. The base is floral and honey but that works with the banana. I don’t get much in the way of chocolate graham but I think that was how I prepped this. Banana comes through at the end of the sip and hangs around in the aftertaste and I’m totally cool with that. I think I’ll be ordering more of this soon.