The Digester (formerly Skinny Minny)

210/365

This one also came as a sample with my latest Bluebird order, and is the tea that used to be called Skinny Minny. I vaguely recall that there was some kind of story behind the name change, but I can’t for the life of me remember what it was now. This is a blend of pu’erh and oolong, with ginger, orange, ginseng, and fennel. It’s supposed to have stomach settling and metabolism boosting qualities, although I don’t feel I’m going to be qualified to comment on either of those. This particular mixture of things sounds entirely unappetising, and not like the kind of thing I’d want to drink for pleasure, but I’m going to give it a go anyway. I’m so bored right now (like hardcore bored), and it’ll be something to do.

As a side note, if you’ve been reading my notes for a while you’ll probably be aware that I’m not all that fond of my job. I found out this week that I have an interview elsewhere next week, which is excellent news, but my first thought when I got the invitation was “oh no!”, quickly followed by “but I can’t do this!” Part of it’s just a combination of nerves and stupidity, because I’m a bit of an anxious scaredy cat – particularly about stuff that really matters. Then, as I thought about it some more, I realised that I seem to have something approaching Sockholm Syndrome for my current job, and maybe the company it’s based at. I spend most of my time hating the fucking place, but at the same time I’ve become kind of complicit in my own unhappiness, because when I do get an opportunity my first thought is not overwhelming joy but something approaching dismay? I think it’s just because I’m well within my comfort zone here; I know what my job is, and I’m good at it, even if I don’t like it…and the thought of possibly leaving after so long here, for something that’s entirely unknown, is a little overwhelming. Plus, no-one likes an interview, right? But still. It was uncomfortable to realise that I think of myself as a hostage to this job, and then that I might actually prefer to remain a hostage. Anyway, this is nothing to do with tea (and everything to do with being so bored I can actually feel my brain atrophying. Plus, I felt the need to record this nonsense so that I can look back and see how ridiculous I was being.) Back to tea.

The scent of this one reminds me of Super Noodles – specifically the Chow Mein flavour. It tastes quite a lot like it, too, which is not entirely what I was expecting! It’s brothy and savoury, strong, and quite rich-tasting. I’m not entirely sure what it is that’s creating the effect – maybe the combination of orange, ginseng and fennel? I can definitely taste the ginger in the background, but that’s quite distinct from the other flavours, and adds a really pleasant spicy kick. The pu’erh base is a touch earthy and very soupy, the oolong might be there, but it’s hard to say when there are so many other flavours competing for prominence.

I actually really like this one, which is a surprise. I think I tried it back when it was Skinny Minny, but I have absolutely no recollection of that cup. This is a nice change of pace from the sweeter, dessert-like teas I’ve been drinking recently, and for once I don’t feel the urge to cold-brew it in lemonade! Super Noodles tea could become a regular fixture in my cupboard. Who knew?!

once again i’m the first to review a tea from Bluebird Tea Company! I’m very curious about this one Skinny Minny, funky name for a very cool looking blend. Puerth and oolong combined? Ginseng and ginger with fennel seeds and orange peel? Woooh thats loads off different stuff! i like cooked puerth, i’m in love with oolongs, i love ginger in my tea… very curious indeed!

Brewing the whole tea sample for 3min with near boiling water. The brew is a nice dark brown liquor. I’ve got a hard time smelling this because i’m still suffering from a cold. So i’m going to skip the smelling part…

Anyway onto sipping the cup. While its still to hot to get subtle notes i can clearly notice the ginseng because it got a distinct taste (if you ask me, not sure how others think about it). When its cooled more i can find the orange taste, the ginger and whats probably the fennel seeds (never had fennel in my tea i think).

The oolong and puerth base for the tea is exellent in flavor. This skinny minny almost taste like a good chai and thats a good thing! I’m very mutch enjoying the first cup, going to do a second brew in a while!

A sample from my last order back in July.  I’ve never tried this one! (The old “diet tea” name idea never appealed to me anyway… or mixing oolong with pu-erh.)   But if it’s a one time sample, sure why not?  The flavor:  it’s so gingery I can’t tell what the base is – it doesn’t really taste like oolong or pu-erh and the brew results in a mild brassy color.  I think the two bases are competing with each other.  Looking at the teabag, I’d say it contained more of the flavoring ingredients than either of the base teas, but I am seeing pu-erh more than oolong.   There is a hint of orange and fennel but all of these flavors together tastes like licorice to me, so I’m not that big of a fan.  I don’t think fennel has been used too much in B&B’s blends, so that is interesting.  All three steeps tasted the same.  Major ginger teas aren’t for me though. 
Steep #1  // 25 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep
Steep #2  // 10 minutes after boiling //  2 minute steep
Steep #3 // just boiled // 5 min
2020 Sipdowns: 94

When dry and in the bag this tea smells like the preserved mandarin peel candy you can find in some Asian grocery stores. I think it’s a Chinese thing, but I don’t know for certain. I really like that candy. Once steeped, that scent is more faint and only comes through lightly in the tea. I really wish B&B had steeping suggestions for their teas. I’m ending up taking my best guess with a lot of them. I can taste the ginger in this, overall it does taste a bit medicinal, but not in a bad way. The oolong (of which I’m not usually a big fan of) is not bad either. I don’t hate this tea, but I don’t love it either. I feel like I’m circling around it, eyeing it suspiciously. It’s going to take multiple cups to sort out my feelings on it.

For a while, after this arrived in my first Bird & Blend order, I drank a mug of it every morning! I’d been drawn to it purely based on some of the reviews I’d read on B&B’s website, where the writers marvelled about how this tea settled their churning tummies and helped ease anxiety issues. This sounded perfect for me. I’ve suffered from anxiety for several years now, but it’s always stronger in a morning, right before I have to leave the house for work. If gives me the most awful stomach ache. So, I ordered a 50g bag of this, tried it out for a few days, and lo and behold… my tummy became less of a washing machine on full spin in a morning and a whole lot calmer! It’s times like these where I do wonder if my head’s playing psychological tricks on me. But I always say, if I feel better because I believe something’s working, then does it matter if it actually is or not?

Anyway, the tea! I don’t have a great deal of this left, which is the only reason I no longer drink it every morning, but having suffered a bit with a crappy tummy all week, I turned to The Digester (I hate the name by the way!) this morning. Straight away I get a lot of ginger from this, plus a slightly earthy aroma and taste from the pu’erh. The pu’erh though is completely inoffensive. There’s a nice spiciness from the ginger, and I can taste the orange more so with each sip. I don’t get anything in the way of oolong, but as this cools the fennel starts to creep in.

It’s quite a bizarre blend, and not something I would usually consider drinking in a morning were it not for the fact that my tummy does feel a lot better after a big mug of it. A definite on my re-stock list, though more for the tummy soothing properties than for the taste.

Sipdown (933)!

This was a free sample, as a sachet, in my Battle of the Peaches order from earlier this summer. I know I’ve had this tea before, but I don’t remember it very strongly. This mug was alright though; it’s very similar to The Skinny from DT but seems a bit heavier on the ginger with less of the brighter sweetness from the orange than the DT version. I like the orange in DT’s a lot, and am less into ginger so I think I slightly prefer The Skinny but I feel a bit like that’s a fine detail to split hairs about and would come down more to personal flavour preferences…

this one is ok if i ignore the whole “skinny” side of things. It’s not a bad blend of ginger and puerh and oolong. I think that’s because i’m partial to ginger vs it being any sort of impressive tea. All in all, i’d drink this again but nothing i nede to have around in my cupboard. Thanks VariaTEA!

Ingredients: Chinese pu’erh tea, Chinese oolong tea, ginger, orange, ginseng, fennel.

The combination of Puer and Oolong sounds strange but ginger and orange is winning me over. It sounds so complex that I have no idea what it’s going to be like.

Steeping: 1 bag in boiling water for 3-4 minutes

Once steeped the tea bares a dry and very Puer scent. If you haven’t had the pleasure it’s an earthy and dry scent.

The first few sips reveal a dry, dark and somewhat refreshing blend. It’s almost minty, or mint like anyway. I imagine the fennel and ginseng is giving the refreshing tones. The Oolong is not really noticeable but the Puer is the most dominant. It’s mild really in flavour.

A few sips more reveal the mint like taste is more licorice like now, much darker and deeper than it was at first. I really dislike licorice though and am having to try and ignore it.

For the most part it’s like a mild orange and Puer tea. It’s not juicy orange or very noticeable because of the refreshing aniseed after taste.

It might be a unique blend that excites some people but it’s just not for me. Anything aniseed makes me screw my face up.

https://kittylovestea.com/2016/12/16/bluebird-tea-co-advent-calendar-of-tea-day-16/

Well.

I am definitely not feeling skinny today, as I ate two plates of pancakes yesterday for dinner and another plate of pancakes today for brunch and I’m having lady troubles. So a tea full of things that are supposed to be really good for your tummy seems like a damn good idea.

And was I excited for a tea which combines pu’erh (which I love) and oolong (which I love) and ginger (which I love)? Heck yeah! The first thing I smell is ginger. And then some more ginger. And even more ginger. I lost count brewing it, so I’m guessing it was 3 minutes, but I could be estimating wrong because my stove heats really unevenly and I was trying not to burn my pancakes. I’m still getting mostly a big hit of sharp ginger in the cup, so I added a little milk, which tends to bring forward the pu’erh in blends. And it does! Now there’s a lovely earthy note beneath the ginger. I’m noticing sweet fennel notes as the tea cools as well, but it blends well with the other flavours. It tastes like it’s good for you, but in a really delicious way. Mmm, gingery.