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“Welcome to Day 2 of little terri’s Sipdown Extravaganza! This is my first sipdown of the day, sipdown # 6 overall. Of course, it’s also from the Steepster Select collection. I had originally...” Read full tasting note
“Reviewing my first tea from Steepster Select! This is an intense, full bodied Yunnan, for sure. Although it is aggressive with its pipe tobacco earthiness, it has enough sweetness to balance it out...” Read full tasting note
“Not sure why but I’m all about black tea today. Perhaps I oolonged (which is definitely a verb, because I said so) too much a few days ago, although the Passion Fruit Wulong is also calling my...” Read full tasting note
“Somehow I was lucky enough to score a free Steepster box! I’m very grateful, as I can’t afford this kind of thing right now. Thank you Steepster! I think I said a couple times “this is the best...” Read full tasting note
This black tea is made in southern China, and consists of tender buds and leaves from a large leaf variety. When oxidized, these silky buds turn a beautiful golden color and yield a smooth, caramel and woody flavor, with notes of mint. The scent of tobacco and eucalyptus lasts through multiple infusions.
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Samples Only TTB
After the first Steepster Select tea I was very eager to try this one.
The description worried me… a rich tobacco tang that turns to cocao and honey sweetness.
Well… I was right to worry. It really does remind of tobacco… but whoever had the idea that this tasted anything like sweetness… I don’t even. BITTER is a better word.
It tastes like tobacco and bitter. I’m good.
Flavors: Bitter, Tobacco
This is from the December 2013 Steepster Select Box.
As I am trying my best to clean up all my samples I am finding I have a lot of teas in my cupboard that I don’t have logged in my Steepster cupboard. I remember trying this one in December and not being a huge fan of it, but not knowing what to write about it. I am drinking this from the gaiwan tonight. I am still not a huge fan. I see the tobacco, earthy taste. I also get a bit of fruity tart at the end of the sweet. No hint of sweetness for me. This is good, but I am not crazy about it.
The aroma of this tea is similar to one of my favorite pipe tobaccos. The connection to Virginia No. 1 was instantaneous. The tobacco carries over into the flavor of the tea, but is balanced by a nice chocolate undertone. The flavors layered together are pleasant and balanced. This is a bold tea with wake you up flavors. It also my be the first tea that I would enjoy while smoking a pipe.
Flavors: Tobacco
So I actually made this last night after my disappointment with the Caramel Vanilla Assam. Wanted something new and different and I remembered I had pulled this from my Dec Steepster box to try.
Opening the package I get a peppery, oddly minty smell. Which I wasn’t expecting at all. I had to give it another sniff just to be sure.
Since there was 2tsp/2.5 tsp, I just used the whole package with 12oz of water.
Steeped this at first had a….dusky smell to it is the best description I can come up with for it. Maybe hay? Chocolate? Something cooked, but not exactly smoked/burnt/roasted. Hard to describe exactly. I could probly just keep smelling the brew to figure it out. Lol.
First sip is sweet, but not in a sugary sort of way. I get the peppery taste that people mention. And definitely what I’m guessing is the tobacco. (Not having any sort of contact with tobacco/stuff of the sort I couldn’t say that this is what I’m tasting.)
At first I thought that ‘well, this isn’t bad’, but the more I’m sipping at it, the more ill drinking this tea is making me feel. So the cup ended up being poured out not even half drunk. Which is disappointing, but so it goes.
I probly should have but I didn’t even try a second steep since the first made me feel so rotten. Bleh.
Flavors: Tobacco
Steepster select box that my friend insisted on sharing with me, though I had signed her up for it. I have to say, i’m a little disappointed. The price seems a little on the high side of things for what is only 10 cups of tea. Ignoring the re-steepability, that’s still 2.5 per cup with other boxes like verdant’s reserve club that gave you much more tea each month. I like the number of teas…but for 25$ i’d expect teas that knocked my socks off. This was a nice tea, but i’ve had other yunnans that were nicer or at least just as nice. Cocoa-y and malty and smooth….and a lovely cup to drink, but for that price? just didn’t live up to my expectation. I think i’d be less inclined to pick it up now when/if it becomes available simply because i expect it will cost even more to ship outside the US.
Backlog:
My second tea from the December Steepster Select box. A fantastic Yunnan. Rich with notes of tobacco, earth and leather. I love the complexity of this tea. I taste layers of honey and malt. There is also a low note of caramel and a hint of cacao that weaves its way through the sip.
A really yummy Yunnan. Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2013/12/28/golden-yunnan-black-tea-pursuit-tea/
Disappointed by the lack of depth in this tea. I was expecting more forward flavors, but really all I got was a trace of tannin and a thought of smokiness in the aftertaste. Tasted a bit mass-market to me, don’t know if I would seek out again. 3.5/10, may drink again because I have another sample, but would not recommend.
