Two Tigers

Watching the Cardinals play the Brewers from the couch.
Currently 3 – 2, Cards leading.
Nothing like tasty tea & baseball on a Sunday afternoon.

Another one from Terri HarpLady.

This one is pretty good. I anticipated it to be a bit stronger tea based on the title. I would say it is mild to moderately bold. It is thick, creamy, and smooth. There is a very slight sweetness to the tea. I am getting a metallic tinge in the aftertaste but it is not unpleasant. Given the name two tigers, I feel like this tea is actually two different teas. The first half of the sip is very gentle, it is the smooth and creamy part. The last bit of the sip has a very small bite to it, more like a nip. Slightly rough, with a bit more boldness and with the metallic tinge. To give it a ridiculous metaphor, it is like the first part of the tea is the gentle loving mother tiger, who is nursing her baby. The second half of the sip is the baby tiger starting to get curious about its surroundings, wobbly on its feet, and has to have your constant attention at all times- ridiculous, I know :)

It becomes much more creamy as it cools.

Fitting considering I spent last night watching, among other things, a documentary on tigers (while my little black cat snuggled on my blanketed stomach no less) and today’s Valentine’s Day (also Lupercalia and the full moon, woot). Just like the other Devotea blends I’ve tried, smooth as all get out while still full of deep black tea flavor. No trace of bitterness here. Agree with some other reviews about there being an earthy minerality, but it’s never funky because much like Finbarr’s Revenge everything stays very clean tasting as well. I get the smoothness and depth of the Chinese tea at the front, and the Indian qualities come out at the back, as it cools. Surprisingly friendly brew, probably a lot more pleasant going down than actually encountering two tigers, one from China and one from India, ambushing you! It did get me wired though, more than the others for some reason.

Now to go prepare for Valentine’s Day festivities. Dorkily enough we’re going to the museum a couple blocks from our house to participate in the Internet Cat Video Festival, ha.

Wow if the 1910 English Breakfast eases you into your day this tea will roundhouse kick you in the face to get your day going! I mean that is the best way possible too! It’s a very strong blend of teas that is very rich and full bodied. A good strong cup of get up and go! So go get up and get some.

Thanks, Nicole, for the sample of this you brought to the NYC meetup at the beginning of August. I brewed this a bit light (2.10 cupweight acc. to Upton tea scale, 14 oz boiling water) for three minutes and got a tea that was light but flavorful. I have rarely enjoyed drinking a strong black tea without milk as much as I’m enjoying this cup. Fragrant, almost Earl Greyish/smoky quality seems to be the Indian side; earthy, minerally depth from the Chinese side. Interesting conversation between the two; somehow it reminds me of the sweetness you can sense in hay and wood.

Orange Tiger
Mix
4 Parts chilled Two Tigers
1 part Contreau
1 part Simple syrup

http://the-devotea.com/orange-tiger/

Those two tigers are head to head and create magic in my cup this morning!

Thanks to the wonderful and very generous Terri Harplady, I finally get to experience what Devotea is all about.

I chose this tea first cause with the name, I assumed it would be a good tea of the morning. If this stuff is an accurate representation of the company, well I am impressed!

The smell first. My grandfather was a farmer and worked really hard. At noon, he would come to eat lunch and my grandma always prepared a nice pot of strong black tea with sugar for him, just the way he liked it. The aroma took over the whole kitchen and I loved it so much as a child. My grandpa would let me have a few sips, winking at me.

The smell of this tea just reminded me of those special days, and I am already thankful for that…It’s super fragrant.

It says “a blend of Indian and Chinese teas” in the description…Assam for sure, and I am assuming Yunnan cause this tea offers boldness and mellowness at the same time.

First I taste a “bang” from the Assam and a light astringency, but I immediately get some comfort and softness from the earthiness and sweetness of the yunnan, (if that’s what it is).

There’s a very light touch of smoke in this tea, and though I’m not a fan of that usually, in this case it’s not offensive, it rather brings all the flavours together.

I am delighted I got to try this wondrful tea, thank you so much for choosing it for me Terri :-)

Oh man, this is so strong! I ended up adding milk to it just so I could sip away at it, and it tastes like smoke, and ash, and dark black tea. I was ready to fall asleep so we’ll see how zippy this makes me!

Then it’s time for Orange is the New Black!

Thanks Sil! 225!!!

this is a sample from Terri HarpLady – thank you.
Afternoon tea. yes, i needed that cup not to fall asleep, it gloomy outside. I wish i could nap. this is how i felt before my cup of Two Tigers
http://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/MjAxMi00YWVmYjk3ZGQwNTQwMjFm
But this tea is amazing. its the best of the both worlds: Chinese Black and Indian Black.
This tea is incredibly smooth and sweet with some smoky notes. I love smoky teas. this one is not harsh but rather welcoming to put all flavors together. Like a final touch. lovely tea. Goes to my every day growing shopping list.
Thank you so much Terri for the opportunity to try this wonderful tea.

tea from this morning! Sadly i was in back to back meetings all day and so 14 hours ago seems like a really long time from now. I opted for this one because i’m trying to get into all the devotea teas that terri sent me before she gets another box out my way haha. Add to that the incoming orders and i’m a little crazy! On the upside, my butiki order gets here tomorrow, we’re going to see the Lion King on friday (it’ll be my 5th? time) and saturday i’m going out with my friend and her little one for wedding dress shopping.

right..back to the tea. lol this was a bold tasty cup of KERPOW to wake me up this morning but that’s about all that i remember. better tasting notes to come i’m sure, since i have a bit more of this one to play with :)