26 Tasting Notes
This is super flowery. Like, waaaay super flowery. Which, in the right mood, is a good time.
It made a good eyeopener tea for me today, where it’s a gray crapful day out and some flowers would be a welcome sight.
I think I steeped this one a bit too long, as it got sort of cloying at the very end, but I still enjoyed it.
Preparation
Oh heavens to betsy… as my first official tipsy lady edition to steepster, I officially give my seal of approval to this tea~
Let me explain.
Basically, I have always, without even a modicum of irony, given zero credence to Russian Caravan. The most I’ve given to Russia, as far as any sort of credit, has been the suggestion, to my husband, that we could roleplay Czar NicholasXme, without batting one eyelash.
But this tea has taught me what is what. I have always been a fan of the bitter, dark brew…. which all before have always left me half fulfilled, always wanting more. But this tea has given me what a woman wants, what a woman needs, in every sense of the poplular phrases. I am satisfied, slightly more sober, and happy, happy as I have ne’er been before.
Maybe it’s that it’s my first, but I will never ever forget this Caravan. It is my new favorite and I will bring it to my workplace tomorrow if only to remember the glory…. <3
Preparation
Just gave this a go this morning. It smelled super delish at Lady Elegant’s (a place that sells mostly Metro Tea stuff in Minneapolis) and I’ve been wanting a loose leaf tea to have at work that would be happy in a tin, so this seemed a good bet.
A very nice and thick-feeling brew. Deep amber color. Probably since I like bitter tea, I let it brew a bit too long but it was perfect after about 3 minutes. I might even go a little longer… A nice tea to wake yourself up with!
Preparation
Definitely used to be one my favorite newbie teas. It’s got a nice light flavor that lends itself well to the winter (the mint is warming, the lemon soothing.) I think it’s one of the higher quality bags out there, for sure. Nice with a little honey if you have a sore throat!
Preparation
This definitely fits the bill for me of a coffee replacement; when I started my job in a REAL OFFICE, I had to get used to the 6+ pots brewed for the caffeine heads here… but it just didn’t happen. Coffee is good and all, but it’s not my thing. So I had to find something to hype me up sufficiently without making me twitch out… This works well. I love Assam and am into bitter brews, so I like this, even though there are definitely much subtler black teas out there. I’d be interested to try the loose leaf version, though, that I just found in a super market near my house last night (although it was a bit pricier than I’d expect at the super market… but probably worth it!)
Preparation
A decent enough Matcha Au Lait mix. It’s one of those that you add water to, not milk, so it’s got milk powder already inside the wee packet. I was addicted to this stuff (the Nestle type) when I lived in Japan, but now that I’m back in the States, it’s pretty rare to find it at my local Asian grocer. But this does the job- not sweet at all, perfect astringency, with a creamy finish that reminds me of home. I kind of want to go back and buy every box they had…
Preparation
This is an absolutely gorgeous jasmine tea. Steeped for a short time, the flowery flavor is light and airy, with just a hint of soothing green-ness. Longer, it becomes a full-bodied floral that is almost intoxicating (in a good way.) Highly, highly recommended.
