254 Tasting Notes

85

Field day today – I spent most of it running after errant high school students, manning an inflatable Tick-Tack-Toe game, teaching small pockets of students how to toss a Diablo (aka Chinese Yo-Yo), and evading/attacking with water guns and ballons. I am so exhausted I barely managed to drag my sorry tail to the post office to mail off a swap. I am so glad that I did!

My first Della Terra “Try Me Sampler” was waiting in my mailbox, and when I got home the husband and I couldn’t take our noses out of these samples! It was very, very tough to decide which to make first, but the promise of a little creamy zest won out.

I used the 16oz tetsubin, placed 3 teaspoons in the filter (the directions say 1tsp/6oz), steeped for 5 minutes, and ultimately added 2 tablespoons of Sugar in the Raw and a dash of milk. We did check-ins along the way: At four minutes of steeping, without sugar, without cream, etc.

What we ended up with was absolutely delightful! At first we were worried that the end product wouldn’t match the mind-blowing smell of the dry mix, but with the extra sugar and milk it’s living up to the hype! I wish I had ordered more than the 1oz sample, because I can easily imagine afternoon writing or reading with a cup of this at my side. I’m fairly certain this is going to stay in the cupboard!

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50

This is one of the things I purchased from momo, and I have to completely agree with her about this tea. It was a fun experiment (I’ve only seen one blooming tea before, and it was years ago) but while it was interesting to watch the “flower” unfold, it only tasted very lightly of pineapple.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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80
drank Masala Chai by Adagio Teas
254 tasting notes

Anyone remember the Ren & Stimpy “HappyHappyJoyJoy” dance? Most of the teas Jake and I have sipped this weekend have been less than stellar, but this one makes it all worth it! This is one of the teas I bought from momo, so thank you for this great tea!

I did get distracted and forget to set the steep timer, but the tea has apparently forgiven me for the oversight and actually rewarded me with this delicious flavor. There is a slightly bitter aftertaste, but that could be due to the 20+ minute steep.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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65

After reading the reviews for this tea, I was very excited about it. I love spicy chai and it sounded like this would be excellent. I made some last night, then tried it again this morning just to be sure. As much as I wanted to love this chai, I simply don’t.

I used about 2 tbsp in my 3-cup teapot the first time and steeped it for five minutes as directed. It was so weak that my husband and I actually ended up dumping most of it.

This morning I used the other half of the packet (it was a little more than 2 tbsp) and steeped it for more than twice the time. It’s slightly stronger, but I really feel like I had to push it to get it this strong. It’s still pretty weak. I can taste the spices, and the promise of them, but they’re still feeble.

This is the end of the sample, and I don’t know if maybe I got a bad or older mix, but for me this just doesn’t live up to the hype. I’m disappointed. Of the four teas I got from Arbor, the only winner was my husband’s Mini Tree Pu-erh – the one I won’t touch!

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more
Shelley_Lorraine

I think I remember that you had a bad experience with a DavidsTea pu-erh (or maybe I’ve mixed you up with someone else. . .). If that is your only pu-erh experience, don’t stop there! DavidsTea pu-erh blends are mostly quite nasty.

wheezybee

That was me – I have tried DAVIDsTEA The Skinny, Arbor Teas Wild Tree Mini Tuo Cha, and a tin of something we picked up at an Asian food market. They’ve just been a bit earthy for me. I’m willing to try something else, and if I don’t like it I know Jake would probably be delighted to add to his stash. Do you have any recommendations?

Tealizzy

Try cinnamon swirl bread tea by sTEApshoppe. It’s a puerh blend and it’s delicious!!

wheezybee

Okay – I’ve added it to my shopping list and will check it out next payday. Thanks!

Shelley_Lorraine

DELETEless than a minute ago
Chocolate chai pu-erh from Della Terra is pretty good if you’re looking for a blend that really masks the earthy aspects of pu-erh. It tastes almost exactly like the original dentyne gum to me. I happen to really like pu-erh though, so I go mostly for the unflavored varieties, but it’s not for everyone. My husband won’t go near it unless it’s heavily flavored. :) Bana Tea company has some of my favorite straight pu-erhs. They offer various sampler sets. Also, maybe you just don’t like cooked pu-erh? Raw pu-erh tastes quite different. Okay, I think I’ve rambled on enough now (^^)

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70

Mmm… tasty! I ordered a sample of this on a lark, and I’m glad I did. It’s a delightful and sweet cup to enjoy on a lazy weekend afternoon.

Dry, the fruity smells overwhelm the white leaves, but when steeped the fruit takes backseat to the tea leaves. I made up a pot of this in my 3-cup teapot, and added two tablespoons each of tea and Sugar in the Raw.

I’ve had pomegranate before, and this doesn’t remind me of it at all. My husband says it tastes more like peach to him, and I have to agree. It might not be a white pomegranate but a white peach still sounds good to me!

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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50

I think this tea is a little confused – it’s not sure whether to be a black tea or an herbal. The blueberries and the black tea seem to be battling for supremacy, and so far its a stalemate.

I followed the steeping directions – it was in five minutes and the package said 4-6. It could be that I should have gone four minutes, or maybe it’s the Sugar in the Raw adding too much of its own note, but this just tastes kind of confusing. I used half the sample packet in a tea ball and tossed it into a mug with a little over a tablespoon of Sugar in the Raw.

When we first opened the sealed package, my husband and I got a wave of berry. It just hasn’t translated as strongly into the cup. There’s only enough for one cup left, which I may save for my next cold – and steep less! Ah, well, one more tea tried!

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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75

The only other Ear Grey I have to compare this to right now is my Teavana Earl Grey Black, so I opened them up and sniffed them side by side. Of the two, this is less sweet and more sharp. I can’t detect the slight licorice flavor of the Teavana in it, and while it smells a little more… I can only think of the word astringent, it doesn’t shout bergamot at me either. Huh. I don’t know what I was expecting, but so far this isn’t broadcasting any kind of “Wow!” factor.

Today felt like a mug morning, so I loaded a tea ball 1/2 way and steeped it for five minutes. I’m trying to get better about not over-steeping things, so I set my most annoying timer. When its shrieks brought me back into the room, I was surprised at how dark this one came out. Even after I put in a generous pour of milk, and a tablespoon or so of Sugar in the Raw, it is only the color of hot chocolate.

I did sample it before I put in the milk and sugar, and I found that its sharp dry smell had been blunted rather decisively. This tastes a lot milder than I had anticipated, and while it’s a nice and even EG I guess I’m just craving something… different. I love everything this company stands for – organic, free-trade, bio-degradable packaging – and I wanted to love their tea as well, but it’s just not grabbing my senses and sending them whirling. It’s a nice standard cup, but probably won’t be a staple.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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40
drank Organic The Skinny by DAVIDsTEA
254 tasting notes

The husband tried this and went, “Oooh!” I tried it and gave the rest back to him! I think the pu-erh teas are going to remain strictly his domain from now on!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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80
drank Pink Flamingo by DAVIDsTEA
254 tasting notes

This is a fantastic introduction to DAVIDsTEA! The dry mix smells absolutely amazing – almost a mix of grapefruit and evergreen – but when steeped the listed ingredients come out to play. The hibiscus steps out, as well as some of the greenery, but it works.

I usually over-steep my tea a bit, mostly because I don’t bother to remove the teapot’s filter. With each successive cup of this tisane the thought sinks in more and more that this mix isn’t meant for over-steeping. The hibiscus becomes a little overwhelming. In the future I will try to make sure to get better about that.

Preparation
Boiling 6 min, 0 sec

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75
drank Dragonfruit Devotion by Teavana
254 tasting notes

My ankle was acting up today, so while I iced it my wonderful husband went out to get me some tea to cheer me up. The wonderful man brewed it too, while he made me pad Thai. I think it steeped about 15 minutes or so, but it’s still enjoyable.

An interesting taste – first you’re hit with with a whole fruit salad’s worth of flavors, then it slowly gives way to a heavy floral aftertaste, almost like tart perfume. I’m still not sure how I feel about that. With my allergies, anything that’s floral or perfumey means an automatic “Run away! Run away!” so being able to take my time with it is an odd and new experience.

All in all, I’m still not quite sure how I feel about this tisane. I think I’ll need to try it a couple more times to figure it out.

UPDATE: I’ve had this tea a couple more times, and it’s been much better. I think the perfume taste had a lot to do with the over-steep.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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Profile

Bio

Feel free to browse my cupboard if you’re interested in swapping, but all the mate and pu-erh in our household is my husband’s.

For swapping purposes, please note the apple allergy. Thank you!

I tried to limit my cupboard to teas that were 1oz or larger, but that was a gorgeous failure in terms of swap communication. It’s all going back up.

Okay, I just feel wrong trying to grade things without a rubric – it’s too inconsistent! So, here is the grading breakdown:

0-50: Dump it!
50-60: I might finish the cup
60-70: Possibly finish the pot
70-80: I may keep this on hand
80-90: Cupboard space guaranteed
90-100: Poetry may be involved!

Location

Dallas, TX

Website

http://www.wordsabouttea.blog...

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