1358 Tasting Notes

drank Pumpkin Earl Grey by DAVIDsTEA
1358 tasting notes

I picked up some of this on a whim when I went to restock Pumpkin Chai (at this point it’s a fall tradition more than a matter of taste). You know what? I think I like this better than Pumpkin Chai. It tastes fuller and better balanced; needs less tweaking. I think it may even have more “heat” than the DT’s chai blend. The citrusy notes from the spices and bergamot taste delicious when milk is added too. Like a cheerful citrusy spice cloud. On top of that, the vanilla-caramel notes give it a London Fog vibe. I’m a huge sucker for my LF’s even more so than the PSLs. This is the best of both worlds.

For me, this is on par, if not better, than a lot of the commercial pumpkin spice latte things out there. Now, it just needs to work with my Eggnog. Turns out the nog I bought is not lactose-free or going to hold up past our upcoming Thanksgiving weekend.

Flavors: Bergamot, Caramel, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Citrusy, Cloves, Earthy, Pumpkin, Spices, Vanilla

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 30 sec
Leafhopper

A cheerful citrusy spice cloud! Sounds lovely! :)

AJRimmer

I love this tea! I hope they still have some when I make my Black Friday order.

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90
drank Sweet Zhang by 52teas
1358 tasting notes

I should write notes on new teas in my cupboard but… I have this decadent blend again. When this, or any vanilla flavoured black tea, appears in my life it’s usually all I drink until it’s gone and I’m once again vanilla-less.

It’s a vicious cycle.

Flavors: Bittersweet, Cocoa, Dark Chocolate, Malt, Smooth, Sweet, Vanilla

Martin Bednář

But getting a decent vanilla tea is, actually, not so easy.

ashmanra

I almost made this one today but decided to work on getting rid of an out of date tea. I did open the pouch and inhale the beautiful vanilla scent deeply tho! Almost as good as drinking it…

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Just loving the quality of the bright raspberries and strawberries on the smooth but full Young Hyson base. I’ve enjoyed it so much I haven’t even gotten around to trying it as a cold brew yet.

EDIT- I coldsteeped my last serving and, wow, it was delicious. Always a delight to have a tea that tastes good regardless of drinking temperature.

Flavors: Berries, Cranberry, Floral, Grassy, Raspberry, Smooth, Strawberry, Sweet, Tart

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec
52Teas

I absolutely love this one!

Crowkettle

It’s delicious but I don’t I’ve ever encountered a raspberry tea of yours that I haven’t liked a lot :)

52Teas

Thanks! That’s wonderful to hear!

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I finished this one up a while ago but forgot to post a note. I feel bad because it was a tasty and charming white tea. It deserved better.

I recall that it reminded me of a green tea at times; it had the hay notes you see in many white teas, but it was altogether grassier than what I expected: bamboo shoots and sweetgrass too! It was a temperamental steeper and could get grass-bitter if oversteeped though. It made me think of a laying in a grass field and listening to the blades rustle in the wind. All in all, a very restful and vibrant tea.

Flavors: Bamboo, Clover, Floral, Grassy, Hay, Pepper, Smooth, Sweet, Warm Grass

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 1 min, 30 sec

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drank Melon Oolong by Lupicia
1358 tasting notes

The fire smoke is finally hitting us here, turning the sky into something autumnal and eerie. It’s not as bad as other areas, but it’s an energy zapper and a mood killer.

I wanted a tea profile to contrast this internal lethargy so I reached for something extremely green, decadent, and bright – this candied melon tea! It’s so cheery and flavourful – although, this particular tin is saddled with the now bittersweet memory of briefly visiting Lahaina, Kona, and Honolulu back in March. Absolutely surreal and heartbreaking at the loss of lives and homes. We are really lucky here in the Lower Mainland that it’s just the smoke right now; it’s an understatement to say wildfires have particularly sucked this year across the board.

But here I was trying to distract myself. That almost never works, eh? Maybe I need to embrace the fall-ish notes and the catharsis that this upcoming season can offer. Hopefully, I have a puerh hiding away somewhere.

Steep Count: 3

Flavors: Butter, Creamy, Floral, Green Melons, Honeydew, Honeysuckle, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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A subtle but decadent twist on a 52teas staple; paradoxically light and rich! I really enjoyed this one, and it was popular with the rest of my family too.

Flavors: Butter, Caramelized Sugar, Creamy, Grassy, Silky, Smooth, Toasted Rice, Vanilla

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec
ashmanra

You are Crowkettle again!

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Still on a purple flower kick. This is a nice level of lavender, and a pleasant twist on an earl grey (the bergamot is super light), but it can be finicky to steep up. I oversteeped it to the point of bitterness a couple of times, but milk helps with these things. Also, even if I butchered the first steep, the second steep was deliciously smooth.

My 50g did not last at all; I pull out teas like this (ex – earl greys & citrusy black tea blends) when I can’t make up my mind, but want caffeine plus a little flair.

Flavors: Bergamot, Earthy, Floral, Lavender, Tannic, Vanilla

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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84
drank Thé de Lune by Mariage Frères
1358 tasting notes

I wanted Violet Cremes but there’s sadly very little left of that (hoarding ensues). Instead, I opted for this brisker black tea to get my violet fix. It’s delicious in its own right, but I want buttery oolong too! Sometimes life is challenging like this.

Note to self: find more violet teas to fill the void in my life.

Flavors: Black Currant, Brisk, Citrus, Floral, Fruity, Malt, Pepper, Vanilla, Violet

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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drank Sweet Potato Pie by DAVIDsTEA
1358 tasting notes

Backlog – Sipdown!

Tasty, but this dessert tea exists in a state between “satisfies sweet tooth” and “it’s so cloying and rich it’s nauseating!” I also don’t get pie as much as I get candy corn (this isn’t a terrible thing though). However, my mom adored it, and found nothing to criticize — so, maybe the sweetness overload is just me. I’d consider getting more for her, and snag the odd cup that way.

Flavors: Butternut Squash, Candy, Caramelized Sugar, Marshmallow, Smooth, Spices, Sweet, Sweet Potatoes, Vanilla

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90

Backlog

(2021 Spring Harvest)

It’s long overdue that I finished this old harvest up but, now that it’s gone, I miss its familiar profile of malt, cocoa, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, and, strikingly, pepper spice. It’s neither the fanciest tea in my cupboard nor the plainest. It occupies a mercurial niche that makes it universally accessible.

It’s a tea I drink on slow Sunday afternoons — as well as one that I’ve pulled out for wedding showers, baby showers, and, most recently, after receiving the news that my uncle, my dad’s youngest brother, had passed away. It’s strangely grounding, and I can’t believe all the memories and significance it has accumulated over the years.

The name is always a conversation starter and a welcome distraction for those who need it (“are there actually snails in this tea?”). I’m usually prompted to show off to the particularly snail-anxious among us the beautifully rolled, gold-black curl of the tea leaf in order to put them at ease. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who hasn’t been taken in by the leaves or the rich, sweet, and earthy aroma that they give off. Like I said — grounding and comforting. This tea is a pillar.

So long for now (not forever) beautiful tea.

Flavors: Bread, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Earthy, Malt, Mineral, Pepper, Raisins, Smooth, Sugarcane, Sweet Potatoes

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec
gmathis

There have been several recent conversations lately about “what tea props you up when you’re sagging?” Sounds like this is on your list, for sure!

I never cease to be fascinated by teas that are meticulously rolled, curled, and kinked into tiny little works of art.

ashmanra

Gmathis: I like that! That needs to be a prompt this fall – “what tea props you up when you are sagging?”

ashmanra

Matcha Magpie: I haven’t had a Golden Snail in ages and I have a new one on shelf that I need to open. They are so delightful.

beerandbeancurd

I love this note so much and feel the same way about this tea. It’s… yes.

Crowkettle

Sorry for the super late response but thank you everyone!

I also love that prompt :)

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Profile

Bio

I started my Steepster loose leaf adventure back in 2012. I can’t say I’m completely new anymore, but I still view oolong as a magical, extraterrestrial creature that unfurls in water.

My favourites are teas like Milk Oolong, Silver Needle,and Japanese Sencha/Gyokuro, or fruity and floral flavoured ones. However, I generally enjoy ALL the teas, including a good old cup of Earl Grey or Breakfast blend.

FAVOURITE INGREDIENTS/NOTES:

DESSERT FLAVOURS
Vanilla, Maple, Caramel, Butterscotch, Cream, Toffee, Nougat, Marzipan, Butter

FRUIT & BERRIES
Citrus Fruits, Passionfruit, Banana, Pineapple, Melons, Blackberry, Raspberry, Currants, Elderberry, Persimmon, Rhubarb..

SPICES
Ginger, Turmeric, Clove-forward chai, Cardamom

AROMATIC & HERBACEOUS NOTES
Sandalwood, Frankincense, Juniper, Eucalyptus, Mints

FLORALS
Lavender, Jasmine, Rose, Lilac, Violet, etc.

VEGGIE/GRAIN NOTES
Spinach, Grass, Hay, Cucumber, Rice, Sweet Potato

Less Preferred Flavours/Ingredients:
Stevia, Apple, Cocoa Nib, Almond, Licorice, Cinnamon-forward blends, Chinese Sencha

Subjective Rating System:
I don’t give a lot of low ratings out, since a) I tend to grab tea I know will appeal to me, and b) I don’t have a lot of strong dislikes.

90-100: Favourites. The Desert Island Teas.
80-89: Loved teas. Possibly staple-worthy.
70-79: Good teas, but I’m less likely to repurchase. Minor quibbles.
60-69: Ok teas. Likely a few preference and/or quality issues.
50-59: Cup of meh. Will do in a pinch.
11-49: Varying levels of undrinkable tea.
1-10: Nightmare tea from the chaos realms. This tea is the embodiment of the primordial swamp, an unholy abomination. It’s very gross and I’m almost positive it doesn’t exist.

Location

BC, Canada

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