90
drank Two Friends by Custom (Butiki)
2238 tasting notes

I drank this one just before bed yesterday evening. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a stupid thing to do, but I was so tired anyway that the extra caffeine didn’t keep me awake. I think I’m pretty immune anyway, but still. I used 2 tsp of leaf for my cup, and was reminded all over again how difficult it is to measure PTA. The leaves are so HUGE! My measuring spoon was never really in the game, so I just kind of guessed. It worked out fine, thankfully. I left it for four minutes, returned to a kitchen that smelled like melted Terry’s Chocolate Orange, and added a splash of milk just because.

To taste, it’s simply gorgeous. The way this week’s shaping up, I needed a treat and this turned out to be exactly the thing. The orange flavour is the strongest, and while there are the juicy, slightly sharp edges I’d expect from an orange, the overall effect is pretty candy-like. I think the chocolate helps with this, because it adds a smooth, creamy sweetness to the whole thing so that it’s basically like drinking a Terry’s Chocolate Orange. One word: yum!

I’ve tried Three Friends in the past, with the alternate base and additional marshmallow, but I think in all honesty I prefer this version. It seems a little more straightforward (there’s less going on, I guess, so that’s an obvious thing to say), and the chocolate/orange pairing really gets a chance to shine. PTA is delicious whichever way you look at it, so I’ve no complaints there either.

I love this one, and I’ll be sad when it’s finally gone from my cupboard. I know this Butiki sipdown thing is for the best, but it feels pretty grim all the same.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 2 tsp
Fjellrev

Gah, you make me miss this one.

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Fjellrev

Gah, you make me miss this one.

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Bio

Hi :) I’m Sarah, and I live in Norfolk in the UK. My tea obsession began when a friend introduced me to Teapigs a good few years ago now. Since then, I’ve been insatiable. Steepster introduced me to a world of tea I never knew existed, and my goal is now to TRY ALL THE TEAS. Or most of them, anyway.

I still have a deep rooted (and probably life-long) preference for black tea. My all-time favourite is Assam, but Ceylon and Darjeeling also occupy a place in my heart. Flavoured black tea can be a beautiful thing, and I like a good chai latte in the winter.

I also drink a lot of rooibos/honeybush tea, particularly on an evening. Sometimes they’re the best dessert replacements, too. White teas are a staple in summer — their lightness and delicate nature is something I can always appreciate on a hot day.

I’m still warming up to green teas and oolongs. I don’t think they’ll ever be my favourites, with a few rare exceptions, but I don’t hate them anymore. My experience of these teas is still very much a work-in-progress. I’m also beginning to explore pu’erh, both ripened and raw. That’s my latest challenge!

I’m still searching for the perfect fruit tea. One without hibiscus. That actually tastes of fruit.

You’ve probably had enough of me now, so I’m going to shut up. Needless to say, though, I really love tea. Long may the journey continue!

My rating system:

91-100: The Holy Grail. Flawless teas I will never forget.

81-90: Outstanding. Pretty much perfection, and happiness in a cup.

71-80: Amazing. A tea to savour, and one I’ll keep coming back to.

61-70: Very good. The majority of things are as they should be. A pleasing cup.

51-60: Good. Not outstanding, but has merit.

41-50: Average. It’s not horrible, but I’ve definitely had better. There’s probably still something about it I’m not keen on.

31-40: Almost enjoyable, but something about it is not for me.

11-30: Pretty bad. It probably makes me screw my face up when I take a sip, but it’s not completely undrinkable.

0-10: Ugh. No. Never again. To me, undrinkable.

Location

Norfolk, UK

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