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I’ve been loving the rain, but today felt like spring and I got so much done in the sunshine! ’Twas glorious, and inspired me to put some spring into my pot with these fragrant green joy-nugs.

Big big lilac everywhere. The first steep whispered smoke, actually(!) — then more expected flavors of grass and cornsilk, with creaminess after a few steeps.

Not the most refined leaves — the bottom was a little thin, and flavors were more distinct than melded — but a little sunshine-bringer nonetheless.

I threw this in water and into the fridge about two weeks ago. Shame on me for leaving it for so long, but it was delicious — like an icy chocolate milk without any heaviness. Surprisingly refreshing, too.

A sad-face sipdown in a day full of great blacks! This takes a full pot of leaves, but gives and gives in return. I think this one goes back on the wishlist.

Sipdown. This is delicious. I don’t know that I have much to add beyond what derk and leafhopper have noted. I’m not super-drawn to red oolongs, but woo… this is lush with plenty of mystery.

Sitting here with my second steep and reveling in all the things at once. I came home sleep-deprived but grateful for the morning, had a little sipdown of What-Cha’s Jin Jun Mei, and headed outside to do some work in the yard. Came in a few hours later and went right for the… pu-erh? Okay, body, whatever you say. Opened up a sour bag that I have yet to wrangle, gave it a whiff (ope, yep, still sour as shit)… decided that was going a little too far… settled on this one I hadn’t tried yet.

I went to YS’ website to grab some database info and fell a little in love with the label (though all the photos of this cake are stunning, my gracious). Tracked the artist down (https://www.deviantart.com/lookihaveapotato), and feel perfectly muscle-spent and content while I sip and gawk.

Just what I was craving… terribly cozy, without being too warming or cooling… full and smooth and rich without throwing any one big flavor… the first shou I love without feeling desperate to understand it.

Dark like coffee and cabernet, smells and tastes of barnyard and mushroom and some new soil with some new metallic tang in some part of the world I haven’t yet walked on. Bliss.

I forgot I’d been hunting roses in this tea. Maybe a re-order for my inner Elmer Fudd. It’s delicious, but I absolutely don’t have my arms all the way around it yet.

Hm, hm, hm. I think I can grok the love, though I don’t necessarily feel it myself. The marshmallow treat nose feels very separated from the genmaicha taste, and by making room for each other in the blend they both give up some of their space and power. The flavoring also has a very — I don’t know how else to describe this — flat bottom, like it sits up top and then there’s a horizon that it just doesn’t sink past. Interesting, and a fun tasting — just not my cup. I know this about myself and scented/flavored teas — it’s a rare, rare blend that gets me raving.