1724 Tasting Notes

67

SIPDOWN! I’ve had this one for over a year. I had high hopes, but the cinnamon and other spices dry this tea out. Preparation on their website usually turns this into a latte, but I like it better with honey and no other additives. It gets more of a cidery or spiced mead vibe with honey and is much more enjoyable. The ginger is also much more prominent. I personally recommend the White Marzipan and the Cake Batter Pumpkin Spice teas from this collection personally.

I was really excited about the currants for this one, but it clashed a little with the spices despite liking it. Overall, it was a disappointment, but really approachable with honey. Magic Hour has other better blends imo. I honestly prefer the Capricorn if you want maple/fall vibes.

Flavors: Artificial, Caramel, Cinnamon, Drying, Fruity, Ginger, Pumpkin Spice

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Drinking this one up, it’s very light on the strawberry and more heavy on the tieguanyin floral oolong. I get more orchid than strawberry at first, then it transitions into the strawberry. It’s not fake, but it’s light and candy like. I would have liked a little bit more strawberry that’s redder. It’s refreshing and thirst quenching. Might be better light. Needs more umph.

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92

2024 western, 3 minutes, 4 min, 5 min, and 3-4 grams in 8 0z.

Plumeria heavy in the flavor this time. More floral than last year, but not as fruity. Extremely comforting. Perfect on a summer day slipping into fall at 62 F. Perfect weather. I don’t want to return to anything above 75 F in climate for a while.

ashmanra

The temperature sounds heavenly!

Leafhopper

What teas have you been enjoying from their 2024 lineup? I actually haven’t bought too many 2024 oolongs this year, having spent my money on my green tea comparison project. Any recommendations for the BF sales would be appreciated!

Daylon R Thomas

I’ve only had this one and the FuShoushan from 2024. No Lishans or Shanlinxis yet from the year.

Daylon R Thomas

This one was exactly what I craved. Floral, and well balanced.

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I’ve had this one for over a year, and I tried it on it’s own, not as good. Too much cinnamon. Better as a latte, but needs a longer steeping time to get the spices more balanced.

I finally did this Chai Wallah stlye today on the last day before I go back to school. Boiled the pot, put leaves in, shifted back to rolling boil, cooled down, added sugar, rolling boil, lowered heat, added evaporated coconut milk, went to rolling boil, and finally cooled off for 3 minutes then served. I know, complicated, but I’ve found that doing chai this way is better. I added a little bit too much sugar since I made it for my girlfriend, yet still so much better with slightly caramelized sugar from the boil.

I officially like making masalas and spiced chais this way. I was able to get a much better balance of the pumpkin spices and cinnamon without taking away from the cardamom and other spices this blend has. I’m so relieved. This blend is usually to heavy on cinnamon for me personally, so this sipdown was a vast improvement.

ashmanra

Do you strain the leaves out at the end or before adding the milk?

Daylon R Thomas

I kept the leaves and spices with the milk mixed in until I poured it ready to serve. I like it spicy. I do it before the milk only if the spices are overpowering.

ashmanra

Thank you!

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92

This is a much newer season, 2023 spring (?) I think. It’s pretty good. Cedar there, heavier on grass, milk, pear, and florals. I’m saying this a lot, but its yet another favorite I horded. If you ever decide to get a Whispering Pines Tea order, this is my personal recommendation out of the oolongs offered.

Flavors: Cream, Floral, Green, Milk, Pear, Pine

Leafhopper

Looking forward to digging into my package of this from you! :)

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85

I’m being brutal about this one. Definitely one of the better straight black teas I’ve had still. I just have to be in the mood for it. I wanted a softer black. I got some nice cocoa and tannin notes today, with a little bit of citrus. I’ve been shifting back towards flavored teas lately anyway. Can’t put a finger on why. There’s only a few straight teas left that I regularly drink. Granted, they’re mostly Taiwanese. I’m glad I have a slight stash of Gaoshan left.

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92

Sipdown. I’ve had it for two years. I really had about two servings left of it, but I wanted to clear come cabinet space so I gong fu’d it and poured it only about after 15 seconds, though with close to 8 grams or more of tea. Aroma is smooth, and texture is smooth with a slight astringency this way in this first steep. I’m waiting for it to cool off. Some of the flavors were muted even from the dry leaf, but the fruitier ones were more prominent in the pour. I’m glad I did a short steep with it. Age smoothened this one out a little but not too much. I’m going to come back to finish this note later, but I still wanted to note the sipdown.

I only did two more steeps for the rebrew. Had a little bit of a headache. Second steep was more chocolate leaning, but very floral and malty with astringency and some bitterness. Third had a bit of pineappleish notes, malt, astringency, tannin, and not too much. Despite using a lot of tea, it was not markedly different from lesser leaves. Less time cut back on a lot of the potential unwanted astringency and kept enough for a little bit of power.

Still good and glad to have had it. This tea really wasn’t an everyday tea though. I actually was getting a little tea drunk off of it.

Leafhopper

I’ve been hoarding this tea as well. Glad it seems to be holding up.

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97

Backlog: I haven’t drank this one often because it’s a favorite I want to keep by. I had it a few days ago. If I drink it, it’s one of the few teas of the day because it’s powerful. I do agree with one of the other reviews. This one is kinda floral now that I think about it. It still has a apricot malt vibe to me, and I really like it. I have too many high end teas in my stash that I need to drink more of. I have drank more tea in the summer than in the winter or even spring for that matter.

Oddly enough, I’ve barely had tea at work. I would alternate between having no caffeine because of stress to having black iced coffee to prevent me from snacking during the day. I might bring my Gongfu2go tumbler again. The middle piece of it broke, so I don’t bring it into work often. I’m thankful that my schedule shouldn’t be as hectic this school year, knock on wood.

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90

I keep coming back to this one. I’m thankful I got a full package of it. It’s great when I need a stiff tea that will wake me up, but coax me with a nutty and cocoa flavor. It makes me feel like I’m not missing out anytime I see characters on TV having port or scotch. This is my caffienated version of it right here. Cocoa, honey, malt, and caraway notes in a smooth liquid with just the right amount of tiny bitterness I like.

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Looks exactly as advertised. Got some, and it’s good. Only did one mug 8 oz for 30 secs, and it has the vibes of a Bourbon caramel/booze filled chocolate bottle that you might find at Xmas time. Tasty. Black tea provides a malty base with the vanilla, and the milk oolong makes it creamier in texture. I taste a little bit of the oolong, but the black tea is leading.

It’s good, but I need more time on it to see what icing the tea does to the flavor. It’s original blending the oolong and black together and makes a much more balanced vanilla tea, though it’s only slightly different than other vanilla teas I’ve had. I like the boozy flavor profile. I’m liking Eyes of Green a little bit more so far. I’m curious about how the Morning Sex one compares. Since the black tea profile is the most prominent, it’s going to take some time for me to finish this one down.

Flavors: Bourbon, Caramel, Chocolate, Creamy, Malty, Milk, Rum, Vanilla

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Bio

First Off, Current Targets:

Whispering Pines Alice
Good Luxurious Work Teas
Wang Family’s Jasmine Shanlinxi
Spring, Winter Taiwan High Mountain Oolongs

Dislikes: Heavy Tannin, Astringency, Bitterness, or Fake Flavor, Overly herby herbal or aged teas

Picky with: Higher Oxidation Oolongs, Red Oolongs (Some I love, others give me headaches or are almost too sweet), Mint Teas

Currently, my stash is overflowing. Among my favorites are What-Cha’s Lishan Black, Amber Gaba Oolong, Lishan Oolong, Qilan Oolong, White Rhino, Kenya Silver Needle, Tong Mu Lapsang Black (Unsmoked); Whispering Pines Alice, Taiwanese Assam, Wang’s Shanlinxi, Cuifeng, Dayuling, Jasmine Shan Lin Xi; Beautiful Taiwan Tea Co.“Old Style” Dong Ding, Mandala Milk Oolong; Paru’s Milk Oolong

Me:

I am an MSU graduate, and current alternative ed. high school social studies and history teacher. I formerly minored in anthropology, and I love Egyptian and classical history. I love to read, write, draw, paint, sculpt, fence(with a sword), practice calisthenics on rings, lift weights, workout, relax, and drink a cuppa tea…or twenty.

I’ve been drinking green and black teas ever since I was little living in Hawaii. Eastern Asian influence was prominent with my friends and where I grew up, so I’ve been exposed to some tea culture at a young age. I’ve come a long way since I began on steepster and now drink most teas gong fu, especially oolong. Any tea that is naturally creamy, fruity, or sweet without a lot of added flavoring ranks as a must have for me. I also love black teas and dark oolongs with the elusive “cocoa” note. My favorites are lighter Earl Greys, some white teas like What-Cha’s Kenyan offerings, most Hong-Cha’s, darker Darjeelings, almost anything from Nepal, Green Shan Lin Xi’s, and Greener Dong Dings. I’m in the process of trying Alishan’s. I also tend to really enjoy Yunnan Black or Red teas and white teas. I’m pickier with other teas like chamomile, green teas, and Masalas among several.

I used to give ratings, but now I only rate teas that have a strong impression on me. If I really like it, I’ll write it down.

I’ll enjoy a tea almost no matter what, even if the purpose is more medicinal, for it is my truest vice and addiction.

Location

Michigan, USA

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