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We need a term for the feeling one gets when running low/out of a favorite tea, or learning that a tea is discontinued or otherwise unavailable for sale. I propose “tea-sad”, but I’m certainly open to suggestions!

Anyway, I’m feeling tea-sad about this one. I’m running super low and I managed to mess it up this morning by both underleafing and oversteeping. Still tasty, but not quite as awesome as I’ve come to expect from this tea. And now I can’t even get a good resteep out of it because I left the leaves in the water so long the first time. See previous tasting notes for more about the tea itself.

I blew the rest of my tea budget for the month on a cab ride this morning, so I can’t restock this tea for a little while. It definitely warrants a place in my regular rotation, though.

Noooooo! Sipdown! My precious hot creamsicle in a cup! So sad to see this one go, it’s just wonderful.

Picked this up from BrewTEAlly Sweet’s stash sale.

The name of this one is very confusing. I just don’t see it as a morning drink. Even if it was caffeinated. It’s more of a refreshing afternoon blend. The citrus and mint combination is lovely. The mint flavor lingers nicely. That said, I’m not a huge fan. I really don’t like lemongrass, and it’s certainly discernible here. I should have checked the ingredients list.

Sipdown

I picked this up from BrewTEAlly Sweet’s stash sale and am so very glad that I did. It’s just a lovely, thick, floral brew. Not generically floral, either. The rose, jasmine, and lavender are distinct without clashing or tasting artificial. The peppermint doesn’t really come through except as a refreshing, mildly tingly aftertaste. This holds up well to a second steep, though it has an ever so slightly thinner mouthfeel.

This is labeled as a white tea. Also a green tea. I’m not sure which it actually is. The floral flavors obscure most of the base. It looks like a green tea, though.

first steep: 180F, 3 mins
second steep: 195F, 5 mins

Thanks for sending this my way, RogersCK!

The dry leaf smells like vanilla and something sweet that I can’t quite place my finger on. Almost rosy, but there’s no rose in this blend. Brewed, the tea smells almost like chocolate. The flavor is sweet, creamy, and tart. I’m picking up more strawberry than raspberry, but it’s nice. This has a medium body. Best as a fruity breakfast brew, I think.

Sipdown

I picked up a sample of this from Adagio because I’ve been looking for a non-black tea chai spice blend. Also because I love vanilla and have startlingly little of it in my expansive tea collection.

Alas, this disappoints. The clove is so overwhelming that it makes the flavor almost entirely one-note. There is a background of spiciness and a touch of vanilla smoothing out the end of the sip. Mostly clove though. Lots and lots of clove. This is drinkable, but not exactly a well-balanced blend. Sipdown!

So I’m pretty sure this came from Fuzzy_Peachkin at our Taste of France swap. Thanks! I really like this tea. Citrus and mint are just a good combo. The lemon here tastes very juicy and natural. It’s more prominent in the second steep. I suspect I might be able to get a third steep out of this, but it’s just too much black tea for my poor tummy. See previous tasting note for a more thorough review!

Sipdown number four for the day!

I had this with dinner at a restaurant the other day and really loved it. The citrus is bright, the mint is strong, and it’s just super tasty all around. It actually went quite nicely with a savory meal. Definitely something I would drink again.

Roasty and creamy. Comforting, but ultimately unremarkable. This resteeps well without losing flavor. It also doesn’t oversteep easily, which is nice.

Sipdown! Thanks for including this in my Secret Turkey package, RogersCK!

Sipdown! I finished this off with brunch. The peach flavor is still lovely. Natural, yet strong enough to hold up against pancakes and potatoes. Not a reorder, but something I’d happily drink if offered. Thanks for the taste, oOTeaOo!