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So soothing. This is a really lovely lavender and I’m a little sad to say that it’s a sipdown. At least I still have my Butiki Lavender Chamomile in stock :)

Oh boy. This is so much better at 204 F than boiling. I’m not sure how long I steeped – I think it was somewhere between 2 and 3 minutes.

The caramel notes are really prominent and work quite nicely with the savory aspects of the genmaicha. The vanilla only comes out in the aftertaste, but it’s beautiful. Just a natural, lingering, smooth vanilla.

Thanks to Laurent at Nina’s Paris for the sample, and I get to call this a sipdown!

Nom nom nom. I had the teabag of this for breakfast a few days ago and it was lovely. The smell is all citrus, sweet and a tad tart. The flavor itself is a very natural citrus and ginger balance, supported by the slight bitterness of the guayusa. I am going to have to get a box of either this or the Cinnamon Lemongrass to keep at the office.

Runa guayusa helped get me through grad school, but I’ve never had any of the flavored versions before. I got a sample teabag of this and the Ginger Citrus flavor at the Coffee & Tea Festival. I’ve been saving them for a particularly tired morning. Of course, I ended up drinking both this week.

This is so perfect. The cinnamon is prominent, natural-tasting, and brisk. Hints of lemongrass come through in just the right balance. The base is lovely. Overall, a nice, round, satisfying morning cuppa.

Hmm. This is both calming and refreshing. The chamomile and mint are well balanced, with a touch of lemon in the background. Just the right amount of mint lingers after the sip – energizing but not brisk. This would make a good breath-freshening afternoon tea if you don’t want any caffeine.

This has a pleasantly roasted, woodsy scent (pine maybe?). The taste is like warm toast on a cold day. Yet it leaves something to be desired. I’m just used to Den’s Tea being more complex. This is rather one-note, though the second steep is better than the first. The roasted flavor remains dominant in the second steep, but there’s also a seaweed note that comes out. This is actually really nice cold – I could see having it as a savory iced tea in the summer. Overall, this tea is tasty enough but nothing special. Another sipdown though!

Mmm. This goes beautifully with mildly spicy and garlicky sauteed bean sprouts with tofu. Just the right balance of green tea and jasmine with that ineffable flavor of Taiwanese greens that lingers drily in the mouth (see my previous tasting note for more detail – one day I’ll find the right words to describe this taste!). I’ve discovered that this is good for at least one resteep. Possibly two, but I don’t want to have that much green tea at this time of night.

All I’m getting is apple and what seems like a touch of hibiscus. I was really hoping for something with more kick. The apple flavor is quite good, though a touch on the artificial side. Alas, none of the “spice” in the name is actually showing in my cup.

I find this better without sugar. Sugar knocks the flavor off balance for me. Anyway, still an enjoyable cup and a sipdown. Thanks Sil!

I haven’t got anything new to say since my last tasting note, but I do want to memorialize that this is a sipdown. Thanks Short Sorceress!