Rabs Send Message

I’m really glad that I hadn’t looked up this tea on Steepster before chosing it as a free sample with my Teas Etc. order. I would’ve run screaming.

The smell? Both wet and dry reminds me of this little local gift shop that sold Mary Engelbreit stuff and tons of lotions, perfumes, potpourri, and jewelry. I haven’t been there in over a decade and smelling this tea immediately transported me there.

Berries? Not so much. If I do the Jedi Mind-Fuzzing Tea Trick I can sort of taste a hint of fruit. Potpourri? Oh yes. This is like a steeped potpourri. There’s a neat sweetness that lingers around my mouth after I sip, and that’s what gave my tea rating a boost.

I also had a wonderful realization: Tea Etc’s steeping instructions for samples come on the bag that’s tucked into the tins. You cut open the bag, deposit the tea into the tin, and then toss the bag. I think this is why the Organic Relaxation was so very different on my second steep. Just looking at my two tasting notes my first nummy cup was with boiling water. On the second icky cup I had dropped it to a typical temp for tisanes: 180. I’m really raring to go try the Relaxation again, but with the hotter water.

I have enough sample for one more pot and I won’t be dreading that pot. I’m just rather ambivilent about this particular tea. But will I order more of this? No, no I won’t. M

This is another squee-worthy sample of tea that JacquelineM sent me :)

The dry leaf smell is so very nummy — like a delicate black currant candy. The smell of the cup was a lighter more white-teaish version of the dry leaves. I was really surprised at how delicate this tea was. Dainty black currant (which I’ve only had black currants that were like “hey, I’m in your tea — makin’ it all curranty”) and light white tea.

As I was drinking the second lovely steep I was reading Steepster and saw Jessica mention marshmallows for another review (for Golden Moon’s Vanilla Jasmine) and it was a “eureka!” moment. This tea conjures up black currant flavored marshmallows. It’s a very pleasant tea, but I’m not clamoring for more. When I finally place my first 52 Teas order? Yes, I will get a larger bag if available. NE

Doulton’s Shakespeare: A Tasting Note in 5 Acts
Act IV scene 2

“I have no other but a woman’s reason:
I think him so, because I think him so.”
The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act I scene 2

I had forgotten about this tea, and yet it was one I had been very excited to try. With that name — how could I resist? Unfortunately it got lost amongst my books and when I went to grab the Rose Keemun I ended up with this in my hand instead. Woohoo! Surprise tea!

I expected this tea to be dark and brooding, and as it steeped I started brainstorming evil Shakespeare characters. I wasn’t sure what this tea was, so I tried looking it up on the Leland website: no dice. The leaves are such a mixture of browns, greens, and some yellow (sorry my picture washed out the subtle shadings). The dry leaves hadn’t really smelled like much, and when I poured the tea I kept thinking that one of the smells reminded me of something. This tea drove me crazy!

I really enjoyed the first half of this cup, the second half was fine but at that point I was really sitting there and loudly slurping and smacking this tea around in my mouth. My poor cat ran for cover not knowing what on earth I was doing. Is this sweetness an oolong thrown in with an Assam? Is there a bit of lychee? What is that sweetness? As the cup cooled it got more “yeasty.” This tea really starts to remind me of Golden Moon’s Persian Melon (for me, not a good thing). The second steep was “eh” and very much like the Persian Melon with a musky melon sort of yeasty taste but pretty light.

Surprisingly I consider this tea a comedy (regardless of its forboding name): The Two Gentlemen of Verona. A fun play, with some very funny moments, but overall one of Shakespeare’s less remarkable plays (if there is such a thing). NE

Doulton’s Shakespeare: A Tasting Note in 5 Acts
Act IV scene 1

Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest;
Leave thy drink and thy whore,
And keep in-a-door,
And thou shall have more
Than two tens to a score.
King Lear, Act I scene 4

When I received Doulton’s box and eagerly pawed through it I remember seeing this baggie and thinking, “Oh, I’ve tried that — I think it’s one I really liked.” and then continued rummaging. Well, this morning I wanted a Shakespeare tea and I wanted one that would get me going. This is the one I chose. I started drinking it and it was sooo perfect and yummy. Then I hopped on Steepster to see if I had indeed reviewed this before.

My jaw dropped.

This is the tea that I had my mini-meltdown of “why oh why can’t I appreciate black teas?!?!? Waaah!” and ~lauren had given me some encouraging words. This was about a month ago. My oh my, how things have changed! I think the highest contributing factor to my current enjoyment is my new electric kettle. Seriously. I have found that I love most black teas when the water’s heated to 205. Anyone new to tea who happens to stumble across this note: have a way to get accurate temps for your water. It’s not even funny how much of a difference this makes. Seriously. My original rating was 47 and M.

Enter The Fool from King Lear. Such a wonderful character (even though he does disappear) who’s the only sane one in this play. I wrote an epic paper in my Shakespeare course all about Lear and the verbal abuse going on within it. Christopher Moore’s The Fool is also a book that’s been on my “to read” list since it was released. Know that for me to name this tea The Fool is a high compliment. I also feel foolish for my earlier Note where I howled like Lear. I feel like this tea just gave me a talking to and set me straight. Yum. It’s just a great Irish Breakfast tea with a very subtle plum note. NE

Oh. My. Lordy.

I want to marry this tea company. I want to marry someone who works at this tea company. I would seriously consider dropping everything and moving to France in order to have easier access to this tea. This is the best floral green tea that I’ve ever had!!!!!

How can a tea be so complex, delicate, and beyond yummy? Dammann Freres? They really must be fairies masquerading as tea blenders creating rare, precious, and joyful nectar.

Violets? I never really gave much thought to this flower. Violets in this tea are a revelation! Bergamot? I didn’t even realize that there was bergamot in this until I looked at this tea’s description (on my 3rd yummy steep). This is the most delicate and lovely unassuming bergamot!

Okay, I’ll stop rambling. But this is an awesome floral green tea! Thank you so very very very very very very very very much JacquelineM for the sample of this tea!!!!!

ETA: Ummm…TG

Seems only right to drink a “Dragon” tea after a geek-tacular night of rolling dice ;)

Doulton’s Shakespeare: A Tasting Note in 5 Acts
Act III scene 8

Look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under it.
MacBeth, Act I scene 5

This tea is my Lady MacBeth. Part of my decision is due to some tea drama going on in my life. But we shall get to that.

The dry leaves made me think of a really old potpourri that’s almost done with being fragrant. It’s light and not unpleasant. Steeped, the fragrance is more pronounced with more of the pomegranate coming through. The first few sips were surprisingly good — a pleasantly light pomegranate green tea. Unfortunately, right after my first few sips I checked my email and saw that my Samovar order had been delivered, but not to me. I forgot all about my cup as I tried to figure out what the hell happened. I sent an email to Samovar and hope to hear back tomorrow.

When I remembered my tea I was in a foul mood and the cup was completely cold. There was a bitterness there in the cooled cup that hadn’t been there initially. I finished it still in a sour mood and steeped again. The second cup I drank hot. It was much better. I even steeped a third time, but now it seems a bit like soap (not bad enough for me to stop drinking it, mind you).

So I feel like this tea is getting the Lady MacBeth comparison because of my angry somewhat vengeful feelings at the moment. But also that it’s feminine and has many sides. There’s a bite beneath the flowery facade. Also, I can’t resist thinking of “Out, damned spot!” while drinking this somewhat soapy final steep. I shall try the second half of my sample when I’m in a better mood. But for now it’s NE.

♫ Yummy cup of Frou-Frou, hoppin’ through mah cupboard, scoopin’ up the tea tins and boppin’ ‘em on the head. And down came the Tea Fairy and she said: "Yummy cup of Frou-Frou I don’t wanna see you, scoopin’ up the tea tins and boppin’ ‘em on the head. I’ll give you three more chances or I’ll turn you into a Puerh!" ♫

Yes, I needed my Frou-Frou this morning to counteract my case of the Mondays.

After several weeks of lots and lots of black teas and herbals I realized that my poor oolong yixing teapot was so very lonely. And I missed my oolongs! So I decided to open up a new tin this evening.

This is definitely the nicest Wuyi oolong that I’ve tried so far. It had quite a kick on the first steep — quite nutty with a hint of Play Dough (yes, that’s one of many things I associate with Wuyis. Yes, I know that I’m weird). As it cooled it seemed more and more like I was drinking the essence of plant with just a bit-o-butter. Nom! The second steep seemed like the poor tea gave up. I almost gave up on the tea, but I gave it one more go. The third steep is still nothing like the first steep, but it suddenly has a nice floral note to it. But it’s definitely the last steep for this tea.

Next time I shall try this tea in my gaiwan (sorry yixing!). NE

Holy guacamole! I finally got to try this tea courtesy of JacquelineM. Thank you so very much!!!!!

I’m on my third steep (which tastes kind of like a waterier/chocolatier version of Adagio’s Golden Monkey), and had to do a quick peek at others’ notes on this tea. I knew it had great reviews, but I was curious about what others compared this tea to. I think others do a great job of giving full-out notes, so I’ll just add my highlighted impressions:

Yes, these leaves are insane! LOOOONG and a matte black. These might be the coolest leaves that I have yet to see.

I am completely flabbergasted that there are not additives in this tea. I think I want to call this a “black oolong.” Yes, I know that that’s impossible, but what I mean to say is that like an oolong it has a clearly veggie-base that’s not my favorite, but then the magic is what happens all around that base. I could grow to love this tea like I love oolongs. And that’s saying a lot. The only thing holding me back from a higher grade is the chocolate — which here is lovely, but I wouldn’t care to have it too often because of that particular taste in this tea.

I regret not having my first steep at boiling (subsequent ones have been so). My initial response was “Green beans? Yes, green beans.” I wonder how much of that had to do with the lower temp. It was like malty green beans. And there was what another reviewer mentioned: the hint of hash. But then the lightest milk chocolatey notes started to play with my tastebuds as an aftertaste. It was unbelievable. And suddenly, there were about four sips-worth of “MALTED MILKBALLS!” as the green bean taste subsided.

This truly is a remarkable tea. This tea reminds me how amazing tea is and how much I love it. TG