290 Tasting Notes
Spent yesterday and today on a Lapsang Souchong binge. I really like this tea, as my previous tasting notes will tell you. I’m not finding much time to sit and think about teas at the moment so focusing on one I know well gives me the pleasure of the tea without the pain of trying to write a detailed tasting note. Yummy smoky bacon, pine and camp-fire goodness. Slurp!
Flavors: Pine
Preparation
I have never really been a fan of flavoured teas but a friend gave me a sample of this, so I thought I would give it a try. It smells really strongly of sticky toffee pudding so that is a good start. Steve had told me that he found the tea disappointing so I loaded the teapot with more tea than I would otherwise have done and poured on the water. Waves of sticky toffee pudding smell arose from the pot. Good start. After a longer than usual steep, I was able to taste the tea. The base tea is malty and rich (possibly an Assam?), and the gingery sweetness of the pudding comes through with an element of dates. It was really quite good while hot and definitely reflected the name in its flavour, but as it cooled it quickly became bitter and less palatable. I’ve finished the sample now but might be tempted to buy a packet for myself if passing a Whittards, although I do wonder if its sugary sweetness would pall after a while.
Flavors: Caramel, Dates
Preparation
This one is on my list for next I’m in a Whittards. I need it in my life, I think. We’ll have to stop in at one at the next opportunity, because Husband discovered that he very much likes their afternoon Earl Grey, so that’s my way in. :D
This is a tea that I have enjoyed in small quantities. I did not mention in the tasting notes but it does not resteep well at all, so only one cup per pot. If I am passing a Whittards I shall see about picking you some up, Angrboda, if you wish.
No need. It’s pretty easy to get to a Whittards when we’re visiting Husband’s parents. If we want to go shopping, we’ve tended to go to Cambridge, which is far enough away to be an outing and close enough for a suitable day-trip. ‘Tis a place full of lurking dangers. Last time I went past WHSmiths with a mantra of ’it doesn’t exist. It doesn’t exist. It doesn’t exist.’ in my head. I have been known to spend half my pocket money for a full 10 days in there in one fell swoop… Oops! :D
I’ve reached the point now where going to England doesn’t actually feel like really travelling anymore.
I was given a packet of this by a good friend who has decided she does not like puerh teas. This is naturally a deplorable occurrence, but one which has worked significantly to my advantage, because this loose puerh is rather good. I had to guess a bit about quantities and steeping time but previous experience stood me in good stead. As a result, when I drank this tea I got a solid hit of honey and grape followed by a tongue-puckering, grape-like dryness in the aftertaste. Further resteepings led to a mellowing of the honey flavour, but the grape persisted throughout as did the astringency. Beyond the flavour, this tea has happy and relaxed qi. It filled me with a sense of well-being after I drank it, which was most welcome. One thing I did not notice was the bitterness that the company’s website suggested should be there. I’m not going to complain about that though. This tea is a tea you experience with your whole body and the lack of the advertised bitterness does not detract from that experience.
Flavors: Grapes, Honey
Preparation
Sunday morning tea is often a flowering tea in our house. I picked this practically at random from my tin of Teavivre’s flowering teas. The bloom is lovely and reminiscent of spring. It displays well in the glass teapot. The liquor is pale, buttery and with a hint of pepper. It’s sweet and refreshing, and you can really taste the silver needles in it.
Flavors: Butter, Peppercorn
Preparation
i love how teavivre flowering teas actually taste so good! I’ve had many from other companies that are almost tasteless or turn bitter in no time.
I totally agree, TeaFairy. This one was particularly good because it had greater depth of flavour than others I have had. It seems like some manufacturers focus too much on the visual aesthetic rather than the whole experience. After all, you don’t make it solely to look at it. Teavivre have produced a good one here.
I was kindly sent a sample of this tea by a fellow nameless Steepsterite and finally have a chance to try it, having had a throat infection for a week and a half. Tea tasting has not really been on the menu for a while, because I have had my head down finishing my thesis, so it is a real pleasure to come back to it with a solid shu.
The dry leaf smells like Shu with no fishiness or other unpleasant aromas. It’s quite a woody aroma like cedar or something similar. The liquor is medium bodied and dark. The same aroma of cedar is continued in the aroma of the liquor, and also into the taste. It is woody and earthy with a citrus finish that lasts on the tongue and an undertone of cinnamon. All in all a pleasant tea that would be welcome at most times.
Flavors: Cedar, Cinnamon, Earth, Wood
Preparation
Following up on the last note, I tried this tea with much more leaf and it does come across better. I expect it ought to improve with age too.
Preparation
So what ratio did you use?
7g of tea in a 130ml pot. It gave the whole thing more of a buzz and I thought I could see how they described it as they did better. It definitely needed the pot loading with tea properly. I have run out now, but would consider increasing the amount of tea to 8-10g in future if I get some more of this one.
This is a buttery, smooth jasmine tea. It is light and refreshing. The pearls will stand resteeping several times and do not lose their potency quickly. I keep this one in the cupboard all the time, because it is my favourite Jasmine tea.
Preparation
I’ve been searching for a good jasmine … added this to my shopping list to try … thanks!
TeaExplorer, since Teavivre makes it easy on us by sells samples at very low cost, I think you should also add while at it Silver Jasmine Green. No one does jasmine like Teavivre. The pearls and this one are my favourite jasmine teas ever, but that’s just IMHO :-)
I received a sample of this as a present from a kind fellow steepsterite (steepsterer?) and have had it on the go for the past three days. It’s smooth with a little edge of something like camphor. There’s a richness to the liquor that I like, and it suits my need in the morning for something thicker than the usual teas. It seems to have reasonably good endurance too, hence it has lasted well and the leaf is only now reaching the end of its life.
