259 Tasting Notes
The tea looks and tastes good and that’s probably one of the most important things. However, I couldn’t help but feel a little let down when really looking at the company. Despite my critical review, I do feel like these fellow tea lovers are really trying, but are perhaps just making a few mistakes along the way. I hope they can learn from them and this review. A little more consistency with the product and website wording would go a long way to eliminating any future confusion with the subscription service! At the moment this is a good service, but it’s by no means the best service.
For more: https://www.tastethetea.co.uk/2017/07/25/true-tea-club-subscription-uk/
Cranberry leaves processed in the same way tea!
Aroma: An odd mix of slightly fruity and slightly earthy notes.
Flavour: Blatant fruity, almost tart taste, that combines with light peppered and floral notes. The finish contains small hints of the malty flavour familiar to black tea, giving a final layer of depth and an implausible complexity that makes it hard to believe this is a caffeine free herbal tea.
Final Thoughts: I was completely and utterly blown away by the intricacy and exclusivity of this tea, and the effort Tea in the City obviously put into sourcing and presenting such a unique product to the English market. For those suffering the “all appearance and no substance” problem, which Tea in the City suggests is common for those seeking a good herbal brew, this tea seems to be the answer, offering depth in flavour that’s actually unbelievably satisfying.
Flavors: Floral, Fruity, Malt, Pepper, Stonefruits
Preparation
Aroma: Sweet, like plunging your face into a cheese cake.
Flavour: Delightfully light bodied and gentle, yet flavoursome. A little addictive, particularly for those with a sweet tooth. The initial hit of vanilla, which is so, so, so satisfying, is followed by a mild grassy undertone and a fudge like finish.
Final Thoughts: Sencha’s grassy notes are often considered the pinnacle of summer green tea vibes. Yet, the vanilla served well to tone down the typical imposing flavours of classic sencha, turning this tea into a cosy brew, that could easily become a friend in winter.
Flavors: Creamy, Grass, Sweet, Vanilla
Preparation
Aroma: Strong, brittle citric notes, punchy lemon scent.
Flavour: First taste, disappointing. Despite containing wakame, there’s no exotic pzazz. It’s a little savoury, sure, but mostly, it’s all lemony. However, the flavours feel organic and pleasing. All this is coming from someone who isn’t super into sencha and hates hot lemon!
Final Thoughts
For me, personally, I am so adverse to lemon, particularly when it’s hot, that Sencha Seaweed Wakame is really not a tea I would ever come back to. BUT. It’s so well created that I can completely appreciate the notes of the tea. The Gilded Teapot has turned a tea I would normally gag at the thought of, into something I could, almost happily, sip at.
Flavors: Grass, Lemon, Lemongrass, Umami
Preparation
It’s great to see a fruity blend that doesn’t focus predominantly on the fruit. I loved that the green tea came together WITH the fruit, rather than it being one or the other. Ultimately, Pineapple Sorbet taught me to always give it a go, because tea can, and will, surprise you.
For more: www.TastetheTea.co.uk
Flavors: Fruity, Lemon, Mineral, Pleasantly Sour, Sour, Toasty
Preparation
This is a good earl grey, with a strong bergamot flavour and without any synthetic profiles. The vanilla is subtle, and despite my preference for a stronger vanilla note, I really enjoyed this, particularly in the afternoons at work. It’s perfect for providing that awakening boost after lunch and sweet enough to suppress chocolate cravings. A definite job well done here.
Flavors: Bergamot, Creamy, Earl Grey, Vanilla
Preparation
A delicate green tea flavour caresses the tongue, encircled by slight floral and cherry notes. It’s simple, which is why this tea invites the same tranquillity of a Zen garden. It’s easy to image the feel of the sun’s heat on your face and it’s stark contrast to the occasional touches of a chill breeze; to see a landscape of cherry blossoms petals, that fall with the gentlest of movements, slowly descending through the air, until they land in a babbling stream of water and are graciously carried into the serenity of a koi filled pond.
Fleur de Geisha is a lightly fragrant green tea that whisks you away to another land. Its gentle and relaxing and exactly what you need in the middle of a busy day.
Preparation
Leaves of Provence by Mighty Leaf is a powerful blend, having the ability to energise with caffeine and mint, yet calm and relax through the properties of lavender, which is known to be a dominating flavour. Fortunately, its inclusion in Leaves of Provence is just right, providing a soothing scent and subtle flavours. Whenever I drank this, I would daydream of laying in European sun, closing my eyes and letting the aromas dilute my actual surroundings. However, the taste doesn’t quite narrate the south of France for me, the crisp, herby notes navigating my senses a little further afield, to the likes of Italy. Then again, I have yet to visit Provence, so perhaps I just need to be more travelled to make the connection! Who knows!? Have you been to Provence? What would your Provencal mix contain?
Flavors: Citrus, Lavender, Malt, Mint
Preparation
This is a great blend, that I absolutely adore, but I felt like it was so easy to get wrong. The aroma is absolutely amazing and will completely appeal to those who prefer sweet over savoury and anything creamy. However, it smells so good that its all too easy to build up the flavour profile in your mind. Don’t. The taste is similar, but just not as strong, so retain this in mind and you shouldn’t be disappointed. Also, I can’t stress this enough, be so careful with your brewing times and temperatures. It makes such a big difference brewing this at around 70-80 for a shorter time than recommended.
Flavors: Creamy, Jasmine, Milk, Toasted
Preparation
My first thoughts when sipping this was that this was a winter tea. Despite this, I think Sweet Love is perfect for Valentines day. After all, the first day of spring isn’t until late March, it’s still a little cold and grey and the evenings are still closing in at around 5.30PM. It’s all pretty miserable and glum and actually, I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite ready to unwrap myself from my hot water bottle and duvet fueled evening hibernation. It’s still too cold and dark to venture too far from these comforts and so, I can think of few other companions to keep me warm this Valentines if my Boyf doesn’t pull through with something!
For me: www.Tastethetea.co.uk
