714 Tasting Notes
Steep Information:
Amount: 4g
Additives: none, MilitiaJim: Honey
Water: 2 zarafina cups filtered water
Tool: Zarafina Green-Loose-Medium
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: very light bad to get very close to smell it, vegetal and sweet
Steeped Tea Smell:
AmazonV: again a very light smell, vegetal, light, sweet, minty
MilitiaJim: medicinal
Bobbie: bengay
Flavor:
AmazonV: delicate, light, sweet, minty, refreshing
MilitiaJim: earthy like an unwashed potato, maybe dirty cinnamon
Bobbie: eww
Body: Light
Aftertaste: minty, refreshing, tingly
Liquor: pale yellow-green
So Bobbie and MilitiaJim gave me their teas to finish as they did not like this tea at all. I was surprised I liked this tea and found it refreshing as I am not a green tea person.
I did find it earthier with the clover honey. Not in a bad way though.
I think this tea came though best without additives.
Post-Steep Additives: none
Resteep: Zarafina, 2 c, Green-Loose-Medium
pretty much the same as the first steep, less tingly though
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/life-in-teacup-loose-leaf-green-tea_11.html
Steep Information:
Amount: 2 teabags
Water: 12 ounces filtered, boiling water
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: no scent really, paper maybe
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet honey, chamomile flowers, maybe a tinge of the licorice?
Flavor: light licorice, chamomile, very watery
Body: Light
Aftertaste: none
Liquor: deep dark brown
I blame the fact these are probably a good few years old and have only been in the waxed paper bag they originally came in. I purchased them a long time ago and shoved them into the cupboard and neglected them ever since.
Perhaps 1 bag would have been sufficient, but they were so old and not scented….alas not the comforting cup I was seeking.
Out of deference to the poor conditions and age of the bag I will refrain from rating this tea, I have memories of it being a good bed time tea.
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/celestial-seasonings-teabag-herbal-tea.html
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 Teabag, 2.1g
Water:154° 8 ounce hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 4 minutes, I started with 2 and kept adding
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: not much smell from the bag
Steeped Tea Smell: not much smell from the tea
Flavor: brown water, no flavor
Liquor: dark brown
This came as part of a gift and is of unknown age and history so I am refraining from rating this tea. I had very low expectations to begin with as I look down on decaffeinated teas (caffeine free is a different story) but I was expecting bitter not flavorless.
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/twinings-of-london-teabag-black-tea.html
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 bag 2.2g
Additives: none
Water:150° hot spigot water
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes (Steep.It)
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: peppermint, lemongrass, lemon verbena
Steeped Tea Smell: lemon verbena
Flavor: lemon, not a very tart shocking lemon but a nice soothing lemon
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet floral
Liquor: medium honey brown
Gift from Janefan, yea! (only 3 more flavors she sent to try and review left)
I was expecting tart and sour and instead got nice and smooth.
I wasn’t feeling too well and was hoping this herbal would help.
I believe this is a good herbal, and recommend it as a under the weather stash.
Post-Steep Additives: honey, mmmmm delicious like a lemon candy
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/bigelow-teabag-herbal-tea-i-love-lemon.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 2 zarafina cups
Tool: Zarafina Strong-Loose Leaf-Herbal
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
MilitiaJim: It smells like root beer with a hint of overcarbonization.
AmazonV: Minty birch beer.
Steeped Tea Smell:
MilitiaJim: This tastes “funny,” And by “funny” I mean exactly like root beer. Except hot. And flat.
AmazonV: smells minty, birch beer, just like birch beer I tried to save too long and kept until it went flat and was warm…with mint.
Flavor: rootbeer, followed by mint
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: mint
Liquor: deep dark reddish-brown
I was skeptical of this tea. There have been many teas in the past that sounded good, maybe even sounded and smelled good but didn’t taste like I wanted.
So i purchased a sampler from the website. It holds about 6 tsp. I like that it comes in a nice ziplock bag.
I do not like that the website does not have ingredients listed. The sample bag does have them listed.
This tea is confusing….it’s hot root beer…it smells the part, and tastes the part perfectly. I think the float part is a bit of a stretch though.
We need to try this iced, and buy some more, it’s delicious!
Post-Steep Additives: lactose free milk, makes it creamier and hides the mint in the sips but not the after taste.
A touch of German rock sugar only makes it better.
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/thenecessiteas-loose-leaf-rooibos-tea.html
This sounds really good, I’m curious to read what you think of it iced when you try it that way!
sadly it will need to wait i think, there is one cup left and I am saving it for my mom…she will think this tea is hysterical. however if the resteep turns out strong i may toss that in the fridge hopes
resteep is good, not as strong but definitely root beer, it’s going in the fridge tonight!
Iced (in freezer) left my brain a bit less confused about the whole warm root beer thing. when I can afford to buy a whole thing i will do iced for sure
Good to hear! I think this will be a purchase for me when I can afford more tea and have more tea retail space in my cupboards again.
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces filtered boiling
Steep Time: a little over 7 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: red tea (woody)
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet red tea, woody
Flavor: smooth red tea, floral
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: deep reddish-brown
This is one of the flavors in my Mighty Leaf Variety 15 pack
It’s a solid rooibos that isn’t very strongly woody (how i usually describe rooibos as tasting). I wouldn’t mind in another variety pack but I personally would rather a fruity flavor than floral as flavor in my tea.
Also, I could not taste the hibiscus at all, and I love hibiscus.
Post-Steep Additives: none
Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/mighty-leaf-tea-teabag-rooibos-tea.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Additives: none
Tool: Zarafina herbal-loose-strong 2 cups
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: coconut, pineapple
Steeped Tea Smell: not much, little hints of pineapple and coconut but you have to sniff hard right over the cup
Flavor: rum, coconut, slight pineapple
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: deep dark reddish-brown
This tea does not taste woody like rooibos, and it is sweeter (due to flavoring or not I am not sure as I have never had pure honeybush). I very much enjoy the flavors as the blend very well into a smooth fruity fun drink. The flavors are all mellow, but present. Don’t expect the same kick in the pants strong flavor as an actual pina colada and you will be happy.
I think it would do very well iced.
Post-Steep Additives: added one teaspoon sweetened cream of coconut, delicious! Highly suggested.
Resteep: weaker but enjoyable
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/52teas-loose-leaf-honeybush-herbal-tea.html
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 bag, 1.7g
Additives: none
Water:8 ounces filtered boiling
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell:
AmazonV: fruity, mango
MilitiaJim: vaguely tropical, hint of mango
Steeped Tea Smell:
AmazonV: Mango, black tea
MilitiaJim: Does AmazonV know what a mango smells /tastes like?
AmazonV: I peel your mangoes!
MilitiaJim: generic fruit
AmazonV: Mango snob
Flavor:
AmazonV: Mango, black tea
MilitiaJim: slight fruit and black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste:
AmazonV: bitter
MilitiaJim: none
Liquor: deep dark brown
Republic of tea sample (included in catalog they send)
Neither of us got the sunflower flavor.
Post-Steep Additives: 1/2 tsp white sugar, got rid of the bitter for me, he didn’t notice anything
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/republic-of-tea-teabag-black-tea-mango.html
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces
Tool: Mesh basket strainer in cup
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: chocolate, it reminded me of a tobacco store
Steeped Tea Smell: chocolate
Flavor: very smooth, lightly chocolate, black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, slightly bitter very breifly
Liquor: dark brown
Steepster Traveling Teabox tea
MilitiaJim did not like it at all.
Neither of us got the hazelnut, maybe that was what I was mistaking for tobacco?
Either way a delicious chocolate tea.
Either way after everyone rating this so highly on Steepster I was expecting too much. This is a great tea and I will probably purchase it occasionally but to fall in love perhaps I need to tweak my preparation methods?
Post-Steep Additives: none
Resteep: 6 minutes, lighter color and taste but still good
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/harney-and-sons-loose-leaf-black-tea.html
Resteep2: Zarafina, 2 c, Green-Loose-Strong
pretty much the same as the first steep, back to tingly
Resteep3: Zarafina, 2 c, Green-Loose-Strong
finally! watery but drinkable
Resteep4: Zarafina, 2 c, Green-Loose-Strong
watery, yet drinkable sigh
seriously, SO MUCH TEA, I guess this is a great tea for work, keep on going all day.
I was thinking. The last tea brewed here was the Root Beer Float which was kind of minty. What if the zarafina took on the minty flavor? Even after I washed it? I have enough for 1 cup left of dry leaf I can try another day though another method to see if the mint came from the root beer float.
How long did you initially steep this for? I had this earlier today and did not enjoy it, but also didn’t get the sweetness that you did..maybe I overdid it.
i let the zarafina brew it, but when i brew it manually i start taking little test sips at 30 seconds and ever 30 after that since i brew greens pretty cool (170 175 ish)