714 Tasting Notes
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: 8 ounces 180 degree filtered boiled water
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Smell: grassy, vegetal
Flavor: grassy, bitter
Body: Light (MilitiaJim) Medium (AmazonV)
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: light greenish brown
I didn’t have high hopes, and I was right, but it was free. No full leaf here.
Post-Steep Additives: Honey, which took the bite out of the bitter but it was still there, reminded me of a more bitter Arizona tea green tea with honey.
Resteep: didn’t work out, too weak
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 3 teaspoons
Additives: none
Water: 170 filtered, boiled
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Smell: vegital, smoky, reminded me of a garden
Flavor: grassy, vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet and tangy
Liquor: light, nearly clear, green
As I’ve said before I don’t really love the grassy vegital taste of greens, but I keep trying them anyway. I was worried the leaves didn’t unfurl enough – was the water too cool? too hot? Did I not steep long enough? I tried a little at 2 minutes and it was still too weak, then decided at 3 it was enough as I didn’t want it to get bitter. I think adding anything would overpower this tea.
Resteep:
I tried 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes. All were too weak and by 7 it was too bitter.
Preparation
Steep Information:
Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces boiling filtered water
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Smell: Clove – Orange, reminds me of christmas
Flavor: orange, tea, spice
Body: full
Aftertaste: woody spice
Liquor: light reddish brown
Too much spice, not enough tea. I know it says cinnamon but I tasted clove and couldn’t find the cinnamon.
Post-Steep Additives: Added sugar – also added honey (two separate brews) the sweetness in both cases brought out more of the orange, smoothed the flavor and gave a nice sweetness.
Resteep:
Weak spiced water, no tea flavor.
Not recommended
Preparation
Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: 20 ounces hot spigot water from Starbucks Barista
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes before first sip, but i left it in for the duration I drank it on the train, approx 30 minutes or more
Served: Hot
Notes: This is a very busy flavor, I was not able to pick out many of the individual flavors. I think that although it is a good tea, it is too overwhelming and i prefer other herbal Tazo flavors over this one. During the resteeping process the string ripped the filterbag where it was attached with glue. This was disappointing as this is supposed to be a higher grade teabag and tea from Tazo.
Smell: Chamomile, Floral, Vegetal, A little mint very busy and strong heady odor
Flavor: Chamomile, Mint
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: tingly, flowers, a non-hot burning even on the front of my tongue
Liquor: Honey yellow-brown
Resteep: I re-steeped for 44 minutes, it remained light bodied, lighter colored, and weaker scented and flavored (same 20 ounce but with filtered boiled water). I do not recommend resteeping this tea.
Preparation
Tried 2 teabags (same everything as prior) and it did bring out the tea flavor more and make the spice more of a compliment than the dominant flavor. Next added 1 packet of white sugar. I could only tell it affecting the aftertaste by adding a sweet tang, nothing else changed. This did not change my opinion of the tea. There are many better ways to enjoy tea without caffeine and this seems a waste unless it is free.
Preparation
Amount: 1 teabag
Additives: none
Water: flavia hot spigot in flavia cup
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot
Notes: This was a gift, and I appreciate having a decaf tea when I work late as I am apparently old and can’t handle my caffeine anymore. Perhaps I need 2 bags for a flavia sized cup? I do enjoy the golden foil stay fresh individual wrapped teabags for their convenience.
Smell: peach and cinnamon, for some reason it brings to mind a peach dessert. I am not detecting the clove but there is a spiciness to the smell in addition to the cinnamon.
Flavor: unremarkable, water with hints of clove and cinnamon. The tea may be hiding in there but it’s too weak for me to taste.
Body: medium, only because I can feel the spice
Aftertaste: warm spice, cinnamon
Liquor: medium opacity brown
Preparation
Amount: 1 bag
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces boiling filtered
Steep Time: a little over 6 minutes
Served: Hot
Notes:
Amazonv: Added honey, had no effect but to sweeten aftertaste. It seemed like two separate flavors.
MilitiaJim: Are you kidding? The honey romped and stomped all over it.
Smell: Faintly raspberry / berry (I know there are no berries in it)
AmazonV Flavor: Citrus / sour
MilitiaJim Flavor: I am drinking sour Skittles, without the sweet center.
Body: Full
Aftertaste: Tangy berry
Liquor: dark deep red
Resteep tried for at least 15 minutes, it was too weak.
This tea was a gift and part of a pretty little Winter Collection set including a teapot. I do adore the pretty silken pyramid infusers and the cute leaf tag.
Preparation
Amount: 2 teabags
Additives: none
Water: 20 ounces from hot water spigot
Steep Time: a little over 10 minutes? time walking back from Starbucks
Served: Hot
Notes: It got over-brewed by time and temperature, unfortunately not much in my control. The tea flowed over my tongue and seemed to have a silky smooth affect and coating my tongue yet at the same time the flavor itself was unremarkable. I think with a honey I would have enjoyed it more, or maybe sugar. I also admit do not yet love a green tea, I drink them in hopes of finding one I love.
Smell: vegetal
Flavor: smooth, silky
Body: medium
Aftertaste: bitter
Liquor: honey colored, golden yellow-brown
Resteep: I tried for about 5? or more minutes with hot spigot water to resteep the bags (2 bags, 16 ounces) and it came out with little smell, medium body, same smooth flavor but much lighter flavor less silky, and still a bitter after-taste. I will conclude this does not resteep well.
Preparation
Possibly use more leaf (bags) instead of a long steeping time?
1 teabag for a 12 ounce, 2 teabags for a 20 ounce, not sure what the 16 ounce gets
I wish i had my scale at work – the bags are pretty hefty and i don’t think the proportions are too badly off actually (assuming 1 teaspoon per 6 ounces) at least for the 12 ounce
I personally always get a tall double bagged. I don’t bother w/ the other sizes (except the iced venti) because the ratio of tea/water isn’t right for my tastes. Temp is a factor which you can’t control, but if you don’t have time to sit and watch the clock. Set the timer on your cell phone, watch, or pocket timer for 3-5 min as soon as they go in and then chuck them when the timer goes off.
I love my pocket scale. I take it w/ me everywhere I may need it.
i have a lovely pocket scale but i leave it at home with my IR thermometer as i have enough stuff on my desk at work / in my purse. i tried doing the cellphone timer thing but i bet you know how offices can get (the starbucks is down in the mall under my building so really no outside or handy trashcans) but the herbals bare up better to the treatment – i just am anxious to try all the new starbucks teas. I am thinking of buying them if i like them once my cupboard is less full (repeats mantra, no more teas we need room for food)
Amount: 2 teabags
Additives: none
Water: 20 ounces hot water spigot
Steep Time: a little over 10 minutes
Served: Hot
Notes: Purchased at Starbucks. I would probably like it more if it brewed a bit less (very minty) and had some honey.
Smell: minty, clears your nose
Flavor: mint
Body: full
Aftertaste: sweet, tingly, mint
Liquor: dark green-brown
Most tea bags don’t resteep very well I’ve found.
Oh yes I agree, but I keep holding out hope…maybe one will? plus i’m a little OCD and once i make a process i stick to it (currently: take picture, steep tea, take picture, drink, maybe add stuff, resteep, blog)