Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea

Backlogging. 6 days ago. Tuesday morning.

The February Backlog: From the 1st to today.

Two steeps. Think the first one was with honey.

Yesterday morning, I wanted a strong cup to kick me awake and was thinking A&D’s Holiday Blend. But I woke up coughing and with a stuffy nose. Not sick, don’t worry. It was really cold over night and even with the heat turns down, it ran a lot and I think really dried me out. So I wanted to add honey to my tea to sooth my throat/cough. This one goes better with honey I think. So I went with this. Though I think I remember the Holiday Blend being okay with honey too. But wasn’t in the mood to try it and be wrong. This hit the spot and I drank it all up.

I drank the second steep later on while studying.

Yesterday, I woke up with a headache that was bad enough that I went back and napped in my bad. It was considerably better once I woke up a couple hours later. I then had this tea and continued along that trajectory.

2nd steep: 20+ mins.

Backlogging. 12 days ago. Thursday morning.

Another tasty cup indeed. Made with the more leaf method. lol

The second steep I forgot for about 20 minutes and omg was it good. This I will have to do again sometime too.

Yesterday morning I steeped this one again as my wake up cup and it provided the same tasty goodness it had the previous morning. I think the addition of quite a bit more leaf to these A&D teas is proving to be quite a good thing. I am again finding myself reaching for plain black teas first thing in the morning instead of pondering which flavored black tea called to me.

2nd steep: 7 mins
With breakfast of over easy eggs with siracha and multigrain toast with butter and strawberry conserves.

Yesterday morning I tried out the new and improved leaf amount from A&D’s Holiday Blend on this one. I had been having the same problem with this tea – on the weak side and kind of generic tasting. And boy did it help! So much more yum now. I taste oatmeal or some kind of warm grain with maybe a touch of hay or straw as it cools.

2nd steep: 7 mins
With honey. Soothing to my still sore throat and newly developed cough. (But it’s okay because I’m actually feeling much better and like I’m on the getting over end of this cold.)

Sipped on while still very warm this morning and waking up. Watched my soap as I drank this tea.

I had a slight upset stomach yesterday so I had a cup of this one in the afternoon when I wanted a tea. It’s a good version of plain black tea. And it didn’t bother my stomach at all. =)

Yesterday I woke up not hungry enough for breakfast yet and just made myself a cup of this tea. I made it the same way as I did the previous day with the same results – a bit more leaf and a bit longer steep. I enjoyed the cup of tea; it’s definitely better made this way.

I had the second steep while online that afternoon. Light, but I think drinkable.

2nd steep: 7 mins

Skipping over a backlog of tasting notes numbering in the mid 30s. I had hoped doing that the first time was a one time thing; now I’m just hoping this doesn’t become a habit.

This tea had been pretty meh and generic to me. Nice, but not something I find myself reaching for. It isn’t very strong so I don’t find myself drinking it in the morning when I can’t decide what I want either.

So I have started to tinker with it. I’ve really only had a it few times so far. I increased the steeping time and the amount of leaf I used a little.

Now it seems like a more solid version of its former self, if that makes any sense, and I do like it more this way. I don’t know how much more I could increase the steeping time or leaf amount without it veering into too bitter or too strong tasting.

It paired well with a mango and some strawberries and made for a tasty breakfast.

Bold, rich, full, but very smooth. Another Damn Fine hit.

Up from the depths and rolling (momentarily) out of the gutters. I’m back to smoking cigarettes, the dreads were cut last week, new job started, leaving the bookstore behind for good in a matter of days. These last eight months have not been kind. Trouble at every turn, mistakes were made, both lessons and love forgotten. Odd winds are blowing in, carrying the faint smell of new beginnings. As anyone who’s seen a storm roll in knows, a light breeze can turn into a thunderous affair before anyone’s had a chance to realize what has happened.

Many things went awry in the time I’ve been gone, and one that I’ve missed the most is tea. You see I don’t handle heat all that well. As the temperature rose and the madness I try so desperately to keep at bay with it, this drink we love so much was cast aside and forgotten about. Too hot I told myself. You don’t have the time. You don’t really want iced tea. You’d rather drink gin. Lots and lots and lots of gin. Who would drink that scalding lettuce juice when you have this beautiful clear nectar dancing among tonic water and dashes of lime. The cool glass sweating so beautifully. Reminding you that she holds the key to relief from the warmth that is trying most successfully to smother you.

Well now. That temptress winter is approaching, and an increase in financial status is coming by to say hello, so what better way to greet them than with your old, neglected, yet ever faithful friend tea? After a few steepings of the Earl to talk to some sense into yourself, you know what to do. You know exactly will help set you back on a more satisfying path.

A kiss. Not just any kiss though, not for you. You’ve always got to do things the hard way. That’s always been your problem. Well go on, you’re in luck. You know exactly where to find her. Every time you walked by that cabinet you heard her song. Faintly creeping out like a distant memory just lingering. Now though it’s picked up. Louder, sweeter, more enticing. It’s time again to embrace the Mermaid’s Kiss.

(Yup, still wonderful. A few steepings were greatly appreciated while watching Deathly Hallows part 2.)

Still absolutely delicious. I’m no longer picking up Pez (which is kind of a shame), so that was probably the only awesome thing that came from my plague. With that said, the flavor is still wonderful. I feel like I’m getting more of that slightly roasted oolong. and picking up less of the magnolia scent. There’s still plenty of the magnolia there though. It’s still wonderfully subtle while still maintaining a strong presence. Let me reiterate that I really, really, like the magnolia scenting. It’s a floral taste without coming across as being florally flavored if that makes sense. This was another “family visit taste test” and mom had the same reaction as a lot of the reviewers before A&D announced what the scenting was.

“It’s not jasmine, but it reminds me of it. …Magnolia? I can see that, but I never would have guessed.”

Mom and sister both liked it, but mom seemed to really enjoy it.

I’m leaving the temp on default because I don’t have a thermometer here and honestly have no idea what it was at.

Andrews & Dunham are ruining all other teas for me. I’m so torn with the desire to just alternate between their teas everyday, and the need to stretch it out because I don’t want to run out.

I can’t give this a proper review. I’ve had a dreadful day, and about half way through, I realized I was starting to get sick. I’ve got that burning sinus that just won’t clear nonsense going on, which always happens before I get cold like symptoms. As a result, I’m not fully capable of picking up flavor notes on this. Yes, the floral magnolia is there, but no overpoweringly so. I think I might hate Jasmine (I need to give their Jasmine green a second chance before I give it away), but this is more subdued and enjoyable. I keep thinking I’m tasting Pez, which is arguably my favorite candy. It’s that after taste of Pez that I’m getting. That lingering beauty. Seriously though, my taste buds are out of whack, so I don’t think they can be trusted. Either way, I just crushed this cup, and I’m almost leaping out of my chair for a second.

This is an amazingly well balanced tea. I’ve only had one other smoky tea, and as much as I enjoyed it, this puts it to shame. The smokiness is there, but it’s not strutting up to smack you in the face in some odd culturally obscure greeting. It greets you kindly with a nice firm handshake, but before you can ask about how it’s been, you’re already being introduced to it’s friend sweetness. Even straight, the balance between smokey and sweet is really impeccable. I’m already struggling to figure out how I’m going to not just destroy this and the Earl Grey. No milk and sugar are needed, but I did add just a bit to the second steeping and it was delightful. I imagine I’ll handle the rest of the tin in the same fashion (naked on first steep, dressed for prom on the second).

Damn Andrews & Dunham and their Damn Fine Tea. I want to order every single set of this series they’ve got left (9 still? Maybe 7-8 by now?) but I just don’t have the money for that. I now officially hate limited edition teas. I’ve only fixed one cup of this and the Earl Grey (not counting re-steeps), and I’m already having separation anxiety over the thought of running out.

Still wonderful. Time is taking it’s toll, as these beautiful tins aren’t exactly air tight, but it still tastes magnificent none the less.

Absolutely love it. You’ll get a full review later, but I’m late to see Electronic 6.

Thank you Ian for this sample! I’ve taken some time getting to the bottom of my sample box so I’m sorry to keep Ian waiting. Now I’m in an hurry waiting for new deliveries to arrive from my April purchases (I’m an addict) and want to start with all the waiting reviews finished.
For Happy New Year, I followed regular steeping regulations for a Bai Mu Dan which was a mistake. Too short on the steeping and too cool a temp. I should have read the vendor review in this case first because it says steep 7 minutes and much hotter water. Explains why my first pot was flat and weak at 2 minutes. Not giving up, the first extraction was so poor that most of the tea essence was still inside the leaves ready for a proper second go.
Now the second (almost first) steep at almost boiling and 7 minutes. If this is highly forgiving tea like the vendor says, then I must agree that any other tea would have gone all bitter and this didn’t. There is a little vegital flavor but I can’t taste any floral notes. Maybe if it cools a bit. I’m waiting. And waiting. And waiting. No floral notes.
Not very impressed to tell you the truth. I’ve been spoiled with other Bai Mu Dan’s that are so beautiful that maybe I’m looking for the same here. This is just flat. There is a bit of astringency and vanilla cookie on the finish sort of. I’m feeling that I’m in a wind tunnel with this tea wanting to like it because everyone else does…but I don’t. Every time I walk towards the wind…I get pushed back to the wall. This is not good to me.

Backlog from last night.

I really like this Bai Mu Dan. It’s verrrrry light (although all white teas typically are). The leaves were pretty green but once brewed it was obvious that this was a white tea. The scent was very fresh-slightly vegetal with a floral hint somewhere in there.

The taste was phenomenal. I was in the mood for a light tea and this definitely satisfied that desire. The word that I instantly thought of when I tasted it was fresh-it was very spring-esque, and it definitely invoked the feeling of being in a field in early April (that sounds cheesy but that’s what I thought of). It started of a little grassy and vegetal (almost nutty) and then at the swallow a lovely floral note came out.

Very good!

Grumpy. Blinking sleep from my eyes.

I’d made a small pot of this mid-afternoon yesterday. I’d resteeped the leaves directly after I finished it then. But didn’t drink the second pot then. I’m drinking it now. In a large mug. B/c I need to get caffeine into me. Also, it’s a good cup. =)

In other tea-related news. I got a variable temperature kettle [http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top] for Xmas from my parents. I luvs it !!

The July TeaLog Catchup !

I tried 30 seconds less time. But no, that just made it taste like a weaker version of what I was used to. I think this one just is what it is, a good strong rich cup, no matter how you make it.

2 steeps.

The July TeaLog Catchup !

Not a wild success [yet] in the more leaf but less steep time for a stronger cup experiment. But always a good, strong, rich cup and always enjoyed.

2 steeps.

A note on the ‘more leaf but less steep time for a stronger cup experiments’: Trying this has greatly changed the way my non-flavored black teas taste to me for the better (I can pick out more notes in them and the notes show up stronger to me etc), and also made most flavored blacks more enjoyable. This tealog seemed like a good place to mention this as I’ve continued on with it with good results because it [the tealog] was short! lol

The Early July TeaLog Catchup !

I tried this one with more leaf, normal non-increased steep time too. Not as much of a difference, I think. But the jury is still out.

2nd steep: 20+ mins.

The Early July TeaLog Catchup !

In for a nice strong black after the last one, and boy did this deliver.

2nd steep: approx 15 mins.