Andrews & Dunham Damn Fine Tea

Brewed it a bit stronger today. The malty, sugary notes that I’m used to are really coming out this time. The aftertaste of Assam reminds me so much of a honey taffy my mom used to make… Seriously crave-worthy. Bumping up the rating a few points.

I was super-excited to see that the new A&D series featured an Assam… my favoritest of teas. I got my order last night, and waited patiently until the morning to try it out.

I held off on this review until my second cup, because the first just didn’t seem to have much to it. It’s a bit lighter than a few of the Assams I’ve tried. Still a good cup of tea, though. Definitely a smooth, mellow Assam.

I also think that I might not be tasting things properly this morning, so I may have to adjust my rating later on. I feel kind of… meh.

Aye Captain! This smells NOM! The leaf is pretty – little tan tips cresting throughout the dark brown sea of leaf. It’s got a dark, rich scent. Not quite cocoa, but teetering on that edge of decadence.

Once brewed up, it’s a beautiful chestnut color. It’s got an aroma that to me is the essence of tea – that brisk tang of quintessential tea.

Flavor-wise? The captain’s got a softer side! It’s a smooth, mellow initial sip followed by a drying tannic zing. He’s not a wuss, this definitely is a wake-me-up morning tea – I just expected more of a kick in the pants from the seafaring swashbuckler.

Overall assessment? Good tea. Yum.

Yum.. happy afternoon tea!

Ok, more thoughts on this, although I have a feeling my rating and thoughts may change a little more tomorrow as well. I am not getting the silky mouthfeel you can get from some oolongs, nor any of the creamy or buttery flavor. (And yes, I totally feel like a poser saying mouthfeel) What I am getting is a lot of light floral tones and a hint of fruit. Sweet but dry. This is yummy, but isn’t my favorite oolong ever. What I want to try tomorrow is to resteep with more leaf/less water and a shorter time (the package recommends 5 minutes, which just feels long. Who knows. If I change the parameters, I may like it more. :)

First comment – un-tea-related: WOW that was fast shipping. I only ordered on what? Thursday? Sweet!

Now, the tea. As always, lovely, pretty packaging. The tea leaf smells wonderful. Not creamy, but almost fruity. I keep thinking of pear flowers. While brewing, it’s a similar type of aroma, only milder.

I can’t comment to the color of the brew, as I’m breaking my rule of no tea after 6pm to try this, and I’m brewing a cup directly in my favorite cup – which is blue. It looks very light however.

Ooo.. floral, but not quite perfume-y. I am getting a dry-fruit-ish aftertaste, or maybe just a hint of sweet. I’m also burning my tongue a little, since I can’t wait to drink it. I’ll post this now, and come back with a rating a little later tonight.

Ooo.. floral, but not quite perfume-y. I am getting a dry-fruit-ish aftertaste, or maybe just a hint of sweet. I’m also burning my tongue a little, since I can’t wait to drink it. I’ll post this now, and come back with a rating a little later tonight.I am liking this however!!!

I hated this tea to begin with. In fact, I gave the tin from my second series 3 order away. The opened tin from my first order just sat in my desk, and I’d revisit a cup of it, just to get through it.

Fast forward 3 months, and now I seem to crave the stuff periodically. Lovely…
So what can I say, the scent directly from the tin is Jasmine-y enough to put you off if you are not an huge fan of Jasmine going into it.
The taste is more subdued in the tea than it is the scent, so you can taste some green tea in there too. It’s refreshing, slightly sweet, and at least in my case, moderately addictive.

Taste at your own risk. ;)

This is super flowery. Like, waaaay super flowery. Which, in the right mood, is a good time.

It made a good eyeopener tea for me today, where it’s a gray crapful day out and some flowers would be a welcome sight.

I think I steeped this one a bit too long, as it got sort of cloying at the very end, but I still enjoyed it.

Oh heavens to betsy… as my first official tipsy lady edition to steepster, I officially give my seal of approval to this tea~

Let me explain.
Basically, I have always, without even a modicum of irony, given zero credence to Russian Caravan. The most I’ve given to Russia, as far as any sort of credit, has been the suggestion, to my husband, that we could roleplay Czar NicholasXme, without batting one eyelash.

But this tea has taught me what is what. I have always been a fan of the bitter, dark brew…. which all before have always left me half fulfilled, always wanting more. But this tea has given me what a woman wants, what a woman needs, in every sense of the poplular phrases. I am satisfied, slightly more sober, and happy, happy as I have ne’er been before.

Maybe it’s that it’s my first, but I will never ever forget this Caravan. It is my new favorite and I will bring it to my workplace tomorrow if only to remember the glory…. <3

This BOP quality black tea contains some stems within a mish-mash of brown, darker-brown and black leaves. The aroma is standard Earl Grey (oil of bergamot) but more assertive than most.

The used leaves retain the bergamot scenting as does the dark amber and cloudy liquor. Although, the liquor also has other hints of citrus and faint heated notes, the bergamot is the most prominent aroma by design.

The flavor of the bergamot fruit is the only one I get from this black tea. There’s a standard level of astringency from this tea as well. However, a pleasant surprise is the elongated finish and tail on this tea.

I found this tea pleasant and enjoyed it’s more prominent aroma and flavor profiles compared to other Earl Grey teas.

I’ve not been looking forward to tasting this one. The smell of the dry leaves was overpoweringly smoky… and the flavor, while far more mellow, is just too strong for me. I brewed just a single cup, which I rarely do, and have had to force myself to finish it. I don’t think I’ll use the rest of the tin, which is a bit of a shame.

Backlog – Took this to work in my Thermos the other day. Had an hour to kill before my shift started, and this tea and a good book made my work day almost tolerable.

This is the third Earl Grey in my collection. I’ve yet to repeat any other variety this often. Apparently, I’m quite fond of Earl Grey. Who knew?

The smell is very sweet… almost like orange candy, as opposed to the harsher, flowery versions. The taste seems a bit smoother, too. I’ve never really known the proper term for this, but I’ve always had a problem with flavors that don’t blend. Noodles that tastes like chile THEN peanut, or in this case, Earl Grey that tastes like bergamont THEN tea. There needs to be a smooth transition, and this seems to have one.

I’ve begun to embrace Steep.it and an attempt at properly brewing teas… No longer so wabi sabi.

I love this tea. I’ll be so sad when it’s gone.

It’s coming off a bit bitter iced, but it’s entirely possible that I wasn’t minding the time/temperature as well as I thought I was… I had one eye on the balcony the entire time, as I was in the process of moving my books and laptop out here while making sure the cats kept “All Four Paws Inside the Railing at All Times.” Distraction sometimes makes for mediocre tea.

A small amount of agave this time. Yummy.