Nina's Paris

This sample came to me via the wonderful and ever so thoughtful JustJames, who is so much more than just anything (I’ve said that before, I know, but it’s still true).

I decided to have this tea this morning because another steepsterite wanted to potentially send me some in a swap, and I had to figure out if I actually liked it enough to acquire more. I did enjoy the cup, although I did find it quite thin, even at a four-minute steep. In fairness, I wrecked the first sample because I used a huge mug and the water wasn’t close enough to the top to really soak the leaves sufficiently, but I did follow it up with another properly brewed cup. Don’t get me wrong—this tea does indeed taste of caramel and vanilla—but, I don’t know, there’s an underlying sharpness (which is not to be confused at all with bitterness or astringency—it’s more, I don’t know, it’s more something that I find to be present in all of NP’s teas). But I’m so so happy to have tried this, JustJames. Thank you so so much!

2/2 of the teas I ordered from Nina’s, again I love the little red tins!

This smells heavenly in the tin and the brewed cup; I love the aroma of tart apple and rose. I tried to be slightly conservative in my leafing and steeping as I know this is a strong blend. 2 minutes, 30 seconds seems like a good time for this but I might step it slightly longer next time. I never would have thought to put apple and rose together but it is nice. This is a very girly tea and will be good for the afternoon time. It’s a nice one to sip on plain… although I am getting a touch of bitterness from the ceylon base that is easily remedied with a touch of sweetener. Another tea from Nina’s that seems very elegant but I’m not sure if I would add this to my list of “must haves”.

Definitely it is more appropriate for an afternoon tea than a morning tea. I liked their strawberry tea a bit better than this blend which comes across a tad bit perfume-y for yours truly.

I received a sample of this in my swap with Marcel Duchamp. Thank you!

This to me tasted like a Ceylon. I was actually wondering if this by chance was labeled incorrectly. It was a nice tea base with a fruity honey flavor. I actually added honey to the cup this morning just like I would a cup of Ceylon. This was a nice cup. Thank you!

Tea of the morning. I’m about to go to something called “Ageless Yoga” at the Iyengar Yoga studio which is made for people 55+. I’m not that old (yet) but with my recent history of injuries I thought it might be good to start out with something easy… ;)

This tea is just O.K. in my opinion. I like the black tea base but the strawberry flavor is pretty tart. It is a berry natural flavor which is good, but I prefer the strawberry teas from Lupicia. I will probably finish the tin some day but not very quickly… Maybe I should try this iced.

Tea of the afternoon here, this is a pleasant strawberry tea that I am enjoying a lot with soymilk today. I haven’t been up to doing much today, the ongoing drama with my office about their paperwork has me feeling totally drained and I haven’t slept very well in almost 3 months anyway. Paying a visit to the acupuncturist this afternoon, maybe he can help me.

In the meantime I’m kind of happy to have some quiet moments to enjoy teeeea on this beautiful sunny day!

1 of 2 teas I ordered online from Nina’s Paris. I have to admit, I love the little red tins the tea came in because they match my red stump teapot… he he!

I am tired this morning, another night of not sleeping well due to stupid arm pain. I was really looking forward to trying this. The dry leaf in this tin definitely smells fruity. Compared to some other strawberry teas I’ve had the flavor is a bit more on the subtle side. The creaminess of the vanilla is nice, especially as I added some soymilk to this. I believe the ceylon is lending a bright, citrusy note. The aftertaste is slightly tart and drying, and overall this would be a better afternoon tea ’though I am enjoying it this morning. Elegant and refreshing are two words that come to mind with this.

Had this as part of a jasmine green tea side-by-side comparison found here: http://steepster.com/rachel12610/posts/236019.

Of the three, this was most subtle on flavor but has a delicious buttery smooth base. Yum!

I have a few tsps left in my sample that I am happy to share with anyone who is interested in jasmine teas and wants to give it a try :)

Thank you Laurent and Sophie at Nina’s Paris for a sample of this tea. It is not one I would have tried on my own because I am not a lover of floral teas. This one in particular is like sweet, candied flowers – along the lines of Violette by Dammann Freres. Not for me but definitely something I believe others should try if they are into floral teas.

Sipdown!! (147)

Made myself a cup of this to see if I would want to get more before I sent the rest of the sample off to Cavocorax. It has a great passion fruit flavor – not too sweet, not too bitter but rather a perfect balance between the two that pairs wonderfully with the base. I am not running out to get more right now as I have quite a bit of tea but this is something I could see stocking in the future.

Mmm… this is a tasty tea. A touch floral with a nice candied fruit flavor. Definitely captures the taste of passion fruit quite nicely. I am very glad I got a chance to try this one. Thank you Laurent and Sophie at Nina’s Paris for the sample!

Sipdown!! (132)

I tried Grand Amour last time I went to Nina’s and the Red Currant was too strong for my liking, which made me hesitant about trying this one. Luckily, a teabag of this was slipped into my box of teas which gave me a chance to try it and I really like it. It is reminiscent of a strawberry or cherry hard candy. Delicious and not at all medicinal like Red Currant teas can tend to be. Thank you Laurent and Sophie for the opportunity to try this tea. I think this will be one I get again :)

Another spring tea flavor to try.
Hmm. Strawberry flavor is very strong in this cup. I think someone else once said almost jam like, and I must say I agree. Its almost thick, in the flavor.
I think its a very good strawberry tea, refreshing and fun. Would be good for the warmer months.
Good! I’m thankful to JustJames, who sent this my way a few months ago to help me when I was feeling blue.
Yum. Now, off for a walk, to soak up the spring-time feel. Its going to rain here again tomorrow, so is should take advantage while I can.

(a steepster note. I find it funny that “asparagus” is listed as a flavor in the drop-down menu, but strawberry is not. Huh? Also “roasted chicken”. Please tell me there are not chicken flavored teas out there….)

I don’t usually reach for straight mint teas but if I did, this is the one I would grab first. The mint is mellow but very prominent nonetheless. It is a tasty, tasty cup. Thank you Laurent and Sophie at Nina’s Paris for slipping a sample of this into my big box of tea :).

Sipdown (198/200)!

I had an odd time drinking this. I didn’t have an ingredients list, so the two cups I had were blind and I struggled a lot to place the flavour.

Overall, I thought both cups had a taste reminiscent of the 52Teas black base, which I’m not the biggest fan of. So, that bugged me a little and was distracting. The first cup had a slightly fruity aftertaste – but in a really mellow way. Knowing now that there’s papaya in this, I guess that makes sense. I could probably place it as papaya if I knew that’s what I was looking for. It’s not even something I’d remotely considered though – it’s just not that common a flavour in tea.

The second cup wasn’t fruity at all – and it was a touch bitter. Which I found funny, personally, because I steeped it for a shorter amount of time and both times were with boiling water. Welp. Neither cups tasted like “melon” or “peach”, though.

Overall, it was neat to try and I’d be up for having another cup with the knowledge of what’s in it but I doubt that’d change my mind about not wanting to stock up. Thanks anyway Lala. Maybe I should have waited until I knew what I was getting in to?

This smelled so amazing, as most orange teas do but like all other orange teas, I am not a fan. It is warm and cozy thanks to the cinnamon but I just don’t really like citrus teas. For those who do like orange teas, this is worth a try but it is not for me. Nonetheless, thank you Laurent and Sophie at Nina’s Paris for the chance to try this tea.

Sipdown!! (174)

Though I am enjoying the green base quite a bit – smooth and buttery – I am finding he cherry flavor lacking in this cup. Perhaps that is a result of underleafing? All in all, it is pleasant enough but there are so many other teas from Nina’s that I prefer that I don’t think this will be a restock.

This. I like this. It is just a nice, sweet, buttery, smooth cherry tea. Delicious through and through and that is even with my completely careless steeping. Thank you so much to laurent and Sophie at Nina’s Paris for a sample of this awesome tea.

I thought maybe just a small teacup would bring out the flavor in this but instead it had the opposite effect and I am getting 6 oz of a pretty vegetal base with a hint of raspberry at the end of the sip. Once again, I don’t know what temperature this was brewed at and that may have something to do with it but I think there is a chance that me and this tea just don’t get along.

Thank you Laurent and Sophie at Nina’s Paris for a sample of this. It is a very good green tea. Delicious berry flavors with a hint of grass from the base. However, I have no clue what temperature this steeped at and I am not sure for how long so I will hold off on rating this until I can try it brewed properly.

Thank you Laurent and Sophie at Nina’s Paris for yet another sample to try. Once again, this is just not for me. It is not bad but I am just not a lover of citrus heavy teas. And honestly, I think as far as grapefruit teas go, I prefer The de Vendome.

Thank you Laurent and Sophie for the generous sample. However, I am just not a lover of bergamot and this cup has lots of it. It is smooth and floral but just not for me. Though I can see this being enjoyable for those who like Earl Grey.

Another sample from my joint order with Cavo I keep mentioning her name in my tasting notes so that she’ll come pick up the THIRTY TEAS of her that are at my house. lol sadly this is another one that i forgot to track last night. I seem to recall this one being more of that woodsy sort of rooibos that has a tendency to overpower the flavours that are blended with it. That being said, I’d gladly try this again so i can make sure.

Final Count from yesterday: 153

Thank you Laurent and Sophie for a sample of this tea. Unfortunately, I am finding it a bit disappointing. It is a pleasant enough rooibos but I was expecting far more cherry flavor than what I am getting.

This tastes like another tea I had not too long ago and I can’t quite put my finger on which one which is driving me crazy.

Tastewise, I am getting papaya and a hint of both melon and peach. It is smooth and sweet and definitely something I would drink again if offered a cup. Though, for my tastes, this isn’t something I would reach for all too often just because there are so many other flavors I would reach for first.