Samovar

I steeped some of this in my tiny little xiying teapot which seems like it was made for an elf. It is adorable. I hope it is seasoned well enough. I am drinking this tea out of a shotglass… ha ha

I think I can taste the clay a bit which is giving the tea an extra dimension. It still seems as delicious as I remember it.

Had the most delicious Hand Picked Bao Zhong tea today at Samovar/Yerba Buena in San Francisco. Yes, this place is expensive but at least the waitstaff is incredibly friendly and nice. My firs time trying a Thai oolong. I was told to steep the leaves for only 20 seconds, but I gave it at least 60 seconds and it was still really good.

The notes at the teahouse called this buttery with mango and asparagus. I was not disappointed. This was a delightful, light butter and vegetal tea with a very smooth mouthfeel. I did not pick up so much on the mango. Picked up a bag to take home with me, I will really enjoy this.

The dry leaf smell is very similar to Adagio’s White Peony, but the hay aroma is more in the background. The liquor is the same light brown color, and the brewed tea has almost an identical aroma to Adagio’s version.

Hmm, the taste isn’t quite as strong, but maybe that’s because I used a little less leaf. I’m actually surprised how similar it is. I expected a bigger difference because I thought that Samovar was higher quality than Adagio.

It tastes a little bit woodier and nuttier, with more flavor coming in the aftertaste than what’s present during the sip. It’s definitely delicious, but I’ll probably keep buying Adagio’s version because it’s significantly cheaper (Adagio $5/ounce, Samovar $12/ounce).

I wonder if my palate isn’t refined enough to notice the subtle differences, or if there simply isn’t much of a difference.

Mmmmm! Thank-you QuiltGuppy for this one!

I have finally had some and it is SO TASTY! I have only sat down with it once, but once is enough to fall in love.

Next time I will pay more attention to details and write it down somewhere so that I can give people a better idea of my experience.

Wow, this is malty! I need more English muffin with strawberry jam just to wash down the rest of my tea! This is what Twining’s Irish Breakfast was trying to be. If anyone wants to pinpoint what a “malty” flavor is, start and end your journey right here. This is fantastic! The leaves actually hold up to a second infusion pretty well too.

I was really leery of tasting this tea after the box arrived covered in dust and a dead bug between the inner bag and outer box. But my love of osmanthus, and curiosity got the better of me. I brewed a small gaiwan, and enjoyed it so much that it was soon followed by a large pot to share with a friend. Light, beautiful and really pleasant. A nice balance between the tea and the flowers. Like drinking dewdrops of honeysuckle nectar. Truly one of the best teas I have tasted from Samovar.
And BTW, customer service at Samovar online was fantastic. They responded quickly to emails and wanted to make sure an experience like this didn’t happen again, sending me samples of some of their other teas. Very friendly and very professional.

Tea before bed..

So tired, but needed something comforting and warm before bed.. this makes me happy <3

drinking this with my munchkin.. she likes tart and sweet so this is a perfect match for her while she’s at home sick.

Rooibos, I love this tea. I can drink it hot or cold and without any sweetener.
I find if I am having any kind of discomfort with digestion or stress, this tea will help. My kids like it too. Mild and not bitter.

Thank you QuiltGuppy for the sample! The tea leaves smell really yummy as I ready them for my infuser. After I poured the water (and treated my hand after spilling said water on my hand) the aroma got even BETTER! I’m very new to oolongs – meaning I’ve had maybe four. It tastes smooth and earthy if that makes any sense. I’m not sure what it’s supposed to taste like, but I like it all the same!

I love ginger teas and this one is pretty damn good. The ginger is warming but not overly spicy and the orange is sweet and mildly tangy. The berries kick in a little sweetness too. Good dessert tea. Good tea for an upset stomach. Good tea to cuddle up with. It’s becoming a regular in my caffeine-free lineup.

Full Review: http://www.tea-tank.com/?p=59

I’ve had this sample for a while now, but I just checked Samovar’s website and I can’t find this tea … are they just sold out? Anyone know if they’ve discontinued it?

Anyways, This is a very pleasant Oolong. A very strong floral essence to it. It is sweet and flowery. It is creamy, but there is also an astringency to it that seems to cleanse the palate from the creaminess so that it doesn’t overwhelm the palate. Very smooth, very mild. I like it very much.

Garden grown mint and soy milk goes all so very perfectly with this tea.

Earl grey with soy milk, sugar, and some fresh mint. It almost makes getting into work 2 hours earlier okay.

I just had to increase my score of this tea because it is pure love. I think the previous time I used to add too much tea leaves so it had a stronger taste. However, since the end of my previous batch of Earl Grey to now, I got a measuring spoon and it’s been making my tea measurements perfect.

This is one very fine cup of tea.

I went to Samovar the past weekend for some afternoon tea & came back with a tin of Earl Grey & Jasmine Pearls. I’m so ecstatic about my Earl Grey that I’m drinking it even though I’m suppose to avoid hot drinks for a few days per request of my dentist. This leaves me sipping on lukewarm tea and surprisingly, loving every moment of it.

My second morning cup. Sadly, I noticed that my tea tin is nearly gone. Must get more Earl Grey soon … it’s just a matter of figuring out what brand I want….

I cannot function without this morning cup. I love it with a splash of soy and some brown sugar…

Mornings are always better with a cup of tea. Smells sooooo good!

Made my morning cup. I steeped it a little long so it’s a bit more floral than I would like. I’ll definitely monitor my second cup better!