SpecialTeas

Jasmine and I go way back. It was pretty serious, actually, my first love. We shared so many special moments together. I remember fondly the good memories. I don’t know how we drifted apart. At some point jasmine was my one and only, but my tin ran out. I started hanging out more with masala chai and earl grey, I suppose I got distracted.

Of course we still met every once in a while, and we still had It, you know, that spark. Does it count as a one night stand if you’re still in love? We would be together briefly, but didn’t reestablish our relationship, make it official, until now. Oh, Jasmine, I’ve been a fool!

Since we’ve seen each other last, you’ve matured. Your sweet, mellow nectar is…wait a sec, this is dangerous. This is going to wind up x-rated if I keep personifying tea. Let’s just leave it at that.

The tea itself is mild and sweet with almost no astringency when prepared by the package directions. If there are any real flavors there, it’s covered by the jasmine. The jasmine and the tea actually work really nicely together. I was actually pretty surprised when i realized I could taste both. Maybe it’s a quality thing, but so often you’ll get jasmine tea that tastes like there’s no actual tea in it. I’m not sure how to explain it, but the jasmine is present more of the time than the tea is, but when the tea is there you know it. The jasmine is in the scent, the taste, and the aftertaste, but not excessively in any aspect. The tea is really only there while you’re drinking, and maybe a teensy bit in the aftertaste.

This tea is really fabulous after a meal, especially a heavier one. I had this delicious tofu with sesame oil, but wanted something really clean feeling afterward.

Honestly, I just love jasmine…may we never part ways again.

Ending the work week on an almond-y note. I love this tea. It smells so good. This tea makes me want to bake goodies and fill my house with this smell. There are so many almond slivers in this tea that when it’s super hot, you can see little oil globules on the surface. Mmmm…globules.

Oh yeah, if anyone is interested in a tea swap, let me know. I have several greens that I’d like to give to a good home.

A big “thank you” goes to Auggy for including this one in our tea swap. :)

The smell is so warm and inviting and the taste is equally as good. Very almond-y with a little cinnamon thrown in. I was worried that the cinnamon would overpower the tea (like quite a few others tend to do) but this was not the case. A very tasty cup for a rainy, funky day.
I want to dip homemade sugar cookies into this tea!!! Mmmm…

So I wake up this morning feeling drained after finishing yet another term paper. For some reason, though, I really don’t feel like black tea this morning. I guess being throttled by midterms and that paper is enough for now, no need for my first cup of tea to do the same. I’m hoping this sample of Peach Flavored Oolong is just right this morning.

The peach scent is much more subtle after being steeped than in the dry leaves. I was a bit worried about the candy sweet smell when I opened the package. If you’ve ever had those Japanese candies called “Flower’s Kiss”, that’s what the dry leaves smell like.

I guess peaches make me nostalgic for Japan. Before my study abroad trip this summer I never thought I liked peaches (I preferred peach flavoring to the actual fruit, which is kinda nuts). But, you know, JAPANESE PEACHES ARE AMAZING (and expensive…but primarily amazing). They’re juicy and sweet and flavorful and gigantic: everything peach flavoring tries so hard to be and fails.

I really wish I was better at drinking hot tea. If I were, you wouldn’t have to be subjected to my rambling as I wait for the tea to cool. It always happens. When enjoying a hot drink with someone else, I tend to start to be able to drink when they’re more than halfway done. It’s frustrating since I’m really impatient, but that’s the way I’ve always been. I can’t understand people people who order things “extra hot”. It’s just mind boggling, since I need to let the “regular hot” cool for what seems like forever. I know I should accept myself and my sensitive mouth just the way I am…but my need for caffeine is getting urgent! Go, me, for flipping out right as the reason to is gone. I can now partake!

Alright, so far the peach is more present as a scent than anything else. It’s not overpowering in the least, which had been my first concern.The oolong is smooth and mellow with not a lot of astringency. It seems pretty close to a black tea, definitely oolong, but darker rather than lighter.There’s a little bit of, what? smokiness, maybe? I like it, especially since I noticed it right as I was about to write this tea off as pleasantly simple. I’m trying to develop my palette so I can level up my tea snobbery skill. Yeah, I’m a nerd.

There’s some juicy sweetness coming out as it cools, along with a bit of astringency in the aftertaste. The smokiness is still present and keeps it from being too sweet, which I appreciate. The wet leaves smell weird in a way I can’t describe, so I’m not expecting much from a re-steep.

Overall this was a pleasant cup of tea, better than I expected. I feel alert, but not startled, which is what I was hoping for. I’m not sure about a reorder, since there’s so much I want to try thanks more experienced Steepster-ers(??), but I will definitely enjoy my sample. Maybe next time I should try reviewing tea when I’m not still asleep.

I used too many leaves and it was bleh. o__O in yo’ face bitter.

second steep was tasty though.

The sweetness I mentioned before is proving to be prevalent in subsequent steeps. I think there’s something else there, but I can’t place it. It isn’t nearly as interesting as the first steep, but not at all unpleasant. I guess this is why re-steeping black teas isn’t really recommended…But you know, I’m cheap and admit that freely!

This is the first time I’m trying this. I steeped it for just over 2 minutes with water just off the boil. I’m drinking it black/unsweetened and quite like it so far. It’s pretty astringent, which I find pleasant and invigorating. I can’t help but think that I’m also detecting some sweet, floral notes. Maybe at some point I’ll try it with some soy, but right now I don’t feel the need to.

Mild, sweet, and nutty. Definitely not an everyday blend, but it’s It’s interesting without being offensive. Easy to serve to non-tea people.

All of the flavors are well balanced and don’t get lost in each other. I really love how it distinguishes itself from other earl greys with the creamy vanilla. Definitely nice for a change of pace (though I did drink it constantly for about a year). Very nice black or with a bit of soy milk.

I usually prefer true teas to tisanes, so it’s surprising how fabulous I think this is. It reminds me of a lemon tart or its namesake. Rooibos provides a nice, sweet backing for the creamy lemon flavor. Amazing hot or iced.

Edit-Why didn’t someone tell me I spell like an idiot? >_<

Boiling water 3 min, resteeped 4 min. The liquor is red-amber, rosy, almost orange — a beautiful shade — with a chocolate aroma. I am tasting caramel, toasted almond, bittersweet cacao, with a sweet plum finish. A perfect accompaniment to the Walkers shortbread I brought home yesterday!

One heaping tsp tea, 10 oz boiling water, 4 min, covered infuser. The dry leaf beckons with a toasty sweet aroma, and the tea does not disappoint. However, it was too strong for my taste, so will use less tea next time.

Roasted mate with strong hazelnut flavoring. I wouldn’t drink this every day since it’s more of a desserty tea, but it’s good now and then.

This tea is pretty cool. I recommend 2 heaping teaspoons/ 8 oz and letting it steep 10 minutes. I like to add sugar or honey but it has a sweetness of it’s own. It does taste a little like what I would imagine mulch tasting like – but it’s different, and enjoyable. It also mixes well with fruity herbals.

My favorite Ceylon, if I described it with one word it would be smooth.

Second brewing – tried ten pearls per 6 fl oz and 3 minute steep time. Still very delicate, has almost a wine aroma.

A very delicate jasmine. I might actually try overbrewing this a little next time.

It is a tasty tea for the price. Today I made a big pot and actually decided to put in a little kukicha. I also steep it a little less than recommended.

So good .. Hoping to get about 3 steeps out of it (195-200 degrees for 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2 minutes).

Had a couple of steeps of this yesterday. Very good oolong, did 2 steeps at like 2:30 and 3:00 with 195 degree water. Used 2 heaping tsp in a 14oz pot. Very floral like a good minimally oxidized Oolong with a bit of a buttery taste. The second steep was very good too, better than the Formosa Pouchong from SpecialTeas (although I may have used more leaf here).

An amazing pu erh! When drinking it, be sure to “wash” it first: let it steep in very hot water for about five minutes and then THROW AWAY the result! Afterward, you can steep it again several times for several wonderful, earthy cups of tea!