2252 Tasting Notes
Using a 3 a.m. thunderstorm wake-up as the excuse for finishing off my packet of this strong stuff this morning. No new thoughts about it—still malty and brash—but for the price, next time around, I’ll default back to good ol’ PG Tips and use my TeaMaze allowance for what they do best—unique flavored blends.
The “blue” part is the novelty of this tea, but why I really enjoy it is that Adagio saw fit not to add any hibiscus (I don’t know why that is perceived as a necessity with fruit teas). It is just gently lemony and blueberry-y without tartness. Another reviewer suggests a longer steep, and I agree—I got impatient last night and pulled it a little too soon. It was still a good nightcap.
I believe I have a sample of the Autumn 2019 version from Eelong (correct me if I am wrong), but otherwise, I am in full agreement with the other review I see for this: golden malty madness. Absolutely delicious. First steep made me hold my mouth the way you do when you taste a teaspoon of raw cocoa powder. (What, you don’t do that? I imbibed Nestle’s Quik like that by the tablespoon when I was a kid.)
Second steep brought out a slightly sweeter note. Going for #3 soon!
We’ve chased the rabbits way-y-y-y-y-y-y out of the garden here, but I have a buddy who makes a really good Asian salad that has crunched-up dry ramen in it. Tasty!
Lol, I think we might have derailed the conversation, sorry! But quite honestly that sounds good, I kind of want to try it! And @"Youngest", you inspired me to lick the empty seasoning packet from my noodles tonight! So much salt!
Now that I know what I really sampled, I’ll put a note in the correct place. This was a really good gateway tea for those of you/us who are suspicious of lapsang. It was gently smoky, but not so much that it overrode the savory tea underneath.
Took a chance; glad I did! Like the other St. Dalfour fruit teas I have tried, the green tea itself is mild and doesn’t have a lot to say for itself, but the cinnamon/apple blend is nicely balanced: apple with a little cinnamon instead of heavy-duty autumnal spiced cider. Bought these bags for work, but may have to take part of them home to chill during hot weather.
Although the Current Unpleasantness has not put a stop to my workweek routine, and although my thin little slice of extroversion is acutely missing my church family, quiet Sunday mornings in the back yard have been an unexpected blessing.
While I was enjoying a few shiny moments of sunrise before it ducked back behind some clouds, I was also enjoying a cup of what is going to have to be a mystery until Eelong, the kind donor, sets me straight. The Sharpie had rubbed off the baggie, which (don’t laugh) could have said “Heicha 2018” or “Hojicha 2018,” but I’m not sure.
What I think I was sipping was a smoky and roasted green tea, which I thoroughly enjoyed, even though I’m not much of a lapsang fan. It had a nice coppery bronze color and led with the savory green flavor with a little campfire smoke in the background.
Baxter, our black cat with a white bow tie and a dumb-lovable personality like Rocky Balboa, jumped up beside me, and sniffed it with me.
Oh! That was a lightly smoked heicha from Yunnan Sourcing. I think the 2018 Cha Yu Lin “Liu Bu Xi Village” Tian Jian Basket Tea. Hope you and Baxter enjoyed it. :)
I really did. New things are good for the synapses! You’d like Baxter. A few days ago, I had a tumbler of milk outside next to me unattended—he nearly got his head stuck in the glass trying to drink like a people.
This was on my “restock” list at the natural/indie grocery store and I had to have help finding it because it’s been relabeled and retitled as “Ancient Infusions” brand. Sorry, distributors, I liked the Ozark-y, mountainy name better.
Thankfully, however, the formulation has not changed. It’s still good, straight-up strong sassafras concentrate. Root beer without the sugar; no caffeine. I diluted some in a quart jar to chill for outdoor work this afternoon, and put a shot from that jar in my half-cooled mug of Assam. Good stuff.
derk, you probably did. I lived just outside of Cincinnati between ten and eleven years ago, and I recall seeing it in several local grocery stores. It was also commonly available throughout at least the Eastern half of Kentucky up until very recently. I don’t think I’ve seen it since either 2017 or 2018 though.
I think I was still seeing it as “Pappy’s” on some of our mainline grocery store shelves (SW MO) as late as last summer…and frankly, was a little surprised to see it there since it’s such a tea nerd item.
If I wake up at 3am (which happens like clockwork 5 days a month), I’m trying my hardest to fall back asleep. You’re a crazy woman.
Let me rephrase that…wasn’t drinking this stuff at 3 a.m.; needed it at 6:45 due to the 3:00 a.m. interruption :) However, because God has a sense of humor, He paired me off with a husband whose natural wake-up time now lands around 5:00. Between my inability to communicate in the morning and his inability to communicate after about 7:30 p.m., we have about one good hour a day on weekdays when I’m at work ;)