123 Tasting Notes
OK, this was the day my sinuses needed a little assist, as I mentioned in my first tea note. Also, a couple of days ago I logged Yogi Ginger, so it’s an apt time for a comparison.
First, re: the sinuses. It is not necessary to actually sip the tea for it to have a beneficial effect on said sinuses. Merely sniffing the gingery steam has helped enormously. ;)
Secondly, the taste experience. I find it interesting that the aroma is strongly ginger for me, but when I taste it it’s still overwhelmingly lemony-lemongrass with a spicy ginger afterbite.
Verdict: the Yogi tea was soothing to the tum, the Stash tea is soothing to the respiratory system. Each has a place on my shelf, and a distinctive flavor despite very similar ingredients, and I’m raising my initial rating on the Stash tea.
One question remains. The box says it “Contains: soy.” I don’t have any sensitivity to soy, but others may. I can’t figure out where that’s coming from among the listed ingredients, which are “ginger root, lemongrass, lemon flavor, safflower, hibiscus, and citric acid.”
Well, this was a surprise. I forgot I even had it. I was looking for something to drink with a light supper of steamed potstickers and spotted this.
I did not expect to like it. My experience with green teas has not, overall, recommended me to them But I did enjoy this Lipton! For me the orange and jasmine were much stronger than the passionfruit. I sweetened it lightly and it was just right with the dumplings. I’m going to try another cup with cookies and call it a night.
Preparation
Not bad. Not great. All I taste, even with long steeping, is a vague berry flavor. Probably will not buy again. I was expecting something more like a blend of Bengal Spice and rooibos, but there’s no spice or even cinnamon flavor there. Probably will not buy again.
Update: contributed this tea to the office coffee/tea stash. Others may enjoy more than I did.
Preparation
Just now I was sitting hunched over my computer, trying not to think about the tax deadline, and suddenly I was very glad to remember that I had an unopened box of ginger tea on the shelf.
Oh my goodness, the scent was delightful when I tore open the packet. Ginger (which I love) and lemon, which I sometimes love. I let it steep a long time, leaving the bag in, and continuing to sniff as it steeped. The ginger aroma is very strong and pleasant.
First sip or two confirms the gingery/peppery flavor. This is a tea for those who enjoy the heat of ginger, not just its sweet spiciness. I am one of those people, frequently asking for chopped ginger at Asian restaurants to mix into unexpectedly bland dishes. I don’t care for jalapenos in general, but I do like ginger and I do like black pepper, and this tea, with a sharp little bite of lemon/lemongrass at the end, is very appealing. I do not taste the licorice or peppermint, but I can feel the coolness of the mint tempering the heat of the ginger when I hold a mouthful before swallowing.
Definitely a keeper. And I haven’t though about the tax deadline for several minutes now.
Preparation
Last week the tin of Florence suffered a tragedy. Cat Merle, who has a very muscular and somewhat unruly tail, knocked it and a few of its mates off the shelf onto the floor and of COURSE the Florence had the only tin that came open and spilled on the floor. Fully 1/3 of its volume lost.
So tonight we are holding a memorial service for the cups that shall never be consumed. I am adding half and half and a touch of amber agave and…
Getting the hazelnut very assertively at the beginning, the chocolate at the back of my mouth. I like the agave – it’s not leaving the kind of sour aftertaste that sugar, even raw sugar, can do.
I read some of the older reviews and next time I’m going to try it iced, unsweetened. Maybe plain, then with half and half.
I also have a cat with an unruly tail. She loves to climb up on the counter and look out the kitchen window. She usually knocks one or two things over (plants, cups, the dish soap) with that tail of hers. Every. Day. :)
Cats! One of mine specializes in using his tail to knock over bottles of nail polish while I’m doing my nails… I think he gets jealous that I’m spending so much time on the polish and thinks I should be paying attention to him instead :-)
And they always say, “Oh, no, I didn’t do that. It was the tail, you see.”
Had this for the first time just before bedtime, with a couple of Mother’s Tea Cookies (which, for those who don’t know them, are inoffensive, tasty little vanilla sandwich cookies for when you want something sweet that won’t make you go tearing off in quest of chocolate chips or Oreos.)
Well, yum. It turns out I like pure rooibos. At least, I like Numi’s. I was thinking I might have to mix it with some Bengal Spice. And I may still try that sometime, but last night it was just pleasant with milk. I tasted a slight piney/resiny flavor that I didn’t mind at all. (Although, I also like gin and juniper berries used as flavorings sometime, so bear that in mind.)
I left the bag in.
Preparation
Been away a few days. I didn’t try anything really new until last night, when I finally broke into one of the two new bagged teas I bought at a Middle Eastern “specialty food” shop here in town. Since I am basically timid, the teas were not all that weird but I hadn’t seen them in my usual haunts. One was Rumi pure organic rooibos, which see, and the other was Ahmad Cardamon and that’s how they spell it on the box.
I had NO idea what to expect. I like both cardamon and cilantro, so I thought it was worth the try. And today I am having Amy’s frozen dal of some sort with rice and green peas and chickpeas and moderately spicy tomato sauce and a chunk or two of cheese.
This tea seems perfect with that meal. I brewed it strong and added half-and-hlf. It’s creamy and slightly aromatic. I don’t know that I would get the cardamon if I didn’t know it was there. It’s coming across as a slight nuttiness. Alas, I see that it contains “cardamon flavouring” rather than actual shaved or ground cardamon. But it does not taste artificial.
I’ll be happy to finish this box, especially pairing it with spicy food, and perhaps try a more exotic brand with actual cardamon mixed into the tea next time.
Preparation
What I have doesn’t seem to exist — not here, not on Harney’s site, not on the Internet. It’s a sample packet of a “single silken sachet” and it’s labeled “Enlightening Ceylon Medium and Mellow Bodied…a smooth black tea from Sri Lanka.” It doesn’t say anywhere that it’s decaffeinated, or that it’s a blend.
I’d have added a new listing if I could prove it exists! At any rate, it was unimpressive. It was smooth, but not flavorful, and when I opened the packet no strong tea fragrance greeted me. I prefer the Taylors of Harrogate Pure Ceylon I had earlier today.
Preparation
My first Ceylon in my quest to learn more about black tea. I actually have the bagged variety.
Opened the box and a rush of fragrant, quintessential “this be TEA!” scent rushed at me. I immediately decided to brew it by the book, i.e., as close to the instructions on the box as possible. Which were: steep 4-5 min. in freshly boiled water, add milk or lemon. Pretty basic. Although I did use a large mug, so I also used two bags rather than one.
The sweet tea scent disippated after steeping, which made me sad. Perhaps I smothered it with too much milk. Next time I’ll try it plain. I may even purchase a lemon or two for my tea trials.
Cooled it a few minutes before drinking. This was my second mug of breakfast tea, so I wasn’t in a hurry.
This is sweet and gentle in my mouth. No astringency or bitterness. I could see keeping a pot handy throughout the morning and perhaps into the afternoon. Will have to see how the caffeine affects me after this cup.
I also have a sample bag of Harney’s to try so that will be next. But I would certainly buy this again. I believe I prefer it to T&H’s Pure Assam, but later in the weekend maybe I’ll try those two (Ceylon vs. Assam) head-to-head.
Preparation
Cold-brewing today, to have with Amy’s Cheese Enchilada Dinner for lunch.
This stuff is my soda pop, and I’m not ashamed. It’s fruity, a bit sweet all by itself, leaves my mouth clean and happy, has no caffeine and no calories. I could drink it all day, but I get that it doesn’t appeal to everyone.
